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France looks to a new generation

The torch of the Lumières has been passed onto Emmanuel Macron. The signs are that it will be a heavy load to carry, writes John Egan from Paris. Over the past nine…

Macron and Le Pen win French presidential first round

To represent the status quo and the existing political establishment tonight proved a toxic cocktail in French politics, writes John Egan in Paris. In tonight’s first round of the French presidential election,…



Productivity blues

A slew of new United Kingdom productivity statistics were yesterday released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The headlines tell a familiar story, but dig deeper and the UK appears a…


Le Grand Debat

With 19 days to go before the first round of the French presidential election, last night a Grand Debat – that lasted almost four hours – was held for all 11 candidates…


Between the Rock and a hard Brexit

Murray Ritchie explains why Scottish nationalists are smiling. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon could be forgiven if she let out a shout of delight when the Spanish let it be known they…


Leadership: France’s chance to restore hope

Geoff Kitney poses the question: could a Macron presidency in France do what the Obama presidency in the US failed to do? France may be about to embrace a political insurgent of…


Aviation caught in battle of Brexit

A sector that in 2015 contributed £55bn to UK GDP and supported 945,000 jobs is calling for air transport not to be caught up in any “horse-trading” that might take place in…


Energy policy: a case study in political failure

Australia illustrates all that can go wrong with bad planning, poor decision making and putting politics ahead of the national interest, writes Geoff Kitney. It is not only its climate and beaches…


The SNP prepares to back off the EU – for now

Being seen to go cold on the European Union will annoy many in the SNP’s mainstream but Nicola Sturgeon’s personal standing and unchallenged authority should be enough to pacify critics, says Murray…