Opponents lodge appeal against first fracking operation in the UK for five years July 7, 2016 Opponents of a move paving the way for the first fracking operation in the UK for five years have applied for a judicial review. It comes after North Yorkshire county council's planning committee voted 7-4 in favour of a bid by Third Energy to extract shale gas at a site near Kirby Misperton in May. Read more: We need [...]
Conservative leadership contest: Candidates to be whittled down to the final two July 7, 2016 The Conservative leadership contenders will be whittled down to two today after the final ballot of MPs. Theresa May continues to not only lead, but dominate, in support among Tory MPs, with Leadsom thought to be in second place. Michael Gove, who is widely considered to have betrayed Boris Johnson, is vying to make it through to the final stage, [...]
Asset managers close the gate on £15bn-£20bn funds July 7, 2016 Post-referendum reverberated through the City yesterday as several more property funds were forced to shut the gate on their investors, while the value of the pound languished below $1.30. Six companies’ funds, with an estimated value of £15bn to £20bn, have been frozen this week as fears over the consequences of the UK’s vote to leave [...]
Tory leadership contender Andrea Leadsom has rejected to publish her tax return ahead of tomorrow’s final ballot of Conservative MPs July 6, 2016 Tory leadership contender Andrea Leadsom has dug her heels in the face of pressure from rivals to publish her tax returns, as fresh details have emerged on her time in the City. Leadsom told a 1922 Committee hustings last night she would not publish her affairs before the final round of the competition, despite home [...]
Sajid Javid set to return to Mumbai for Tata Steel talks post-Brexit vote July 6, 2016 Business secretary Sajid Javid will fly to Mumbai this week for talks with Tata Steel, a spokesperson from the department for business, innovation and skills told City A.M. It comes amid reports that the Indian conglomerate, and potential buyers, shied away from sales talks following Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Tata had been considering a string of potential bidders, [...]
George Osborne should turn attention from cutting corporation tax to helping smaller businesses July 6, 2016 The Chancellor’s biggest ever policy U-turn appears to have snuck under the radar amid the political resignations, betrayals and leadership bids currently dominating the headlines. On Sunday, Mr Osborne announced that he plans to cut corporation tax to less than 15 per cent in an effort to attract companies deterred from doing business in a [...]
Former Tory MPs Douglas Carswell and Sir Malcolm Rifkind have crossed swords over Theresa May’s leadership campaign July 6, 2016 Former Tory MPs Douglas Carswell and Sir Malcolm Rifkind have crossed swords over Theresa May's bid for the Conservative leadership, attacking the home secretary's “regrettable” failure to provide sufficient reassurance to EU nationals living in the UK. May declined to offer her backing for continued residence for EU nationals this weekend, stating on Peston on Sunday [...]
Chilcot report: Sir John says UK chose invasion before peaceful options had been exhausted while Tony Blair defends decision July 6, 2016 Failures in the intelligence, planning and execution of the Iraq War were laid bare today when the Chilcot Inquiry was published. The 2.6m word report found the government had failed to meet objectives, intelligence was flawed and post-conflict consequences were not properly considered. While not making a legal judgement, Sir John Chilcot said: "We have concluded that [...]
PMQs today: Jeremy Corbyn pressures David Cameron to admit the “fiscal rule is dead” July 6, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today asked David Cameron to admit the fiscal rule has been abandoned. "Will [Cameron] now confirm that the chancellor's fiscal rule is dead?" Corbyn asked, after having grilled the Prime Minister on regional investment having fallen. Corbyn asked if it was time to admit austerity was a failure and it was time [...]
Chilcot report: What are the key takes? July 6, 2016 The long-awaited, 2.6 million-word Chilcot report was published this morning, giving a comprehensive verdict on the UK's decision to go to war in Iraq. Yesterday Sir John Chilcot said: "The main expectation that I have is that it will not be possible in future to engage in a military or indeed a diplomatic endeavour on such a [...]