Painful or pointless: Call it off
17/01/2019
This week Jim calls on pro EU Cabinet Ministers to force Mrs May to negotiate openly with the Opposition parties that she has shut out so far.
Can May possibly get her deal through?
10/01/2019
Against the odds Jim sill thinks Mrs May’s EU deal can prevail in some form. With no agreement on any other options, he forecasts a last minute appeal to Brussels to compromise on the Backstop could see her through eventually.
2018: The downward spiral continues
20/12/2018
Downtown’s political editor, Jim Hancock reviews the year in politics in his final blog of 2018.
“Letter of comfort” to save May deal?
13/12/2018
So, Mr Rees Mogg is it OK to try to overturn the 2016 decision? No not the EU Referendum, the decision to make Theresa May
Brexit: What happens next week?
06/12/2018
The government is censored. All warehouses in this country for frozen goods are full. Preparations are underway to turn Kent into a lorry park. People
Then as now
29/11/2018
Echoes from the past The Prime Minister goes to the country in a snap General Election appealing for support across party lines. The Irish border
Business pressure on MPs for deal
21/11/2018
The pressure on MPs to stop the Westminster pantomime and act responsibly will grow and grow as the vote on the Brexit deal comes closer.
Faith in our institutions under threat
15/11/2018
The United Kingdom used to have a reputation for being a bit dull but reliable and honourable in the way it conducted its affairs. The
Six more years of Trump?
08/11/2018
50 years ago, Richard Nixon was elected President of the United States. He went down in disgrace because of the Watergate scandal. Until Donald Trump
Burnham fuels Labour budget row
01/11/2018
The budget has plunged Labour into a topsy turvy row over the Chancellor’s income tax cuts. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is generally seen as
An “austerity over” budget? PM battles on
25/10/2018
As I have forecast for months, Theresa May has seen off the noose wielding Brexiteers with their empty threats. They are given too much credibility
Business Festival future uncertain
18/10/2018
Slipping through our fingers Are politicians and the business community going to back another International Festival of Business in Liverpool in 2020? There are worrying