As the US slaps a 522 per cent tariff on Chinese steel imports, should the world fear a new trade war? May 20, 2016 Eamonn Butler, director of the Adam Smith Institute, says Yes. Things could be much worse than they presently are. In the century to 1950, world tariffs averaged 20 to 50 per cent. Now they average 1 to 3 per cent. But protectionism ain’t dead yet. We’ve seen it aplenty from populist presidential hopefuls Donald Trump [...]
US steel tariffs put UK market at greater risk says Labour May 19, 2016 Labour has clashed with the government over yesterday's hike in US steel tariffs, claimed that the change leaves the UK's steel producers further exposed. The US dramatically increased the cost of Chinese cold rolled steel yesterday, installing a new tariff, five times higher than its provisional charge. Speaking to City A.M. shadow business secretary Angela Eagle [...]
Toilet brushes, tables and mysterious purchases: should MPs treat expenses the same as the rest of us? May 19, 2016 Is a toilet brush a legitimate expense claim? MPs must reconsider what they claim for In this, the era of austerity, the UK public have been accustomed to hearing that we are only ever a few steps away from falling off a metaphoric economic cliff. “We are all in this’ together,” is the message from our politicians. [...]
Well, this is awkward: Now the Tories have re-selected a Tooting MP candidate with “extremist” ties May 19, 2016 The Conservatives have reselected a by-election candidate for Tooting, despite reported links with a man David Cameron has called an extremist. The Conservatives have confirmed local campaigner Dan Watkins will again seek to win the Tooting parliamentary seat in a by-election. However, it comes despite reports Watkins enlisted the support of Tooting imam Suliman Gani in [...]
This is how many financial services firms are not prepared for a Brexit May 19, 2016 Around one in three financial services firms will not have a clue what to do should UK vote to leave the EU on 23 June, figures published today show. Pinsent Masons has released further information on a study into business' preparation for a potential Brexit, this time honing in on the financial services sector, and [...]
Labour Leave chair: “falling house prices should be welcomed” May 19, 2016 The chair of Labour Leave has condemned fears around the impact of a Brexit vote on the housing market, stating that the UK should seek a reduction in houseprices. John Mills, chairman of household goods business JML and Labour's largest individual donor, made the comments after a survey of the National Association of Estate Agents [...]
Lamb to the slaughter: Government warns Brexit is a baaaad idea for the UK sheep industry May 19, 2016 The government has warned Britons that Brexit would trigger and economic meltdown, leaving each household £4,300 worse off a year, just as an an "electric shock" sends energy costs up by at least half a billion pounds. Read more: Brexit wouldn't cause a "profound shock" – but would be a positive change of direction for Britain But [...]
EU referendum: More than 80 per cent of students will vote Remain over new job opportunities May 19, 2016 A huge majority of British students are set to back Remain in the EU referendum due to fears that Brexit could lead to a lack of job opportunities. New research shows that 81 per cent of students back Remain, while just 10 per cent plan to vote to Leave. Some nine per cent were either [...]
EU referendum: Ryanair wants people to back Remain so much it’s offering cheaper flights home to vote on 22 and 23 June May 19, 2016 Ryanair has made no secret of the fact it is one in a vast number of companies that wants the UK to remain in the EU. But it turns out the company wants the UK to reject Brexit so desperately that it's going to be selling cheaper flights back to the UK on the 22 and 23 June [...]
Malaysian PM’s stepson bought £23m house in London using troubled state fund 1MDB May 19, 2016 The stepson of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak reportedly bought a house in London for £23.25m using money from troubled state investment fund 1MDB. The property located in upmarket Belgravia is registered with Qentas Holdings Ltd., a company based in the British Virgin Islands. However, sources told the WSJ that Najib's stepson, Riza Aziz, is the beneficial owner. Read more: The [...]