Chancellor George Osborne warns again Brexit will hit house prices May 21, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne again warned Brexit will hit house prices, as an immediate economic shock hits financial markets. Speaking at the G7 finance ministers’ meeting in Japan, he said: "There would be a hit to the value of people’s homes by at least 10 per cent and up to 18 per cent … first-time buyers are hit because mortgage rates [...]
EU referendum: Vote Leave incoherent on Turkey, claims Britain Stronger in Europe May 20, 2016 Pro-Brexit campaign group Vote Leave has an incoherent message on Turkey's potential accession to the EU, according to Vote Leave. Today Vote Leave claimed Turkey, as well as other countries, would join the EU in the next four years, leading to more immigration, as well as security concerns. But Britain Stronger In Europe said this has [...]
US Presidential Election 2016: Donald Trump is “considering” invitation to Downing Street May 20, 2016 Presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is weighing an invitation to 10 Downing Street, despite a tense exchange between David Cameron and the billionaire. In fact, Trump said that he thinks he would get on "just fine" with the Prime Minister, even though Cameron had criticised him earlier this year. Read more: Trump tells Cameron he's [...]
EU referendum: Nigel Farage launches Ukip’s battlebus May 20, 2016 UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage has launched his party's battle bus, demanding "we want our country back". Farage, rejected by the mainstream pro-Brexit campaign Vote Leave, launched the tour which will hit towns across the country. We want our country back! EU referendum bus tour will be coming to a town near you. pic.twitter.com/I5YYDh4app — UK [...]
EU referendum: Phone polls back Remain far more than online polls but contain too high a percentage of graduates, says YouGov May 20, 2016 The ability of phone polls to accurately predict the outcome of the EU referendum has been called into question by YouGov, which states they include too high a percentage of graduates. To give some context, there's been wide discrepancies between online and phone polling in the buildup to the vote, with phone polls putting Remain comprehensively ahead but online [...]
EU referendum: Ryanair extends “Fly Home to Vote Remain” sale in response to being accused of breaking election law and anti-bribery rules by Vote Leave May 20, 2016 Ryanair has doubled down on its offer of cheap flights back to the UK in order to encourage people to vote Remain after Vote Leave complained to the police about the campaign. Vote Leave, the designated Out campaign group, said that Ryanair's offer of cheap flights to expats who want to vote to remain in the [...]
EU referendum: Two Britons living abroad lose Court of Appeal battle over right to vote in June May 20, 2016 Two Britons living abroad have lost a Court of Appeal battle over their right to vote in June's EU referendum. The legal challenge, brought by World War Two veteran Harry Shindler and lawyer Jacquelyn MacLennan, was made after the pair lost their application for a judicial review last month. Under the law UK citizens that have lived [...]
Cabinet Office privatisation of Whitehall functions cost £4m more than it saved May 20, 2016 The Cabinet Office's privatisation of a number of Whitehall functions has not delivered value for money, costing £4m per year more than it saved, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). Most departments successfully outsource functions to one of two independent shared service centres, delivering overall savings of £90m to customers in the first two and [...]
Government policies to avoid blackouts will add £100 to UK household bills May 20, 2016 Government schemes to keep the lights on and meet low-carbon targets will add £100 to annual household bills within five years. The capacity market and contracts for difference which help guarantee the UK's energy security will help drive energy subsidies up by 124 per cent by 2020-21. Read more: National Grid warns government over handing blackout responsibilities to energy [...]
EU referendum: Hundreds of celebrities urge public to vote for Remain May 20, 2016 Celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch, Bill Nighy, Helena Bonham Carter, Jude Law and Keira Knightley have signed an open letter in support of the EU, as we enter the final weeks before the referendum. Hundreds of actors, writers, directors and artists have put pen to paper ahead of the vote, urging the public to vote to remain part [...]