The Newport decision marked a shift in UK thinking. Previously takeovers had been blocked on national security grounds because of the tech involved. This time the decision took into account the risk of China owning too many of the world’s chipmaking plants
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James Forsyth
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As one influential figure put it to me: “This is the year the post-Cold War world came to an end.”
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The political question is who will the travelling public blame for the strike? Will they think the RMT is being unreasonable? Or will these strikes add to the general sense that things simply aren’t working properly in Britain?
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Nicola Sturgeon’s Stephen Flynn-sized headache 👇
✍️ Stephen Daisley
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Three reasons Labour wants to talk about Lords reform
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A battle royal is raging for America — and, so far, Harry and Meghan are outgunning William and Kate at every turn mailplus.co.uk/edition/commen via
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The cause of the current problem is obvious: inflation at a 40-year high of 11 per cent
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Increasing all public sector wages in line with inflation would cost an extra £18 billion
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🚨 Ian Blackford has resigned after five years as Westminster leader of the SNP
Just 13 days ago Blackford survived a challenge from Aberdeen South MP, Stephen Flynn, who attempted to overthrow him.
More by Michael Simmons here 👇
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Knowing Hancock, it would be foolish to conclude that he thinks his career is over: he is far too politically ambitious for that. But it is easier to imagine him coming back in some extra-parliamentary role than climbing the Westminster greasy pole again
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A Tory first elected in 2010 has campaigned in four general elections, two referendums and four Tory leadership contests
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‘“You’ll have to go to your nearest A&E,” the woman on the line told me. A&E? I had a rash on my nose.’
✍️ Lucy Dunn
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One of the striking things about the Tory retirees is how young some of them are. Their average age is below 50, which is 20 years younger than their Labour equivalents spectator.co.uk/article/why-to.
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PM Kishida sets FY2027 as target to raise Japan’s defence spending to 2%. Will incl recateg of existing spend categories, but still historic - wld take 🇯🇵defence budget to ¥11trn (~$80bn).
岸田首相「防衛費GDP2%、27年度に」 財源は年内決着：日本経済新聞
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China’s zero Covid anger is erupting
✍️ Cindy Yu
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What should the UK government do following the Supreme Court verdict? Be calm and reasonable and take a leaf out of Potter Stewart’s book
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BREAKING: Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland announces she will stand down at the next general election
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Better for unionists to strike a reasonable tone, make clear they are not saying never and take an“I know it when I see it” attitude to the circumstances in which the UK government would agree to a referendum
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It’s absurd to suggest Scotland is being held captive. The best way for the British government to show that is to be calm, ignore nationalist rhetoric or rallies, and carry on showing that it wants to make devolution work
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📺 SPEC TV | Xi-Biden hotline
🗣 Owen Matthews on how the US and China cooperated in Ukraine
👉 m.youtube.com/watch?v=SWHTtD
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For now, though, Lords reform benefits Starmer. It makes him sound radical without costing money
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It is telling that since the Autumn Statement, Labour have attacked the Tories for the dire overall state of the public finances, rather than the individual measures announced by Hunt
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Properly staggering set of stats: more than half of Tory backbenchers have been a minister at some point
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Just for fun, I've been doing some analysis of the turnover in ministers in the Tory party.
Turns out 61% of all current Conservative MPs have been a minister or a whip at some point.
51% of current backbenchers have held ministerial office - including a modern record of 3 PMs
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Offer of the Age. 12 weeks of The Spectator for just £12 …. PLUS a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label. No brainer. Subscribe now.
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The Tories desperately need to get back to moving people from welfare into work not just to reduce the welfare bill but also to boost the economy
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It must examine the extent to which lengthening NHS waiting lists are contributing to this rise in economic inactivity. Should those whose physical or mental health condition is preventing them from working get to go to the front of the line?
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Almost every month, the number of those not looking for work grows: it jumped by 169,000 in the three months to August. That is more than the population of Oxford
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"The Tories desperately need to get back to moving people from welfare into work — not just to reduce the welfare bill but also to boost the economy" | ✍️
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The three tests on which the government expects the autumn statement to be judged
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The 'an area in the north east' line explained
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Devolution to “an area in the NE to follow shortly” has been announced. Lol. This is basically about the fact nobody can agree on whether Durham should be in it, a row that seems to have been going on since the beginning of time
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NEW: 14 billion being brought in next year by Jeremy Hunt's expansion of windfall taxes. Major cash.
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The threshold for the 45p rate, which Truss and Kwarteng tried to abolish, is dropping from £150k to £125k
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Hunt says that just under half the consolidation comes from tax rises and just over half from spending restraint
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7.4% inflation in 2023 according to the OBR. OBR also says UK is already in recession, Hunt says
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🚨 Iran has attempted 10 plots to kidnap or kill British or UK-based individuals this year, MI5 chief reveals
Ken McCallum warns: 'Iran projects threat to the UK directly' through 'aggressive intelligence services'
UK & allies are working to disrupt 'unacceptable activity'
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