Politics
Today the Prime Minister has “changed the landscape” for business
The Prime Minister has changed the landscape for business following today's defining Brexit speech, according to the Confederation of British Industry. Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said "ruling out membership of the Single Market has reduced options for maintaining a barrier-free trading relationship between the UK and the EU", but added that "businesses will welcome the greater clarity and the ambition to create a more prosperous, open and global Britain". Theresa May's today said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single...
Hammond’s comments confirm that we voted for Brexit blind
Phillip Hammond's comments this week that Britain could change its economic model after Brexit negotiations have confirmed once and for all that we made the vote to leave the European Union completely blind. Talking to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag he unleashed a thinly veiled threat that Britain could use its corporate tax as a form of leverage in Brexit negotiations, possibly becoming the tax haven of Europe if it is shut out of the EU’s single market. But is that really the...
“Strong political leadership needed at Davos to solve income inequality problem,” says leading academic
As world leaders gather in Davos for the World Economic Forum, Dr Richard Dodgson, Lecturer in International Politics at Newcastle University, is warning that the gap between rich and poor will only be reduced if political leaders are willing to challenge the status quo. He says: “As the World Economic Forum kicks off, the eyes of the world are on Davos. This gathering of the great and the good from across the globe is positioned as an opportunity for the world’s...
UKIP on course to snatch Stoke-on-Trent seat as Paul Nuttall prepares to throw his hat into the ring
UKIP could pull off a surprise election win in Stoke-on-Trent if party leader Paul Nuttall throws his hat into the ring. Odds of UKIP winning the seat, which was recently vacated by Tristram Hunt, have been slashed from 11/4 to 9/4, with Nuttall is 15/8 to be UKIP’s name on the ballot paper, close up in the betting to market leader Mick Harold at 13/8 and Tariq Mahmood at 7/4. Labour remain favourites at 4/6 to retain the traditionally left-leaning constituency, with the...
Can Blue Monday get any worse? Yes, Jeremy Hunt is now EVEN more richer than you
Back in 2005 Dr Cliff Arnall calculated that today, 16th Jan, is the most depressing day of the year, due to bills coming in, rubbish weather and the xmas buzz wearing off. I can say that I am definitely in that camp today, with a combination of traditional illness and self-inflicted pain from the weekend festivities adding to the malaise. Now Mr Arnall has said that this year is even worse due to Trump and Brexit, unless of course you...
Putting up a fight in the age of misinformation
Think the UK has a free press? You're sadly mistaken, and what's happening to journalism right now should worry you... Whilst the threat of litigation is silencing real journalists and publications, an even darker threat, fake news, is putting them clean out of business. Politicians, climate change deniers, corporations and even countries have been funding fake news to create confusion and division, dilute facts, and pursue agendas. Now they are using 'fake news' as their default denial against allegations. The digital revolution was...
MP’s father “died in my arms” as hospital had no beds
An MP has spoken out about how his own father “died in my arms” when he was sent home, as there were not enough beds available. Toby Perkins bravely spoke out about it during a Commons debate on the NHS, which the Red Cross have labelled a humanitarian crisis. PM May fought back at the claim during yesterday’s PMQs, but this was met with widespread derision from all sides of the political divide. Jeremy Corbyn used all of his six...
Trump and Farage more trusted by public “because they don’t speak like politicians”
Mavericks like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage are more trusted by the public because they don't speak like politicians, a leading language expert claims. The political class who start speeches with reassuring phrases such as 'If I'm honest' and 'let me be clear' actually make them appear less honest. Research found "traditional" politicians such as Theresa May and David Cameron, who use cliches such as 'the honest truth is' and 'believe me', are more likely to arouse suspicion from the...
PMQs 11th January – Red Cross Blue Witless
It is fair to say that Corbyn had a turbulent day yesterday and he needed a strong PMQs to focus the attention on the Government’s NHS failings, and he did. It wasn’t hard to be fair, any politician, member of the public, or child for that matter could have asked Theresa May six times why the NHS was crumbling, stood back and watched her squirm. Corbyn said that 485 people had to spent over twelve hours on trolleys waiting for...