Would harsher punishments deter the likes of Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes? September 21, 2016 Natalie Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes: don’t you just love her? One of the Black Lives Matter campaigners, our Nat caused chaos by occupying the runway at London City Airport, on the grounds that climate change is racist. She and eight others, including a former member of the Oxford University Croquet Club, were sentenced by the courts last week. [...]
Theresa May tells UN summit: UK remains outward-facing after Brexit vote September 20, 2016 Theresa May has talked up the UK as a “confident, strong and dependable partner” after the Brexit vote at a United Nations event. The Prime Minister said tonight that the UK “has always been an outward-facing, global partner at the heart of international efforts to secure peace and prosperity for all our people. And that [...]
What should Hammond do to ensure steady management of the public finances? Not very much. September 20, 2016 Quietly, and without fuss, the Treasury has revealed that the first budget of Theresa May’s government will be unveiled on 23rd November. The confirmation of the Autumn Statement date was made just under two weeks ago – the chances are, you didn’t even notice. The memo was a passive and reserved show of defiance. Earlier [...]
Would a 2017 General Election mean a landslide victory for the Conservative Party? September 20, 2016 Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, says Yes. Unless everything we think we know about politics turns out to be wrong, the Tories are going to win the next election. They are way ahead of Labour on both economic competence and best Prime Minister. Just how big that win will [...]
Tony Blair is to close his business consultancy so he can spend (most of) his time doing pro-bono work September 20, 2016 Tony Blair has revealed that he will close down his business consultancy operation to do mostly pro-bono work. Blair announced today that 80 per cent of his time will be spent on free work following the closure of the operation. “Substantial reserves” built up by Tony Blair Associates will also be handed to not-for-profit operations, [...]
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron appeals to Labour voters: Back us or face another Tory majority September 20, 2016 Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has launched a direct appeal to Labour supporters, demanding they back his party or face more than 20 years of Conservative majority rule. In his keynote speech at the Lib Dem party conference in Brighton, Farron also warned that businesses were “funding their own funeral” by backing the Conservatives in [...]
Corrie star makes Labour’s final list for candidates to replace murdered MP Jo Cox September 20, 2016 Murdered MP Jo Cox could be replaced by a former soap star, after ex Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin was included in a final list of candidates for the seat of Batley and Spen. Brabin featured on the soap for for eight years as Tricia Armstrong, as well as taking on roles in Eastenders and Holby City, and she will [...]
EU competition chief defends Apple tax ruling on visit to Washington September 20, 2016 Margrethe Vestager, the EU chief who presided over the decision to slap Apple with a €13bn tax bill has met with counterparts in Washington in an attempt to smooth over relations on the issue of tax. Vestager said she had a "good, frank discussion" with US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew about state aid and taxation but fired [...]
Donald Trump sparks outrage by comparing Syrian refugee crisis to Skittles September 20, 2016 The Donald Trump campaign has provoked uproar, yet again, with its latest campaign adverts comparing the Syrian refugee crisis to a bowl of Skittles. Just hours after a bomb attack in Chelsea, Manhattan injured 29 people in Trump's home city of New York, the controversial tycoon's campaign team put out a shocking advert claiming refugees fleeing [...]
Things move slowly in the WTO – there’s a significant leadership opportunity for the UK September 20, 2016 Step changes typically pass unnoticed until after the event that triggered them has passed. The step change anticipated if Leave succeeded was a huge loss on the markets. That did not occur. But there is an unanticipated step change. An opportunity has emerged for the UK to lead action in reconstructing the World Trade Organisation [...]