Should the UK automatically defend Nato allies? Jeremy Corbyn isn’t convinced August 19, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has suggested the UK should not automatically come to the aid of Nato allies facing aggression. Speaking at last night's Labour leadership hustings against Owen Smith, Corbyn said he will seek to use diplomacy, rather than use armed force. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has made similar suggestions on the US' Nato [...]
By boycotting G4S and putting its party conference in jeopardy, Labour has cut off its nose to spite its face August 19, 2016 Amid the mud-slinging which has made up the Labour Party’s leadership contest, you might have missed this nugget: Labour’s annual conference is on the brink of being cancelled because it finds itself without a security detail. In doing so, it is potentially alienating thousands of voters – and not just because they won’t be able to [...]
Successive governments have failed on energy policy, IoD survey says August 19, 2016 The last three governments have continuously failed to deliver an adequate energy policy, according to a damning survey of business leaders released today. A poll of nearly 1,000 bosses by the Institute of Directors (IoD) found that seven in ten thought the Labour, Coalition and Conservative governments hadn't provided reasonably priced energy. Two-thirds also complained [...]
From the gender pay gap to the minimum wage, the politicisation of pay threatens the UK’s business-friendly reputation August 19, 2016 Economic logic suggests that free determination of employment contracts, like free trade, normally benefits both parties and leads to high levels of employment and economic growth. But this view has never been popular. Fifty years ago, it was the accepted belief that governments should determine pay increases, leading to the dead end of incomes policies [...]
One of Labour’s largest donors wants to devalue sterling in a bid to stimulate growth in manufacturing August 18, 2016 Labour's largest individual donor is calling on the party to consider deliberate currency devaluation to drive manufacturing growth outside of the South East. John Mills, the millionaire founder of JML, has launched a new campaign group to push his proposals, which he also claims would help the party re-engage eurosceptic voters turned away by its pro-European messaging in [...]
Sharing economy firms must mobilise the public to fight regulation-hungry politicians August 18, 2016 An increasing number of politicians and commentators are starting to look at the sharing economy as an exploitative one. Once apparently loved by all, it is being portrayed as unregulated and unfair – undermining hard-working people, reducing crucial tax revenue and ignoring the concerns of ordinary people whenever it is necessary. The latest furore in the [...]
Not so grim up North: Theresa May has committed herself to former chancellor George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse strategy August 18, 2016 Theresa May has committed her government to the Northern Powerhouse, saying the region will be a key part of her industrial strategy. Previously championed by David Cameron's government, doubts had emerged over May's commitment to the Northern Powerhouse plan to develop infrastructure and hand more powers to city regions. However, writing in the Yorkshire Post today, [...]
Uncertainty over Garden Bridge as pleading letter counters funding problems August 18, 2016 Uncertainties over London's Garden Bridge are building after a letter sent by the chairman of its trust to the secretary of state pleaded for a commitment to the project before a funding gap was revealed. The letter, written before it was revealed there was a gap in funds of more than £50m for the project, makes it clear the trust is confident [...]
Labour party conference in jeopardy after security contract breaks down August 18, 2016 The Labour party conference's go-ahead has been called into question after talks broke down between the GMB union and the remaining bidder for security arrangements. The GMB said that it had asked Labour to cut its ties with Showsec, the last bidder for the contract. Labour's National Executive Committee already voted to boycott G4S last [...]
Heathrow is to slash landing charges for the quietest aircraft as it seeks to show it can tackle noise pollution August 18, 2016 Heathrow is to reduce landing charges for the quietest aircraft arriving at the airport as it bids to tackle fears around the noise impact of expansion. The government is set to make a decision on airport expansion in October, and the airport has now revealed a package of measures to limit the affect of a [...]