Is there a Tufton Street of the left? September 5, 2024 With think tankers and campaigners being appointed to government, it’s tempting to think these secretive groups are calling the tune, but there are better ways to work out what Labour really thinks, says James Nation Over the last 14 years, there was a theory among some commentators that went something like this: yes, Conservative Prime [...]
Playing nice with trade unions won’t fix public services September 5, 2024 With trade unions promising further strike action despite generous pay settlements, Labour have found themselves in a bind of their own making, say Matthew Lesh Throughout the election campaign, Keir Starmer repeatedly pledged to end strikes by engaging in constructive dialogue with the unions. This always sounded like a pretty hollow promise. How could simply talking to [...]
Grenfell: Firms involved to be barred from public contracts, Starmer vows September 4, 2024 Companies involved in the failings that led to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy will no longer be awarded government contracts, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister apologised for the disaster – which saw 72 people die in the tower block blaze in June 2017 – in a grave statement to the House of [...]
Are the super-rich running out of road? September 4, 2024 As more western governments look at ways to increase taxes for the ultra-rich, Ali Lyon asks whether it will work
‘New footing’: Eurogroup president pledges closer ties with City of London as Brexit tensions ease September 4, 2024 The president of the EU’s council of financial ministers pledged closer ties with the City of London yesterday as he hailed a “new footing” in the relationship between Keir Starmer’s government and the bloc.
Labour can’t resist flirting with economic populism September 4, 2024 Keir Starmer’s closest advisors spent last week briefing journalists that this government would be straight with people, and that it would reject the “fake populism” of the Tories which, they claim, raised people’s hopes before disappointing them. Labour figures said that the Prime Minister’s doom-laden introduction to the country was more responsible than attempting to [...]
Should Larry the cat be worried by Starmer’s new kitten? September 4, 2024 Keir Starmer may not have won over business yet, but he’s at least managed a compromise within his own household, with the Prime Minister announcing the addition of a new kitten to 10 Downing Street following a summer of negotiations with his children (a German Shepherd had initially been demanded). The Siberian kitten – who [...]
‘The mood change is palpable’: UK firms feel Labour lift despite looming tax raid, says Peel Hunt September 3, 2024 The UK economy is “rebounding solidly” and the City of London is reaping the benefits of the Labour government’s ‘growth agenda’ despite fears of an looming round of swinging tax cuts, one of the Square Mile’s top investment banks has said.
Teaching unions may come to regret Ofsted reforms September 3, 2024 Abolishing one-word Ofsted judgements could be a good thing, but not for the reasons the government says, writes David Thomas The government has abolished single-word Ofsted judgments. For now schools will get grades for each of the four sub-categories currently in use, and from next year they’ll be replaced by a report card. Unions are [...]
Supermarket and McDonald’s bosses to meet ministers over workers’ rights reforms September 2, 2024 Bosses from UK supermarkets and McDonald’s are set to meet government ministers to be updated on plans for new laws around workers rights. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and business secretary Jonathan Reynolds will join John Lewis CEO Nish Kankiwala; Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts; Claire Costello, chief people and inclusion officer at the Co-Op; and [...]