Four London infrastructure projects that unravelled in 2019 December 23, 2019 Boris Johnson “loves infrastructure”. At least, that’s what the Prime Minister said when he was asked about the High Speed Two rail project on the campaign trail earlier this month. And it is just as well. Because some of London’s biggest infrastructure problems are creaking at the seams. If the PM were not so keen on [...]
Donald Trump invites Boris Johnson to White House December 22, 2019 US president Donald Trump has reportedly invited prime minister Boris Johnson to visit him in the White House in the new year. The Sunday Times reported that Trump’s invitation to Johnson was made after the British prime minister’s recent election win. Read more: European stocks rally as Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal is approved Formal discussions [...]
Space Force: Donald Trump unveils new US military service December 21, 2019 Donald Trump has officially signed off funding for a US Space Force. It is the first new military service to be implemented in 70 years and was unveiled on Friday after the President signed the $738bn (£567bn) annual US military budget. It will fall under the US Air Force domain and will receive an initial [...]
Brexit bill: MPs back Boris Johnson’s EU withdrawal agreement December 20, 2019 MPs have voted in favour of Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill during today’s second reading in the House of Commons. It paves the way for the UK to leave the European Union by 31 January. Read more: Downing Street defends Zac Goldsmith peerage and cabinet role It was voted for by 358 MPs, while 234 voted [...]
Labour to vote against Brexit bill in second reading but some MPs could rebel December 20, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed that Labour MPs will vote against Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill today. The Labour leader launched an attack on the Prime Minister’s deal, which is likely to pass regardless by virtue of the Conservative’s 80-seat majority. “We remain certain there is a better and fairer way for this country to leave the [...]
Brexit bill: MPs to vote on Boris Johnson’s deal in second reading December 20, 2019 MPs will today vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill just more than a month before 31 January deadline. The withdrawal bill was first introduced to the House of Commons in October and will have its second reading today. Read more: CBI welcomes Prime Minister’s Brexit trade deal deadline MPs will have a chance to debate [...]
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 [...]
Trump impeachment vote: When is the vote, and will Trump really be impeached? December 18, 2019 The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on the prospect of impeaching sitting US President Donald Trump today. Despite a mountain of evidence showing Trump asked Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, the President has insisted that he did nothing wrong. The House Rules Committee has approved six hours of debate on [...]
Tony Blair: Labour must be rescued from the far left December 18, 2019 Tony Blair delivered a scathing verdict on Labour’s 2019 General Election campaign and urged the party’s leadership hopefuls not to “whitewash” the result. “Labour needs not just a different driver, but a different bus,” he said in a speech announcing his institute’s report into Labour’s biggest electoral defeat in modern history. Read more: How Boris [...]
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 [...]