Italy’s trade deal with China is playing with fire March 27, 2019 Italy’s decision to be the first major European economy to join China’s massive investment and infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative, can only exacerbate tensions between Italy and its neighbours. On Saturday, President Xi Jinping and the Italian government signed a non-binding agreement for Italy to join China’s 21st-century trade route, and inked a total [...]
Guy Verhofstadt compares Farage to Blackadder character in European Parliament March 27, 2019 The European Parliament’s outspoken Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt has taken a swipe at the self-styled “Bad Boy of Brexit” Nigel Farage, comparing him to field marshal Douglas Haig from the final episode of sitcom Blackadder. Verhofstadt said he was “surprised” to see the former leader of Ukip on European Parliament duty in Strasbourg, rather than [...]
No, the Norway option won’t turn Britain into a vassal state March 27, 2019 Think of all those Victorian statutes which are still good law today: the Partnership Act 1890, for example, or the Bills of Exchange Act 1882. There are many others. All were passed under a legislative system which we no longer recognise – indeed, which is now repugnant to us: no women could vote in elections; [...]
DEBATE: Should companies link executive pay more closely to that of ordinary employees? March 27, 2019 Should companies link executive pay more closely to that of ordinary employees? Rachel Reeves, Labour MP and chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, says YES. When a business does well, workers should share in the rewards, not just the boss. Too often, superstar salaries are waved through by remuneration committees that pay too [...]
Looking for Brexit consensus? You won’t find it – and this Nobel-winning economist can tell you why March 27, 2019 Should pure blue sky research be funded? Certainly, the answer from government-backed research councils seems to be “no”. The emphasis is increasingly on research which has immediate practical applications. Yet seemingly esoteric research can shed light in quite unexpected areas. For example, a PhD thesis written by a then obscure research student 70 years ago [...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plans in tatters as DUP call for long delay over backing her ‘toxic’ deal March 26, 2019 Theresa May’s Brexit plans suffered another setback today as the Democratic Unionist Party said they would prefer to delay the UK’s departure from the EU over supporting her “toxic” deal. Sammy Wilson, the DUP’s Brexit spokesman, said his party’s 10 MPs would only vote for the deal if there are “significant changes” to the text [...]
DEBATE: The Mueller report has cleared Trump of collusion with Russia – is this the end of his legal worries? March 26, 2019 The Mueller report has cleared Trump of collusion with Russia – is this the end of his legal worries? YES, says Sarah Elliott, chair of Republicans Overseas UK After two years and over $25m of taxpayer funds, the big conspiracy, perpetuated by the Trump-deranged media, that the 45th President was elected because of Russian collusion has [...]
In a logical world, the EU would never risk the fallout of Britain crashing out with no deal at all March 26, 2019 At a dinner the other week, a friend of mine wondered whether Theresa May would have been treated with quite so much patience, forbearance and courtesy by her EU colleagues had she not been a woman. It’s a fair question. Her reportedly dismal performance at the EU summit on 21 March must have been enough [...]
A Norway Plus compromise is the worst of both Brexit worlds March 26, 2019 As the Brexit process descends ever deeper into chaos, a simple argument has started to gain ground. Remainers want to remain. Leavers want to leave. So isn’t the obvious way out of this impasse to go for the version of leaving that is closest to remaining? As I write, MPs are due to vote on [...]
Pentagon sanctions $1bn for Trump’s US-Mexico border wall March 26, 2019 The Pentagon has authorised the first transfer of funds for President Donald Trump's wall at the US-Mexico border since he declared a national emergency. Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan authorised $1bn (£758m) in support from the US Army Corps of Engineers for the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol. Read more: Trump brands Kellyanne [...]