Ex-Labour minster quits party with astonishing attack on the ‘Corbyn Cult’ May 14, 2019 A former Labour minister has quit the party with a savage attack on the “Corbyn Cult” she claims has taken over the leadership. Bridget Prentice, who served as a junior minister in the Ministry of Justice under Tony Blair, compared the Labour party to North Korea were “disloyalty to the leader is a criminal offence.” Prentice, [...]
John McDonnell tells CEOs: Karl Marx’s analysis has to be taken into account May 14, 2019 Labour’s shadow chancellor has told some of the world’s most powerful CEO’s that revolutionary thinker Karl Marx had ideas that “we have to take into account”. Speaking at the Wall Street Journal’s CEO council in London, John McDonnell was quizzed over his previous claim that he was a “Marxist”. An audience member challenged McDonnell to [...]
Theresa May says it’s ‘imperative’ Brexit takes place by summer as she unveils compromises May 14, 2019 Theresa May has set out the Brexit compromises she will make to Labour amid a warning that signing up to customs union with the EU will split her party. Read more: Brexit: Still no progress in discussions between the Tories and Labour In a marathon meeting of the cabinet in Downing Street, the Prime Minister and her de [...]
Could Capita’s move to put workers to boards fix capitalism’s crisis? May 14, 2019 Capitalism is being questioned in Britain more intensely than for decades. Some want to destroy it. Others believe that it is the only economic system which works, but want to reform it. I am in the latter camp. Part of the debate around Brexit has centred on preserving workers’ rights, enshrined in EU law. But rights [...]
DEBATE: Is it possible for Donald Trump to ‘win’ the trade war with China? May 14, 2019 Is it possible for Donald Trump to ‘win’ the trade war with China? Dr John Hemmings, director of the Asia Studies Centre at the Henry Jackson Society, says YES. While many people blame Donald Trump’s “America First” policy for the trade war, it’s likely that Hillary Clinton would have done the same, since Beijing’s leadership has [...]
Economists are united about Trump’s trade folly May 14, 2019 In George Bernard Shaw’s words, if all the economists were laid end to end, they’d never reach a conclusion. Scour the pool of practitioners of the dismal science, and you will find supporters and detractors for almost every economic theory, from free markets to socialism. The one exception, however, is protectionism. Whether from the left [...]
Brexit talks: Still no progress in discussions between the Conservatives and Labour May 13, 2019 Brexit talks between the Conservative and Labour frontbenches ended in stalemate yet again on Monday despite frantic speculation a crunch vote was set for later this week. Tory MPs were told a three-line whip was in operation for Thursday – meaning an important vote was scheduled – before it was downgraded to a one-line whip. [...]
Economists pour cold water on Trump’s tariff arguments May 13, 2019 Economists have said US President Donald Trump’s argument that American consumers will not face higher prices after tariff increases shows “a fundamental misunderstanding of how tariffs work”. Read more: China retaliates with tariffs on $60bn of US goods Trump tweeted today: “Their [sic] is no reason for the U.S. Consumer to pay the Tariffs, which take [...]
US-China trade war: China retaliates with tariffs on $60bn of goods following US levy hike May 13, 2019 China’s ministry of finance has announced that it will place tariffs of between five and 25 per cent on $60bn worth of US goods in retaliation for America’s more significant duty increases. Read more: European markets take a hit over US-China trade war escalation It will target around 5,000 US goods from 1 June, the [...]
Fund manager Neil Woodford doubles stake in Card Factory despite high street woes May 13, 2019 Former star trader Neil Woodford has doubled his stake in Card Factory despite high street footfall woes hitting the retailer’s sales last year. Woodford Investment Management has increased its stake in the greeting cards retailer to 10.06 per cent, in a significant bet on the company boosting its performance. Read more: Neil Woodford's billion-dollar baby [...]