Budget 2016: Sir Charlie Bean’s report on national statistics should be published ahead of Osborne’s budget, according to the Treasury Select Committee February 29, 2016 An influential group of MPs have today raised red flags over the government's handling of official national statistics, ahead of the publication of a major review on the subject. Andrew Tyrie, the Conservative MP who chairs the Treasury Select Committee, has written to Sir Charlie Bean calling for a "shake up" of UK national statistics. [...]
London airport expansion: 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady hits out at government over runway delay February 29, 2016 A leading backbencher MP is set to slam the government today over its move to delay a decision to build another runway in London and the southeast. Graham Brady, the Conservative MP who chairs the influential 1922 Committee, is expected to table a so-called Early Day Motion criticising the government over its indecision and urging ministers to deliver a [...]
Budget 2016: Federation of Small Businesses, EEF, British Chambers of Commerce all warn over chancellor George Osborne’s onslaught of business taxes February 29, 2016 Britain's biggest business groups are today calling on chancellor George Osborne to stop increasing taxes on industry at next month's Budget. In its Budget submission out today, the EEF said that Osborne needs to signal to businesses that they will not be the "thin end of an ever-thickening wedge". The EEF, which represents manufacturers, said a "raft [...]
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) wants the government to “give teeth” to Lord Andrew Adonis’s National Infrastructure Commission so it can approve airport expansion and other major projects February 29, 2016 Britain's biggest business group is calling on the government to “give teeth” to a new body set up to oversee large-scale infrastructure projects, warning that the National Infrastructure Commission “cannot afford to be way-laid by politics”. In a new report out today, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) sets out its recommendations for the commission, which [...]
US Presidential Election 2016 odds: Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton looks like a done deal, says bookmaker February 28, 2016 As Donald Trump becomes ever more dominant and after Hillary Clinton convincingly swept to her third primary win, one bookmaker now thinks a Clinton versus Trump showdown is a done deal. William Hill now thinks that Clinton and Trump are so far ahead of their rivals in the nomination stakes that they look past the post. [...]
EU referendum: Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith says UK could make trade deal with EU in event of Brexit February 28, 2016 The United Kingdom will trade with the European Union even if it votes for Brexit, Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said, as he lambasted the union as a political project. Speaking to BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, Duncan Smith said the EU is an important trading partner and it would want to [...]
EU referendum: Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle says Labour is not split on EU but the Conservatives are in “meltdown” February 28, 2016 The Labour party is not split on the question of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, in stark contrast to the Conservative party, the shadow business secretary has said. Angela Eagle said Labour is "not split down the middle like the Conservative party" which is "in meltdown" over the EU, adding that the Labour party is [...]
EU referendum: Top civil servant Jeremy Heywood to face MPs on why pro-Leave ministers are denied access to government papers February 28, 2016 The United Kingdom's top civil servant is to face a grilling by MPs over why ministers supporting Brexit are being denied access to government papers ahead of the impending EU referendum. Sir Jeremy Haywood has been called by the Public Administration Select Committee on Tuesday to explain the guidance that he issued last week. Read more: 42 per cent [...]
US Presidential Election 2016: Hillary Clinton wins overwhelmingly over Bernie Sanders in South Carolina February 28, 2016 Hillary Clinton has overwhelmingly won over senator Bernie Sanders in South Carolina, closing in on the Democrat nomination. Clinton stormed to victory with 73.5 per cent of the vote, compared to Sanders' 26 per cent. Though Clinton was widely expected to win the primary, the vote gives her momentum moving into "Super Tuesday", when 11 states and [...]
Warren Buffett annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders 2015: US presidential candidates have it all wrong – those being born today are the luckiest generation February 27, 2016 Kids these days are the luckiest of all, according to Warren Buffett's annual letter to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway released today. Commenting on the impending US elections, Buffett scoffed at the "negative drumbeat" of the presidential candidates, who seemed to be making a habit of pointing out all of the country's problems, despite GDP per capita having [...]