The Ofsted boss at the heart of a row about the Isle of Wight has resigned August 23, 2016 The chairman of education watchdog Ofsted has resigned after calling the Isle of Wight a “ghetto” and claiming the island was home to “inbreeding”. David Hoare has stepped down with immediate effect, writing in a statement that it had been “a great privilege” to chair the watchdog's board since 2014. Education secretary Justine Greening said: [...]
Lord Farage? At least one Ukip leadership contender wants Nigel in the House of Lords August 23, 2016 Ukip leadership candidate Lisa Duffy has called for Nigel Farage to be handed a peerage, granting the former leader a life-long seat in the House of Lords. Farage is currently serving in the European Parliament, and will do so until the UK leaves the EU. He lost out at the 2015 General Election to former Ukipper [...]
Almost one-in-three former Labour backers say Jeremy Corbyn was the chief reason behind their move away from the party August 23, 2016 Jeremy Corbyn has been the largest single factor behind drooping Labour support, according to a Yougov study of 200 former Labour backers. Of 1,000 Labour supporters previously interviewed by the pollster, Yougov returned to roughly 200 who said they would no longer back the party and get the main reasons behind their rejection of Labour. Respondents were [...]
Sadiq Khan’s plans to build affordable homes on TfL land have been thrown into doubt by questions over the sales process August 22, 2016 Sadiq Khan's hopes of forcing developers to build up affordable homes on former Transport for London property have been put in doubt by requirements on getting value for money on land deals. Khan was elected on a pledge of making sure that half of new homes would be affordable, and the sale of TfL land [...]
Downing Street is hinting that future devolution will not require the election of regional mayors August 22, 2016 Future city devolution deals may not require the election of a mayor, Downing Street has hinted, after fears were raised of Theresa May abandoning the previous government's desire to pass down power. A total of 10 city-regions have secured devolution deals so far in talks with the government, and each one has required the adoption [...]
Andrea Leadsom’s campaign manager has admitted “rookie mistakes” in the MP’s failed Tory leadership bid August 22, 2016 A high-profile interview which saw Andrea Leadsom accused of attacking Theresa May for not having children was “a cock up”, her former campaign manager has admitted. Speaking at the Edinburgh Festival last weekend, Conservative MP Tim Loughton claimed Leadsom was being “set up” by journalists, but maintained the decision to give the interview was “a [...]
Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed his return to frontline politics with a bid to enter next year’s French presidential election August 22, 2016 Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed a return to the frontline of French politics with his entry in next year's presidential election. Sarkozy has long been linked with a campaign, but the former President ended speculation with a statement on social media earlier this afternoon. "I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election. [...]
Downing Street has hit back after Jean-Claude Juncker described national borders as “politicians’ worst invention” August 22, 2016 Downing Street has rejected Jean-Claude Juncker's assertion that borders are “the worst invention” of politicians. Speaking at the European Forum Alpbach yesterday, the European Commission president called on Europe to show “solidarity” with refugees, adding: “We have the duty not to follow populists but to block the avenue of populists.” “Borders are the worst invention [...]
Arise, Sir Mo? There will be no formal cap on awards for Britain’s Olympic heroes in the New Years Honours list, Downing St has confirmed August 22, 2016 Britain's triumphant athletes look set to be handed a range of honours in the new year, after Downing Street confirmed there are no formal limits on the number of prizes that could be handed out. The Cabinet Office provides guidance on numbers, but a spokeswoman for Theresa May today said that could even be over-ruled [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has promised to scrap the House of Lords as the Labour leadership contest enters its final stages August 22, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to scrap the appointed House of Lords as the party's leadership contest enters its final furlongs. Ballots for the leadership election will be sent out from today, with the party expected to announce its leader in a special conference on 24 September. This weekend London mayor Sadiq Khan waded back into [...]
