Chris Grayling urges the EU to soften its stance on the Irish border to reach a deal with the UK September 21, 2018 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has said there will be no deal with the EU unless it softens its stance on the Irish border. Grayling – who is feeling the pressure after refusing to take responsibility for the rail timetable chaos – came to the Prime Minister's defence after she met with EU leaders in Salzburg where [...]
One referendum fractured the UK – a second could shatter it September 21, 2018 Who wants a second Brexit referendum? Everyone, it would seem these days. The Czech and Maltese Prime Ministers called for one yesterday at the EU summit in Salzburg. According to Brussels gossip, the UK negotiators have been hampered by whispers that it is possible to get fickle Britain to change its mind. And, indeed, Vince Cable [...]
Africa deserves more optimism and attention from City investors September 21, 2018 In Johannesburg last month, the Prime Minister set a new ambition for the UK to be the largest G7 foreign direct investor in Africa by 2022. Achieving that ambition won’t be easy, but for UK investors who are prepared to change their attitudes and look beyond the easy choices, there are great opportunities. I was privileged [...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plan ‘will not work’ says EU in devastating blow to PM September 20, 2018 Theresa May was dealt a humiliating blow on Thursday as EU leaders dismissed her flagship Chequers proposal and sent her back to the drawing board. In a dramatic day in Salzburg, European Commission President Donald Tusk plunged the knife into the UK's Brexit offer, saying bluntly: "It will not work". The EU leaders gathered in Austria [...]
David Davis: ‘Antagonistic’ Germans want to punish UK for Brexit September 20, 2018 David Davis today branded Germany an "antagonist" as he accused the European powerhouse of wanting to punish the UK for Brexit. In a speech in Munich, the former Brexit secretary launched a scathing attack on the UK's "continental friends", singling out German politicians for wanting to see Britain fail after it leaves the EU. Read more: [...]
Don’t let Brexit or political differences create a hostile office environment September 20, 2018 Facebook is “a political monoculture that’s intolerant of different views”, according to a post from Brian Amerige on an internal online group at the social media company called “FBers for Political Diversity”. Amerige claims that although the US company presents itself as welcoming all political perspectives, in reality anyone with a view that opposed left-leaning [...]
Who could be against a war on plastic? Lots of people, actually September 20, 2018 The Conservative party conference is just around the corner, and with the news so often dominated by Brexit, it’s a good moment to consider some of the more domestic policy ideas we’re sure to hear about. On plastic, for example. Earlier this year, Theresa May used a big speech on environmental issues to launch a [...]
Davis set to savage Chequers as May awaits EU verdict on key proposals September 20, 2018 Theresa May last night urged EU leaders to stop trying to break up the UK as she warned there were just two months left to strike a Brexit deal. Speaking directly to her counterparts at a dinner in Salzburg last night, the Prime Minister made it clear that if an agreement were not reached by [...]
Theresa May rejects Michel Barnier’s Irish border plan September 19, 2018 Theresa May is set to shoot down Brussels' attempt to diffuse the Northern Ireland border row amid claims the EU's plan would still divide the UK. The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has been seeking to "de-dramatise" the issue of how to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland if no trade deal [...]
David Davis: Theresa May’s Brexit plan is undemocratic September 19, 2018 David Davis is set to brand the government's Brexit plan as "devoid of democracy" in another stinging attack on Theresa May. The former Brexit secretary will use a speech in Germany tomorrow to lambast the so-called Chequers plan as a "non-starter" – claiming it goes back on promises the Conservatives made in their 2017 General Election [...]