Global Britain: Covid and Brexit offer an ‘opportunity to reset’ relations on union January 23, 2022 A Lords committee said this week that the challenges caused by Brexit and the pandemic present an “opportunity to reset relationships” between the UK Government and devolved nations. The upper house’s Constitution Committee published a report on Thursday, calling for a shift in how the union operates, shoring it up for the 21st century. Among [...]
When solidarity dissolves, Britain needs to get a grip of immigration rules March 15, 2022 Yesterday, Secretary for Levelling up Michael Gove unveiled the Homes for Ukraine scheme, aimed at welcoming “tens of thousands” of refugees fleeing the war. The scheme seeks to complement the first corridor the government made available for Ukrainians who have relatives in the UK. Discontent inside and outside Westminster has been rife, with Downing Street [...]
Michael Gove has finally entered the cladding fray, but the fight isn’t over January 14, 2022 Among the political shambles of this week, something remarkable happened: someone stepped in to say a word or two about how to fix the cladding crisis. This someone was the Secretary of State for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove. His intervention was met with relief that an issue which has languished on the [...]
Frost replaces Gove with “more assertive stance” on EU February 19, 2021 PM Boris Johnson replaced Michael Gove as EU relations minister with Lord David Frost, chief negotiator of last year’s Brexit deal, on Wednesday. Downing Street said Frost would have a seat in cabinet and take over all responsibility for dealings with Brussels. The newly-appointed EU relations ministers wants to take a more “hardline” stance on [...]
Embracing uncertainty is the only path out of the pandemic August 4, 2021 A few days ago, Sajid Javid made one of the most thoughtful and encouraging statements by a government minister during the whole Covid crisis. Early In July, he seemed to be falling under the control of the modellers. The number of daily infections, he stated confidently, would soon reach 100,000, bowing to the so-called experts. [...]
DEBATE: Are candidates’ drug histories relevant in the Conservative leadership contest? June 11, 2019 Are candidates’ drug histories relevant in the Conservative leadership contest? Edward Davies, director of policy at the Centre for Social Justice, says YES. The Centre for Social Justice was founded on the premise that we are not defined by our worst mistakes, that everyone deserves another chance, and nothing should hold you back from reaching [...]
US President Donald Trump endorses ‘excellent’ Boris Johnson to become Prime Minister June 1, 2019 US President Donald Trump has labelled Tory leadership hopeful Boris Johnson as an “excellent” candidate to become the next Prime Minister. Trump said he had been asked for endorsements from a number of candidates ahead of his visit to the UK, in an interview with The Sun, claiming: “I could help anybody”. Read more: Sajid [...]
Pound jumps on signs a Brexit deal can still be done October 19, 2020 The pound surged as investors bet that Brexit talks would resume – despite the UK’s tough rhetoric – and eventually result in some kind of free-trade agreement. Sterling was up 0.7 per cent by mid-morning at $1.30. It had risen 0.5 per cent against the euro to stand at €1.107. Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck [...]
Britain ditches controversial Internal Market Bill clause in Brexit divorce deal December 8, 2020 The government will ditch parts of the Withdrawal Agreement that would have seen the UK break international law, after reaching an “agreement in principle” on Brexit divorce issues. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said he was “delighted” to have reached a compromise with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovicon on post-Brexit arrangements for the Irish border. [...]
Editor’s Notes: Canary Wharf is still the place to meat June 13, 2019 We live in interesting times. A few years ago, who would have expected vegan sausage rolls to fly off Greggs’ heated shelves, or for KFC to announce a new vegan “chicken” burger called The Imposter? Veganism is alive and well… but not so much at the Canary Wharf branch of Boisdale this week, where the [...]