Brecon by-election reaction: Brexit Party could damage Tory vote in face of Remain alliance August 2, 2019 The Liberal Democrat victory in yesterday’s Brecon and Radnorshire by-election has raised the spectre of an alliance of Remain-supporting parties and highlighted the threat the Brexit party poses to the Conservatives. Remain-supporting parties Plaid Cymru and the Greens agreed not to field candidates yesterday to avoid splitting the pro-European vote. Read more: Boris Johnson’s majority [...]
UK to create up to 10 freeports to boost trade after Brexit August 2, 2019 The UK is planning to create up to 10 freeports to boost trade after Brexit, it said today. New Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is committed to taking the UK out of the EU by 31 October, floated the idea during his campaign for the Conservative leadership. The government said ports and airports around the [...]
Mark Carney warns no-deal Brexit shock would be ‘instantaneous’ August 2, 2019 Bank of England governor Mark Carney has hit back at accusations that he is stirring fear about Brexit, warning that the UK would be hit by an “instantaneous” economic shockwave if it cannot strike a deal with the EU. Carney said this morning it is “not helpful” to deny the challenges that a no-deal scenario [...]
A truly radical and pragmatic Prime Minister would let parliament get a cat August 2, 2019 Parliament is infested with vermin. According to an internal report seen by the MailOnline, the Westminster war on mice is being lost, despite £111,498 spent on pest control last year. As political conundrums go, this one has an obvious solution: allow cats on the parliamentary estate. Lots of them. Practical, inexpensive, and ruthlessly effective, this [...]
Boris Johnson’s majority cut to one after Liberal Democrats win Brecon and Radnorshire by-election August 2, 2019 The Liberal Democrats have won the seat of Brecon and Radnorshire from the Tories in a by-election, leaving Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s new government with a majority of one. Lib Dem candidate Jane Dodds beat incumbent Conservative Chris Davies by 1,425 votes, overturning a majority of 8,038. Read more: Boris Johnson at odds with Leo [...]
Populism is back, and the Democratic candidates are veering left August 2, 2019 The Democratic primary is heating up – and some of the policy proposals are as red as fire. This week, 10 hopefuls took to the stage in Detroit, for the second debate leading up to the 2020 presidential election. And what we saw was an extreme ebbing and flowing of liberalism and socialism, raising serious [...]
Chinese army in Hong Kong releases anti-protest video August 1, 2019 China’s army in Hong Kong has released a video that shows its forces engaged in riot control, in what has been seen as a warning to protesters in Hong Kong. The video, which was released yesterday and is now circulating on social media, contains captions such as “All consequences are taken at your own risk” [...]
Boris Johnson faces first electoral test as polls open in Brecon and Radnorshire by-election August 1, 2019 Boris Johnson faces his first electoral test as Prime Minister today as voters head to the polls in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election. The by-election in the Welsh seat has been called following a recall petition by residents against the incumbent Tory MP Chris Davies following his submission of a false expenses claim. Read more: [...]
Here’s one simple tax trick that Boris Johnson could borrow from Donald Trump August 1, 2019 It’s been great to see the new government hit the ground running, and even better to see it focus on a hugely important idea which our think tank has been beating the drum for: incentivising business investment. Britain likes to think of itself as a business-friendly country. We have slashed corporation tax. We have a [...]
Sajid Javid unveils extra £2bn to ‘turbo-charge’ no-deal Brexit preparations July 31, 2019 Britain’s new chancellor Sajid Javid has announced an extra £2.1bn of funding to “turbo-charge” preparations for a no-deal Brexit, including money to ensure the “continuity of vital medicines”. Read more: Irish central bank: No-deal Brexit would see growth plummet From the money, £1.1bn will be provided to departments and devolved administrations immediately, while £1bn will [...]