This country has not had enough of experts December 10, 2019 Michael Gove famously said that the “people in this country have had enough of experts”. Of course, that’s not the full story — at the time, Gove was specifically targeting experts who, he claimed, kept getting things wrong. But regardless, the “had enough of experts” quote went viral, and came to be viewed as something [...]
DEBATE: Should business rates be scrapped and replaced with a land tax, as the Lib Dems suggest? December 10, 2019 Should business rates be scrapped and replaced with a land tax, as the Lib Dems suggest? Liz Jarvis, writer, editor, and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Southampton Itchen, says YES. Nearly a million businesses in the UK have closed in the past three years. Businesses, especially small firms unable to bear the brunt of Brexit [...]
It’s not just that Corbyn hates capitalism — he doesn’t even understand it December 10, 2019 It’S not exactly news that those at the top of the Labour party dislike capitalism. But what’s less often pointed out is how little they actually understand about it. Last week, on my Twitter account, I published something of a demolition of Labour’s claim to save every household £6,700 a year. After only a cursory [...]
How the Tories could become the party of the working class December 10, 2019 Polls are inherently unreliable. We know this from the 2017 election, the 2015 election, the 2016 EU referendum — the list goes on. The latest polls show a roughly 10-point lead for the Tories. That should be enough to form a government, but is some way off the 68 seat majority that YouGov’s famous MRP [...]
It would be a colossal error for the UK to opt out of the creative thinking study December 10, 2019 Each of the major parties’ manifestos for the upcoming election recognises the importance of creativity in our schools and workforces. It seems that policymakers are finally responding to a growing body of international evidence that employers, as they navigate an increasingly digital and complex world, will value human skills like original thinking and complex problem [...]
Election 2019: ‘It was very personal, very hurtful,’ says Wimbledon’s Stephen Hammond December 9, 2019 “I’ll be voting for you because you’re not like Boris, you’re not like those nutters,” says a softly-spoken man from within a rather grand house. “You’re rational and I want to keep the rational ones in.” As endorsements go, it’s a mixed bag. But in Wimbledon — as in so many affluent, Remain-voting constituencies, it’s [...]
Exclusive: City of London mulls over historic Lord Mayor selection reform December 9, 2019 The City of London Corporation’s highest body is considering changes to the way it selects the Lord Mayor as part of its efforts to attract a more diverse range of candidates. Guildhall’s ancient Court of Aldermen is comprised of 25 elected members – one from each of the Square Mile’s different wards. It sits alongside the City [...]
Election 2019: Tories backtrack over claim aide was punched at Leeds Hospital December 9, 2019 The Conservatives have been forced to backtrack over claims a government aide was punched by a Labour activist during an altercation at Leeds General Infirmary. Health secretary Matt Hancock had been visiting the hospital after pictures emerged of a four-year old boy with suspected pneumonia sleeping on the hospital floor with coats for cover. However, [...]
Election 2019: BBC licence could be scrapped, Boris Johnson hints December 9, 2019 Boris Johnson has hinted he may scrap the licence fee that funds the BBC, during an unscripted question and answer session while visiting the North East of England. Asked if he would consider scrapping the licence fee as a whole, Johnson said he was “under pressure not to extemporise policy on the hoof” but admitted [...]
Phones 4U billionaire John Caudwell tells John McDonnell he may leave UK if Labour wins election December 9, 2019 Billionaire Phones 4U founder John Caudwell told shadow chancellor John McDonnell today that he was considering leaving the country if the Labour party wins Thursday’s General Election. “Nearly every wealthy person I know is thinking of leaving the UK including me if Labour gets in,” Caudwell said in a discussion with McDonnell that was broadcast [...]