Brexit

Political Headlines – Cabinet ministers consider resigning, DUP ‘not afraid’ and McVey admits Universal Credit flaws

Today’s political headlines include the DUP’s threat to withdraw support from Government, May to launch plans for ethnicity pay gap reporting, Home Office guidelines may have been breached and Major compares Universal Credit to the poll tax. 

Cabinet ministers consider resigning over Brexit customs plans
The Daily Telegraph reports that at least three Cabinet ministers are considering resigning after Theresa May told her ‘war cabinet’ that there will be no end date on a plan to keep the UK in a customs union with the EU. Esther McVey, Penny Mordaunt and Andrea Leadsom, all of whom are said to have concerns about the proposal, were not at the meeting, and The Times adds that six cabinet ministers who did attend challenged the plans: Liam Fox, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab, Gavin Williamson and Michael Gove.

DUP ‘not afraid’ of general election
The Financial Times says that the DUP has claimed that it is ‘not afraid’ of a general election, with Jim Shannon adding that it would decide in the next fortnight whether it supported Theresa May’s Brexit deal, and that the Government should take a ‘hard look’ at its worries. Government sources have told The Sun that they believe that a further payment in addition to the £1bn agreed in 2017 will ensure that the party backs the final deal.

McVey admits Universal Credit will leave some people worse off
The Times reports that charities and companies that work with Universal Credit claimants have been made to sign gagging clauses, preventing them from doing anything which would harm the Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey’s reputation. McVey has admitted that ‘some people will be worse off’ as a result of the policy, while the paper adds that a growing number of Tory MPs are opposing changes to be voted on later this month. According to The Daily Telegraph, Chancellor Philip Hammond is planning to abandon plans to cut income tax to help find £2bn in order to reverse changes to Universal Credit announced in 2015.

Home Office agrees to independent investigation into detention centres
The Guardian says that the Home Office has agreed to an independent inquiry into alleged abusive treatment of immigrants held in detention centres. The department had initially refused to agree to the investigation but agreed to do so in return for the end of legal action launched in the wake of a BBC Panorama documentary about the Brook House centre.

Charities ask MPs not to report constituents to immigration hotline
The BBC reports that a group of charities have written to Commons Speaker John Bercow asking MPs to pledge not to use an immigrant enforcement hotline to report on constituents, after it emerged that it was called by MPs and their staff 68 times last year. 107 MPs have already signed the pledge, but only one Conservative MP, Heidi Allen, has done so.

Report recommends 32% pay hike for High Court judges
In an exclusive, the Daily Mail says that a report has recommended that High Court judges’ salaries are increased by 32%, owing to low morale, long hours, changes to pension taxation, and a recruitment crisis. A source close to Justice Secretary David Gauke said he was ‘sympathetic’ but the increase ‘is likely to be closer to 2% than 32%.

HMRC chief received death threats after select committee appearance
The Daily Mirror says that the head of HM Revenue and Customs, Jon Thompson, told an event hosted by the Institute for Government that he had had to ‘change how I travel and what my personal security is’ and has had two death threats investigated by the police ‘for speaking truth unto power about Brexit’, after he gave evidence to a select committee.

Pension tax relief reform rejected
The Financial Times reports that the Government has ruled out making changes to pension tax relief, rejecting a report from the Commons Treasury Committee that suggested that it should either be fundamentally reformed or improved by making incremental changes.

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DUP

Political Headlines – DUP threatens to withdraw support over Brexit & the ethnicity pay gap

Today’s political headlines include the DUP’s threat to withdraw support from Government, May to launch plans for ethnicity pay gap reporting, Home Office guidelines may have been breached and Major compares Universal Credit to the poll tax. 

DUP threatens to withdraw support from Government over Brexit plan
The Daily Telegraph says that Theresa May will today ask her Brexit ‘war cabinet’ to agree a plan under which the UK would stay in a customs union with the EU until a permanent trade deal is agreed, with UK and EU negotiators having agreed to an all-UK backstop in principle. However, the DUP has described this plan, under which Northern Ireland would remain in the single market for goods, as a ‘sell out’ and is threatening to vote against the Budget later this month, abstaining from a vote on the Agriculture Bill last night to show that it is serious. The Times adds that Brexiteer ministers including Penny Mordaunt, Esther McVey and Liam Fox will not be at the meeting, leaving some of them unhappy.

May to launch plans for ethnicity pay gap reporting
The BBC reports that Theresa May is to announce plans today to force companies to reveal their ethnicity pay gap, a comparison between the pay received by employees form ethnic minorities and their white counterparts. She will also launch a Race at Work Charter, committing firms to increasing recruitment and progression of ethnic minority employees.

Home Office guidelines on migrant detention may have been breached
The Guardian has published an investigation into migrants held in detention centres, finding that over half of its sample were either suicidal, seriously ill or victims of torture, with almost 56% defined as being an ‘adult at risk’. People in this category should only be held in extreme cases, so the paper suggests that Home Office guidelines have been breached.

Major compares Universal Credit to the poll tax
Speaking to the BBC, former Prime Minister Sir John Major has criticised the Government’s Universal Credit policy, warning that it risked encountering the same issues as the poll tax. While he described the theory behind the policy as ‘entirely logical’ he cautioned that it was being brought in ‘too soon and in the wrong circumstances’.

Corbyn to announce plans to teach children about UK’s role in slavery and colonialism
According to the Daily Mail, Jeremy Corbyn is to announce plans to teach about the UK’s role in slavery and colonialism in schools today, claiming that the Windrush scandal shows that this is ‘more important now than ever’. The paper adds that Education Secretary Damian Hinds will use a speech today to attack Labour’s plans for a ‘common rule book’, to abandon free schools and freeze the academies programme.

25 high-priority no-deal Brexit plans in trouble
The Times reports that 25 of the less than 100 high-priority no-deal Government workstreams are in trouble, with 13 ‘off-track’. Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the National Audit Office, warned that the Government had left business in a ‘very difficult position’ and said it was ‘not implausible’ that flights between the EU and the UK could be grounded.

Blair concerned about services sector after Brexit, following new research
The Financial Times says that Tony Blair has expressed concern about the future of the UK’s services sector post-Brexit, following the release of new research by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research showing that if the UK traded with the EU on World Trade Organization terms, the lost trade would reduce the size of the economy by 2.1% by 2030.

