Brexit hoped to heal the UK, but instead it leaves wounds that will not easily be closed April 9, 2019 The other day, my three-year-old son gave me a geography lesson. Him: “This is Battersea Park.” Me: “That’s right.” Him: “And Battersea Park is in London?” Me: “Yes, and we’re also in England and in Britain.” At which point he shook his head. “No,” he insisted. “Just London.” Political analysis obviously runs in the family. [...]
The Tories face a struggle with young voters, but hope is not lost April 8, 2019 Where do Tories look these days to cheer themselves up? Until recently they could console themselves with their party’s relative popularity compared to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, but those polls are tightening and when voters are asked for their views on specific areas of policy from housing to crime and the NHS, it’s the Labour party [...]
Brexit delay on the cards amid anger as Conservatives gear up for European elections April 8, 2019 A long delay to Brexit is looking increasingly likely as the Conservative and Labour leaderships are struggling to agree a compromise deal ahead of Wednesday’s EU summit. Brussels has given the UK until 10 April to set out a credible alternative negotiating plan after the repeated failure by Theresa May to get her deal through Parliament. [...]
Social Media: Who watches the watchers? April 8, 2019 Social media, and especially its archetype, Facebook, has had a difficult run of publicity over the past few years. The 2016 US presidential election and the rise of “fake news” certainly did it no favours, and the Cambridge Analytica scandal which came in its wake made things worse still. Facebook’s origins as a benign thread [...]
EU would move ‘extremely quickly’ to agree a post-Brexit customs union, says Michel Barnier April 8, 2019 The EU will move quickly to back a post-Brexit customs union with the UK if Theresa May shifts her red lines, Brussels chief negotiator has claimed. Speaking in Dublin, Michel Barnier said he hoped the cross-party talks taking place in London would produce a “positive outcome” with the prospect of a no deal Brexit now [...]
MPs criticise Boris Johnson over fresh breach of financial reporting rules April 8, 2019 MPs have slammed Boris Johnson for a fresh breach of parliamentary financial reporting rules after he failed to promptly declare outside income from a share in a property. Read more: Boris piles pressure on May to avoid Labour customs union Brexit deal Johnson registered his interest in a 20 per cent share of a property [...]
Europe must lead the way with digital tax, says EU competition commissioner April 8, 2019 Europe must agree on plans for a new digital tax and should be the trailblazer if there is no global consensus, the EU’s competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has said. The EU last month scrapped initial plans to roll out a digital tax on tech giants after opposition from several member states. Read more: EU drops [...]
Debenhams shares fall into the red as investors eye deadline for Sports Direct offer April 8, 2019 Debenhams shares dipped five per cent in early afternoon trading today, falling from a 15 per cent rise this morning as the deadline for a pre-pack administration draws near. The embattled department store chain is set to hand ownership to lenders tomorrow if Sports Direct fails to reach an agreement with the retailer by the end [...]
Theresa May to travel to Paris and Berlin for critical Brexit talks April 8, 2019 Theresa May will head to Berlin and Paris on Tuesday in an eleventh hour bid to convince EU leaders to grant another delay to Brexit. The Prime Minister will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron just a day before a crunch Brexit summit in Brussels. The EU will use that [...]
As Brexit drags on, Brits want a rule-breaking leader to overhaul political system April 8, 2019 Brits want a strong leader who is willing to break rules to push through wide-reaching reforms to the political system, according to new data. Read more: Business optimism hits seven-year low as Brexit approaches Three years of Brexit turmoil since the EU referendum has left voters’ confidence in politics at a 15-year low, a poll [...]