Think Nick Clegg’s fee is steep? Here’s how much former Presidents, Prime Ministers and central bankers make on the after-dinner speaking circuit November 19, 2015 Leading politicians may not earn as much as top entrepreneurs or chief executives while they are in office, but their influence and expertise sure do make for a pleasant afterlife. Last week former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg joined the ranks of those making a post-politics income from their experiences. And while Clegg was mocked [...]
World Cup 2018 vote: FA writes to Fifa to demand answers over Sepp Blatter comments regarding World Cup in Russia November 7, 2015 The FA has demanded Fifa explain Sepp Blatter's suggestion that the decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia was made before voting took place. The FA spent £21m on a bid to host the same tournament but in the initial round of voting only received two votes to Russia's nine. English football's governing [...]
Investors are abandoning France: It needs serious reform – and fast August 16, 2015 Exceptionalism has long characterised France. On the cultural front, two years ago the country requested the audio-visual sector (including French cinema) be excluded from the US-EU free trade agreement. The French labour market also has its own idiosyncrasies. On average, the French work much less than their EU peers (186 and 239 hours fewer a [...]
US accused of listening in on phone calls of French President Francois Hollande June 24, 2015 The US National Security Agency has been spying on French politicians for at least six years, according to Wikileaks documents published by the French newspaper Liberation. Read more: Germany’s Angela Merkel sends strong warning to US over spy claims Those whose phones have allegedly been tapped include current President Francois Hollande, as well as [...]
How coalitions dominate Europe: David Cameron’s majority makes UK one of only three single party governments May 12, 2015 The UK may have what David Cameron would describe as a “strong and stable government”, led by one majority party, but the rest of the EU looks quite different. Of the 28 countries in the EU, only the UK, Malta, and Spain have single parties in power, with the others being led by coalitions. Some [...]
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls survives confidence vote February 19, 2015 The French government last night survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence. It had been triggered by Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP party after current prime minister Manuel Valls used an arcane and controversial rule in the country’s constitution to push through reforms intended to boost growth. France has been faced with a persistent low growth-low inflation scenario for [...]
Dominique Strauss-Kahn trial: Prosecutor calls for pimping charges to be dropped against former IMF chief February 17, 2015 A French prosecutor has called for Dominique Strauss-Kahn to be acquitted of aggravated pimping charges. Prosecutor Frederic Fevre said “neither the judicial enquiry nor the hearing” had proved that the former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief had provided prostitutes to sex parties. Fevre’s request came the day after two former prostitutes dropped a civil [...]
Dominique Strauss-Kahn: Sex parties were only four times a year, not more than that February 10, 2015 Former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn said he only occasionally attended sex parties as he took the stand in his trial for aiding and assisting in the prostitution of seven women. Strauss-Kahn is accused of aggravated pimping and involvement in a prostitution ring run from a luxury hotel in [...]
Nicolas Sarkozy’s new fight for Elysée Palace begins as former French President retakes UMP helm November 30, 2014 He’s back as leader of the UMP but can the former President go all the way? Headline writers around the world are no doubt rejoicing. France’s outspoken former President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched his new bid for the presidency, being elected leader of the opposition party UMP. Sarkozy, who left active politics after his defeat [...]
BBC’s Nick Robinson brings political gags to WPA lunch to the Grosvenor Hotel on Park Lane November 20, 2014 It was a tight squeeze in the Grosvenor Hotel on Park Lane yesterday as the Westminster Property Association (WPA) held its annual lunch, with more than 1,000 attendees from the likes of Land Securities, Grosvenor Estate and the Crown Estate. “We’re really selective about our membership, as you can see from the room today,” laughed [...]