Pro-remain Tories to form group to rival Rees-Mogg’s Eurosceptics
The Guardian claims that a group of up to 30 remain-backing Conservative MPs are planning to form a movement to rival Jacob Rees-Mogg’s European Research Group and vote down Theresa May’s Brexit deal if she moves towards a Canada-style model, with a number of the MPs hoping that this will lead to a second referendum.

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Nicola Sturgeon

Political Headlines – Sturgeon’s conference speech, IMF calls for spending increase and Hammond under pressure

Today’s political headlines include Sturgeon’s conference speech, the IMF’s calls for a spending increase in the event of a hard Brexit, Hammond under pressure to back digital tax and May accused of trying to avoid public scrutiny. 

Sturgeon to use conference speech to deliver message of ‘hope’
The BBC says that Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to use her speech to her party’s conference to set out a message of ‘hope and optimism’, contrasting Scotland’s ‘progressive values’ with the ‘unfolding calamity’ at Westminster, claiming that ‘much more hope will be possible’ when the country becomes independent.

IMF calls for spending increase in hard Brexit scenario
The Financial Times reports that the International Monetary Fund has advised Philip Hammond to increase public spending after a hard Brexit, contrary to his warning that there was no money for a fiscal stimulus in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The IMF urged the UK to adopt a ‘flexible’ monetary policy, suggesting interest rates might be lowered in this scenario, and cut its growth forecast for the country.

Hammond under pressure to back digital tax
The Times claims that Chancellor Philip Hammond is facing ‘mounting pressure’ to include a digital tax in the budget later this month, after the release of Facebook’s UK results shows that it paid just £7.4m in tax last year, on revenues of £1.27bn. Damian Collins, Chair of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the firm should be ‘should be paying a level of tax which more accurately reflects the value of their business in the UK’.

May accused of ‘trying to avoid public scrutiny’ by not updating Commons on Brexit
The Guardian says that Labour has accused Theresa May of ‘trying to avoid public scrutiny’ by not appearing in the House of Commons to give a statement on the Salzburg summit. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is expected to deliver an update on the negotiations today.

Water companies should be able to force every household to have a water meter
The Daily Telegraph carries details of a new report by the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which calls for all water companies to be allowed to force every household to have a water meter. The committee admits that this may lead to ‘significant bill increases’ but chair Neil Parish said that it would make sure that all ‘companies have the same tools at their disposal to reduce consumption of water in their regions’. The Financial Times adds that the report criticises Ofwat for letting water firms put investors ahead of consumers.

CBI calls for £2bn package to support businesses
The Guardian reports that the CBI is calling on Philip Hammond to unveil a £2bn package of measures to support businesses in the budget. Its proposals include increasing the annual investment allowance, making it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to access funding from the apprenticeship levy, and changes to business rates.

Brussels delays trade plan after UK signals more concessions
The Times expects that the EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to delay the publication of a draft political declaration on a future trade deal, originally scheduled for tomorrow, so that it can be redrafted to show areas of agreement and disagreement between the sides and take into account a changed negotiating position. Downing Street has played down suggestions that a border deal is imminent, claiming that more concessions are necessary.

Mordaunt to replace taxpayers’ aid funding with cash from private investors
According to The Sun, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt will use a speech today to outline her plan to use private investors to fund overseas aid, reducing the amount contributed by taxpayers. According to the plans, non-Government money will be allowed to be used in order to reach the 0.7% of GDP on aid target.

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Customs

Political Headlines – UK ‘must not stay’ in EU customs arrangements

Today’s political headlines include Brexiteers warnings that the UK must not stay in EU customs arrangements after 2022, the Government is attempting to bring Labour MPs on side to back Brexit, McDonnell calls for an end to Universal Credit and pension tax relief to be cut to fund NHS spending boost. 

Brexiteers warn that the UK must not stay in EU customs arrangements after 2022
The Times claims that Brexiteers, including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, are now warning Theresa May that, while they are prepared to give her room for manoeuvre in the Brexit talks, she must not keep the UK in the EU’s customs arrangements beyond the next election in 2022. However the EU has insisted that the proposals cannot be time-limited. Some Leavers have suggested that they will use the budget to put pressure on May.

Government tries to get Labour MPs to back Brexit deal
According to The Daily Telegraph, Government whips have held talks with up to 25 Labour MPs in a bid to persuade them to vote through the Government’s Brexit deal, nullifying opposition from Eurosceptic backbenchers. However, this has infuriated the Conservative Eurosceptics, some of whom are now threatening to vote against parts of the budget, with the European Research Group meeting tomorrow to set out plans for a ‘guerrilla campaign’.

McDonnell calls for end to Universal Credit
As the BBC reports, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell used various interviews over the weekend to claim that Universal Credit ‘will have to go’ as it is not ‘providing the safety net that people expect when they need support’ and is ‘just not sustainable’. He also said that Labour was considering reducing the length of the working week.

Pension tax relief to be cut to fund NHS spending boost
The Daily Telegraph says that it expects Philip Hammond to use the budget to cut pension tax relief in order to pay for the NHS’s £20bn funding boost. Steve Webb, the former Lib Dem pensions minister who now works for Royal London, warned that the move is ‘no way to run pensions’ as the ‘people who will be affected are being prudent, making their own provision for retirement – which the Government repeatedly tells us they want us to do’.

Japan would welcome UK to Trans-Pacific Partnership
Interviewed by the Financial Times, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said that his country would welcome the UK to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal ‘with open arms’. He warned against a ‘disorderly Brexit’ and said that while the UK would no longer be a gateway to Europe after Brexit, it was still ‘equipped with global strength’.

Hammond considers reward for landlords who sell to tenants
The Guardian claims that Philip Hammond is considering using the budget to bring in a so-called ‘good landlord’ tax break. This would reward those who sell properties to existing tenants. The plan has been thought up by the thinktank Onward, which proposes that landlords should not pay capital gains tax if a property is sold to tenants who have occupied the property for three years or longer, funded by curtailing other buy-to-let tax benefits.

Field claims Government always knew impact of Universal Credit
The Sun says that Frank Field, Chair of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, has claimed that the Government always knew that the rollout of Universal Credit would leave some families up to £200 a month worse off. He told the paper that ‘The frailest shoulders have borne most of the budget deficit reduction strategy “successes”’.

