After his appointment as Evening Standard editor, should George Osborne resign as an MP? Chris Rumfitt, founder and chief executive of Field Consulting, says Yes. George Osborne’s post-ministerial career had already raised eyebrows when he took a bumper package to advise asset manager Blackrock. But it truly caused jaws to drop when news came through that he was to edit the Evening Standard. While the former chancellor is clearly [...]
Following their historic win in the Copeland by-election, should the Tories call an early General Election? Chris Rumfitt, founder and chief executive of Field Consulting, says Yes. A wafer-thin majority in Parliament. No mandate for her policy agenda. An obstructive House of Lords. A shambolic opposition. And a massive lead in the polls. The case for an early General Election was already strong, but the result in Copeland should make it [...]
As government plays down its threat to abolish the House of Lords over Article 50, is it time for it to go anyway? Chris Snowdon, director of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, says Yes. There was a time when the House of Lords defended our ancient liberties against mendacious governments. The whole idea of unelected politicians is problematic. In a perfect world, we would have democracy and liberty but, if I may speak candidly, so [...]
Is giving Parliament a vote on the final Brexit deal a disaster waiting to happen? January 18, 2017 Denis MacShane, the former minister of Europe, author of Brexit: How Britain Left Europe, and senior adviser at Avisa Partners in Brussels, says Yes. The Prime Minister’s speech is just the first shot in what will be a very long two years. Right now it’s about politics. But over the next 24 months it will [...]
With the Fabian Society predicting Labour could win just 140 seats at the next election, is the party in terminal decline? January 4, 2017 Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, says Yes. Businesses and political parties both operate in markets where competition can be cut-throat, where mistakes can be costly, where leadership and branding matter, and where, ultimately, the customer is king. Yet there’s one big difference: businesses – even firms so familiar we [...]
Is Labour’s Owen Smith right that there should be another referendum on the Brexit deal? August 25, 2016 Chris Rumfitt, founder and chief executive of Field Consulting, says Yes. “Brexit means Brexit” declared our new Prime Minister Theresa May upon taking office. The only problem with that statement is that at no point during the referendum campaign did that word Brexit get defined. Single Market membership? European Economic Area membership? Basic World Trade Organisation [...]
As members prepare to vote in its leadership contest, will Labour remain toxic for a generation? August 22, 2016 Chris Rumfitt, founder and chief executive of Field Consulting, says Yes. In politics, mud sticks. It took Labour 20 years to shake off the memory of the winter of discontent. And the Tories’ “nasty party” image still follows them like a bad smell long after Theresa May coined the phrase. Even if Jeremy Corbyn went tomorrow, [...]
