Tag Archives: David Cameron

From Davos: The Problems, Difficulties and Woes of Europe

The problems, difficulties, and woes of Europe continued to dominate discussions and presentations in Davos. British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to the gathering and noted Europe's drag on the world economy as China grows at 8 percent, India at more than 7 percent and Africa at general rate of about 5 1/2 percent. He cautioned the audience that "fear of failure should not hold us back--we require boldness, not caution." He urged other European nations to tackle difficult issues like Britain has embraced, such as acting aggressively to reform public-sector pensions. He said only by taking on the tough budget issues can Europe gain vital economic credibility and get ahead of the market. He claimed that too many EU countries are less competitive today than they were one year ago, and they have imposed far too many "burdens on business" and relied heavily on financial transaction taxes.
Posted on January 28, 2012 By Tim Roemer
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The UK’s Public Services Open for Business

It will be difficult for the supporters of public service reform in the UK to see Monday's white paper on “Open Public Services” as anything other than a disappointment. Of course Prime Minister David Cameron was never going to concede that when he spoke at its launch. But given the emphasis he previously put on the “Big Society” and on opening up public service provision to new entrants and new methods of delivery, the limited and cautious words of the white paper speak of defeat.
Posted on July 13, 2011 By Adrian McMenamin
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The Fall of the News of the World has Political Ramifications too

As in every other western democracy, the internet has been wreaking havoc in the press in Britain. But there is no doubt that the papers are still extremely important in shaping and leading opinion in the United Kingdom and that has been reflected in sustained efforts by party leaders to be close to editors and proprietors of the major newspaper groups.
Posted on July 7, 2011 By Adrian McMenamin
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Is this the End of the UK?

Neither Labour nor the Conservatives wish to acknowledge it, but clearly the most stunning results of the UK elections on Thursday have been the victories of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in Scotland, who now have a small overall majority in the Scottish parliament. The scale of that victory is particularly impressive because the electoral system for that parliament was more or less designed to ensure the SNP could never win a majority. Even as he won his own seat, the SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said he would press on with plans to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. So, is this an end to the “lang syne” of union between Scotland and the rest of the UK?
Posted on May 6, 2011 By Adrian McMenamin
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Stalked by Ignatieff

Six weeks ago, Michael Ignatieff could have had a reasonable expectation of becoming the next prime minister of Canada. Today, though, he is a former party leader and an ex-MP with a lot of spare time on his hands. Ignatieff, who resigned as leader of Canada’s Liberals yesterday, is a familiar face to many in Britain, as, for many years, he was a prominent cultural commentator and newspaper columnist here. And his fate must trouble several of Britain’s political leaders on the eve of tomorrow’s regional and local elections and a referendum on voting reform with the choice between “first past the post” (the system used in the UK, United States and Canada for most elections) and the “alternative vote” (used in Australia and maybe familiar to U.S. readers as “instant run-off”).
Posted on May 4, 2011 By Adrian McMenamin
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Getting a Grip

Last week was a time most people in 10 Downing Street would probably like to forget. Bad headlines in the press over the failure to evacuate Britons from Libya with sufficient speed, a Prime Ministerial apology for the same and a deputy PM who unwisely joked that he did not realise he was meant to be in charge.
Posted on March 2, 2011 By Adrian McMenamin
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