Business has a responsibility to ensure a generation is not lost. It’s time to make real investments September 22, 2016 At the UN General Assembly this week, Syria and the plight of its refugee citizens are top of the agenda. In the face of challenges that will be felt for years to come, what kind of future should the rest of the world aspire to help them achieve? Three weeks ago, I visited the Za’atari [...]
There are plenty of lessons the German Chancellor can learn from yesterday’s men September 22, 2016 What is it about the rule of 10? Ten years at the top in European politics is more than enough. This month Angela Merkel celebrates her eleventh anniversary as Chancellor of Germany. She now has to decide whether to go on and on and seek another four years in the federal elections in September 2017. [...]
Scotland may be split on independence – but the future looks fixed in one direction September 22, 2016 As if Brexit wasn’t complicated enough, the Prime Minister also needs to keep an eye on developments north of the border, in Scotland. Many nationalists argue that the 2014 referendum was about being in a very different UK (i.e. inside the EU as well), and that, if the referendum was to be repeated now, the vote [...]
Watch: Award-winning Kes director Ken Loach made a documentary about Jeremy Corbyn September 21, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has premiered a new documentary made about his leadership campaign by award-winning director Ken Loach. Loach is a long time Corbyn supporter, having joined the Labour leader on anti-austerity protests, and he is among the speakers expected at separate conference being run by the Corbyn-backing Momentum campaign alongside the official Labour event next week. But he is also [...]
Before Britain joined the EEC, we had free movement between Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Post-Brexit, we can reignite the benefits that brought September 21, 2016 Nearly three months on from Britain’s momentous decision to leave the EU, our future remains uncertain. The Prime Minister is not expected to invoke Article 50 until next year and we’re yet to see a precise outline of the type of deal that she will seek to achieve in the coming exit negotiations. Some Remainers [...]
What to expect from Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement September 21, 2016 The UK entered a period of heightened political and economic uncertainty following the EU referendum. But as the fog begins to clear, we are starting to see more clearly what might be on the horizon. We downgraded our forecast for UK economic growth in the aftermath of the referendum. Our concerns have since receded, as [...]
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 [...]