The Prime Minister spent most of this week wining, dining and spending time down the pub with the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both the PM and the Chancellor, have high hopes for a closer relationship between China and the UK not least from the role that Chinese investment can play in boosting the UK’s infrastructure. During the course of the week, there have been a series of announcements about Chinese investment paying for nuclear energy and backing the Northern Powerhouse as well as numerous deals between China and UK firms.
The way in which the PM has rolled out the (very) red carpet has not been welcomed by everyone. The strongest words against the PM’s approach came from his friend and former adviser Steve Hilton on Newsnight. He called the approach a ‘national humiliation’ and called China a ‘rogue state’.
So what can we learn from the political news this week?
- Talk Talk cyber-attack. Whilst it is not yet clear how many of its 4 million customers have been effected, it is clear that there will be political intervention. Cyber-attacks seem to be becoming more common and the Government will find it increasingly necessary to say what measures it will be introducing and what it expects of companies to protect their customers.
- Sugar tax. For those watching the political runes, a sugar tax has been coming. Jamie Oliver’s select committee appearance and now the support of some leading newspapers are placing the Prime Minister under some pressure. Even if opponents of a tax can see it off this time, it is bound to come back. Politicians return to ideas every few years or so, and they will return to a sugar tax, in one form or another.
- EVEL is coming. Despite outrage from the SNP and Labour, English Votes for English Legislation this week moved a step closer. One of the criticisms of the plans being championed by the Government and the leader of the House, Chris Grayling, are that they are very complicated. It could be that a course in EVEL Studies will soon be required by anyone looking to engage with the Westminster Parliament.
- Miliband returns (no, the other one)? The death of Michael Meacher means a by-election in his Oldham West & Royton seat. UKIP will see this as opportunity to maintain its General Election momentum in the north of England in advance of the EU referendum. It also raises the prospect, if the Evening Standard is to be believed, of David Miliband returning to British politics. He still remains one of the front runners to be the next leader of the Labour Party despite not even being an MP, or even living in this country…
- Corbyn gets his Alastair. With the appointment of Seamus Milne, former Guardian journalist, Jeremy Corbyn has finally got his Executive Director of Strategy and Communications. Milne’s views appear consistent with those of Corbyn and his appointment came as disappointment to those who thought that the role would go to someone who could help to unite the party. There is no doubt that Milne is a potentially divisive appointment although it is unclear why anyone thought Corbyn would go for someone in that role who did not reflect his own views.