DEBATE: Should the next Prime Minister legalise recreational cannabis? July 10, 2019 Should the next Prime Minister legalise recreational cannabis? Morgan Schondelmeier, head of development at the Adam Smith Institute, which this week published a new paper on cannabis legalisation, says YES. The next Prime Minister must give the green light to legalising cannabis. We’ve seen the push in the UK towards relaxing the rules around medicinal [...]
We need a man in Washington who can walk the Trump tightrope July 10, 2019 Diplomats are a curious bunch. Usually to be found currying favour by whispering quietly in foreign capitals, their role is largely an unseen one, providing information back home, and intervening subtly to promote their nation’s interests. So when a diplomat becomes the news story, as opposed to providing commentary on a news story, it is [...]
Watchdog warns of ‘real risk’ of repeat to no-deal Brexit ferry fiasco July 10, 2019 The government could waste even more taxpayer money due to its lack of preparation for a no-deal Brexit, a top watchdog has warned, after the Department for Transport (DfT) blew £85m on botched ferry contracts. The DfT’s lack of preparation risks cornering the government into further high-risk procurement contracts, parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said [...]
Government missing its targets on climate change, advisers warn July 10, 2019 The government’s own advisers today warned that it is not going far enough in the battle against global warming. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said ministers may be left with egg on their face if they host the UN’s next climate change conference without getting their own house in order. Read more: A citizens’ [...]
Labour should be riding high, instead they’re drowning in scandal and incompetence July 9, 2019 With the Tory party engaged in a civil war (albeit one tempered by the Queensbury Rules) a competent opposition could expect to spend the summer shoring up a lead in the polls and presenting itself as a government in waiting. Unfortunately for the Labour party, competence eludes them. Yesterday, Jeremy Corbyn was finally forced off [...]
US billionaire and ex-presidential candidate Ross Perot dies aged 89 July 9, 2019 US billionaire and two-time presidential candidate Ross Perot has died at the age of 89, his family has said. The feisty Texan tech tycoon made his name and his fortune after selling a majority stake in the data company he founded to General Motors for $2.5bn (£2bn) in 1984. But he was best known for [...]
Labour peers resign party whip in protest at ‘institutional antisemitism’ July 9, 2019 A former boss of the Labour Party is one of three Lords to resign the party whip in protest at its handling of antisemitism. Lord Triesman, general secretary of Labour under Tony Blair, resigned on Tuesday afternoon, claiming the party is “very plainly institutionally antisemitic”. The peer, who also served as a junior minister under [...]
Donald Trump slams ‘wacky’ UK ambassador and ‘foolish’ Prime Minister July 9, 2019 Donald Trump has branded the UK’s ambassador to the US “wacky” and “stupid” in another highly personal attack on Sir Kim Darroch. Read more: Trump says he won’t talk to UK’s ambassador after email leaks In a series of tweets, the US President also hit out at Theresa May’s “failed Brexit negotiation”, labelling her as [...]
Labour would back Remain in second Brexit referendum held under a Tory government July 9, 2019 Labour would campaign for Remain in a second Brexit referendum was held under a Conservative government, but Jeremy Corbyn has not said what he would do if he becomes Prime Minister. Following a meeting of the shadow cabinet on Tuesday morning, Corbyn emailed all party members to announce Labour would back staying in the EU [...]
Under-fire ambassador Sir Kim Darroch has ‘full support’ of PM following leaked Trump emails July 9, 2019 Downing Street has confirmed its “full support” for Sir Kim Darroch, the UK’s under-fire ambassador to the US, after Donald Trump said he would no longer deal with him. In a series of tweets yesterday evening, the US president criticised Theresa May’s handling of Brexit, saying she and her “representatives” had created a “mess”. Read [...]