Enough of Brexit, time for a Tory vision of modern Britain June 11, 2019 Theresa May’s premiership is almost over – but there is just time for one last undignified squabble. The Prime Minister reportedly hopes to spend a few billion on her key domestic priorities, in an attempt to add some black ink to the sea of red in her political ledger. But Philip Hammond is insisting on [...]
Firms must stop using NDAs to cover up harassment, say MPs June 11, 2019 The government must prevent non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) being used to cover up unlawful harassment or discrimination, a group of MPs said today. A report by the women and equalities Committee found some companies were now routinely using NDAs in employment disputes. Committee chair, Maria Miller MP, said: “The current use of non-disclosure agreements in settling [...]
South Korea is shifting to the left, but pro-capitalists are fighting back June 10, 2019 At this year’s Cannes film festival, the South Korean director Bong Joon-ho was awarded the coveted Palme d’Or for his satire Parasite. The film is an attack on capitalism: a poor family insinuate themselves as servants into a much richer one. One of the film’s core messages is that it is almost impossible to bridge [...]
Johnson and Hunt emerge as frontrunners in race for Number 10 June 10, 2019 Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt have emerged as the frontrunners in the race to replace Theresa May as Tory leader. Johnson is currently favourite to succeed May, but Hunt has emerged as his main challenger with two senior cabinet colleagues coming out to back his bid today. Defence secretary Penny Mordaunt, a convinced Brexiter, and [...]
America is changing, and the UK cannot afford to ignore it June 10, 2019 I cannot begin to estimate how much ink has been wasted on President Trump’s state visit to the UK last week. This is not to dismiss the significance of commemorating the D-Day anniversary, and the immense shared sacrifice of British and American soldiers in liberating Europe. But the rest of the state visit, focusing as [...]
‘Is this serious?’ Boris Johnson’s £39bn threat gives City the jitters June 10, 2019 Boris Johnson’s threat to withhold the UK’s £39bn Brexit divorce bill raised eyebrows in the City yesterday and provoked a strong reaction from across the Channel. The former mayor of London vowed to hold onto the cash to force the EU to give Britain a better withdrawal deal, as part of his pitch to become [...]
Boris Johnson vows to hold back £39bn Brexit divorce bill to force EU into a better deal June 9, 2019 Boris Johnson has threatened to force the European Union’s hand by withholding Britain’s £39bn “divorce” bill until it agrees to more favourable terms to leave. The former mayor of London made his first pitch to become Prime Minister by vowing to keep hold of the cash, scrap the Northern Irish backstop and guarantee the rights [...]
Michael Gove ‘deeply regrets’ cocaine ‘mistake’ June 8, 2019 Tory leadership candidate Michael Gove has said he “deeply regrets” taking cocaine while working as a journalist more than 20 years ago. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said he had taken the Class A drug at several “social events” during his days as a reporter. Read more: Johnson’s leadership campaign receives £50,000 from CMC [...]
Theresa May officially resigns as Tory leadership contest begins June 7, 2019 Theresa May has officially resigned as leader of the Conservative party paving the way for the leadership contest to begin on Monday. May will remain ‘acting leader’ of the party and Prime Minister until her successor is elected on 22 July. Read more: Theresa May resigns – what happens next? The Tory backbench 1922 committee [...]
D-Day offers some perspective for anyone consumed with the current ‘national crisis’ June 7, 2019 On Monday, I took part in BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week, which this week focused on the concept of a national crisis – and how countries get out of it. Academic and author Jared Diamond’s new book Upheaval draws parallels between how an individual deals with a personal crisis to how nations overcome them. [...]