The Institute for Fiscal Studies has attacked Michael Gove over claims that Brexit could generate billions for the NHS June 6, 2016 The Institute for Fiscal Studies has condemned justice secretary Michael Gove's claims that a Brexit vote would free up billions to be spent on the NHS. Speaking on Sky News on Friday, Gove said: “There are billions of pounds that we send to the European Union every year and the Institute for Fiscal Studies has [...]
Referendum campaigners must do more to explain the implications for tax June 6, 2016 Both sides of the EU referendum campaign have failed to explain how the vote will affect individual and corporate taxes, according to accountancy experts. While Remain campaigners have been hitting out at their Brexit peers for failing to articulate a vision for the future, accountancy software expert TaxCalc had said neither side has presented a compelling answer [...]
World Energy Council slams UK’s “challenging” roll-out of smart meters June 6, 2016 The UK’s roll-out of smart meters has been slammed as “challenging” by the World Energy Council. Andrea Buser, a manager at the UN-accredited body, told City A.M: "In the UK there have been delays, concerns over [smart meters'] communication problems and consumer backlash about privacy questions". The government is about to kickstart an ambitious programme [...]
Labour has been “almost invisible” in the EU referendum campaign according to research from Loughborough academics June 6, 2016 The Labour Party is “almost invisible” in TV and print coverage of the EU referendum campaign, according to academics, with Jeremy Corbyn's refusal to appear alongside the Prime Minister one of the reasons to blame. A study from Loughborough University found that Labour representatives appear in less than four per cent of TV coverage, and eight per [...]
Boris Johnson, Nicola Sturgeon and Angela Eagle: The big hitters lined up for Thursday’s EU debate June 6, 2016 ITV has confirmed the line-up for its debate on the EU referendum this week, with spots for former London mayor Boris Johnson, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon two Conservative ministers. Johnson will line up alongside energy minister Andrea Leadsom and Labour's Gisela Stuart. The trio will face Sturgeon, energy secretary – and Leadsom's boss – Amber Rudd, [...]
Steve Hilton interview: Cameron’s former advisor on supporting Brexit, decentralising government and why Boris shouldn’t take over as PM June 6, 2016 Steve Hilton was so unconventional during his time as Tory party spin doctor that when they came to parody him in The Thick of It, they had to tone him down. “He wears something I would never wear,” complained actor Vincent Franklin, “these ridiculous half-shorts, half-trousers.” Amid the charcoal suits of the Tory cabinet, Hilton [...]
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan vows to tackle air pollution as worrying new figures reveal capital’s health inequalities June 6, 2016 New figures that lay bare the extent of London's air pollution has sparked a promised crackdown by the Mayor of London. Data published today revealed that Londoners living in the capital’s most deprived boroughs are significantly more likely to die of lung cancer, asthma and other lung diseases than those who live in more affluent parts [...]
Softer support for remaining in the EU makes voter turnout crucial, poll shows June 6, 2016 With the EU referendum less than a month away, softening support among Brits for the Remain camp will make voter turnout crucial. An online survey by TNS UK found 41 per cent of UK respondents backed remain, while 43 per cent wanted to leave and 16 per cent were undecided. It accounted for differential turnout, or groups of voters less likely to [...]
The latest ICM polls again show the Leave campaign is leading in the build up to the EU referendum June 6, 2016 Brexiteers are again winning in the latest polling figures from ICM, which show a five per cent gap between the EU referendum's Leave and Remain campaigns. Figures from the pollster last week showed a lead for the Brexit campaign, which lead to an immediate drop in the value of sterling. YouGov figures this morning also showed a similar gap [...]
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says Labour is looking at universal basic income June 6, 2016 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said that Labour is considering backing a universal basic income (UBI), which could prepare the workforce for robotisation. The change would be a transformation of the welfare state, providing a flat rate payment to individuals. McDonnell will appear at the launch of a report from campaign group Compass in the [...]