May embarks on government restructure to create a new business, energy and industrial strategy department July 14, 2016 Prime Ministry Theresa May has made a major restructure of government, bringing together two substantial departments to create the single office for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The move means that the old departments of Business, Innovation and Skills and Energy and Climate Change have effectively been merged. The new office will be led by [...]
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan hosts London devolution summit July 14, 2016 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan today held a summit of political and business leaders as he pushes for support on further devolution for the capital. Meeting business representatives from the Corporation of London, London First and the London Chamber of Commerce, Khan looked to bolster support for more powers in the wake of the Brexit vote last [...]
Now arriving in Downing Street: Who has Theresa May appointed to her first cabinet? July 14, 2016 New Prime Minister Theresa May has continued to build her first government, with a raft of key appointments. With Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox among the key arrivals yesterday, and a brutal purge kicking off this morning, who has May appointed across her cabinet today? Greg Clark takes on the new BEIS, swapping [...]
Westminster bloodbath as Michael Gove, Nicky Morgan and John Whittingdale sacked by Theresa May July 14, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May is taking no prisoners as she makes a slew of high-profile sackings, marking a massive political shift in the new government. After a string of cabinet placements last night, May started the morning by sacking pro-Brexit campaigner and former justice secretary Michael Gove. Gove had campaigned alongside Boris Johnson to leave [...]
David Davis: The new Brexit minister’s plan for Britain July 14, 2016 David Davis, long-time eurosceptic, one-time leadership contender and EU treaty negotiator in 1996, has taken on the newly-created post of Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. Or as it's already more informally known, he is now Britain's Brexit minister. And having served as minister of state for Europe between 1994-97, with responsibility for negotiations with the continent, he's said to [...]
In quotes: Boris Johnson’s foreign insults and gaffes July 14, 2016 Oh Boris. The lovable rogue was an recognisable mascot for London, but taking on an official statesman role as foreign secretary? You'd be forgiven for having doubts about his diplomatic skills… On China… "Chinese cultural influence is virtually nil, and unlikely to increase…" On Hilary Clinton… "She's got dyed blonde hair and pouty lips, and a [...]
Labour leadership contender Owen Smith says UK should vote on Brexit again July 14, 2016 The United Kingdom should have another vote on whether to remain in the European Union when a Brexit deal is agreed, a Labour leadership candidate has said. Owen Smith, MP for Pontypridd, said many Britons backed Brexit under false pretences and want a second vote. If he was to win the election, Smith says he would [...]
May and the three Brexiteers lead Britain July 14, 2016 If there were any doubts that the new Prime Minister really meant it when she said “Brexit means Brexit” they were put to bed last night as she appointed three senior Leave campaigners to oversee the process of the UK's departure from the EU, the forging of new global trade deals and the creation of [...]
We’re all in the dark when it comes to her economic policies – but here are five conjectures July 14, 2016 This is one of those articles I could live to regret. Speculating on the future economic policies of a Prime Minister in power for less than a day is either bold, reckless or both. We’re all in the dark, a bit like Ken Clarke, who said last week that he only knew in detail what [...]
Negotiations mustn’t be put off. We owe it to the British people to get things underway now July 14, 2016 Standing outside the Commons, new Prime Minister Theresa May proclaimed that we are going to make a success of Brexit. One of her first tasks is to reassure the country that a plan for a post-Brexit Britain will be presented as soon as reasonably possible. While there is a tiny minority who remain unwilling to accept [...]