Chief executives can no longer stay out of the political fray December 10, 2018 Activism is everywhere. From our neighbourhoods to boardrooms, national crusades to local causes, there is no shortage of people clamouring to bring pressing, worthy issues to our attention. And business is no exception, hence the rise of a new type of chief executive: the “activist”. This creature takes many forms: publicly outspoken, actively involved in [...]
ITV pulls the plug on Brexit debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn December 7, 2018 ITV has joined the BBC in pulling out of hosting this weekend’s proposed Brexit debate, with the Conservatives and Labour again unable to agree on how to structure the televised debate. ITV said it “invited the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition to appear in an ITV programme this Sunday evening, and we have been [...]
Hubris will doom the imperial reigns of Macron and Trump December 7, 2018 A political outsider who came out of nowhere to ride to victory on a populist movement he built himself, to the shock of the mainstream establishment. An expert campaigner who promised that he alone had the easy fixes to the challenges that his country had been grappling with for years. A President who now faces [...]
The NHS faces another winter crisis, but politicians continue to fail to learn the lessons of public sector failures December 7, 2018 On Thursday, the British Medical Association warned that NHS England is likely to be 10,000 beds short over the coming winter. The next few months are possibly going to be the “the worst on record”, as projections for A&E admissions are looking to increase by 100,000 this year alone. It’s remarkable that the healthcare season [...]
Visas for super rich investors scrapped amid crackdown on money laundering December 6, 2018 The government will suspend golden ticket investment visas, which allow non-EU nationals to stay in the UK if they invest £2m, amid a crackdown on organised crime. Just buying into UK companies, or buying government bonds, will no longer be enough for Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern oil barons and other super rich investors to stay in the UK. The [...]
Tony Blair: There’s no point in May pressing forward with parliament vote on ‘half in, half out’ Brexit deal December 6, 2018 Tony Blair believes Theresa May should scrap next week’s vote on her Brexit deal as she is about to hit a “brick wall at speed”. The former Prime Minister told journalists on Thursday afternoon May needs to begin finding a compromise that will pass through the Commons instead of pushing ahead with her “half in, [...]
Lib Dem MP Stephen Lloyd resigns party whip to vote for Theresa May’s Brexit deal December 6, 2018 Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Lloyd has resigned the party whip in order to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal. Lloyd, the MP for Eastbourne, told the Eastbourne Herald: "It is with great regret that I am today resigning the Liberal Democrat party whip in parliament. "I have come to the conclusion that I cannot honestly uphold [...]
Culture and creativity will drive a new golden era for the UK and China December 6, 2018 The strength of Britain’s technological and creative industries, combined with the longstanding value of its archetypal brands, has given rise to a growing desire among Chinese companies to invest in the UK. This follows on from the strong trade ties between the two nations. The UK exported £22bn worth of goods and services to China [...]
Theresa May: Parliament risks no-deal Brexit if it does not vote for withdrawal agreement December 6, 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May today said if parliament does not vote for her deal next Tuesday it either risked a no-deal Brexit or no Brexit at all. She said the agreement she negotiated with the EU was “a good deal and one that delivers on the referendum.” She said she understood there were concerns from [...]
European Court to rule on Brexit reversal case before MPs vote on deal December 6, 2018 The European Court of Justice will decide if the UK can reverse Brexit alone next week, a day before MPs vote on Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal. The ruling, on a case brought by Scottish politicians, is being pushed through at breakneck speed in time for Tuesday’s vote. Earlier this week a top adviser to the court said [...]