The Labour splitters won’t redraw the political map, but they do raise awkward questions February 18, 2019 After years of infighting, threats, and a couple of failed coups, seven Labour MPs have taken the difficult and courageous decision to quit the party, sitting in the Commons as a new “Independent Group”. Their disillusionment with Labour has many sources, from a failure to confront antisemitism to the party’s muddled stance on Brexit, from [...]
Should 160,000 Tories choose our next Prime Minister? Yes, actually June 28, 2019 Discussing the Tory leadership election on Sky News earlier this week, host Adam Boulton asked me why the party members seemed so relaxed about Boris Johnson’s controversial private life. “Isn’t this the party of family values?” Boulton asked. It’s a fair point. Three quarters of the party’s 160,000 members believe that “young people today don’t [...]
Jeremy Hunt tells Boris Johnson to stop getting Brexit facts wrong in blistering letter response June 27, 2019 Jeremy Hunt has accused Boris Johnson of getting important facts wrong in a searing attack on his Conservative leadership rival. The foreign secretary has sent a letter to Johnson accusing him of not being straight with people over Brexit, and reiterated his challenge of a head-to-head debate before ballot members in the leadership contest go [...]
For all the fire and fury, there’s only one deal in town – and MPs should vote for it March 21, 2019 Yesterday afternoon a rumour spread around Westminster that the Prime Minister was going to make a live statement in Downing Street. The appearance of the Number 10 lectern always excites journalists as the PM tends only to use it when making dramatic announcements. Talk of her resignation or a high-stakes ultimatum continued to occupy Westminster-watchers [...]
Hard Brexit risks ‘manageable’ says Irish central bank official January 17, 2019 The risks of a “cliff edge” Brexit to the stability of the Irish financial system are manageable and the majority of its “most significant” firms are already executing contingency plans, the Central Bank of Ireland deputy governor Ed Sibley said today. Sibley said: “I am satisfied that from a financial stability perspective the most material [...]
High-ranking Venezuelan general backs opposition leader as supporters rally in the capital February 2, 2019 A Venezuelan airforce general has publicly declared his support for the self-declared interim president of Venezuela Juan Guaido as thousands of opposition supporters rally in Caracas. In a video circulating on Twitter today, General Francisco Yanez of the air force’s high command, said most of the armed forces already disavowed Maduro, who claims he is [...]
British Steel collapse: Aftermath could have ‘tsunami-like’ effect on industry May 22, 2019 To understand the effect British Steel’s collapse could have on its native Scunthorpe, just look at a map. The steelworks is almost as big as the town itself. Britain’s industry-reliant communities such as Port Talbot, Tofaen and Stockton-on-Tees have already seen the highest rise in personal insolvencies of anywhere in the country over the last [...]
Chuka failed – but the centre ground isn’t as empty as you’d think June 18, 2019 It’s been a sad, strange journey for Chuka Umunna. Only a few short years ago, he was being touted as Britain’s Barack Obama, the telegenic answer to Labour’s prayers – at a time when their then leader couldn’t even eat a bacon sandwich without looking like his face was pulling in three different directions. But [...]
Brexit delay on the cards amid anger as Conservatives gear up for European elections April 8, 2019 A long delay to Brexit is looking increasingly likely as the Conservative and Labour leaderships are struggling to agree a compromise deal ahead of Wednesday’s EU summit. Brussels has given the UK until 10 April to set out a credible alternative negotiating plan after the repeated failure by Theresa May to get her deal through Parliament. [...]
Grassroots group Momentum fined £16,700 for ‘multiple breaches’ of electoral law March 6, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn-supporting group Momentum has been fined £16,700 by the Electoral Commission for "multiple breaches" of electoral law during the 2017 general election. The political finance regulator said it had levied the grassroots activist group with the highest fine for a non-party campaigner over an inaccurate 2017 general election spending return – for which it was [...]