28 September 2017 Week in Brief: UK Brexit MAY IN FLORENCE: In a speech on Friday, the Prime Minister proposed a two-year transition period which would, in effect, put off much of Brexit until 2021. During that period Britain would no longer have any representation at EU level but would continue to participate in the… Continue reading Issue 122: 2017 09 28: Week in Brief: UK
Tag: George Osborne
Issue 102: 2017 04 27: Week in Brief: UK
27 April 2017 Week In Brief: UK Science NEAR STRIKE: Asteroid 2014 JO 25, more than 1.3 km wide and travelling at 75,000 mph, passed 1.1 million miles from earth last week. It is at least 30 times the mass of the meteor which exploded over Chelyabinsk in 2013 causing injuries to more than 1400… Continue reading Issue 102: 2017 04 27: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 97: 2017 03 23: Week In Brief UK
23 March 2017 Week In Brief: UK NEWS Westminster TERRORIST ATTACK: Four people, including a police officer, are dead and about another 20 injured after a car drove into people on Westminster Bridge and an officer was attacked with a knife. The police are treating it as an act of terrorism. Proceedings in the Scottish… Continue reading Issue 97: 2017 03 23: Week In Brief UK
Issue 97: 2017 03 23 : The Politics of Envy – Osborne’s portfolio (John Watson)
23 March 2017 The politics of envy Mr Osborne’s portfolio by John Watson For lovers of humbug, the comments on George Osborne’s appointment to the editorship of the Evening Standard provide a rich vein to mine. Some focus on the confidential knowledge which he gained as Chancellor, Sir Gordon Downey, one time Parliamentary Commissioner for… Continue reading Issue 97: 2017 03 23 : The Politics of Envy – Osborne’s portfolio (John Watson)
Issue 66: 2016 08 11: Byronic Moments (J R Thomas)
11 August 2016 Byronic Moments by J R Thomas Last week Greek yachts and Greek film makers; this week a natural progression, you may think, to Greek Romanticism and English poets? Well, no. From the sublime beauties of the Greek islands we move to London burger bars. Upmarket ones, though. Byron is the unlikely name… Continue reading Issue 66: 2016 08 11: Byronic Moments (J R Thomas)
Issue 60: 2016 06 30: Week in Brief: UK
30 June 2016 Week in Brief : UK EU Referendum RESULTS: The votes recorded on Thursday’s referendum were as follows: Turnout Leave … Continue reading Issue 60: 2016 06 30: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 56: 2016 06 02: The Rise And Rise Of Mr Khan (John Watson)
02 June 2016 The Rise And Rise Of Mr Khan Are we looking at a future prime minister? By John Watson On Monday I watched the news on television. That isn’t something I always do. Normally I pick up what’s been going on from all sorts of different sources: the press, websites, the car radio,… Continue reading Issue 56: 2016 06 02: The Rise And Rise Of Mr Khan (John Watson)
Issue 53: 2016 05 12: The Local Elections (John Watson)
12 May 2016 The Local Elections A political health check By John Watson Election results are the political equivalent of medical scans. They provide copious information while leaving plenty of scope for the commentators to decide what is important and what is not. Which of the results is a symptom of a tectonic movement? Which,… Continue reading Issue 53: 2016 05 12: The Local Elections (John Watson)
Issue 51: 2016 04 28: Academies – A Step Too Far (John Watson)
28 April 2016 Academies – A Step Too Far The row about whether all schools should have to adopt academy status is an unwelcome distraction. By John Watson You would have thought that the European referendum was sufficiently exciting. A Cabinet split into two factions, a decision which will determine Britain’s place in the world… Continue reading Issue 51: 2016 04 28: Academies – A Step Too Far (John Watson)
Issue 46: 2016 03 24:Pointless:The problem with Budgets(Frank O’Nomics)
24 April 2016 Pointless: The problem with Budgets by Frank O’Nomics Problem singular? Why stop at one? ” Surely there are myriad issues that make the whole UK Budget process an exercise in futility?”, I hear you ask. You have a fair point and could start with the general issue that Budgets are driven… Continue reading Issue 46: 2016 03 24:Pointless:The problem with Budgets(Frank O’Nomics)
Issue 46: 2016 03 23: IDS Falls on his Sword (John Watson)
24 March 2016 IDS Falls On His Sword A look at the whys and wherefores. By John Watson Being Chancellor of the Exchequer must be like trying to steer a raft on a stormy sea. You do your sums. They all seem to add up nicely and then, suddenly, horror of horrors, you are knocked… Continue reading Issue 46: 2016 03 23: IDS Falls on his Sword (John Watson)
Issue 45:2016 03 17: Budget Summary
17 March 2016 Budget Summary In yesterday’s budget, his eighth, George Osborne announced a reduction in the growth forecast for 2016 to 2%, from the 2.4% given in the autumn statement. The lower figures for GDP means that debt as a share of GDP is revised upwards although cash debt levels for the current year… Continue reading Issue 45:2016 03 17: Budget Summary
Issue 30: 2015 11 26: Week in Brief: UK
26 November 2015 Week in Brief: UK AUTUMN STATEMENT: In his autumn statement, the Chancellor claimed that the public finances had improved and that accordingly government expenditure would not need to be cut as much as previously envisaged. Inter alia, he announced: the abandonment of his plan to cut tax credits; an increase in the… Continue reading Issue 30: 2015 11 26: Week in Brief: UK
