Political deaths in 2024: The well-known names we lost in the last year December 30, 2024 Whether a former deputy Prime Minister infamous for throwing a punch, to a Scottish independence campaigner and former First Minister, 2024 saw the deaths of several political heavyweights. As the year draws to a close, we look back at the lives of some well-known Westminster names who have died over the past 12 months. Derek [...]
The Capitalist: King tickles Starmer, a French misstep and Blair’s good advice December 5, 2024 It’s the way he tells them To the ancient Guildhall in the heart of the City at the start of this week, where the new Lord Mayor Alastair King welcomed Sir Keir Starmer for the PM’s traditional foreign policy speech. The banquet is always a grand affair; white tie, no less, with judges, ambassadors, City [...]
Who will be Labour’s next John Prescott? November 25, 2024 He couldn’t have been more different to Tony Blair, yet John Prescott ended up being our longest serving deputy prime minister. But is there a talent like him in Starmer’s cabinet? Asks William Atkinson As well as having a decent right hook, the late John Prescott was our longest-serving deputy prime minister (DPM). The formal creation of the [...]
Starmer appoints Jonathan Powell as UK national security adviser November 8, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Tony Blair’s former chief of staff Jonathan Powell as his national security adviser. The Cabinet Office confirmed the former Foreign Office diplomat and No10 chief operator would take on the key role advising the Prime Minister in an announcement today. It comes amid the re-election of Donald Trump as US [...]
A burden or a blessing? PFIs look set for a return under Labour August 13, 2024 Reports that Rachel Reeves is mooting the use of private finance to fund the £9bn Lower Thames Crossing has fuelled chatter that Private Finance Initiatives could be set for a return.
Forget Reform, it’s the Lib Dems the Tories need to worry about August 5, 2024 The Lib Dems took a record number of seats in the general election, ousting four Cabinet ministers.
The great student loans swindle July 26, 2024 Vast quantities of student loans will never be repaid, representing a massive subsidy not just to students themselves but to universities. No other industry is cosseted in this way, failing universities should be allowed to go to the wall, say Paul Ormerod The university sector in the UK is in financial trouble. The annual fee [...]
GSK moves into New Oxford Street office in boost for central London July 16, 2024 GSK has opened the doors to its new West End office - called the Earnshaw.
The Notebook: Say what you want about Trump, he did show presence of mind July 16, 2024 After last weekend's shooting, the US presidential election is now Trump's to lose, writes Michael Martins.
Labour has secured a resounding win – now the real challenges start July 10, 2024 As the now-Prime Minister and his advisors will be painfully aware, if he wants to secure a successful first term, the time to act is now.