Haldane appointed to chair new Industrial Strategy Council
The Financial Times reports that Andy Haldane, the Bank of England’s Chief Economist, is to be appointed as the chair of the new Industrial Strategy Council. The body will hold the Government to account and improve the implementation of the policy, which aims to improve the UK’s poor productivity.

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CPC

19 Tory Party Conference tweets that make us miss it…

The Conservative Party Conference is over for another year but did you see all that there was to see?

Vuelio were at the Lib Dem, Labour and Tory Conferences, and while the team are briefing clients on all the sessions – we thought we’d see what Twitter had to say about the Government’s conference in 2018.

Here are some of the best [may contain bad language]:

 

Most talked about moment

 

Most Charmingly Optimistic Fringe Title

 

Most ‘app’ tweet

 

Most self-deprecating

 

Most honest journalist

 

Most tired journalist

 

Most frustrated journalist

 

Most shade from a journalist

 

Most sycophantic MP

 

Most seal-like MP

 

Most sarcastic MP

 

Most awkward analogy

 

Most words removed

 

Most ‘dad’ moment

 

Most obvious place to be on Monday night (if you know, you know)

 

Most adorable stand

 

Most accidental suggestion of incest

 

Most mini Moggs

 

Vuelio Political Services are available to anyone who wants to stay on top of the biggest issues and latest news in politics. 

Foreign Secretary

Political Headlines – Hunt’s warning, border plans, aviation plans and food bank usage

Today’s political headlines include Hunt’s warning of further sanctions against Russia, Varadkar’s call for new border plans, the EASA has turned down the CAA’s request for an aviation plan and Food bank usage up 52% in Universal Credit areas. 

Hunt warns of further sanctions against Russia as new plot is revealed
The Times reports that Western countries joined forces yesterday to expose a Russian GRU unit which tried to hack the Office for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons a month after the Salisbury attack. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that the ‘hard evidence’ would lead to further sanctions against the country.

Varadkar calls for new border plans to be published quickly
The Guardian reports remarks made by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Brussels yesterday, in which he called on the UK to publish the revised plan for the border ‘as soon as possible’ so that a deal could be reached by November. European Council President Donald Tusk criticised Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s ‘unwise and insulting’ comparison of the EU and the USSR, and claimed that the EU was willing to offer a ‘Canada-plus-plus-plus deal’.

European agency turned down UK’s request for joint no-deal aviation plan
Correspondence seen by the BBC shows that the Civil Aviation Authority tried to reach a joint no-deal transition plan with the European Aviation Safety Agency but was turned down in July. EASA told the BBC that ‘discussion about technical details would not be useful since the framework for which we need to prepare is not known.’

Food bank usage up 52% in areas where Universal Credit rolled out
The Financial Times warns that research by the Trussell Trust shows that use of food bank increases by 52% over twelve months in areas where Universal Credit has been rolled out, compared to 13% in areas where it hasn’t. The benefit is due to be rolled out to 2.1m further families between 2019 and 2023.

Ending austerity could cost £20bn
The Times says that the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the cost of ending austerity, as promised by Theresa May in her conference speech, will be £20bn if it includes an increase in public sector wages. Downing Street and the Treasury have not explained what the Prime Minister meant in her speech.

Wealthy move assets out of UK owing to Corbyn fears
According to the Financial Times, which has spoken to a number of wealth managers, many of the UK’s ‘super-rich’ are moving assets out of the country or even planning to emigrate, because of the prospect of a Government led by Jeremy Corbyn. One wealth manager told the paper that ‘most people are much more worried about Corbyn than Brexit.

No-deal Brexit leaves a million workers exposed to pay cuts and job losses
The Sun carries details of new research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which warns that a no-deal Brexit would leave almost a million blue collar workers in industries such as car-manufacturing and chemicals ‘highly exposed’ to job losses and pay cuts, with the biggest pain felt in the Midlands and Northern Ireland.

McDonnell joins McStrike
The Daily Mail reports that Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell joined striking workers from firms including McDonald’s, TGI Fridays, Wetherspoons, Uber and Deliveroo at a protest in Leicester Square yesterday. The workers are calling for a minimum wage of £10 an hour and the end of ‘precarious’ contracts.

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Tory Party Conference

Political Headlines – the end to austerity and Russian cyber attacks

Today’s political headlines include the Dancing Queen promising to end austerity, UK accuses Russia of cyber attacks, the Brexit deal push and Ireland backs British backstop proposals. 

‘Dancing Queen’ promises end to austerity
The Times reports that Theresa May used her conference speech to announce the end of austerity, promising to increase public spending post-Brexit. Appearing on stage dancing to ABBA’s Dancing Queen, the Prime Minister also announced a cap on council borrowing to build new homes, promised quicker diagnoses for cancer patients (citing the story of her goddaughter who died of cancer last year) and, in a victory for The Sun, confirmed that fuel duty would be frozen.

UK accuses Russia of cyber attacks
The Guardian reports that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has accused Russia’s intelligence services of a number of ‘reckless and indiscriminate cyber-attacks’ which were ‘in flagrant violation of international law’, including the 2016 hacking of the Democratic National Committee headquarters.

May starts Brexit deal push
According to The Sun, Theresa May will today start a ten-day push to get EU leaders to agree a Brexit deal, aiming to get a deal agreed at a summit on 16-17 October, which will be translated into legal text while a framework on future trade is negotiated, before both are formally agreed at a further summit in November.

Ireland backs British backstop proposals
The Financial Times says that Ireland has given its backing to a proposal from Theresa May to break the impasse over the Irish border backstop in the Brexit negotiations. Under the plan, if no other solution is found to the border problem, the whole of the UK would remain in a customs union with the EU (which has already been rejected by chief negotiator Michel Barnier) and agree that Northern Ireland would remain subject to single market regulations.

France would prefer no-deal Brexit to compromise
The Daily Telegraph reports that France’s Europe minister, Natalie Loiseau, has warned that it would prefer the UK to leave the EU without a deal than accept a compromise which undermines the EU’s integrity. The paper adds that it believes that a new British proposal will leave the UK in a de-facto customs union with the EU, with Northern Ireland aligned with single market rules.

