No-deal Brexit would cost UK £90bn, warns Philip Hammond July 2, 2019 A disruptive no deal Brexit could cost the treasury £90bn – far more than is set aside to cope with such an outcome, Philip Hammond warned today. Speaking in the Commons, the chancellor claimed that leaving the EU without an agreement would cause such a hit to the UK economy the £27bn war-chest created to [...]
If there are problems the government can’t solve, unleash the power of entrepreneurs July 2, 2019 Britain must soon learn to wrestle with more responsibility over its domestic policy than it has had since the 1970s. For decades, the country’s financial direction has been increasingly influenced at a European level, but with Brexit looming, our next Prime Minister and his likely-new chancellor must be prepared to grab both existing and newly-available [...]
DEBATE: Does it really matter who becomes the next leader of the Liberal Democrats? July 2, 2019 Does it really matter who becomes the next leader of the Liberal Democrats? Alex Deane, a Conservative commentator, says YES. It is all too easy in British political life to write a party off – and it’s usually wrong. I know Tories who thought in the Blair heyday that they’d never be in power again. [...]
A citizens’ assembly is the wrong way to tackle climate change July 2, 2019 Last week, our interim energy minister signed into law the UK’s commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. That was the easy part – achieving it will be more challenging. To help parliament in its search for solutions, no fewer than six select committees recently joined forces to announce their plan for a citizens’ assembly [...]
We need a Prime Minister who can channel the potential of Digital Britain July 2, 2019 Are we in danger of having a leadership contest about the future of our party, while completely missing the point about the future of our country? The two finalists in the Conservative leadership race are being quizzed endlessly about Brexit, tax and spend, public services, and their private lives. All these have some importance, of [...]
City firms told to reveal how climate change impacts their business decisions July 2, 2019 City firms will be asked to reveal what steps they are taking to combat climate change as part of the government’s Green Finance Strategy being unveiled today. Listed companies and large asset owners will have until 2022 to disclose how climate change risks impact their activities, City Minister John Glen will announce today. Glen will [...]
Macron slams EU’s credibility after 17-hour talks on new job candidates ends in deadlock July 1, 2019 Emmanuel Macron has vented has frustration at the EU’s decision-making process following another round of failed talks aimed at filling the bloc’s top jobs. The French president said the EU’s credibility is at stake after the latest emergency summit ended without agreement. EU leaders gathered in Brussels on Sunday to discuss who should succeed Donald [...]
UK’s top civil servant to write to Jeremy Corbyn after officials branded the Labour leader as ‘frail’ July 1, 2019 The UK’s top civil servant will write to Jeremy Corbyn after claims from officials that the Labour leader is not fit enough to be Prime Minster, Downing Street has revealed. Cabinet secretary Sir Mark Sedwill will send the letter following reports in The Times that civil servants held a meeting in which they claimed the [...]
Debate: Is the Brexit Party losing momentum? July 1, 2019 Debate: Is the Brexit Party losing momentum? Yes – Olivia Utley is deputy editor at TheArticle. After a terrific performance in the European Elections at the end of May, the Brexit Party looked to be unstoppable. Week after week it topped the Westminster voting intention polls, and talk of the Conservatives being wiped out at the [...]
Hundreds of protesters storm Hong Kong’s government headquarters July 1, 2019 Protesters in Hong Kong today stormed the Legislative Council on the anniversary of the city’s 1997 return to Chinese rule amid a backlash against laws that would allow extradition to China. A small group of protesters smashed their way through the glass doors to enter the government building. Others pulled up a steel shutter, letting [...]