Labour policies will represent ‘revolution’ for UK economy says John McDonnell April 29, 2019 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Labour will unleash an economic “revolution” if it wins power. The Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, who has previously named Soviet revolutionaries Lenin and Trotsky as key intellectual influences, told the BBC he saw parallels with 1979 when Margaret Thatcher swept to power. "Things aren't working for people, so they're [...]
A new book about austerity has put Keynesian economists on the defensive April 29, 2019 Notoriously, economists quarrel about almost everything in their subject. But since the publication of John Maynard Keynes’ General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money in 1936, they are supposed to agree on one point: that increases in government spending boost demand and output, and reductions in government spending depress them. Indeed, according to the theory, a [...]
British voters torn over President Donald Trump’s UK state visit in June April 29, 2019 With President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK in June already provoking fights between politicians, a new poll shows voters are as split as their Westminster representatives. Read more: Corbyn snubs invite to state banquet for Trump Just under half of the UK (47 per cent) is opposed to Trump's visit in June, according [...]
Downing Street backs fracking regulations slammed for strangling the industry April 29, 2019 Downing Street has defended the government’s tight fracking regulations after the UK’s shale gas tsar claimed they amounted to a “de facto ban” on the practice. Former Labour MP Natascha Engel dramatically quit as fracking commissioner last weekend after just six months in the role, saying the restrictions around shale gas extraction made her role [...]
The white paper’s strict salary threshold on EU migrants would only exacerbate inequality April 29, 2019 Britain is on course to leave the European Union by 31 October. However, Theresa May has expressed her wish that the UK should quit well before, provided her withdrawal agreement is passed. Nonetheless, whether we leave with a deal or without one, the government has been clear that ending free movement and bringing down immigration [...]
A pro-business mayor? Khan is less so than Livingstone April 29, 2019 Before he was elected, Sadiq Khan promised – in this newspaper and elsewhere – to be the “most pro-business mayor yet”. In a literal sense, that pledge was already a bit limited, because Khan has only had two predecessors: Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson. The first one was an apologist for assorted Communist regimes. In [...]
Brits snub EU countries for summer holidays amid prolonged Brexit uncertainty, Thomas Cook reveals April 29, 2019 Fewer Brits are travelling to EU countries for their summer holidays as the UK’s prolonged Brexit process has encouraged holidaymakers to expand their horizons, according to Thomas Cook. Read more: Tory party chairman hints at another Brexit vote Both Turkey and Tunisia have benefited from dwindling interest in the EU, the travel agent said today [...]
The left is upping its campaign against the free market – and the City in particular April 28, 2019 John McDonnell and the Labour party have long talked of the need to “democratise” our economy. Their plans for sweeping nationalisations, a state-run investment bank and the forced reallocation of shares to the workers are all couched in the language of taking power from the fat cats and making finance a servant of the public, [...]
Ministers mull new laws to crack down on foreign spies working in UK banks and businesses April 28, 2019 A new law to crack down on foreign spies working for banks and businesses is reportedly being drawn up by the government to curb the influence of "red money" in the UK. The legislation is part of a raft of measures designed to get a grip on money flowing into the UK from Russia and China, following [...]
Labour could bypass second referendum if it agrees Brexit deal with government, shadow cabinet minister suggests April 28, 2019 Labour could be prepared to bypass a second referendum and sign up to a Brexit deal it agrees with government, the party's shadow business secretary has hinted. Rebecca Long-Bailey, who is taking part in cross-party talks between the two parties to try and find a compromise, refused to say whether Labour would demand a confirmatory referendum on [...]