The Tories should be the natural party of immigration September 19, 2019 For many years, the Tory party has had an obsession with immigration – and, more to the point, cutting it. Thanks to David Cameron’s misguided pledge to bring net migration down to the “tens of thousands”, the party has thrown both economic evidence and its core philosophy out the window in pursuit of that unreachable [...]
Further education £1bn worse off than 2010 despite higher spending, says report September 19, 2019 Further education colleges and sixth forms will be £1bn short of what they would need to fully reverse cuts since 2010 despite extra government money, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said today. Yet the leading economic think tank found that the extra money pledged by chancellor Sajid Javid to schools will “just about” reverse [...]
Bank of England holds interest rates at 0.75 per cent and warns over Brexit delay September 19, 2019 The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold at 0.75 per cent and warned of the effects of another Brexit delay on the economy. Read more: US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by a quarter point The unanimous decision by the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) came despite the US Federal Reserve lowering [...]
Short-term let adverts banned from Tube following outcry September 18, 2019 Adverts that promoted short-term lettings in the capital have been banned from the Transport for London (TfL) network following criticism from campaigners. London mayor Sadiq Khan was urged to crack down on adverts across the Tube by firms that encouraged landlords to flout the 90-day annual limit for short-term lettings in London. Read more: Overcrowding [...]
Pressure on Netanyahu as Israel’s voters split (again) September 18, 2019 Israel is left without a clear winner from its second election in five months, with Benjamin Netanyahu neck and neck with his rival. With just over 60 per cent of votes counted, Netanyahu appears to have won 31 seats, while his opponent Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party garnered 32 seats, according to the Kan [...]
Cummings cements power over ministerial aides September 18, 2019 Boris Johnson’s top aide Dominic Cummings has handed himself more power over ministers’ advisers, as part of ongoing efforts to centralise control. Special advisers, known as Spads, were this week sent new employment contracts stating that disciplinary matters rest “with your appointing minister and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff”, according to The Times. Previously, [...]
There is a disconnect between government rhetoric and reality on climate change September 18, 2019 The noise around climate change and the risk it poses to the planet has reached fever-pitch, and pressure on the UK government to take action is increasing by the day. The Extinction Rebellion movement has repeatedly taken to the streets of London to demand action from policy-makers, while Swedish activist Greta Thunberg inspired schoolchildren to [...]
DEBATE: Will David Cameron be remembered for anything other than Brexit? September 18, 2019 Will David Cameron ever be remembered for anything other than the EU referendum? YES, says Ben Kelly, a commentator for Reaction. In a few decades, after the Brexit mania has passed, we will reflect on this era with a different perspective. David Cameron will of course be a key player in the books, TV shows [...]
Sick of the Brexit saga? You’ll miss it when it’s finally over September 18, 2019 Not for the first time, it struck me last week in the midst of parliamentary shenanigans and court challenges how much my friends and acquaintances like to talk about the B word. The conversation arose over pudding at a dinner party, and though all the guests rolled their eyes and groaned sophisticatedly at the interminability [...]
The Lib Dem Article 50 gamble is so radical it might just work September 18, 2019 It is certainly ballsy. It has filled the newspaper pages and the airwaves. It has generated controversy. I’m talking about the Liberal Democrats’ new policy of revoking Article 50 should they win a majority in any upcoming election. Is it a masterstroke, something that will generate some short-term excitement that will eventually die down, or [...]