Two bookies slash odds of UK “In” vote in EU ref to shortest so far May 21, 2016 William Hill and Ladbrokes are offering the shortest odds to date for Britain staying in the European Union, as people think it's increasingly likely the UK will remain. The two bookies cut their odds on Britain staying in the EU to 1/6, leaving punters with only £1 in profit for every £6 wagered. Telephone and online polls [...]
Labour derides London housing costs as “biggest single blight” on city May 21, 2016 Labour launched a stinging attack on London housing costs, describing them as the "single biggest blight on this city". Speaking at a conference to set out Labour's new vision for the economy, shadow chancellor John McDonnell promised to help people "who are at the mercy of an unforgiving, unrestrained housing market and landlords". Read more: Shadow chancellor [...]
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 [...]