DEBATE: Is Corbyn right that Statutory Assessment Tests (Sats) should be scrapped in primary schools? April 23, 2019 Is Corbyn right that Statutory Assessment Tests (Sats) should be scrapped in primary schools? Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, says YES. In a YouGov survey of primary school leaders last month, 93 per cent agreed that English and maths are prioritised to the detriment of other subjects, such as music, art, [...]
Could Jacob Rees-Mogg soon be off to 11 Downing Street? April 12, 2019 The Conservative party has a shortage of the political equivalent of rock stars. These are the politicians that the public would not merely recognise (already a rather an elite cohort), but actually might cross the road to ask for an autograph – or, more usually these days, a selfie. Boris Johnson has this star quality, of course. [...]
If nothing else, Brexit has taught us how mediocre our politicians are March 28, 2019 Earlier this year, the BBC Parliament channel briefly became more popular than MTV. Perhaps not quite able to believe how on earth this was all going so badly, a few hundred thousand people tuned in to see what was happening on the green benches for themselves. What they witnessed would have clarified things. Posturing, grand-standing, [...]
Britain lost faith in its politicians – and then it voted for Brexit February 27, 2019 What do Bill Clinton, the Beano, and moat cleaning have in common? Answer: they all contributed to Brexit. We are about to reach the tenth anniversary of the MPs’ expenses scandal, the fifteenth anniversary of the launch of the TaxPayers’ Alliance (which I co-founded in 2004), and in 30 days’ time we should be leaving [...]
Sterling rises as traders buy into soft Brexit noises January 23, 2019 Traders banked on the likelihood of a ‘no deal’ Brexit diminishing as sterling leapt to a two month high against the dollar on Wednesday The pound peaked at 1.3079 against the US currency as noises from both Westminster and Davos suggested a softer Brexit was likely. In London, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held a meeting with [...]
Despite apocalyptic Brexit warnings, the good news keeps on coming January 22, 2019 As the twists and turns of this long drawn-out Brexit drama continue, possibly the most surprising aspect of all is just how resilient the good news about UK business continues to be. I know this is tempting fate, I know many experts keep saying that the economic cycle suggests we should have had a recession [...]
Digital marketing agencies Forward3D and PMX Agency to form global brand January 15, 2019 Digital marketing firm Forward3D is merging with PMX Agency to create a new global brand, the company said today. London-based Forward3D, whose clients include Asos, Virgin and Calvin Klein, will merge with US firm PMX to form ForwardPMX. Read more: Unlimited Group unveils alliance with German and Japanese agencies The combined agency will have a pool [...]
Will Tony Blair help or hinder the campaign for a second referendum? December 16, 2018 Of the four living former Prime Ministers, three are united in vocal and (to a varying degree) active opposition to current government policy. John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have taken very different approaches to life after Downing Street but what unites them now is support for a second referendum. Major has called for [...]
Theresa May attacks Tony Blair for ‘subverting’ Brexit process with call for a second vote December 16, 2018 Theresa May has launched a stinging attack on former Prime Minister Tony Blair, branding his efforts to bring about a second referendum an “insult to the office he once held”. The Prime Minister, who has endured a string of recent setbacks including defeats in parliament, a leadership challenge and a difficult trip to Brussels, accused her [...]
Blair says UK must prepare for a second Brexit referendum December 14, 2018 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is to say that the UK and EU should prepare for a second referendum because parliament is unlikely to be able to agree on a Brexit deal. Blair will say it is perverse that the UK and the EU are preparing for a potentially economically damaging Brexit without any deal, [...]