UK Budget predictions 2016: What do free marketeers want from chancellor George Osborne? March 15, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne normally pulls something out of his hat on Budget day, but with pensions seemingly pressured off the table, his choices are restricted. But in an ideal world, what do free marketeers want from him next week? Corporation tax This, the TaxPayers' Alliance says, is undermining what is already weak public confidence in [...]
EU referendum: New poll shows more people likely to vote Leave as Andy Burnham says he would bet on Brexit March 15, 2016 A new poll out today has given a boost to Brexit campaigners, finding that people are more likely to vote for Britain to leave the European Union than remain. Forty-nine per cent of people polled by ORB for the Telegraph said they would vote for the UK to leave the EU, compared to 47 per cent who [...]
EU referendum: Election strategist Sir Lynton Crosby says vote is in the balance as risk remains key in winning support March 15, 2016 With less than 100 days to go until the EU referendum, the final outcome remains “in the balance”, Sir Lynton Crosby has cautioned. Prime Minister David Cameron’s election strategist has said that the “key framework of the campaign is risk” and that “while much has been made of project fear, the reality is that voters [...]
EU referendum: Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says 80 per cent of members want UK to remain in EU March 15, 2016 Four in five Confederation of British Industry (CBI) members say remaining in the European Union is in the best interests of their businesses, according to new figures out today. The CBI, which has been criticised by eurosceptic groups for its previous pro-EU comments, polled more than 700 small, medium and large firms across the UK, [...]
Budget 2016: Chancellor George Osborne throws weight behind Crossrail 2 and HS3 with more than £300m in transport spending March 15, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne will throw his weight behind Crossrail 2 and the HS3 rail project between Leeds and Manchester when he delivers the 2016 Budget tomorrow. Osborne will use the Budget to commit to more than £300m in new infrastructure spending, including £80m to fund the development of plans for Crossrail 2 and £60m to [...]
Humiliation: Former energy secretary slams government over risk of lights going out March 14, 2016 Former energy secretary Lord David Howell has ripped into the government’s energy policy, saying that Britain has fallen into a “humiliating” position. Howell, who is also the father-in-law of chancellor George Osborne, told City A.M.: “We’re a great industrial country, we are the pioneers of coal and steam, and the leaders of the world and [...]
Budget 2016: In the run up to the EU referendum, does Britain have to leave the blue to get out of the red? March 14, 2016 The news that the Britain’s goods-trade deficit with the European Union has widened to a record £8.1bn will leave the chancellor's Byron Burger tasting somewhat tough just a few days before his Budget. The record figures, released by the Office of National statistics (ONS), also showed a deficit of £23bn over the past three months. It is staggering [...]
EU referendum: More than half of French voters want their own In/Out vote, with voters in Sweden, Spain and Germany all calling for referendums March 14, 2016 More than half of French voters want their own referendum on European Union membership – and nearly just as many think Britain should leave the European Union – according to new research from the University of Edinburgh and dpart, a German think tank. Researchers polled more than 8,000 voters across six countries – France, Sweden, Spain, [...]
EU referendum: Green Party lauches pro-Remain campaign March 14, 2016 The Green Party has launched its pro-Remain EU campaign, stating that Green supporters will be crucial in order to win the vote for the UK to stay in the EU. The Green Party's only MP Caroline Lucas said the party would be "loud and proud" about the UK's membership of the EU, arguing the EU story should [...]
EU referendum: Berenberg economists predict Brexit could cause recession, a run on sterling, David Cameron’s resignation and another Scottish IndyRef March 14, 2016 You wake up on the morning of 24 June, the day after the UK went to the polls for the EU referendum, tentatively draw the curtains and what do you find. Big Ben submerged as the Thames breaches its barriers? Earthquakes and tornadoes ripping up the Home Counties? Horses eating each other? A version of that is [...]