Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon and Angela Eagle: The big hitters lined up for Thursday’s EU debate June 6, 2016 ITV has confirmed the line-up for its debate on the EU referendum this week, with spots for former London mayor Boris Johnson, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon two Conservative ministers. Johnson will line up alongside energy minister Andrea Leadsom and Labour's Gisela Stuart. The trio will face Sturgeon, energy secretary – and Leadsom's boss – Amber Rudd, [...]
Steve Hilton interview: Cameron’s former advisor on supporting Brexit, decentralising government and why Boris shouldn’t take over as PM June 6, 2016 Steve Hilton was so unconventional during his time as Tory party spin doctor that when they came to parody him in The Thick of It, they had to tone him down. “He wears something I would never wear,” complained actor Vincent Franklin, “these ridiculous half-shorts, half-trousers.” Amid the charcoal suits of the Tory cabinet, Hilton [...]
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan vows to tackle air pollution as worrying new figures reveal capital’s health inequalities June 6, 2016 New figures that lay bare the extent of London's air pollution has sparked a promised crackdown by the Mayor of London. Data published today revealed that Londoners living in the capital’s most deprived boroughs are significantly more likely to die of lung cancer, asthma and other lung diseases than those who live in more affluent parts [...]
Softer support for remaining in the EU makes voter turnout crucial, poll shows June 6, 2016 With the EU referendum less than a month away, softening support among Brits for the Remain camp will make voter turnout crucial. An online survey by TNS UK found 41 per cent of UK respondents backed remain, while 43 per cent wanted to leave and 16 per cent were undecided. It accounted for differential turnout, or groups of voters less likely to [...]
The latest ICM polls again show the Leave campaign is leading in the build up to the EU referendum June 6, 2016 Brexiteers are again winning in the latest polling figures from ICM, which show a five per cent gap between the EU referendum's Leave and Remain campaigns. Figures from the pollster last week showed a lead for the Brexit campaign, which lead to an immediate drop in the value of sterling. YouGov figures this morning also showed a similar gap [...]
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says Labour is looking at universal basic income June 6, 2016 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said that Labour is considering backing a universal basic income (UBI), which could prepare the workforce for robotisation. The change would be a transformation of the welfare state, providing a flat rate payment to individuals. McDonnell will appear at the launch of a report from campaign group Compass in the [...]
EU referendum: Boris Johnson says taxpayers will be hit with £2.4bn bill if UK votes to Remain as David Cameron speaks with former foes June 6, 2016 Former Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said the UK faces a "triple whammy of woe" if it remains in the EU, while stating Leave has won the "democratic argument". That will include facing a £20bn blackhole in EU finances, an extra £2.4bn bill from Brussels and liability for future eurozone bailouts. However, Remain's Chuka Umunna said the [...]
US Presidential Election 2016: Donald Trump says “it’s possible” Muslim judges would be biased against him June 6, 2016 Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump isn't convinced he'd get a fair trial from a Muslim judge. After last week having said that a judge's Mexican background should bar him from a lawsuit against him, Trump raised concerns that a Muslim judge wouldn't be able to stay neutral in a case against him. Last week [...]
Politics, like business, needs long-term ideas June 6, 2016 As Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Junker remarked: “We all know what to do, we just don't know how to get re-elected after we've done it.” Today, Junker no longer has to worry about relying on an electorate for his position, having acquired the role of top dog at the European Commission. However, his past observation remains [...]
Brexit campaigners have been handed another lead in the latest polling from YouGov June 6, 2016 Leave campaigners have been handed another boost, with the latest YouGov figures again showing a lead for Brexit, while almost three quarters of voters say they don't trust the Prime Minister. The polls adds to growing suggestions of a Leave lead, with online and telephone polls last week both showing a swing towards Brexit. In a [...]