The duelling narratives that will define November’s US presidential election August 3, 2020 There is a theory behind every presidential campaign, a basic narrative as to why the specific presidential aspirant and the specific moment are met, why the candidate is uniquely gifted to help the country through its present moment of peril. Of course, more often than not, this amounts to nonsense. For every Franklin Roosevelt or [...]
Trump vows action on Chinese companies ‘in coming days’ August 2, 2020 US President Donald Trump will take action against Chinese companies sharing data with the Beijing government “in the coming days”, secretary of state Mike Pompeo said today. “President Trump has said ‘enough’ and we’re going to fix it,” Pompeo said on Fox News this afternoon. “He will take action in the coming days with respect [...]
Boris Johnson considers M25 border among new lockdown measures August 2, 2020 Boris Johnson is considering a fresh raft of lockdown measures in England including restricting travel beyond the M25, as the Prime Minister scrambles to contain a spike in infections across the country. Plans are being assessed after a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases last week forced the Prime Minister to apply the brakes on [...]
Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape will not be suspended from party August 2, 2020 The Tory MP arrested over allegations of rape will not be suspended from the party, in a decision that will only be reviewed following a police investigation, the Conservative party said today. A spokesperson for the Conservative whips’ office said: “These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully. The whip [...]
Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape August 2, 2020 A Conservative MP and former minister has been arrested after a woman in her twenties accused him of rape, sexual assault and coercive control. The Tory MP was taken into custody yesterday and released on bail. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they have launched an investigation into four alleged incidents between July 2019 and January 2020 [...]
City grandees recognised in latest Honours list July 31, 2020 A number of the City’s most prominent figures have been awarded peerages in the Queen’s latest honours list. Dame Helena Morrissey, founder of the 30% Club and one of the City’s best-known fund managers, will become a baroness, having been nominated by Johnson. The Prime Minister also nominated billionaire Michael Spencer, the founder of ICAP [...]
Casinos blast new lockdown measures as ‘sickening’ July 31, 2020 Britain’s casinos have slammed the Prime Minister’s decision to U-turn on plans to ease lockdown restrictions tomorrow as “sickening”, warning that business hangs in the balance with venues forced to shut over the critical summer months. In a press conference today, Boris Johnson said plans to reopen venues tomorrow will be pushed back until at [...]
Lockdown in north-west England: What are the new rules? July 31, 2020 Last night health secretary Matt Hancock announced via Twitter that millions of people in northern England would be subject to new restrictions after an increase in coronavirus cases. The new rules, which met with criticism over how they were announced, apply to people in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire. The measures [...]
DEBATE: With Alistair Darling standing down from the House of Lords, is it time to consider term limits for peers? July 31, 2020 With Alistair Darling standing down from the House of Lords, is it time to consider term limits for peers? John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, says YES. The House of Lords needs to be reformed. It is too big, too opaque, and too expensive. With Alistair Darling deciding to stand down from the [...]
Pay no attention to the EU negotiator behind the curtain July 31, 2020 In the film the Wizard of Oz, the heroine, on finally arriving in the presence of the unseen Wizard, hears his booming voice telling her to go away and come back another time. When her dog Toto pulls back the curtain in the grand room to reveal a small, old man operating the levers of [...]