Today in Tokyo I will deliver a speech to the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Business leaders here have questions about the future of the UK. And this matters. UK exports to Japan are just under £10 billion; Japanese investment in the UK is the highest in the EU; and 1300 Japanese firms employ…
The EU referendum debate last Friday brought out an important point about leaving a union of which you are already a member. A similar argument applies to Scotland leaving the UK as well. Lord Shipley in a very well informed contribution made the point that leaving the EU could make the UK more, not less…
Why have an EU referendum in the middle of the time we are likely to be negotiating the terms?
This letter (published in the Tablet) contains the main thrust of my views on the EU, and the ten points reflect various things that were said during the foreign affairs debate of 15th May. “Congratulations on your leaderof 11th May. We certainly should not turn our backs on our neighbours. Let’s remember that we went to war…
I’ve just returned from watching the last of the olive harvest in Lucca, thankfully all gathered in before torrential rain caused landslips and destruction all over our area. And also with brilliant timing to avoid today’s general strike in Italy. Strikes are common in Italy, the consequence of an outdated system of labour relations and…