Tory mayoral candidate under fire for remarks about multiculturalism
The Guardian reports that the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London Shaun Bailey used a pamphlet that he wrote for the Centre for Policy Studies a decade ago to claim that accommodating Muslims and Hindus ‘robs Britain of its community’ and risked turning it into a ‘crime-riddled cesspool’.

Johnson paid £275,000 for Telegraph column
The Sun reports that Boris Johnson is being paid £275,000 for his column in The Daily Telegraph, which is double the salary he received while he was Foreign Secretary and ten times the average salary. According to the Register of Interests, he spends ten hours a month on the column, giving him an hourly rate of £2,300.

RBS and Nissan warn of Brexit consequences
Ross McEwan, the Chief Executive of RBS, has told the BBC that a ‘bad Brexit’ could lead to a recession and that as a result the bank was becoming more cautious about lending to certain sectors, especially retail and construction. The Guardian reports that Nissan has warned that an end to ‘frictionless trade’ with the EU would have ‘serious implications’.

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TM speech

Conference Headlines – Bright future and being cross with Boris

Today’s Conservative Party Conference headlines include May’s Conference speech, but being cross at Boris, DUP could topple the Government, and NHS must embrace technology. 

May insists a bright future lies ahead
The Times is reporting ahead of Theresa May’s speech today, in which she will tell her Party that the ‘best days lie ahead’ for Britain. May will seek to unite the Conservatives ahead of a crucial period in the Brexit negotiations, with the European Commission set to formally respond to the outlined Chequers proposal next week.

May ‘cross’ at Boris speech
In an interview give to the BBC, May expressed her frustration at comments made by former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who yesterday gave a speech to over a thousand people at the conference. May’s irritation centred on Johnson’s remarks regarding Northern Ireland, which she said reneged on Britain’s guarantee to Northern Ireland.

DUP could topple Conservative government
The Guardian is reporting that DUP leader in the Commons Nigel Dodds has reiterated the party’s belief in no border being imposed in the Irish sea. Dodds threatened to vote down May’s deal if it resulted in checks imposed between Northern Ireland and Britain, saying they would not support a Prime Minister that detached Northern Ireland from Britain.

NHS must embrace technology
The Telegraph has reported on comments made by Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock at a fringe event, in which he encouraged the sector to adopt technological innovations and follow the lead of driverless cars. Hancock said the NHS would suffer if it waited any longer in introducing new technology.

EU figures angry with May’s immigration plan
The Guardian has picked up on opposition to the Prime Minister’s post-Brexit plan amongst senior EU politicians, with leader of the EPP group Manfred Weber and the EU’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt both expressing concerns. May set out her vision to end free movement and low-skilled migration once the UK leaves, with EU figures calling for a united front against attempts to pick-off benefits of membership.

Final day of Conference – don’t miss the final day’s summary here.

Theresa may conference

Conference Headlines – immigration rules, Theresa May booed & Javid targets middle class drug users

Today’s Conservative Party Conference headlines include new immigration rules, Theresa May booed by party members, Sajid Javid targeting middle class drug users and the call to get behind the PM. 

New immigration rules
Sky reports on the Prime Minister promising new rules regarding immigration. The rules will give priority to highly skilled workers; immigrants with low skills or those coming to claim benefits will find it much harder to enter the country. These proposals were recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee.

Theresa May booed by party members
The Telegraph reports on the Prime Minister being booed at Party Conference when revealing her Chequers plan. May was heckled when referencing her proposals. This happened at a closed meeting of the National Conservative Convention where it is believed she is the first Prime Minister not to receive a standing ovation.

Javid to target middle-class drug users
The BBC gives a preview of what the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, will say in his speech. Javid is expected to target middle-class drug users. He is also expected to announce a review of the drugs market, which will be part of joined-up action as the Justice Secretary, David Gauke, is expected to announce a new crime unit that will seize the assets of drug dealers high up the food chain. Javid hopes this will make middle-class drug users consider the wider societal implications of their actions.

Get behind the Prime Minister
The Guardian reports on Ruth Davidson being the latest senior Conservative to ask the party to support Theresa May. She reminded her colleagues that they should apply Conservative values to their approach to Brexit. These remarks came after photos appeared of Boris Johnson in a field of something resembling wheat, which are widely considered to be mocking the Prime Minister.

Empty seats at the Conference
The Spectator gives its view on the number of empty seats for cabinet ministers’ speeches at the conference. The article says this is not due to a lack of attendees at the conference, it is because the speakers people want to hear from are not speaking on the main stage. It notes the attendance at events where Jacob Rees-Mogg is speaking is particular high.

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CPC

Conference Headlines – Boris ‘unfit to be PM’ and May to compromise on Chequers

Today’s Conservative Party Conference headlines include Philip Hammond’s remarks that Boris is unfit to be PM, May’s Chequers compromise, the Conservatives have lost their way and Hunt’s opinion that the EU is a prison.  

Boris is unfit to be PM
The Daily Mail reports on remarks made by the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, in which he said that Boris Johnson is unfit to be Prime Minister. Hammond has also said that Johnson’s greatest achievement is his Boris bikes. Hammond criticised the lack of detail Johnson provides in his suggestions and said he does not know how his own proposals work.

May to compromise on Chequers
The Sun reports that Theresa May could be willing to compromise on her Chequers plan. At a national convention meeting it is rumoured that May has admitted she may not be able to keep all aspects of her plan. This comes after the PM has faced stiff opposition to her proposals from those in her party.

Conservatives have lost their way
The BBC report on remarks made by Conservative donor, Michael Spencer, who is concerned about the party losing its way. In an interview Spencer did not endorse Theresa May saying that her future depends on her ability to deliver Brexit.

Hunt compares EU to ‘prison’ of Soviet Union
Sky report on a speech made by Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt to the conference where he compared the EU to the Soviet Union. He said the EU was set up to promote and protect the values of freedom and not prevent people from leaving. Hunt also called on the party to unite so it can appeal to the entire country.

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Boris Johnson

Political Headlines – Call for Canada-style free trade deal

Today’s Political Headlines include Boris Johnson calls on Theresa May to negotiate a Canada-style free trade deal, scrap unconditional offers urge independent school teachers and Corbyn increases fears of no-deal Brexit. 

