My first boss was the source of many wise words, some of which I use to this day. “Alastair”, she would often say, “there is no problem in the world that cannot be made to go away with money”. It’s not strictly true, of course, but it is truer more often than is usually appreciated. That was 25 years ago, at a time when pension schemes almost all had surpluses and the question I was most commonly asked was what…
Theresa May’s facing her political Kobayashi Maru scenario. https://t.co/lFFPp5NakY pic.twitter.com/kVfQ9IWAwt — TSE (@TSEofPB) February 25, 2018 The Sunday Times report Three cabinet ministers warned Theresa May during private talks on Brexit at her Chequers retreat last week that her government could collapse this year. Julian Smith, the chief whip, told May there was a “very real threat” that Labour could unite with 15 to 20 Tory rebels to defeat the government on their decision to rule out membership of a…
Vice-Chairman of Tory party & MP apologises to Corbyn for 'seriously defamatory' tweet, pays JC legal costs and makes donation to charity of Corbyn's choice https://t.co/EbjmdhHbT7 — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) February 24, 2018 The case raises more questions over the PM’s decision It might be remembered that shortly after Bradley was appointed Conservative Party Vice Chairman last month a series of stories appeared about controversial things that he had written on the internet some of years earlier emerged. At the…
May should balance one Brexit concession with another This is what Brexit was about: the right of Britain’s democratically elected MPs to take their own decisions free from the interference of Brussels (or, indeed, anybody else). Or perhaps not. Understandably, some pro-Leave MPs are so incandescent at the prospect that the Trade Bill might be amended so as to require “an appropriate authority to take all necessary steps [to conclude a customs union with the EU by Brexit Day]” that…
Party gains and losses over 40 years Thanks to David Cowling, former head of political research at the BBC, for compiling this table. Mike Smithson Follow @MSmithsonPB Tweet
The blues won twice as many Remain seats as Leave ones Mike Smithson Follow @MSmithsonPB Tweet
TMay at risk of Commons defeat as LAB shifts on Brexit – dangerous times for the PM who lost the CON majority at GE17https://t.co/R7CfTtJKO3 — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) February 23, 2018 Crunch time for the embattled PM? Since her humiliating failure to retain the Conservative majority last June Theresa May has lived a charmed life. Who would have predicted on that weekend after the election that she could still be there in charge 9 months later. But she is though…
What I find interesting is that some Brexiteers seem to want one https://t.co/rxkbyCiWvx — Keiran Pedley (@keiranpedley) February 22, 2018 That’s been my view for a while , 2nd referendum is what we are heading for https://t.co/80eeEtmVMq — Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) February 22, 2018 But surely there isn’t the time before March 29th 2019?