News and Opinion

The Alba Party’s manifesto is the only one “taking Scottish independence seriously”, Alex Salmond has said. At the launch of his party’s proposals, the former first minister took a swipe at the SNP and the Scottish Greens – the latter of whom he has previously accused of being “as weak as dishwater” on independence. During […]

Outspoken lockdown critic Laurence Fox is tied with an intergalactic bin in last place in the race for London mayor. The new Comres poll has Labour candidate Sadiq Khan clearly in the lead with 41% of the vote, followed by the Conservative Shaun Bailey at 28% with Lib Dem Luisa Porritt and Green Sian Berry significantly behind with […]

The Super League farce may be over, but the conflicting interests of owners and fans mean more trouble ahead. Not even Niccolò Machiavelli, the grandmaster of deception, could have foreseen the manner in which English, Spanish and Italian clubs attempted to carve up European football. “I’m not interested in preserving the status quo,” Machiavelli wrote […]

Academics have urged Number 10 to grant the EU ambassador in London full diplomatic status, warning failure to do so could be emboldening Europe’s enemies. Britain has so far refused to grant the ambassador full status, arguing the EU is an organisation rather than a country. But experts are urging a government rethink, warning the ongoing rift is emboldening […]

Sir Keir Starmer has grilled Boris Johnson during Prime Minister’s Questions over alleged tax breaks he gave to Sir James Dyson’s employees. The leader of the opposition pressed Johnson over lobbying concerns during the Covid-19 pandemic. Citing correspondence between Dyson and Johnson over tax breaks, Sir Keir told the Commons: “What does the prime minister think is the […]

The Russian president is testing the resolve of the West, but in doing so he reveals his weakness rather than his strength Vladimir Putin is steeped in Lenin’s old maxim, “you probe with bayonets. If you find mush, you proceed. If you find steel, you withdraw”. This approach certainly seems to inform the thinking behind Russia’s […]

A new poll has suggested that people in Northern Ireland would vote to remain in the UK if a referendum was called in the present day. Of those surveyed, 49% said they would vote to stay in the UK while 43% would support a united Ireland. The remainder were undecided. The Lucid Talk poll, which […]

Sir James Dyson has said it is “absurd to suggest” texts he sent Boris Johnson on the tax status of his employees had broken lobbying rules. The BBC reported that Sir James had sent Johnson a series of messages in March last year to get assurances his employees would be exempt from tax rules if they moved […]

What will happen to police reform in America following the verdict over George Floyd? Another day. Another African American man faced the police. This time it was 20-year-old Daunte Wright, driving his car through Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Wright was pulled over by cops and a female officer shot him dead. It happened 10 miles away […]

A minister has insisted millions of pounds spent on a new media room have not gone to waste after the government scrapped plans to hold daily televised briefings. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden defended the government for spending £2.6million of taxpayer funds adapting a room in No 9 for TV press conferences complete with microphones, Union Jack flags, podiums, cameras […]

A British fisherman has expressed his regret over voting for Brexit during an appearance on Danish TV. Ian Perkes, a fish exporter from Brixham, Devon, told Danish broadcaster DR that he had been “lied to” about the implications of leaving the EU and the increased costs to business. He said: “Do you think I would […]

Boris Johnson has been challenged over his conduct with businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri during a press conference from Downing Street. The prime minister was asked if he had acted with “honesty and integrity” in line with the code of conduct for people in public life, following reports about his relationship with the American businesswoman. Arcuri made […]

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer was reportedly sacked by Number 10 despite hours earlier saying he was a “valued” minister. There had been speculation Mercer was intending to resign after frustration at a lack of progress over legislation to protect British veterans who served during the Troubles. Downing Street confirmed last night that the prime minister had […]

Boris Johnson personally promised Sir James Dyson he would “fix” an issue over the tax status of his employees after he was directly lobbied by the entrepreneur, it has been reported. The BBC said it has seen a series of text messages between the two men after Sir James was unable to get the assurances […]

TANIT KOCH on the traumas of moving house in Germany, the country where everybody rents. I’ve moved house. One of the more humiliating experiences, I find, is walking through an empty, well-kept flat alongside a facility manager who inspects it and points to three minor spots in a corner behind the door, condescendingly asking you […]

Downing Street has scrapped plans for White House-style press conferences despite more than £2.6 million having already been spent on the media room. The room in No 9 Downing Street has been kitted out with cameras and rows of chairs for journalists, and the prime minister’s press secretary Allegra Stratton was due to field questions […]

The tiny football club of Eibar has defied gravity by staying in the top flight for six years. But its luck looks like finally running out. Never mind the ongoing travails of FC Barcelona, another, sadder, story of downfall in Spanish football is being played out, as the end of the La Liga season nears. […]

A permit required by lorry drivers entering Kent after the end of the Brexit transition period has been scrapped. The Department for Transport also announced that a moveable barrier installed on the M20 will be dismantled over the weekend. The traffic management measures were introduced in Kent amid fears that the UK’s withdrawal from the […]

The government faces possible legal action after a former Conservative parliamentary candidate was revealed as the contact for a £100 million deal for personal protective equipment (PPE). The contract to supply face masks was awarded in July 2020 to Pharmaceuticals Direct Ltd (PDL) without any competition, although details were not published until March. The Good […]

The equalities minister has hit out at those that have attempted to discredit the findings of a controversial report on racial disparities. Kemi Badenoch said “appalling abuse” had been meted out to members of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities (Cred) and false assertions have been made about their work. Her statement comes one […]

Boris Johnson has claimed Johnny Mercer is a “valued” minister as he tries to stop him resigning from government. Veterans minister Mercer is thought to be unhappy about a lack of progress in dealing with former personnel being investigated for killings during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He has been heavily involved in the Overseas Operations […]

David Cameron and Rishi Sunak have been sent a series of demands by a parliamentary inquiry into the former prime minister’s lobbying activities for Greensill Capital. The Commons Treasury Committee wrote to the pair on Tuesday, setting a May 6 deadline to answer the questions ahead of a possible appearance before MPs over the controversy. […]

CHARLIE CONNELLY on an actress whose later years have fascinated every bit as much as her relatively brief screen career. They always called her a recluse but that wasn’t strictly true. Greta Garbo lived not out of sight but in the heart of Manhattan where it’s impossible to disappear. She was a regular attendee at […]

Defence minister Jonny Mercer is set to resign shortly, reports suggest. Sky News deputy political editor Sam Coates tweeted the minister would soon hand his resignation to Boris Johnson. “Defence minister Johnny Mercer likely to (try to) resign shortly I understand. He is understood to have indicated such to colleagues,” Coates posted. “BUT he is not […]

With millions expected to turn out to voting stations across Wales, Scotland, and England on May 6, we wanted to find out how you will be voting. More than 5,000 seats are up for grabs in county councils, district councils and unitary authorities across England.  Of those, the Conservatives are defending 2,052 seats and Labour 1,621. The […]

The DUP leader has said it is “simply not the case” that her party is boycotting north-south political meetings in protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol. Arlene Foster’s comments came as other executive parties held a series of meetings on Monday to discuss two DUP no-shows at sectoral meetings of the North South Ministerial Council […]

Armin Laschet has won the support of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to become the party’s candidate in this September’s federal election. Laschet, who has been the leader of the CDU since January, gained the support of 77.5% of the party board to enter the race to replace chancellor Angela Merkel – a total […]

Researchers argue the divides in England are even stronger than between the different nations of the United Kingdom. For many of us, a national identity is an essential part of who we are. For others, it’s a source of division. National boundaries, like any boundary, imply that some are on the outside. As long as […]