Boris Johnson calls on Theresa May to negotiate a Canada-style free trade deal
The Telegraph reports that Boris Johnson has laid out what he would do if he was Prime Minister, including telling the EU that Britain will no longer accept the Irish backstop it signed up to last December, and that the border issue must instead be resolved in free trade talks after Brexit. He plans to negotiate a “SuperCanada” tariff-free trade deal during the transition period to maintain the benefits of being in the single market.

Scrap unconditional offers urges independent school headteachers
The Times are reporting on comments made by the heads of Britain’s top independent schools, which called on universities to end unconditional offers to prospective students. The suggestion has been made by executive director of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, Mike Buchanan, who claimed that once students are given unconditional offers and know they don’t have to pass, performance in their A levels drops.

Corbyn increases fears of no-deal Brexit
The Guardian have reported on a meeting yesterday between leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, in which Corbyn told officials he would vote down any deal that fails to replicate the benefits of membership of the single market and customs union. Barnier was said to be interested in having more detail on Labour’s six Brexit tests, with rising concerns in the EU that the UK parliament will vote down any deal put forward by Prime Minister Theresa May.

Alarm over appointment of food supplies minister
The Independent are reporting on concerns over the recent appointment of David Rutley as food supplies minister, who has taken on the brief amid increasing fears of a no-deal Brexit. A former executive at Asda and PepsiCo, Rutley will manage readiness and the ‘food chain’. Labour have described the appointment as an indication of the ‘catastrophic damage’ no-deal could cause.

Head teachers plan a protest at Downing Street funding rally
BBC News reports that hundreds of head teachers from England and Wales are due to attend a rally today to demand extra funding for schools. Teaching union members, parents and staff have taken part in numerous protests about the budget squeeze over the past few years.

£40K spent to hide how rarely former northern powerhouse minister visited the North
According to The Guardian, the Government had spent two years and £40,000 of taxpayers’ money trying to hide how little former Northern powerhouse minister, James Wharton visited the North of England in his role.

Jacob Rees-Mogg targets the PM for doing nothing to support families
The Daily Mail reports that backbench MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has complained the Tories are doing nothing to promote traditional family values. He is planning a major intervention at Tory conference, and will tell party activists that successive governments have encouraged family breakdown with perverse welfare and tax policies.

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theresa may in paris

Political Headlines – Corbyn to back Brexit deal if ‘sensible’

Today’s Political Headlines include Corbyn’s offer to back May’s Brexit deal if it’s ‘sensible’, May losing Cabinet support over no-deal plan and bringing the Budget forward. 

Corbyn offers to vote for May’s Brexit deal, but only if its ‘sensible’
The Guardian reports that Jeremy Corbyn has warned Theresa May that Labour MPs will vote against her Brexit deal unless she is willing to keep the UK in the customs union and protect consumers’ and workers’ rights. He also used his conference speech to promise that Labour would support a ‘sensible deal’. The BBC adds that Corbyn is visiting Brussels today, where he will hold talks with the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier and attend the renaming of a square win honour of the murdered MP Jo Cox.

May’s no-deal plan losing Cabinet support
The Times claims that Theresa May is losing the support of her Cabinet over her plan to pursue a no-deal Brexit if her Chequers proposals are rejected by the EU. Ministers reportedly sharing this point of view include Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Sajid Javid, who want her to consider a Canada-style free trade deal but are not thought to have a plan for the Irish border in this scenario.

UK not turning way from international co-operation, May says
The BBC reports that Theresa May told the UN General Assembly that Brexit did not mean that the UK was turning away from international co-operation, but it was a ‘clear demand for decisions and accountability to lie closer to home’. She has also used her visit to the USA to discuss a ‘big and ambitious’ trade deal with President Donald Trump.

No-deal Brexit ‘catastrophic’ for farmers
The Guardian says that the NFU is warning that a no-deal Brexit would be ‘catastrophic’ for British farmers, after the EU confirmed that the UK would have to wait six months to become an approved third-country supplier. As part of this process 6000 different meat-processing plants would need to be audited and approved, with similar checks on other food suppliers.

Budget brought forward
According to the Financial Times, Chancellor Philip Hammond has ‘rushed forward’ the Budget to 29 October in an attempt to prevent it from being caught up in the final stages of the Brexit negotiations, which are currently expected to be concluded at a special European Council meeting on 17-18 November.

EU steps up no-deal preparations
The Daily Mail reports that the EU is stepping up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit because of threats from Labour to vote down any deal agreed by Theresa May. A leaked memo warns that EU countries could be forced to take unilateral action in order to mitigate the impact of such a scenario.

Corbyn attacked for not apologising to the Jewish community
The Daily Telegraph says that Jewish leaders have attacked Jeremy Corbyn after he used his conference speech to complain about Labour’s ‘tough’ summer and accused the media of ‘lies and half-truths’ rather than apologising for anti-Semitism. Instead he claimed that it was the ‘row’ which had led to ‘immense hurt and anxiety in the Jewish community and great dismay in the Labour Party’.

NHS will waste funding boost unless efficiencies are made
Writing in The Times, Lord Carter of Coles, who has conducted a series of reviews of NHS efficiency for the Government, warns that unless the service seriously cuts down on waste the £20bn extra funding promised by Theresa May will be wasted. His final report, published today, finds that pointless ambulance journeys cost £500m a year.

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Jeremy Corbyn speech

Conference Headlines – Corbyn to attack ‘greed is good’ capitalism

Today’s Labour Party Conference Headlines include Corbyn’s speech expected to attack ‘greed is good’ capitalism, 400,000 new jobs in Corbyn’s ‘green revolution’ and Labour to commit to expanding free childcare. 

Corbyn to use speech to attack ‘greed-is-good’ capitalism’
The Guardian reports that the theme of Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to conference today will be an attack on ‘greed-is-good’ capitalism, setting out policies to reach areas which he argues have been left behind. Measures he will reveal include a ‘green jobs revolution’ and the extension of free childcare to more families.

400,000 new jobs in ‘Corbyn’s green revolution’
The Times has more details of what it calls ‘Corbyn’s green revolution’. He will pledge to reduce net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, scrap planning restrictions on wind farms, increase public subsidy for renewable energy, use public spending to improve domestic energy efficiency and compel landlords to make similar changes. He will claim that these plans would result in 400,000 new jobs.

Starmer receives standing ovation over second Brexit vote
According to the Financial Times, Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer won a standing ovation at conference yesterday when he told delegates that Labour had not ruled out holding another referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. His comments that ‘nobody is ruling out Remain as an option’ were not in the version of his speech originally circulated to journalists, suggesting that he may have been defying the leadership.

