Could the next Islamic State attacker be a woman?
Following on from her successful stewardship of the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security, Devorah Margolin has returned to her PhD research considering the role of women in jihad. In light of recent terror attacks in the West, Margolin considered womens’ part in planning and executing the attacks, noting “[female] terrorists, it seems, were able to take… View Article
Austerity shouldn’t be sacrificed to increase public sector pay – coverage of CPS report
Guido Fawkes today, 21 July 2017, urged MPs “flirting with Torbynism” to read the latest CPS report, ‘Abandoning Austerity is No Solution‘. “The report finds that the only responsible ways to increase public sector wages would be to re-gear spending priorities, for example by making savings in the international aid budget or ring-fenced pensioner benefits. It also… View Article
Anne Applebaum: The West needs to regain its ideals
Anne Applebaum, prominent foreign policy commentator and columnist with The Washington Post, joined the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security to discuss the topic “What should ‘the West’ stand for?” After her panel, Anne spoke to Rob Covile, Editor of CapX, about the threats posed by Russia, fake news and President Trump, modern challenges to democracy,… View Article
Reform AE tax to help low earners and save £10bn a year
Michael Johnson’s most recent report, Reinforcing Automatic Enrolment, has 12 recommendations for the DWP review of automatic enrolment and was picked up by several leading pensions magazines, including Professional Pensions. “The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) has called on the government to reform incentives for auto-enrolment (AE), which it estimates could save the Treasury £10bn annually…. View Article
Tim Knox: No, Britain does not need a cross-party consensus on Brexit
Following the election there were growing calls for a cross-party approach to some large national issues, namely Brexit. City AM’s debate page asked “Is the call for a collaborative, cross-party consensus what Britain needs at the moment?” and Tim Knox argues a clear NO. “Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have unashamedly reintroduced ideology into British politics. Over… View Article
CPS commended at the Prospect Think Tank Awards
The annual Prospect Think Tank Awards took place on Monday 10 July 2017 at the Institute of Directors. The Centre for Policy Studies was singled out in the “Energy and Environment” category for their work on “deregulation and the need for a national agriculture policy, two neglected areas of the Brexit debate”, with the overall… View Article
#MTSecurity17 speeches and transcripts now available
The Centre for Policy Studies has released transcripts of all the panel discussions and “In Conversation” sessions. Welcome Remarks from Lord Saatchi and Catherine McGuinness Video Transcript Opening Address – Dr. Henry Kissinger Video Panel 1 – Values: What should ‘the West’ stand for? Video Transcript Panel 2 – Geopolitics: Old and New Challenges Across… View Article
Margaret Thatcher: High Principle Joined to Power Politics
Rupert Stone writes for National Review on the legacy of Mrs Thatcher’s security policies as he reports on the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security. Stone notes that many of the issues under discussion at the conference – Israel/Palestine, the future threat of Russia aggression, and the importance of the Anglo-American relationship – would be familiar… View Article
Why is no one talking now about the security of the West?
Charles Moore begins his weekly Spectator column by introducing the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security. “Its title is an implied reproach to the way security is seen by current governments”, Charles writes. “You couldn’t have a Barack Obama Conference on Security, or a Donald Trump one, because neither cares about the subject. You could, I suppose,… View Article
Senator Lieberman: The Democrats need to end futile resistance to Trump
Senator Joseph Lieberman joined the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security to discuss “Ideology and Fragmentation in the Middle East” and after the conference he continued that discussion with Stephe Sackur, presenter of the BBC’s HARDtalk programme. Senator Lieberman spoke about the Democrats’ “mindless resistance” to Trump, America’s changing global role, and the possibility of a… View Article
UAE ambassador threatens further sanctions against Qatar
HE Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE Ambassador to Russia, joined the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security in a panel discussion entitled “Geopolitics: Ideology and Fragmentation in the Middle East” during which time he talked about the recent boycott of Qatar as other Middle Eastern countries accuse it of being a funder of terrorism, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood…. View Article
Terrorism case against Qatar muddied by Muslim Brotherhood links
HE Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE Ambassador to Russia, joined the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security in a panel discussion entitled “Geopolitics: Ideology and Fragmentation in the Middle East” during which time he talked about the recent boycott of Qatar as other Middle Eastern countries accuse it of being a funder of terrorism, specifically the Muslim… View Article
UK ready to hit back after cyberattack, insists Fallon
Robert Hannigan, former Director of GCHQ, joined the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security for a panel on “Innovation and Technology” during which time he remarked that the internet had been a “free gift” for terrorists and criminals. Sir Michael Fallon responded by suggesting Britain was ready to fight back using airstrikes, troops or cyberweapons in the event… View Article
Moshe Ya’alon: “I no longer believe the Two State Solution can work”
Moshe Ya’alon joined at Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security in conversation with Sir Malcolm Rifkind. After the conference, he met Stephen Sackur – presenter of the BBC’s HARDtalk programme – to speak about the current security situation in Israel, his vocal criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu, and why he doesn’t believe a Two State Solution can… View Article
The world is in a ‘troubled state’ and needs a Grand Strategy – Lord Richards
Lord Richards, one of the speakers for Panel 2 of the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security, spoke to BBC’s Newsnight about possible British support for US intervention in Syria, the effect of social media on our security, and what post-Brexit security relationships look like.
Most significant foreign policy change under Trump is the Middle East – Lieberman
Senator Joseph Lieberman joined the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Security to discuss “Ideology and Fragmentation in the Middle East”. He took some time before his panel to talk to Sky News. Former US Senator Joe Lieberman says the world is a safer place with @realDonaldTrump in power #SNT pic.twitter.com/0PbauvuhRr — Sky News Tonight (@SkyNewsTonight) June 27,… View Article
