Can the UK deal with both Brussels and DC? January 22, 2020 To take Donald Trump literally, but not seriously, is a mistake that many have made since he transitioned from waning reality TV star to political insurgent and leader of the free world. It is true that many of his chosen and oft-quoted facts are at best disputable, and his tweeted assaults on the English language [...]
Business needs weirdos and wild cards, too January 9, 2020 We need some true wild cards… super-talented weirdos.” That was the verdict of new Number Ten brain-in-chief, and occasional chief of staff, Dominic Cummings last week on who he wished to hire to transform the British state. His argument – in a blog that is best described as forthright – is that there are some [...]
Labour’s problem is the message, not London accents December 18, 2019 “There is no choice between being principled and unelectable, and electable and unprincipled. We have tortured ourselves with this foolishness for too long,” said Tony Blair, in his 1994 speech to Labour Conference, his first as leader. “If the world changes and we do not, we become of no use to the world. Our principles [...]
Boris bans government ministers from Davos December 17, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has banned government ministers from the annual World Economic Forum jamboree in Davos. The Daily Mail’s Jason Groves reports that a Government source told him “Our focus is on delivering for the people, not champagne with billionaires.” The gathering of the business and political elite is seen as the premier networking [...]
Bees. Fridges. Secret tapes. That was the election that was. December 12, 2019 Elections, so the common wisdom goes, are won by smart political positioning, uniting figures and a well-thought-through ground game. Debate performances that change the dial, soaring speeches that speak to a country yearning for inspiration, the public coming together behind that single candidate who… Well, yes, we may have to revisit that — for despite [...]
Poll predicts Tory majority of 28, halved from a fortnight ago December 10, 2019 In a further sign that the election polls are narrowing, a comprehensive poll conducted by YouGov suggested the expected Tory majority to be 28 – a significant fall from the 68 they predicted a fortnight ago. The final MRP poll of 2019 found that were the election to be held tomorrow, the Conservatives would be [...]
Whisky business: A wintry trip to the magical Highlands December 10, 2019 Winter sun, this ain’t. Trundling northwards through the Cairngorms towards Inverness, you could be forgiven for thinking you were travelling through an alien landscape. Grey, spare hills emerge from the drizzly low cloud; the “torrents and loud-poured floods” of Rabbie Burns’ poetry run high and violent. Not for nothing do the Scots have several different [...]
The Beeb needs reform December 10, 2019 In an unconventional move for a frontline politician at election time, Boris Johnson yesterday offered an honest and reasonably clear answer to a question. Asked what he thought of the BBC licence fee he said — whilst muttering something about not concocting policy on the hoof —that it seemed rather outdated. Well, he’s right. Some [...]
Tory border policy will need some revisiting December 6, 2019 There has been much discussion of the Tories’ planned Aussie-style points-based immigration system in this election. The Conservatives present the issue as a welcome chance to reboot the UK’s border policy once we leave the European Union, and there is much credit to that objective. Theresa May’s ludicrous “tens of thousands” pledge came with her [...]
Our school system needs tinkering, not ripping up December 4, 2019 Education, education, education. Brits of a certain vintage will remember those three words, underpinning the foundations of New Labour’s message in 1997. The effectiveness of Tony Blair’s reforms is still being debated, not least with regard to his policy of sending 50 per cent of students to university, but one cannot question how effective those [...]