Anis Amri, the man who had driven a lorry through a crowded Berlin market on Monday, killing twelve people and injuring scores more, was shot dead by Italian police in Milan after an altercation yesterday. There are many unpleasant elements of this week’s continental episode, but one that might have a lasting effect involves the […]
Both the Left and the Right are wrong about free trade v free movement
The opening of the contest to see who will be the next Unite general secretary has led to an interesting look at the current state of the Left. It seems the idea that freedom of movement is kosher while freedom of capital is bad extends way beyond Corbyn and his inner circle. This problem here is that this […]
Why 2017 could be even worse than 2016
Now is that portion of every year when people begin writing epitaphs for the twelve-month period that is just about to elapse as well offering predictions for what is directly ahead. Given what transpired in 2016, from Brexit to Trump to everyone with talent seemingly dying, pundits are quicker to see the back of this […]
Why Theresa May is indeed no Margaret Thatcher
David Mellor, the former Tory minister of many various portfolios under both Thatcher and Major, was on Murnaghan this weekend, talking about Theresa May and the various comparisons to Thatcher she is always receiving: “When I was a minister for four years she treated me with even more disrespect than my mother did, but Margaret […]
The showdown over single market membership could be immense – or not…
As I’ve said before, trying to make sense of Labour’s position on Brexit has been all but impossible. Now there’s a new twist. Both the Tories and Labour are claiming victory in regards to last week’s vote in the Commons regarding leaving the EU: the Tories say that the prime minister managed to extract a […]
This is what Labour’s Brexit strategy should be, plain and simple
Over the last few months, I’ve had many conversations in Westminster around how appalling Labour’s handling of the Brexit debate has been. Many respond to my exhortations about Corbyn’s incompetence in this area by saying “what else could he have done?”, as if everything that has taken place since June 24th has been part of an unstoppable force […]
What next for the EU now that Renzi’s referendum has failed?
It wasn’t even remotely close. In yesterday’s nationwide Italian referendum, voters there rejected prime minister Renzi’s sweeping reforms to the constitution, 59-41. Or I should say, ex-Italian prime minister: Renzi, as expected, has resigned this morning. Also as expected, every public Eurosceptic in Britain is in full victory mode. Roger Helmer’s tweet summarises the message […]
Why UKIP’s Article 50 position is genius – and what it means to Brexit
Many, myself and Frank Field included, have said that Paul Nuttall could be a game changer for UKIP. The new leader has certainly wasted no time in getting stuck in, appointing Gerald Batten as UKIP’s Brexit spokesman. And between Nuttall and Batten, a policy of genius has already emerged. It’s so perfect, I want to […]
Boris Johnson’s “Free Movement-Gate” demonstrates how difficult EU negotiations will really be
Four ambassadors from different EU countries have spoken to Sky News under the guise of Chatham House rules (which means the quotes can be made public but not directly attributed) saying that each of them has had separate conversations with Boris Johnson in which he has said that he personally supports the principle of freedom […]
Theresa May is being pulled in two economic directions by Brexit
Theresa May’s speech to the CBI conference this morning, trailed in the newspapers, perfectly illustrates the economic policy bind she is in. In one breath she will say: “In the autumn statement on Wednesday, we will commit to substantial real terms increases in government investment in R&D investing an extra £2bn a year by the […]