Theresa May’s vision-free approach is alienating us all October 2, 2018 An opening day Conservative conference speech by former CBI Director-General Digby Jones might not have been expected to diagnose the Prime Minister’s key weakness. But defending Theresa May’s Brexit approach, the former Labour minister unwittingly exposed the reason that the Prime Minister has alienated much of her party: she is a vision-free zone. Riffing off [...]
Philip Hammond says Tories are the ‘party of business’ as he takes the fight to Jeremy Corbyn October 1, 2018 Philip Hammond tried to paint the Conservatives as the "party of business" today as he launched a sustained attack on the Labour Party's plans for the economy. Speaking at the Tory conference in Birmingham, the chancellor urged his party to put on a united front to defeat Jeremy Corbyn – arguing Labour's plans would threaten [...]
Watch out, Tories – Labour has got its anti-capitalist mojo back September 28, 2018 I started my week in Liverpool. It’s a great city. It’s got soul. It’s got a clear identity. And it’s clearly on the up. In the past week, all those words could apply to the main opposition party that just might be capturing the zeitgeist of middle Britain. Rubbing alongside those delegates partying by [...]
Editor’s Notes: The Tories face a huge challenge, but they must take the fight to Corbyn September 28, 2018 Having observed the Labour party conference from a safe distance I’ll be travelling to Birmingham on Sunday to soak up the atmosphere at the annual Tory gathering. My first port of call will be speaking at a dinner hosted by City comms firm Cicero, where I shall sing for my supper and offer a [...]
DEBATE: Is Labour looking more like a credible government-in-waiting after this year’s conference? September 27, 2018 Is Labour looking more like a credible government-in-waiting after this year’s conference? Finn McRedmond, staff writer at Reaction, says YES. In his keynote speech yesterday, Jeremy Corbyn said to Jim O’Neill, former Tory minister and Goldman Sachs economist: “You’re welcome, come and join us in the new political mainstream.” This was the pervasive sentiment: [...]
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn set out competing economic visions in major speeches September 26, 2018 Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn set out competing visions of Britain's future on Wednesday with two radically different speeches on the economy. Addressing the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York, May praised free markets and vowed to slash the UK's corporation tax to the lowest rate in the G20 after Brexit. As the PM addressed [...]
The Tories must tackle the growing confidence of socialists – and the growing attractiveness of socialism September 26, 2018 Two party leaders gave speeches on Wednesday. One, in New York, praised the free-market as “the greatest agent of human progress” and pledged “a post-Brexit Britain will be an unequivocally pro-business Britain.” The other, in Liverpool, lashed out at “a failed economic system” in which “millions of people” are a mere “side show for [...]
Jeremy Corbyn vows to vote down Chequers deal as he calls for UK to stay in a customs union September 26, 2018 Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed he would vote down Theresa May's Brexit plan as part of a gamble to trigger a general election. In his keynote speech to Labour's conference on Wednesday, Corbyn said his MPs would not back May's so-called Chequers proposal, but would also oppose leaving the EU without any trade deal. He claimed [...]
Wealthy parents would pay just £4 an hour towards childcare under Labour, Jeremy Corbyn announces September 25, 2018 Wealthy parents would pay just £4 an hour towards childcare under Labour, Jeremy Corbyn is set to announce. The Labour leader will use his keynote conference speech on Wednesday to propose a massive subsidy of childcare for all parents – regardless of earnings. As well as extending 30 hours a week free childcare to all [...]
An election is the last thing we need – and voters would punish politicians for calling it September 25, 2018 Theresa May’s Brexit negotiations with the European Union are going very, very wrong, and there is now speculation that the UK could be heading for a snap election — cue eyerolls and yawns nationwide. Both the ruling Conservatives and opposition Labour party appear to be considering the possibility of a snap election as early [...]