A truly meritocratic society would be an intrusive and cruel dystopia September 12, 2016 Meritocracy. It’s a term beloved by Conservatives, who say they want a “fair” society where people’s outcomes are determined purely by a combination of hard work and talent. This was Theresa May’s rallying cry last week as she turned Tory education policy on its head by outlining the case for a new generation of grammar [...]
Britain’s struggling Border Force is in no state to manage a post-Brexit migration crackdown September 12, 2016 When we leave the EU, we may bring in work permits or some other way of controlling immigration from Europe. The home secretary confirmed that this was on the table this weekend. To do this, however, we will need to overhaul our Border Force. In a new report released this week, I outline the deep [...]
David Davis thinks the Brexit talks will be the “most complicated negotiation of modern times” September 12, 2016 Brexit secretary David Davis has said the upcoming negotiations over the UK's exit from the European Union could be the most difficult diplomatic endeavour ever undertaken. Speaking in front of a House of Lords committee, Davis said: "This is likely to be the most complicated negotiation in modern times, maybe the most complicated negotiation of [...]
Theresa May’s treatment of EU nationals in the UK “inhuman and immoral” says TUC boss Frances O’Grady September 12, 2016 TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady has hit out at Theresa May's failure to guarantee the rights of EU nationals currently living in the UK, branding the decision "immoral and inhuman". May has expressed a desire to grant residency protections to EU citizens currently in the UK, but cautioned this remains tied to the willingness of [...]
Sadiq Khan’s new one-hour Hopper bus fare comes into force today – but it won’t quite live up to his original promise September 12, 2016 One of London mayor Sadiq Khan's manifesto promises launches today, but it won't quite match the plan. Khan had pledged a new “Hopper” one hour bus ticket allowing unlimited transfers on buses inside a 60-minute window. And while the ticket launches today, it will only cover a single change between buses or trams, with the discount [...]
Trade secretary Liam Fox has faced a fallout from some sloppy rhetoric. But he makes a very valid point about exporting September 12, 2016 Things haven't been going smoothly for the newly appointed secretary of state for international trade, Liam Fox. First, he became embroiled in an unseemly row with the foreign secretary about who stood where in the Whitehall pecking order. Then he got overexcited about the potential for a free-trade deal with Australia, only for our antipodean friends [...]
Is a hard Brexit looking increasingly likely? September 12, 2016 Alex Deane, common councilman in the City of London Corporation and managing director at FTI Consulting, says Yes. Those obsessing about “the deal” we get with the European Union miss some basic truths. People and companies trade with one another, not nations. We are highly successful in economic relationships entirely without a trade deal: we have no [...]
US Presidential Election 2016: Hillary Clinton confirmed as having pneumonia after leaving 9/11 event September 11, 2016 Hillary Clinton was diagnosed with pneumonia last week, her doctor revealed tonight after the presidential candidate was forced to leave a 9/11 memorial service early because she felt unwell. The Democrat appeared to stumble as she was escorted from the service in New York by her security team and led to her daughter's apartment, close to the ceremony. She emerged [...]
Hillary Clinton cuts short 9/11 memorial attendance after feeling unwell September 11, 2016 Hillary Clinton has cut short her attendance at a 9/11 memorial in New York City after feeling unwell, but has since recovered, a comment from a campaign spokesperson said. The Democratic Presidential candidate was seen being escorted from the event at Ground Zero with some reports suggesting she had fainted. In a statement a spokesperson said: "Secretary Clinton attended the [...]
Corporations are “fighting the wrong battle” on tax avoidance, according to Eurozone finance chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem September 11, 2016 The head of Eurozone finance ministers has warned multinational corporations to pay their share of tax, less than two weeks after Apple was handed a €13bn bill by EU authorities. The European Competition Commission ruled that the tech giant had been handed a “sweetheart” deal amounting to state aid by the Irish government. And now, head [...]