Donald Trump hires Breitbart News exec for top campaign position August 17, 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has shaken up his campaign team by appointing Breitbart News' executive chairman as his campaign's chief exec. Stephen Bannon's appointment comes at a time when Trump trails rival Hillary Clinton substantially in the polls in some key battleground states and after a number of controversies. Breitbart, a right-wing website, has been favourable of Trump in [...]
Labour leadership contender Owen Smith has said the UK should enter peace talks with Isis to resolve the ongoing Middle East crisis August 17, 2016 Labour leadership contender Owen Smith has said the UK should enter talks with fundamentalist terror group Isis as it seeks peace in the Middle East. Speaking on the BBC earlier today, Smith – who was a special adviser to Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy during the peace process – said that there was a need to get the so-called Islamic [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has again failed to explain the maths behind his plans for a huge national spending splurge August 17, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has again failed to lay out the maths behind a huge spending splurge that will include a million new homes and £500bn in infrastructure investment. Speaking on the BBC as part of the leadership debate alongside Owen Smith, Corbyn said that a combination of tax increases and growth would support the [...]
George Osborne may earn more talking about the economy on the dinner circuit than he did running it August 17, 2016 Former chancellor George Osborne could start to earn far and above his previous salary after being permission to sign up to the after dinner speaking circuit. Osborne could earn thousands of pounds per speech after being told he was allowed to sign up to the Washington Speakers Bureau, which already has Tony Blair, Nicolas Sarkozy [...]
Theresa May has penned a personal letter to the Chinese president in a bid to steady relations with Beijing August 17, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Chinese President Xi Jinping to reassure him of the UK's commitment to ties with Beijing ahead of her visit to China next month. May will travel to China for the G20 leader summit in Hangzhou early next month, and has taken steps to ease concerns in Beijing after [...]
Rough & the smooth: Sadiq Khan’s first 100 days as mayor of London August 17, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan has celebrated his first 100 days in City Hall. So, how’s his mayoralty shaping up? Khan was elected on 5 May, after his rival Zac Goldsmith sank in a pit of his campaign’s own making. The Tory candidate would probably have made a perfectly decent and thoughtful mayor, but his campaign [...]
A new trade commission has warned the UK to treat China with “kid gloves”, and focus on attempts to secure deals with countries with “similar values” August 17, 2016 A group of global trade experts are calling on the UK to focus on negotiations with culturally similar nations, warning the UK to treat China “with kid gloves”. The new, independent special trade commission will operate through think tank Legatum, and features former advisers to both President Obama and former President George W Bush. The [...]
Blame Jeremy Corbyn for the increasing number of public sector strikes August 16, 2016 The total number of working days lost through labour disputes last year was, at just 170,000, the second lowest annual total since records began in 1891. What a difference a year can make. Southern Rail commuters have endured months of misery due to the prolonged series of strikes called by the RMT. Union members on Eurostar [...]
A German minister has called for the UK to be granted “special status” in Europe following the vote to leave the EU August 16, 2016 Germany's European Affairs minister has called for Britain to win "a special status" following Brexit, while calling for talks to begin early next year. Theresa May has repeatedly stated that she will not activate Article 50, which gives the UK two years to secure new terms, until 2017. And Michael Roth has told Reuters the UK [...]
Jeremy Corbyn unveils renationalistation transformation plans for Britain’s transport system August 16, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has laid out his plans to rebuild and transform the UK's transport system through renationalisation as the fight for the Labour crown continues. Corbyn set out how he would "rebuild and transform Britain's transport system", extending public ownership from rail to bus networks. He said that enough money from public ownership [...]