The Conservative party conference was more SOS than Dancing Queen October 4, 2018 You have to hand it to Theresa May: after last year’s conference fiasco, it took guts to go onstage yesterday jiving to Abba’s Dancing Queen. In the end, her speech wasn’t bad. She has never been the kind of messiah-type figure who can bewitch a hall with her “authenticity” like Jeremy Corbyn, nor a charisma-soaked [...]
Theresa May and Boris Johnson were both in the shadow of Jeremy Corbyn at the Conservative conference October 3, 2018 Inevitably, Theresa May's speech was always going to be judged alongside her disastrous efforts this time last year. Twelve months ago she lost her voice and the stage fell apart, but even from that low bar her address in Birmingham was a successful outing for the PM. She also survived the alternative leader speech given by Boris [...]
Sadiq Khan accused of misleading public over nine-month Crossrail delay October 3, 2018 Members of the London Assembly have accused Sadiq Khan of misleading the public over what he knew about a nine-month Crossrail delay that infuriated commuters when it was revealed this summer. The Assembly's transport committee, which has been investigating the delay, has sent a damning letter to London mayor Khan. The letter, seen by Morning Wire, [...]
The Green Room review: Find out what corporate hospitality means at the Kia Oval before you fork out to impress clients October 3, 2018 The last time I sat in a corporate box, it was miserable. A relative who worked for a bank had been offered tickets to a Muse gig at Wembley Stadium and invited me along as box meat to fill the space. At the time, I was a fan of the Devonshire space rockers, but I [...]
Saudi oil output reaches record highs, but oil prices remain close to four-year peak October 3, 2018 Saudi Arabia's oil output has reached record highs – and the country could further boost production next month as US sanctions on Iran edge closer. Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih said the country had raised output to 10.7m barrels per day in October and announced a further production hike in November. The country's record high [...]
Theresa May declares ‘austerity is over’ as she lifts cap on how much councils can borrow for housebuilding October 3, 2018 Theresa May declared the end of austerity is in sight as she unveiled plans to let councils borrow more cash to tackle the housing crisis. In her speech to the Conservative conference on Wednesday, the Prime Minister hinted at a financial boost for the UK's public services after Brexit, in a bid to show the [...]
RMT union calls on Sadiq Khan to halt possible ticket office closures on London Overground October 3, 2018 The RMT rail union has called on the mayor of London Sadiq Khan to halt the planned closures for ticket offices on the London Overground. Last September the operator of the London Overground, Arriva Rail London (ARL), announced a review into how people pay for their tube travel, following the boom in people paying for travel via contactless [...]
Tesla to defend lawsuit alleging foreign workers were threatened with deportation October 3, 2018 A case filed against Tesla in California which alleges the firm knew foreign employees were threatened with deportation has been given the green light to go to trial. US federal judge Lucy Koh ruled Tesla must defend itself against two of seven claims, in which the plaintiffs argue foreign workers at its Fremont, California plant [...]
Bereft of new ideas, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party is dead set on sticking its head in the sand October 3, 2018 One of the most dispiriting aspects of the Labour Party conference, which ended last week, is how deeply conservative the political left has become. Its remedies for Britain’s problems look to the past and not the future. Far from embracing new technology, the left is hostile to it. This was not always the case. Labour [...]
The government’s migration blindspot is a missed opportunity October 3, 2018 If there is one message that has been trumpeted by cabinet ministers, MPs, and members at this week’s Conservative party conference, it is that the Tories are and have always been the party of business. From Philip Hammond’s affirmation that “the Conservative party has business at its core”, to Boris Johnson waxing lyrical about the [...]