Labour leadership contest: Who will take over from Jeremy Corbyn? December 16, 2019 Labour is still licking its wounds from the drubbing it got in last week’s election – and leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he will stay in place to enable a “period of reflection”. Indeed, as has now become fairly standard within the Labour party, the process, and who will be selecting the shortlist, has been [...]
Dominic Cummings may be ruthless, but he delivers when it comes to securing victory December 16, 2019 The Tories’ election victory may have been fronted by the indefatigable Boris Johnson, but underlying it was the vindication of a strategy conceived by his chief advisor: Dominic Cummings. He may have gained notoriety as campaign director of Vote Leave in the EU referendum, but it was his role in masterminding the 2004 “North East [...]
Boris Johnson set to bring Brexit bill before MPs on Friday December 16, 2019 The Prime Minister is to plough ahead with plans to quit the EU in the first week back after his dramatic Thursday night victory, with new MPs voting on his Brexit bill as early as this week. The Number 10 spokesman confirmed this morning that Boris Johnson would seek to bring the Withdrawal Agreement Bill [...]
The best and worst ads of 2019 December 16, 2019 It has been a year of highs and lows for adland. PRs, creative agencies, and brands will be examining their advertising efforts this month, and while some will be pleased with their work, others will be looking to improve next year. To help with this process, I asked members of the marketing industry and other [...]
‘You can’t make s*** up about me’: Emily Thornberry launches legal action against ex-Labour MP Caroline Flint December 16, 2019 Labour plunged into internal fighting today following the party’s heavy election defeat after shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry filed legal action against former MP Caroline Flint. Flint, who lost her her Don Valley seat on Thursday after holding it for 22 years, claimed yesterday that Thornberry had called her constituents “stupid” for voting to leave [...]
Hong Kong tycoon snaps up £65m penthouse after Boris Johnson victory December 16, 2019 A Hong Kong tycoon has splashed out £65m on a penthouse apartment in Belgravia just hours after Boris Johnson’s landslide election victory was confirmed. It is understood that the deal, which is the most expensive penthouse sale this year, was completed as investors celebrated the huge Tory win. Read more: Chinese property firms in plans [...]
Former trade bosses question Boris Johnson’s 2020 EU deal claims December 16, 2019 Four former trade and business secretaries have criticised Boris Johnson’s claims that he can strike a comprehensive trade deal with the European Union by the end of 2020. In interviews with City A.M., Sir Vince Cable, Lord Michael Heseltine, Lord Peter Mandelson and Lord John Hutton – all ex-presidents of the Board of Trade – [...]
A deal by (next) Christmas? Ex-trade bosses weigh up PM’s claims December 16, 2019 No delays, no excuses. That was the mantra of Boris Johnson’s hugely successful election campaign. At its heart was an ambitious commitment to get a trade deal with the European Union wrapped up by the end of the transition period – 31 December 2020. The private view of Brussels bosses is not optimistic. “Eleven months [...]
UK PMI: Manufacturing malaise sinks economy to 41-month low December 16, 2019 Private sector activity in the UK slumped again in December, dragged down by the fastest drop in manufacturing output since July 2012. Overall UK output dropped to 48.5 in December from 49.3 the previous month, hitting a 41-month low, according to the UK’s flash composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI), compiled by IHS Markit. Read more: [...]
Outlook 2020: Global economy December 16, 2019 The global economy should perform better in 2020, underpinned by a US-China trade truce and lower interest rates, Schroders’ chief economist Keith Wade explains. We recently upgraded our 2020 global growth forecast to 2.6 per cent, due to prospects of a “phase one” US-China trade deal and lower US interest rates US interest rate cuts [...]