Bipartisan group reaches deal to avoid another US shutdown over Mexico border wall – but will Trump support it? February 12, 2019 US politicians thrashed out a finance deal late last night to prevent a renewed government shutdown, but fears loomed over whether President Donald Trump would support the deal. Republicans and Democrats secured an agreement which included just under $1.4bn (£1bn) for 55 miles of fencing to be built along the US border with Mexico. Read [...]
Theresa May to tell MPs to hold their nerve over Brexit February 12, 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to tell MPs today to hold their nerve in the UK’s game of brinksmanship with the EU over Brexit. May is due to make a statement to MPs at 12.30pm ahead of a debate on Thursday on the next steps for Brexit. “We now all need to hold our nerve,” [...]
Let America’s radical socialists be a warning to British politics February 12, 2019 It is said that when America sneezes, the world catches a cold. Let us hope that the American left’s recent publication of its “Green New Deal” (GND) won’t be contagious enough to infect Labour here. Just over a week ago, Jeremy Corbyn had an in-depth phone conversation with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the rising socialist congresswoman. The aim, it [...]
DEBATE: Should GCSEs be scrapped and replaced with a broader, more holistic curriculum? February 12, 2019 Should GCSEs be scrapped and replaced with a broader, more holistic curriculum? Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow and chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee, says YES. Skills shortages cost our economy £6.3bn annually, while hundreds of thousands of young people are faced with the despair of unemployment and unfulfilled job-seeking. Brexit and the rise [...]
Philip Hammond’s ‘Brexit deal dividend’ claim under attack from MPs February 12, 2019 Philip Hammond’s promise of a Brexit dividend has been called into question amid signs of sluggish economic growth and warnings of a knock-on effect for the public finances. Figures released on Monday showed the UK economy grew by just 1.4 per cent in 2018 – its slowest rate for six years – while growth in the [...]
Post-Brexit immigration plans will stifle London’s economy, says CBI February 11, 2019 The government’s post-Brexit immigration plans will stifle London’s economy due to restrictions placed on overseas workers earning less than £30,000 a year, an influential business group has said. The new visa system, which would prevent firms employing workers under the income limit for more than a year, would particularly affect the accommodation and hospitality sector [...]
The Great Russian Firewall: Putin’s unplugging his country from the internet February 11, 2019 Russia is preparing to detach itself from the rest of the world by briefly disconnecting from the internet, as it readies for future cyber warfare. The test, due to be held before 1 April, will keep all data circulating between Russian citizens and organisations within the country's borders rather than passing through international routes. The move [...]
Britain must ‘enhance lethality’ amid growing cyber threat, says defence secretary February 11, 2019 Defence secretary Gavin Williamson will this morning crank up his military rhetoric, saying Britain cannot be seen as a “paper tiger” and must be ready to take action against countries that “flout international law”. The more aggressive tone, which comes ahead of the UK striking out on its own outside the European Union, will be [...]
Immigration proposals will cost employers more than £1bn in red tape February 11, 2019 The government’s new immigration proposals could cost employers more than £1bn by 2025 due to red tape, a report has found. Under the plans thousands of European workers will be required to secure a sponsored visa from their employers, creating a “bureaucratic headache” for businesses, according to analysis of the government’s Immigration White Paper by [...]
Chancellor needs to find extra billions to end austerity February 11, 2019 The chancellor Philip Hammond will have to find billions of pounds to prop up public spending to deliver on promises of ending austerity. According to a report from think tank the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), over the four years from 2019-20 to 2023-24, Hammond would need to find a further £2.2bn to avoid cuts [...]