Treasury watchdog has huge task ahead October 24, 2019 Westminster isn’t a happy place these days. MPs leave under police escort while protesters from both sides of the Brexit stalemate berate them; conventions in parliament are tested almost to destruction by the Speaker and ministers alike; a domestic legislative agenda exists only on paper; the government cannot govern and the opposition demand an election [...]
Anti-Brexit MPs keep moving the goalposts October 21, 2019 This was supposed to be the week in which the UK finally staggered out of the Brexit-related darkness and began to consider the future – having spent three and a half years arguing about the past. Boris Johnson, against the odds, renegotiated the Brexit withdrawal agreement and was on the cusp on winning parliamentary approval [...]
Eco-protest movement has driven everyone quite mad October 17, 2019 The exasperation was clear in the commuter’s voice as he shouted “it’s an electric train, you idiot!” at the person who had glued themselves to a DLR service heading into the City from east London. Elsewhere, morning travellers took matters into their own hands and hauled protesters down from the top of Tube trains. We’ve all [...]
A Brexit deal is within Boris’ reach October 17, 2019 Over coffee and croissants this morning, EU member states’ ambassadors in Brussels will be briefed on the current state of the Brexit negotiations. Late last night, it seemed the UK and EU were inches away from agreeing the principles of a new deal. French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Angela Merkel, EU Council president Donald Tusk [...]
How Neil Woodford’s star came crashing down to earth October 16, 2019 He was once known as the most successful stockpicker in the country. He had money, power and influence — all worn without swagger. He favoured jeans over pinstripes and the home counties over the Square Mile. His reputation soared along with the returns he generated at Invesco: 1,688 per cent between the launch of its [...]
Markets have shown what a deal could yield October 14, 2019 This is the week in which it will become clear whether Boris Johnson’s government has secured an agreement with the European Union. If he has (and the signs are encouraging, if not yet cause for celebration) then he’s only half way out of the woods. MPs will sit on Saturday — the first weekend sitting [...]
Taking a stand is easy when it doesn’t cost you anything October 11, 2019 DOWNING Street is busy trying to get FTSE chiefs to sign a letter in support of the government’s Brexit position, whatever it may be. Enthusiasm is apparently in short supply, and who can blame business leaders for steering clear of this polarising topic? In this day and age, publicly backing Boris Johnson will trigger a [...]
Boris rekindles hope of Brexit breakthrough October 11, 2019 This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. Then again, it might not be. In the days before Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar’s meeting yesterday at a Liverpool wedding venue, talk on both sides of the Channel was of the [...]
Scaremongering won’t save the climate, capitalism will October 8, 2019 Environmental protesters may have shut down central Westminster but they haven’t exactly forced the ship of state in a new direction. With delicious timing, the business secretary, whose Victoria Street offices have been surrounded by Extinction Rebellion activists, yesterday overruled the Planning Inspectorate and gave the green light to four new gas-fired turbines at Drax [...]
Sajid Javid: Why politics can learn from City meritocracy October 4, 2019 Sajid Javid retains a great affection for the City, describing it as a true meritocracy where all that really matters is how good you are at your job. Westminster, he adds, could learn a thing or two from the City’s efforts to promote and increase diversity. Read more: Sajid Javid pledges to raise National Living [...]
