Sterling falls to fresh 2019 low as Boris Johnson gathers support June 18, 2019 Sterling has fallen to a fresh 2019 low as Boris Johnson’s leadership bid goes from strength to strength – ramping up the chances of a no-deal Brexit. The pound slid to $1.2514 overnight – its lowest level since 11 December last year – before recovering slightly. Read more: Andrea Leadsom backs Boris Johnson in race [...]
Andrea Leadsom backs Boris Johnson in race to Number 10 June 18, 2019 Andrea Leadsom has backed Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson’s bid to become the country’s next Prime Minister. Read more: Matt Hancock backs Boris despite no-deal Brexit risk The former leader of the House of Commons called Johnson an “election winner” and voiced support for Johnson’s pledge to pull the UK out of the EU. “I [...]
Is Angela Merkel to blame for Europe’s woes? June 18, 2019 Sakrileg: the German word for sacrilege – that is, the violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred. And yes, I’m about to go there by asking if the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, been a disaster for Europe. I’ve been wondering if Merkel’s prolonged tenure at the Federal Chancellery has been extending the region’s [...]
DEBATE: Would Rory Stewart be a good Prime Minister to lead the UK through Brexit? June 18, 2019 Would Rory Stewart be a good Prime Minister to lead the UK through Brexit? Olivia Utley, deputy editor at TheArticle, says YES. To make a success of Brexit at this late stage in the game, our new Prime Minister will have to do more than negotiate a good deal with the EU. He must – [...]
Chuka failed – but the centre ground isn’t as empty as you’d think June 18, 2019 It’s been a sad, strange journey for Chuka Umunna. Only a few short years ago, he was being touted as Britain’s Barack Obama, the telegenic answer to Labour’s prayers – at a time when their then leader couldn’t even eat a bacon sandwich without looking like his face was pulling in three different directions. But [...]
Justice Committee blames government failures for magistrate shortages June 18, 2019 Failures in government planning have left England and Wales short of magistrates, according to a Justice Committee report published today. The shortfall in magistrate numbers is “as frustrating as it was foreseeable” and it has taken a near-crisis to prompt government action, the report said. It is calling on the government to develop an overarching [...]
Net-zero carbon advocate Lord Deben cleared in conflict of interest probe June 17, 2019 The government’s climate adviser Lord Deben has been cleared of wrongdoing after accusations his advice to government benefited companies which were clients of a family-run business. Sancroft, an environmental consultancy which Lord Deben chairs, was paid £600,000 by clients which “stood to make millions from his advice to ministers”, the Mail on Sunday alleged in [...]
Next Prime Minister must drop Brexit backstop, says Sir Graham Brady June 17, 2019 The next Prime Minister must drop the backstop in Brexit negotiations as it threatens the Good Friday Agreement, according to senior Tory backbencher MP Sir Graham Brady. Removing the backstop and working on alternative arrangements is the only way the present Brexit deal can work, he argued. He said the new Prime Minister “must recognise [...]
Tory leadership race: Matt Hancock backs Boris Johnson June 17, 2019 Health secretary Matt Hancock today threw his support behind Tory leadership race frontrunner Boris Johnson to become the country’s next Prime Minister. Hancock quit the Conservative leadership contest last week. He has now opted to support the favourite, Johnson, despite ruling out a no-deal Brexit in his own campaign. Read more: ‘A long way to [...]
Cut the obfuscation and let Britain move beyond Brexit June 17, 2019 Gone ’til November. The lyrics of rapper, activist and one-time Haiti presidential candidate Wyclef Jean. And it is the view of the great many of those vying to be Prime Minister: while we might be in the EU until October, we will be gone by November. You’d be forgiven for raising an eyebrow. Groundhog Day [...]