Labour commit to expanding free childcare
The Guardian are reporting that Labour will extend the current programme of 30 hours of free childcare to benefit over a million extra children. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will announce today in his speech that under Labour, the scheme would cover all parents of children between the ages of two and four. Corbyn will also commit to additional subsidised hours for families on the lowest incomes.

Anti-Semitism rules introduced to ease attacks on Corbyn, McCluskey says
The Telegraph have picked up on comments made by Unite boss Len McCluskey, in which he said Labour had adopted the IHRA definition on anti-Semitism to stop attacks on their leader. In a speech at Labour conference, McCluskey compared the recent scandal to the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, and said that events had strengthened the Palestinian cause.

Thornberry compares Labour anti-Semites to fascists
The Daily Mirror says that Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry used her conference speech to compare anti-Semites in the party to Oswald Mosley. She said that while ‘we all support the Palestinian cause’ there are members who use it as ‘a cover for their despicable hatred of Jewish people’, and they must be ‘kicked out of our party’.

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conference headlines 25.09

Conference Headlines – Labour plans to nationalise water industry

Today’s Labour Party Conference Headlines include Labour’s ‘war on the water rats’, Labour’s nationalisation plans causing concern among business leaders and the possibility of a second referendum under Labour. 

Labour’s ‘war on the water rats’
The Daily Mirror’s headline describes Shadow Chancellor John McDonell’s nationalisation plans as a ‘war on the water rats’. During his speech yesterday, McDonnell pledged to put a stop to ‘profiteering in dividends and vast executive salaries’ and announced that the water industry would be the first to be nationalised under Labour. He said that current bosses would be fired and that control would be handed to workers, councils and customers.

Nationalisation could damage prosperity
The headline of The Daily Telegraph features a warning from Business leaders that Labour’s nationalisation plans could ‘put prosperity at risk’. The newspaper reports that business leaders are deeply concerned about Labour’s plans, saying that it would put the economy into the ‘deep freeze’ and ‘crack the foundations’ of prosperity.

Labour MPs plan to vote down May’s EU withdrawl deal
The Evening Standard reports that according to Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer, the Labour Party is preparing to vote down Theresa May’s EU withdrawal deal in Parliament. The newspaper reports that in his speech to conference today, Starmer will warn that Tory ‘division, chaos and failure’ over Brexit is putting the country’s future prosperity at risk.

Labour could offer the chance to remain in the EU
The BBC writes that Starmer has claimed there is a possibility of Labour backing a second referendum offering voters the chance to remain in the EU. This came following John McDonnell’s comments that any vote should be on the terms of the Brexit deal, rather than on staying in the EU. Today, conference will debate and vote on a motion to keep a new referendum on the table if Labour is unable to force a general election.

Shadow Energy Secretary to announce ambitious clean energy plans
The Guardian reports that Shadow Secretary for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rebecca Long-Bailey will today announce the Labour Party’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The current aim is to reach an 80% reduction. Long-Bailey will set out new energy proposals, including the aim to generate 85% of electricity through renewable and low-carbon sources, and the doubling of windfarms by 2030.

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lab conf headlines 24.09

Conference Headlines – Labour propose to scrap free schools

Today’s Labour Party Conference Headlines include Angela Rayner’s proposal to scrap free schools and academies, a worker bonus policy proposed by Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell and Creasy’s criticism for Momentum. 

The end of free schools and academies
The Guardian reports on proposals to scrap free schools and reduce the autonomy of academies that will be unveiled by Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner. It is also expected that Rayner will announce that Local Authorities will be able to build their own schools again. This will be the first structural reform Rayner has presented since being in her role.

£500 bonus for workers
The Independent has picked up on another policy announcement that Labour are expected to make, Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell will say that workers should receive a bonus that could be up to £500 for as large companies would be required to give workers shares. This forms part of a plan by McDonnell to allow workers to benefit from any rise in valuation of the company they work for.

Deselection made easier
The BBC reports on rule changes the Labour Party will make, the changes will lower the threshold for a selection contest to be announced. Currently the threshold is 50% of local branches and affiliated unions voting for the contest, this is will change to 33%. This could see more MPs who are not on the left of the party facing opposition from within their local group.

Creasy criticised Momentum
Sky reports on remarks made by Stella Creasy where she has labelled Momentum as toxic and has called on the more moderate members of her party to take back control. Speaking at a fringe event at the conference Creasy said that there is more to being political than trolling MPs online or going to a protest.

Labour Live not a success
The Express has a story that determines that the festival organised by Labour was not a success due to poor ticket sales. The Treasurer of the party confirmed that cash reserves were used to compensate for the lack of attendees. The party Treasurer, Diana Holland did make clear that the event was not organised with the intention of making money and the cost of the festival will be included in the next year’s financial report.

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EU pres

Political Headlines: May vs EU, Javid vs gangs & UK vs cyber criminals

Today’s Political Headlines include May left humiliated over Chequers deal, Javid primising to target gangs, UK creates a cyber-force and Williamson pledges more support for Ukrainian military.

May left ‘humiliated’ as EU leaders reject Chequers deal
As The Times says, Theresa May was ‘humiliated’ by EU leaders yesterday as they rejected her Chequers strategy for Brexit. The paper adds that a number of factors led to this outcome, including May’s decision to read out an article she had written for Die Welt, her rejection of revised proposals on Ireland without seeing the text, reports that International Trade Secretary Liam Fox was planning to scrap food regulations to secure a trade deal with the USA, support for May from Hungary’s President Viktor Orban, and her admission that revised Irish backstop proposals wouldn’t be ready by the next summit in October.

Javid promises to target ‘county lines’ gang network
Writing for the Daily Mail, Home Secretary Sajid Javid has promised to combat the ‘county lines’ network, under which drugs gangs use children as couriers to supply drugs in small towns and seaside resorts. He has announced a £3.6m National County Lines Co-ordination Centre, allowing police forces to work together in their efforts to tackle the problem, and that there will be several large-scale raids in the next week.

UK creates £250m cyber-force
The Times reports that the Ministry of Defence and GCHQ are setting-up a £250m cyber-force which will aim to target hostile states, terrorist groups and gangs, with around 2,000 personnel – a quadrupling of the number of people in offensive cyber positions. This follows a review commissioned by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, with the creation of the force due to be officially announced soon.

