DEBATE: Is it time to reform the civil service, as Dominic Cummings intends? December 19, 2019 Is it time for a full restructuring of the civil service, as Dominic Cummings intends? YES, says Duncan Simpson, research director at the TaxPayers’ Alliance. The “Rolls Royce” reputation of the civil service has long been in question. From hugely overpriced procurements in defence and transport, to overly-anxious advice on EU exit negotiations, the supposed [...]
Dominic Cummings may be ruthless, but he delivers when it comes to securing victory December 16, 2019 The Tories’ election victory may have been fronted by the indefatigable Boris Johnson, but underlying it was the vindication of a strategy conceived by his chief advisor: Dominic Cummings. He may have gained notoriety as campaign director of Vote Leave in the EU referendum, but it was his role in masterminding the 2004 “North East [...]
Boris Johnson thanks north of England for ‘breaking voting habits of generations’ December 14, 2019 Boris Johnson has thanked the north of England for “breaking the voting habits of generations” during a visit to Sedgefield today. The Prime Minister visited the former seat of Tony Blair after celebrating the Conservative’s 80-seat majority – the party’s largest since 1987. It was the first time the Country Durham constituency has been held [...]
Election survivors: All the MPs who only just held onto their seats December 13, 2019 With every General Election comes speculation that Westminster stalwarts and cabinet ministers might lose their seats, and this was no different. But for some, last night brought a sigh of relief, as campaigners hoping they would be ousted were proved wrong. Read more: General Election: Boris Johnson praises ‘stonking mandate’ for Brexit Theresa May For [...]
Donald Trump: Britain free to strike ‘massive’ trade deal with US after Boris Johnson election victory December 13, 2019 Traditionally, for the winner of a General Election, results day involves taking congratulatory calls from leaders across the globe. But in Boris Johnson’s case, US President Donald Trump has beaten the others to the punch, tweeting that he will soon bestow the re-elected Tory PM with a “massive” new trade deal once he has delivered [...]
The chaos of Brexit is nothing compared to the risk of Jeremy Corbyn December 12, 2019 Every election is important, but some elections are indisputably more important than others. In the British context, the clearest examples of the past century have been 1945 and 1979. In both cases, the electorate decisively rejected the pre-election consensus that had held sway for an entire epoch. In 1945, Labour’s New Jerusalem and capture of [...]
Whoever wins this election, our politics will remain in flux December 10, 2019 Nothing except an election lost can be half so melancholy as an election won. That’s what the Duke of Wellington might have said after he swapped the battlefield for politics. Come Friday morning, each of the major parties will be reckoning with the result — and may find pain in victory as well as defeat. [...]
The best and worst political adverts of the General Election 2019 campaign December 9, 2019 It is the holiday season, and every day another Christmas advertising campaign drops. But this year, a festive election is happening for the first time in 96 years — and whether we like it or not, it’s hanging over everything. In no particular order, and with a pinch of non-partisan cynicism, here are some honest [...]
Michael Gove gives out No 10 phone number when quizzed on Andrew Neil interview December 6, 2019 Michael Gove has given out the direct phone number to No 10 Downing Street after being pressed on when the Prime Minister would be doing an interview with Andrew Neil. The Duchy of Lancaster was asked to put a figure on the chances that Boris Johnson would accept the invitation to be interviewed on BBC [...]
Nato summit 2019: London road closures map as Trump arrives in UK December 2, 2019 World leaders are set to descend on London this week for the 2019 Nato summit. The main event will take place on Wednesday 4 December at the The Grove Hotel at Chandler’s Cross in Watford, Hertfordshire. Read more: Angela Merkel says Europe cannot do without Nato The heads of state from 28 countries will gather [...]