Election 2019: McDonnell pledges Labour Budget on 5 February December 9, 2019 A Labour government would hold its first Budget on 5 February, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has pledged today. Speaking from Vauxhall, where Labour candidate Florence Eshalomi is expected to replace outgoing MP Kate Hoey, McDonnell said the party had already “won the argument” that austerity was wrong. “We face an existential threat… we need to [...]
All we want for Christmas is… for politicians to commit to helping disabled workers December 9, 2019 As we hurtle towards the polls this week, my thoughts are turning to how disabled people can make their voices heard during an unusually festive election period (the last December General Election was in 1923). I love Christmas and the time I get to spend with my family and friends, but for many of us, [...]
Jo Swinson admits revoking Article 50 ‘doesn’t look likely’ as Lib Dems unveil second ref plan December 9, 2019 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has admitted the best chance of stopping Brexit is through a second referendum rather than pursuing the party’s divisive policy of revoking Article 50. Read more: Jo Swinson confronts Extinction Rebellion protesters glued to Lib Dem bus This morning the party unveiled plans for “ready-to-go” legislation for a second referendum [...]
Election 2019: Boris Johnson raises red flag over Heathrow and HS2 December 9, 2019 Boris Johnson appeared to raise a red flag over major infrastructure projects including the expansion of Heathrow and HS2. Read more: Former Ofcom boss to advise on Heathrow terminal monopoly probe The Prime Minister, who broke off from campaigning in the north of England to speak to LBC radio, said that while he wasn’t “temperamentally [...]
Election 2019: Labour to ‘get money moving out of Whitehall and the City’ December 9, 2019 Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell will today pledge to “get money moving out of Whitehall and the City”, and start nationalising key utilities, within the first 100 days of a Jeremy Corbyn government. Read more: John McDonnell outlines plans to borrow extra £58bn for Waspi women Speaking from London today, McDonnell will pledge to kick-start [...]
China hopes to secure trade deal with US ‘as soon as possible’ December 9, 2019 China said it hopes to secure a trade deal with the US “as soon as possible”, raising hopes of a breakthrough ahead of a fresh round of intense negotiations this week. Assistant Commerce Minister Ren Hongbin told reporters this morning that Beijing hopes to reach a trade agreement with the US that will satisfy both [...]
The best and worst political adverts of the General Election 2019 campaign December 9, 2019 It is the holiday season, and every day another Christmas advertising campaign drops. But this year, a festive election is happening for the first time in 96 years — and whether we like it or not, it’s hanging over everything. In no particular order, and with a pinch of non-partisan cynicism, here are some honest [...]
The brain-dead era of Angela Merkel is limping to a finish December 9, 2019 The always interesting French President Emmanuel Macron got it precisely wrong in November when he airily derided Nato — the most successful alliance in the history of the world — as experiencing “brain death”. Brazening it out, Macron doubled down, defending his remark at the Nato summit of last week. As I never tire of [...]
General Election 2019: The Tory battle to regain Battersea and Kensington December 8, 2019 A little over a month ago, things looked bleak for the Conservative Party in London. With most of the party’s resources being directed towards Leave-supporting areas in the Midlands and the North, and the Liberal Democrats heavily targeting pro-Remain seats in the capital, it seemed possible that a clutch of west London seats could turn [...]
John McDonnell outlines plans to borrow extra £58bn for Waspi women pledge December 8, 2019 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has defended the Labour party’s plans to borrow the vast majority of the £58bn of pension compensation it has promised 1950s-born women. Challenged over how Labour would pay for the expensive election pledge on BBC’s Andrew Marr show, McDonnell said: “We will borrow, and I don’t shy away from that, because [...]