Williamson pledges more support for Ukrainian military
The Daily Telegraph has visited the Ukraine with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, paying a trip to the frontline of the conflict with Russian-backed separatists. Williamson accuses the Russians of trying to ‘reverse the outcome of the Cold War’ and said that the UK was ‘upping our training and support efforts’ with the Ukrainian armed forces.

60% of public support tax increases to fund public spending
The Guardian reports that the latest British Social Attitudes survey shows that 60% of the British public would now support an increase in taxes to fund higher public spending – the highest level for 15 years. This includes 53% of Conservative supporters. The public’s top public spending priority was revealed to be health, followed by education.

Labour would see surge in support if it backed second referendum
The Independent reveals that two new polls show that backing a second referendum on Brexit would give Labour a boost in support which would ‘carry it to the brink of Government’. A YouGov poll shows that backing the People’s Vote would see the party gain an extra 1.5m voters, while an ICM poll showed that the party would win marginal seats from the Tories – including some that voted to leave the EU.

Nuclear deterrent ‘not fit for purpose’, MPs warn
The Guardian carries details of a new report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee that warns that decisions by the Ministry of Defence to delay maintenance at the department’s 13 sites to support nuclear submarines have left the UK’s nuclear deterrent programme ‘not fit for purpose’.

UKIP to become a ‘radical, populist party’
The BBC says UKIP will release an interim manifesto at its conference, with leader Gerard Batten claiming it should become a ‘radical, populist party’ standing up to the ‘politically-correct thought police’ and helping ‘the people who form the backbone of Britain’.

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Austria

Political Headlines: Brexit won’t be extended, May will be ‘forced to quit’ in Spring and rail chaos

Today’s Political Headlines include May’s insistence that Brexit negotiations won’t be extended, the leaked memo suggesting May will be forced to quit next Spring, rail timetable chaos caused by systematic failings and Paisley recall petition fails. 

May insists Brexit negotiations won’t be extended
The BBC says that Theresa May used a dinner with her EU counterparts in Salzburg last night to tell them that Brexit negotiations wouldn’t be extended and a deal must be struck in the next two months. She insisted that the bloc rethink its position on the Irish border, but there are also suggestions that the UK will propose new regulatory checks to try to resolve the issue. The Maltese and Czech Prime Ministers told the BBC that they hope the UK will hold another referendum on Brexit. Meanwhile Sir Mike Penning, who helped to run May’s leadership campaign, has told The Daily Telegraph the Chequers plan is as ‘dead as a dodo’.

Leaked memo suggests May will be forced to quit next spring
The Daily Telegraph has obtained an internal memo, originally written in April but shared among Tory MPs recently, which claims that Theresa May will be forced to stand down ‘soon after March 2019’ and assesses potential successors. It claims that Michael Gove is ‘on manoeuvres’, Philip Hammond has ‘not a hope’, Liam Fox is ‘fading’, Boris Johnson won’t win as ‘the front-runner never wins’ and Jacob Rees-Mogg is unlikely to be in the last two.

Rail timetable chaos caused by ‘systematic’ failings, inquiry finds
The Times reports that an inquiry into this summer’s rail timetable chaos has found that it could happen again owing to ‘systematic’ failings. Companies knew that there would be disruption, but did not warn passengers, the Department for Transport didn’t ask them enough questions, and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling signed-off a key change to services. Grayling announced a ‘root-and-branch’ review of the rail system yesterday, to be led by John Lewis’s deputy chairman Keith Williams.

Paisley recall petition fails
The BBC reports that DUP MP Ian Paisley has held onto his seat after a recall petition against him gained the support of 9.4% of the electorate, rather than the 10% needed to trigger his recall. The petition, the first of its kind, was caused by Paisley’s suspension from Westminster for failing to declare holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

Labour plans to speed up handling of antisemitism cases
According to The Guardian, Labour’s National Executive Committee has endorsed plans to double the parties disciplinary body in order to expedite the processing of antisemitism allegations. The plans, which the party’s conference will need to vote on, would see the National Constitutional Committee gain 14 more members, amongst other changes.

Law changes to make it easier for leaseholders to buy freeholds
The Times says that plans to be announced today by the Law Commission, at the request of the Government, will make it easier for leaseholders to buy their property’s freehold by abolishing the minimum period before a purchase is possible. Additionally leases will be able to extended for longer, multiple times, and at lesser cost.

Watson announces plans for £140m tax on gambling operators
The Sun reports Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has announced plans to introduce a 1% compulsory levy on gambling operators’ gross yield, which would raise £140m each year. The money would be used to fund treatment for problem gamblers. Other policies include banning gambling promotions during live sport events and on using credit cards to gamble.

Number of new social rent houses cut by over 200,000
The Daily Mirror claims that the number of new social rent homes per year has been cut by over 200,000 since 2010, according to statistics it says are ‘buried’ in a Government report. Labour’s John Healey has accused the Conservatives of ‘making the housing crisis worse’.

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Theresa May 2018

Political Headlines – May’s pitch, People’s Vote, immigration limits and council house pride

Today’s Political Headlines include May pitching her Chequers deal to EU27, People’s Vote’s plans for a second referendum, new immigration limits and May says take pride in living in a council house. 

May set to pitch Chequers deal to EU27
Prime Minister Theresa May flies to Salzburg today to meet with leaders of the EU27, with The Guardian reporting that chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier has rejected calls for the EU to soften their stance on the Irish border. The FT reports that May is planning to appeal directly to other EU leaders in order to reach a compromise on the issue.

People’s Vote publishes plan for second EU referendum
The BBC have reported on a document released by the People’s Vote campaign, which sets out the route towards securing another public vote on Brexit. The Daily Express have splashed on an exclusive with Theresa May, who has heavily criticised the calls, saying that ‘we’ve had the people’s vote – it was the referendum’.

Plans for new immigration limits given boost
The Times are reporting that Government plans for new restrictions on low-skilled migration have been bolstered by a report released by the Migration Advisory Committee. The committee called for an end to low-skilled migration from the EU, with a move towards a global system whereby EU citizens are treated the same as those from non-EU countries. The Guardian have led with the response from business groups, who have reacted with anger, saying that major industries may collapse due to labour shortages.

