The Conservative party needs to rediscover its economic way March 12, 2019 For most people, the Conservative’s 2015 “long-term economic plan” is now a distant memory. But as someone who was deeply immersed in that election campaign, I still sometimes wake up at night reciting its contents. Though much mocked for its repetition, the plan was more than just a catchphrase. From deficit reduction and tax cuts [...]
Deal or no deal, let’s make the UK the most attractive place for business March 12, 2019 What happens if there’s no Brexit deal? Over the past year, we’ve had various answers to this question – most ranging from the alarming to the apocalyptic. But while we’ve heard an awful lot about the problems, we haven’t heard much about solutions. That’s why our think tank, the Centre for Policy Studies, has just [...]
Women should not have to change the City alone March 12, 2019 Last Friday we celebrated International Women’s Day, which provides a terrific opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come towards an equal and fair society, but also how far we have to go. I appreciate that some may disregard an Oxbridge-educated, white, male Conservative politician talking about gender equality. But it is beholden on all [...]
May prepares to face MPs after last-minute talks with EU March 12, 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May claimed victory in a last-minute round of negotiations with the EU last night, as she set out new legal guarantees over the controversial Irish backstop protocol. Speaking in Strasbourg after a late-night meeting with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, May claimed a new, legally-binding agreement would sit alongside her withdrawal deal [...]
Theresa May secures legally binding changes to Brexit deal after rushing to Strasbourg March 11, 2019 Theresa May has secured “legally binding assurances” over the Irish backstop and urged MPs to vote through her improved Brexit deal. The Prime Minister rushed to Strasbourg to secure last-minute changes to her deal ahead of tomorrow’s vote. In a joint press conference with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, she said the legally binding instrument [...]
Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey pledges 10 per cent salary cut if he defeats Sadiq Khan in 2020 election March 11, 2019 Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey has vowed to take a 10 per cent pay cut and cap the salaries of his close political advisers if he defeats Sadiq Khan in the 2020 mayoral election. Bailey, who was selected as the Tory choice for mayor last autumn, has pledged to tackle increasing staff costs at City Hall, which he [...]
Forget Brexit, corporate debt is a bigger issue March 11, 2019 As a few of you might have been told many times already, today is the latest Brexit D-Day for the UK, and for Theresa May in particular. Now, despite the fact that I am – at the moment that you are reading this – down on a chilly College Green in Westminster reporting on the latest [...]
Sterling falls as Downing Street admits Brexit talks are ‘deadlocked’ ahead of meaningful vote March 11, 2019 Downing Street has admitted that Brexit talks with the EU have reached a stalemate before Theresa May puts her deal to MPs in another meaningful vote tomorrow, sending sterling to a three-week low. The Prime Minister spent her Sunday night in talks with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after a last-ditch visit to Brussels by the [...]
Senior Tory MPs urge Theresa May to cancel Brexit vote March 11, 2019 Senior Tory MPs have urged Prime Minister Theresa May to cancel tomorrow’s vote on her Brexit deal amid fears she faces another heavy defeat, the Times has reported. Leading Conservatives have told May she should pull the meaningful vote unless she secures major concessions from the EU. Read more: Brexiters dismiss reports they could swing [...]
Brexiters slap down reports they could swing behind Theresa May’s deal if she quits by June March 10, 2019 The Tory party opened up a new front in its ongoing civil war tonight after senior Brexiters slapped down reports that they could get behind Theresa May’s Brexit deal if she offers her resignation by June. Brexiters told City A.M. the reports were part of a disinformation campaign by Downing Street to swing MPs behind [...]