Downing Street is hinting that future devolution will not require the election of regional mayors August 22, 2016 Future city devolution deals may not require the election of a mayor, Downing Street has hinted, after fears were raised of Theresa May abandoning the previous government's desire to pass down power. A total of 10 city-regions have secured devolution deals so far in talks with the government, and each one has required the adoption [...]
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour should focus on growth above inequality August 22, 2016 It used to go without saying that growth matters. But if former US Treasury secretary Larry Summers now feels the need to take to the pages of the FT to make the “progressive case for economic growth”, it shows just how far other issues, whether inequality or climate change, have come to dominate the thinking [...]
Even Switzerland doesn’t want Britain to adopt the Swiss model post-Brexit August 22, 2016 Imitation may be the most sincere form of flattery, but it is doubtful whether anyone in Switzerland is thanking the City and the British Bankers’ Association for coming up with the idea that London should seek a Swiss-style relationship with Europe once Brexit is fully consummated. The reason Swiss banks and finance firms are so [...]
Theresa May’s Olympic praise sheds light on her industrial strategy vision August 22, 2016 Theresa May returns to Downing Street this week after a walking holiday in Switzerland, a reminder to anyone still basking in the sun with a bottle of rosé that autumn is now upon us. Unlike the rest of us mortals who spend the first day back in the office clearing out the inbox, the Prime [...]
Andrea Leadsom’s campaign manager has admitted “rookie mistakes” in the MP’s failed Tory leadership bid August 22, 2016 A high-profile interview which saw Andrea Leadsom accused of attacking Theresa May for not having children was “a cock up”, her former campaign manager has admitted. Speaking at the Edinburgh Festival last weekend, Conservative MP Tim Loughton claimed Leadsom was being “set up” by journalists, but maintained the decision to give the interview was “a [...]
Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed his return to frontline politics with a bid to enter next year’s French presidential election August 22, 2016 Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed a return to the frontline of French politics with his entry in next year's presidential election. Sarkozy has long been linked with a campaign, but the former President ended speculation with a statement on social media earlier this afternoon. "I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election. [...]
Downing Street has hit back after Jean-Claude Juncker described national borders as “politicians’ worst invention” August 22, 2016 Downing Street has rejected Jean-Claude Juncker's assertion that borders are “the worst invention” of politicians. Speaking at the European Forum Alpbach yesterday, the European Commission president called on Europe to show “solidarity” with refugees, adding: “We have the duty not to follow populists but to block the avenue of populists.” “Borders are the worst invention [...]
Arise, Sir Mo? There will be no formal cap on awards for Britain’s Olympic heroes in the New Years Honours list, Downing St has confirmed August 22, 2016 Britain's triumphant athletes look set to be handed a range of honours in the new year, after Downing Street confirmed there are no formal limits on the number of prizes that could be handed out. The Cabinet Office provides guidance on numbers, but a spokeswoman for Theresa May today said that could even be over-ruled [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised to scrap the House of Lords as the Labour leadership contest enters its final stages August 22, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to scrap the appointed House of Lords as the party's leadership contest enters its final furlongs. Ballots for the leadership election will be sent out from today, with the party expected to announce its leader in a special conference on 24 September. This weekend London mayor Sadiq Khan waded back into [...]
Hate crimes on Britain’s railway climbed by 57 per cent in the weeks after the UK’s Brexit vote, according to new figures August 22, 2016 Suspected race hate crimes on Britain’s railways surged in the aftermath of Britain's EU referendum, new figures have revealed. British Transport Police recorded 119 incidents, including allegations of racist abuse and attacks at stations, according to statistics obtained by the Press Association. The figure – equivalent to eight incidents every day between June 24 and July [...]