DEBATE: Does it make sense to ban Huawei from access to the UK 5G network? January 28, 2020 Does it make sense to ban Huawei from access to the UK 5G network? Matt Kilcoyne, deputy director of the Adam Smith Institute, says YES. Chinese state-owned enterprises are accused by our Five Eyes intelligence partners in Australia and the US of keeping extensive databases on foreign individuals. That’s everything from who you’ve rung, when [...]
It’s not just Whitehall that needs a Dominic Cummings January 28, 2020 The topic of Whitehall reform has never exactly been sexy. No list of “Moments that Made the Modern World” would ever include, let alone kick off with, the publication of the Northcote-Trevelyan Report in 1854. Even many who work in Westminster would be unable to pick the cabinet secretary out of a line-up, even though [...]
We’ve got online shopping and internet banking, now it’s time for digital voting January 28, 2020 On 12 December, 24m of us trudged to polling stations — many braving wind and rain. Another eight million cast postal votes or had proxies. But about 20m UK adults did not vote at all. Some probably really did not want to, but for many others, it was just too inconvenient. A General Election costs [...]
From climate change to the Iran crisis, we need to bring back the experts January 28, 2020 The EU Referendum set in motion a debate the nation had rarely seen before. Among the first casualties of the divisive and brutal campaign were the “experts”. As Michael Gove famously said, the country had had enough of experts getting it wrong. The public rejected advice from academics, business leaders and prominent politicians, and voted [...]
With 100 days to go, can Sadiq Khan lose the 2020 London mayoral election? January 28, 2020 Even Sadiq Khan’s biggest critics would acknowledge his skill in working a crowd. The mayor of London glides from person to person, selfie to selfie, handshake to handshake. At a time when politicians are not exactly enjoying public favour, he seems to have plenty of Londoners firmly on his side. The response toward Khan by [...]
Business blocked from immigration discussions after MAC report, Downing Street suggests January 28, 2020 The government has signalled there will be no more formal consultation with business groups on immigration policy as it begins drawing up a new system for the post-Brexit regime. Instead, ministers will rely on a long-awaited report from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) which will be unveiled in Westminster this morning. It is understood [...]
FBI got ‘zero cooperation’ from Prince Andrew on Jeffrey Epstein probe January 27, 2020 The FBI and US federal prosecutors have reportedly sought to interview Prince Andrew about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, but have not yet received a response. The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed the prince’s lack of cooperation during a press conference about victims of human and sex trafficking. In response [...]
Boris Johnson pledges ‘progress for UK’ as Huawei decision looms January 27, 2020 Boris Johnson has said he will not block “technological progress here in the UK”, in a further signal the government is poised to give Huawei a limited role in the country’s 5G rollout. The Prime Minister, shrugged off criticism from the former foreign affairs select committee chair Tom Tugendhat over the pending decision, insisting that [...]
Labour leadership: Corbyn backs Long-Bailey as ‘our candidate’ January 27, 2020 Outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has appeared to back Rebecca Long-Bailey in the race to succeed him, describing the business secretary as “our candidate for leader”. Corbyn, who has so far avoided endorsing any candidate in the leadership contest, made the remark at a dinner to mark the retirement of former left-wing MP Ronnie Campbell, [...]
Downing Street unveils Taskforce Europe for EU trade talks January 27, 2020 The Prime Minister’s sherpa David Frost will head up trade talks with the EU following the UK’s exit this Friday, Downing Street has confirmed. Frost, who secured the 11th hour withdrawal agreement with Brussels that paved the way for Commons approval for a final deal, will head up a “small and agile” team of around [...]