Brexit

It’s a paradox, but 2019 could be the best and worst of times

3 January 2019

We live in a paradoxical age. UK politics remains in a state of constant turmoil, and even the most hopeful commentators recognise that the first quarter of this year will be challenging. The Foreign Secretary said this week that the “rules-based international system is under greater strain than for many decades”. President Trump continues to confound. And yet there has never been a better time to be alive: the world literacy rate is 85%, the number of girls in primary school is now 90%, people are healthier and wealthier than ever. Read more

Will there be a General Election this year?

10 August 2018

We are often asked by clients what the prospects are of a General Election taking place this year. Politics is becoming increasingly unpredictable these days and anything could happen, but we think it is about 70/30 that there will not be an election. Read more

Crashing out of Europe?

12 February 2018

The prospect of the UK crashing out of Europe grows every day

Our politicians seem more focussed on what they don’t want during transition and after Brexit, rather than a clear plan for what the UK does want. The recently resigned Brexit Minister Lord Bridges told the House of Lords of his frustration. “What do we value? Sovereignty and control or market access and trade? There are still no clear answers to these basic questions”. Angela Merkel meanwhile says “we are open to any kind of partnership but it is in the UKs hands to tell us how close a partnership it wants”. Read more

Why are there eight Brexit Bills?

26 June 2017

Eight Brexit related Bills will be put before Parliament in the coming months.  Connect’s Managing Partner, Andy Sawford, gives the low down on what the different Bills are, why they are needed, and what the prospects are for gaining Parliamentary approval. Read more

2017 Budget

3 March 2017

This year’s Budget takes place just days before the Prime Minister is expected to trigger Article 50, starting the process of Britain leaving the European Union. Read more

Launching the PRCA Review of Political Predictions – Brexit, Trump and why the experts failed to see what was coming

22 November 2016

We all got it wrong again.  The city, the pollsters, the pundits and the bookies predicted Hillary Clinton would win. Read more

Conservative Party Leadership

1 July 2016

It was a rare moment of clarity when Graham Brady, the Chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee, announced the five candidates for the leadership on Thursday 30 June. Nominations have closed, these five will stand.

Read more

Simplistic Brexit Leave Campaign Makes Strong Case for Victory

28 June 2016

The Leave campaign ahead of the Brexit referendum focused on one simplistic, but effective, argument about the need to close national borders, which played on the fears of globalization-fatigued and insecure people, and gave the Outers every chance of a victory in Thursday’s vote. Read Michael Burrell’s opinion piece, published by Sputnik News ahead of the EU referendum last week. Read more

Guide to the EU Referendum Count – ten key moments through the night

20 June 2016

Connect will be tweeting updates throughout the count night.  In advance we thought we would give you a guide to some of the declaration times and ten potential key moments of the count to watch for. Read more

Implications for business of Brexit – British exit from the EU following the 23rd June referendum

23 February 2016

There will be huge implications for business if Britain exits from the EU following the 23^rd June referendum.

The date has been set, the main political players have chosen sides, and the opinion polls are volatile. The outcome of the referendum vote is very unpredictable at this stage and UK businesses should start to prepare. Read more