Brexit could cut sterling by 15 per cent and cost 800k jobs, says Treasury May 23, 2016 A vote to leave the European Union could see the UK's economy hit by a recession, a spike in inflation and a rise in unemployment, according to government figures. While business secretary Sajid Javid earlier warned that 500,000 jobs would be at risk, Treasury figures now estimate that in a "severe shock" scenario, unemployment would rise by around [...]
Why it’s time to start taking Donald Trump seriously May 23, 2016 Despite his stunning victory in the Republican primaries, a new conventional wisdom has already settled around Donald Trump’s chances of winning the White House. He can’t do it, we’re told, because he’s an offensive show-off who has alienated women, the well-educated, and non-white voters. While not an inaccurate description, as so often, the conventional wisdom [...]
EU referendum: Why the smallest firms must make EU politics their business May 23, 2016 It’s exactly a month to the day to the EU referendum. It’s also the moment Britain’s army of small businesses have been dreading. For them there’s more than just the most desirable shape of a banana, open borders, the Greek question or Brussels bureaucracy at stake, it’s making a decision about the future of their [...]
EU referendum: Former 10 Downing Street adviser and close ally of Prime Minister David Cameron Steve Hilton backs Brexit May 23, 2016 Steve Hilton, a former No 10 adviser and a close ally of the Prime Minister, says the UK must vote to leave the EU. Hilton blasted the EU as "anti-market, stifling innovation and competition with its statism, corporatism and bureaucracy", in a Daily Mail article. "These are issues that a reformed EU might address," he [...]
Brexit would trigger a recession, says Osborne May 23, 2016 Brexit would launch the UK’s economy into a year-long “DIY recession”, according to new research from the Treasury, with GDP possibly dropping by as much as six per cent. The controversial research published today warns that a vote to leave would represent “an immediate and profound” shock for the economy. Speaking today, George Osborne is expected [...]
Close call: Postal votes to make or break far right’s success in Austria election May 22, 2016 Initial counts for Austria's presidential election indicated a dead heat earlier today, meaning postal votes are likely to play a key role in determining whether the far-right Freedom Party will take power. The forecast from the SORA institute on behalf of broadcaster ORF, which is based on votes cast in polling stations alongside an estimate of postal votes, indicated that the [...]
Now it’s the advisers’ turn to be grilled by MPs over BHS collapse May 22, 2016 The topic of the BHS collapse will be heading back into parliament tomorrow, with a string of advisers from top law and accountancy firms due to be grilled by MPs. Ian Greenstreet, partner at Nabarro, Tony Clare, partner at Deloitte, David Clarke, partner at KPMG, Richard Cousins and Steve Denison, both partners at PwC, Emma King, partner at Eversheds and Owen [...]
SNP deputy leader to step down later this year, citing stress May 22, 2016 The deputy leader of the Scottish National Party is due to step down following revelations about his private life. Stewart Hosie was one of two married SNP MPs revealed to have had an affair with political journalist Serena Cowdy last week, alongside his colleague Angus MacNeil. Hosie has previously announced that is splitting from his wife, [...]
Cameron “misleading the public” over Turkey say Brexiteers May 22, 2016 David Cameron has been accused of misleading British voters in a growing row over the prospects of Turkey joining the EU. Cameron appeared on Peston on Sunday earlier today to refute the claims of armed forces minister Penny Mordaunt, who had earlier claimed that Britain would not be able to prevent Turkey from joining the [...]
Now NHS boss speaks out on Brexit risks May 22, 2016 "When the British economy sneezes, the NHS catches a cold," was the stark warning as the boss of the NHS waded into the Brexit debate on Sunday morning. The chief executive of the National Health Service Simon Stevens was appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show to discuss its financial problems after new figures last week revealed [...]