Boris won the keys to Number 10 – now can he win an election? July 24, 2019 If it wasn’t clear before yesterday’s conclusion of the Tory leadership race, it sure is now: Britain is facing a General Election, and sooner rather than later. Every incoming Prime Minister is greeted with trepidation, sometimes edging into scepticism. That is normal in a country which has traditionally frowned on cults of personality. But the [...]
DEBATE: Who should be the next Prime Minister, Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt? July 23, 2019 Who should be the next Prime Minister? Mark Wallace, executive editor of ConservativeHome, says BORIS JOHNSON. Theresa May is reported to be searching for a legacy, but she has already got one. It’s just one she doesn’t like very much: a dire political situation born of muddle, indecision, and broken promises. She demolished the Conservative [...]
Blue on blue: Three key talking points from the Conservative leadership debate July 10, 2019 It’s that time again. The Tory leadership race is reaching its zenith, and the final two candidates last night took part in the first of several televised Conservative leadership debate head-to-heads as Tories choose the next Prime Minister. Read more: Can Boris Johnson turbocharge the UK economy? In a spirited and at times ill-tempered affair, [...]
Entrepreneurs need a free market, not student loan giveaways from Jeremy Hunt June 28, 2019 Entrepreneurs are a frequent component of a politician’s stump speech. MPs love to boast about their regard for job creators. Regardless of which end of the political spectrum you’re on, if you put any importance on healthy economic growth, you know that these people are vital to our success. But for all the lip service [...]
Like Boris, Jeremy Hunt should be wary of promising spending splurges June 27, 2019 Earlier this week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) performed a useful public service, placing Boris Johnson’s spending proposals under the microscope. The less-than-glowing conclusion was that the plans would be immensely expensive, and have the side-effect of helping wealthy retirees more than current workers. Today, the IFS has done the same favour for rival [...]
Sajid Javid favourite to be axed from Conservative leadership race June 19, 2019 Home secretary Sajid Javid is the favourite to be eliminated from the Conservative leadership contest when MPs vote in the next ballot on Wednesday afternoon. Javid scraped into the third round of voting when he picked up the minimum 33 backers required in a ballot on Tuesday. The last of all the candidates to launch [...]
Michael Gove has come back before and he can do it again June 12, 2019 When the front pages of weekend newspapers began to spill online last Friday night, I realised a story I had been working on for a year was about to explode. ‘Gove: My cocaine confession’ was the most stark headline, accompanied by the first instalment of a serialisation of my unauthorised biography of the environment secretary. The book [...]
Brexit dogma is a one-way ticket to extinction for London’s Tories June 11, 2019 As 11 candidates prepare to enter the race to succeed Theresa May as Conservative party leader and Prime Minister, London Tories have their own identity crisis to worry about. They just chalked up a new electoral record: 7.8 per cent of the vote, fifth place citywide, and zero MEPs returned to the European parliament. Ex-Tory [...]
‘Is this serious?’ Boris Johnson’s £39bn threat gives City the jitters June 10, 2019 Boris Johnson’s threat to withhold the UK’s £39bn Brexit divorce bill raised eyebrows in the City yesterday and provoked a strong reaction from across the Channel. The former mayor of London vowed to hold onto the cash to force the EU to give Britain a better withdrawal deal, as part of his pitch to become [...]
Boris Johnson vows to hold back £39bn Brexit divorce bill to force EU into a better deal June 9, 2019 Boris Johnson has threatened to force the European Union’s hand by withholding Britain’s £39bn “divorce” bill until it agrees to more favourable terms to leave. The former mayor of London made his first pitch to become Prime Minister by vowing to keep hold of the cash, scrap the Northern Irish backstop and guarantee the rights [...]