Take pride in living in a council house, says May
The Telegraph are reporting on a speech set to be made by Theresa May later today, in which she will indicate a major shift in Conservative housing policy and commit to spending an extra £2bn on social housing. In the speech, May will say people should feel ‘proud’ of living in council housing, and both politicians and society should stop ‘looking down’ on council housing residents.

Hunt impresses on visit to Japan
Sky News have reported on praise for Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who became the first UK minister to give a speech in Japanese. Hunt is visiting Japan to strengthen UK relations with the country and took the opportunity in his speech to pledge a ‘new era of friendship’.

Watson furious at conference snub
The Sun have details of a row between Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson and leader Jeremy Corbyn, after Watson was unhappy with his speaking slot at the upcoming Labour conference. Watson is said to have directly challenged Corbyn in a shadow cabinet meeting, and is alleged to have criticised a member of Corbyn’s staff for leaking discussions.

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Vince Cable

Conference Headlines – Electable Lib Dems feeling sorry for May

Today’s Lib Dem Party Conference Headlines include Vince Cable’s claims that the party is electable, the leader feeling sorry for May, liberalism but not by the Lib Dems and Clegg’s claims that the EU could extend the Brexit period. 

The Liberal Democrats are electable
ITV reports its interview with leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable where he said a revival is taking place and the Lib Dems have a lot to be positive about. Cable acknowledged the results in the last two general elections have not been good enough but saw positives in the local elections.

Cable feels sorry for May
The Express reports speculates on Cable’s speech where it is expected he will tell Theresa May to stop delivering a Brexit she is not fully behind. Cable is expected to call on May to show true leadership and back a second referendum; he will also criticise those who want to leave the EU but are not considering the costs of it.

Liberalism but not by the Lib Dems
The Guardian has published an opinion piece where the Lib Dems are not seen as up to the job of representing Liberalism. The article points out that with Labour going further left and Theresa May facing opposition from those on the right of her party the Lib Dems should be making more progress.

Clegg says the EU could extend Brexit period
The BBC reports on remarks made by Nick Clegg suggesting European leaders are looking to find a way to give the UK more time to negotiate Brexit so a no-deal can be avoided. Clegg rejects the suggestion that has come from the Prime Minister that it is either the Chequers Plan or no-deal.

Cancel Brexit with no new referendum
The Sun reports on a policy that was voted on at the Lib Dem conference. The article says the Lib Dems will call on the Government to extend the article 50 process, so a referendum can be held. If the EU rejects the extension then they want the UK to revoke article 50, meaning the UK remains in the EU indefinitely.

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Nigel Milton

How Heathrow used an integrated campaign to win its third runway

Nigel Milton, director of communications at Heathrow Airport, recently spoke at the CIPR’s Influence Live event and explained how the airport went from being called ‘Heathrow Hassle’ to having its third runway approved by Government.

Heathrow airport is the busiest in Europe, with some 78 million passengers passing through it in 2017. It’s also recently had plans for a third runway approved – fulfilling the UK’s need for increased air traffic capacity.

But getting to this point wasn’t an easy journey; while a third runway was initially supported by Gordon Brown’s Government in 2009, the policy and politics all changed when the coalition Government came to power and immediately scrapped it.

Milton told Influence Live that when he joined in 2010, the airport already had the reputation of a ‘national embarrassment’, with ‘Heathrow Hassle’ in the lexicon. This made finding political supporters almost impossible.

So, how did they manage to turn it around? With the help of an international event, the London Mayor and an integrated campaign like no other.

In 2012, London hosted the Olympics and Heathrow became the official airport of the games. For Milton, it was an opportunity to reset the dial as the Games could effectively make or break the airport’s fortunes. In Milton’s own words, they ‘nailed it’.

Part of the success was leaving nothing to chance. Not only did Heathrow prepare for the oddly-shaped luggage carried by international athletes (oars, bikes, racquets etc), it also increased spending on toilet maintenance because, bizarrely, the number one factor that makes a difference to someone’s opinion of an airport is the cleanliness of the toilets.

Major incident-free, the London Olympics were a huge success for Heathrow and, what’s more, the Government had changed its position on the need to expand UK airport capacity. This policy reversal was, in no small part, thanks to the London Mayor at the time, Boris Johnson.

While Johnson may have more recently been elected as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip with the promise there would be no third runway at Heathrow, he was at the time considered the airport’s champion politician – Milton said, ‘Without Boris, we wouldn’t have secured a third runway’. Johnson had argued that London needed more airport capacity, favouring the creation of an island in the Thames. While this wasn’t realised – his desire for more capacity was and so the long road to an extra runway began again for Heathrow.

The success of the Olympics put Heathrow in a strong position for its runway plans, as it could now trade on its national and international reputation of excellence, making it the frontrunner for expansion.

Milton’s approach was two-fold, a public relations campaign was designed to bring everyone, from its staff and local residents to Scottish businesses, on board and a public affairs campaign to gain political support.

The airport’s four business priorities were at the centre of its PR campaign:

  • Mojo – getting staff onside by making the airport a great place to work and risk-free when increasing staff numbers
  • Service transformation – proving it can deliver the best service for passengers and airlines
  • Beating the business plan – staying ahead of its plans so it could meet deadlines and expectations
  • Sustainable growth – working with local communities to impact them negatively as little as possible and positively as much as possible

The campaign was complex, with thousands of stakeholders to be considered, influenced and managed. It required a national strategy, and the airport reviewed both passenger and freight journeys, so it could prove that it wasn’t just London’s airport, but Britain’s airport. It got Scottish business to back the plans, explaining the benefits locally because, Milton explained, ‘My accent saying Heathrow expansion is good for Scotland, in Scotland, means nothing compared to a Scottish accent saying it’.

The PR fed into the public affairs, Heathrow using the wins up and down the country to gain additional political support. It also polled politicians to show MPs they were not alone in their support. With a comprehensive integrated campaign that took everything into consideration, Heathrow was successful and a third runway has now been approved.

But the challenge isn’t over yet, as Milton is all too aware. When Vuelio asked if he was planning for a change in Government, Milton responded that yes – administrations and policies change and Heathrow was still preparing for every eventuality.

Do you want to run successful campaigns that combine public relations and public affairs? With Vuelio, everything you need is in one place, on one platform. Find out more.