This country has not had enough of experts December 10, 2019 Michael Gove famously said that the “people in this country have had enough of experts”. Of course, that’s not the full story — at the time, Gove was specifically targeting experts who, he claimed, kept getting things wrong. But regardless, the “had enough of experts” quote went viral, and came to be viewed as something [...]
Number 10 rejects move to recall parliament August 19, 2019 Number 10 has rejected any suggestion that parliament may be recalled before the end of recess, despite growing calls for action. More than 100 MPs from all parties except the DUP put their name to an open letter calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to end summer recess early. The letter claimed the country was [...]
Arron Banks apologises for Leave.EU anti-German Angela Merkel tweet that ‘went too far’ October 9, 2019 Leave.EU founder Arron Banks apologised today for an anti-German tweet featuring chancellor Angela Merkel that was published by the pro-Brexit group. The tweet featured a picture of Merkel next to the tagline: “We didn’t win two world wars to be pushed around by a kraut”. Banks, who initially defended the tweet which was posted yesterday, [...]
Introducing the new cast and crew of Downing Street August 7, 2019 The dust is beginning to settle: Boris Johnson is Prime Minister, and the Whitehall machine has been stripped and restaffed. A new team has been installed to run his Downing Street operation – but who are they, and what does it mean? Even the Prime Minister’s most vocal advocates would not describe him as a [...]
Michel Barnier: Irish backstop is best solution we can offer UK September 1, 2019 The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has defended the controversial Irish backstop as the best it could offer the UK in any Brexit deal. Michel Barnier said the backstop – the insurance policy designed to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland – represented the “maximum flexibility” the EU could offer a non-member state. [...]
Brexit prep has cut productivity of UK business, says Bank of England August 30, 2019 The Brexit process has cut the productivity of UK companies by between two and five per cent, research by the Bank of England has found. Much of this drop since the vote to leave the European Union in 2016 is due to falls in businesses’ productivity as managers dedicate several hours per week to Brexit [...]
Car production numbers post rise for the first time in 15 months September 26, 2019 Britain’s crisis-hit car manufacturing industry regained some speed in August, despite the threat of a “hammer blow” no-deal Brexit still looming. Car production rose 3.3 per cent in August to 92,152 units, the first increase in 15 months, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Read more: Car industry investment grinds to [...]
Boris Johnson to promise a ‘triple tax lock’ as Labour pledges another £58bn November 24, 2019 Boris Johnson will today pledge that a Conservative government will not raise income tax, national insurance or VAT in a bid to “put more money back in peoples pockets”. Johnson will make the announcement at the Tories’ manifesto launch today, where he will also commit to spend £3bn on a National Skills Fund to help [...]
Labour pushes for parliament recall after Operation Yellowhammer sheds light on no-deal Brexit September 12, 2019 Labour has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to recall parliament after the release of Operation Yellowhammer documents the party said showed “severe risks” of a no-deal Brexit. MPs voted to force Johnson’s government to release the document before he prorogued parliament earlier this week until 14 October. Read more: Yellowhammer: Government’s no-deal Brexit documents revealed [...]
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 [...]