Conservative ministers to lobby Labour MPs over air strikes in Syria November 28, 2015 Ahead of a vote in the House of Commons on whether the UK should extend air strikes into Syria, ministers are expected to be making calls to Labour MPs to shore up support from the opposition benches. The foreign secretary Philip Hammond and defence secretary Michael Fallon are said to be among those making calls, [...]
Stop the War coalition organises march on Downing Street today November 28, 2015 With Prime Minister David Cameron's campaign to persuade the House of Commons of the need for air strikes in Syria gaining more support, the Stop the War coalition has called for a protest march in London today. Thousands of protesters are expected to turn up outside Downing Street to urge the Prime Minister to change [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s policy adviser Andrew Fisher has suspension from the Labour party lifted by the ruling national executive committee November 27, 2015 After having been suspended from the Labour party following a stream of controversial tweets, leader Jeremy Corbyn's policy adviser Andrew Fisher has had his suspension lifted by the ruling national executive committee (NEC). Fisher had suggested that a Class War candidate should be back as leader of the party instead of Corbyn, while calling Tony Blair a [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn facing revolt as shadow cabinet members back David Cameron’s plans for air strikes in Syria November 27, 2015 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been put under more pressure as senior members of his shadow cabinet have threatened to resign over his stance on air strikes in Syria. Corbyn has written to Labour MPs to say he cannot support Prime Minister David Cameron's call to take military action in Syria against the so-called Islamic [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: George Osborne’s spending plans slammed by leading economists from the Institute for Fiscal Studies November 26, 2015 George Osborne’s spending plans have taken a hit from leading economists, who say it is unlikely that the chancellor will be able to keep his fiscal promises. The Treasury was forced to defend this week’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review announcements last night after the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), an independent research institute, [...]
Portugal’s anti-austerity government led by Socialist PM Antonio Costa sworn in after tumultuous period November 26, 2015 After eight tumultuous weeks of political upheaval, Portugal’s anti-austerity left took power yesterday, marking a pivotal moment for the eurozone as Germany’s firm grip on economy policy is broken. The country’s new Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa has sworn to end austerity for the country, saying on Thursday that the new government’s programme was “a [...]
COP21 Paris climate summit: Climate change is much more than an environmental problem – it threatens our financial stability November 26, 2015 Next week Paris will again be the focus of world attention. This time in the face of another global threat to us all: climate change. Over 100 world leaders, including Presidents Obama, Xi, and Putin, Chancellor Merkel, Indian Premier Modi and our own Prime Minister will attend. This will be the largest gathering of world [...]
London airport expansion: Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson MSP puts pressure on Cameron over Heathrow November 26, 2015 The top Conservatives in Scotland and Wales are today supporting a third runway at Heathrow, urging the government to make a quick decision to back the Airports Commission’s recommendation. In an open letter published today, Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, and Andrew R.T. Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, said Heathrow “already does what no [...]
Russia tightens Turkish food import controls after Russian SU-24 jet shot down by Turkish F-16 warplanes over Syria November 26, 2015 Russia has ramped up checks on food and agriculture imports from Turkey, a move which could deal a blow to the country's economy in the wake of its downing of a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border. The Russian government told its food safety watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor to increase controls in response to agriculture ministry [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: Institute for Fiscal Studies says Osborne got “lucky” this time around November 26, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne may not have made the severe cuts to public spending that many had expected in yesterday's Autumn Statement and Spending Review, but a leading economist has warned that the age of austerity is far from over and the chancellor's goal of a surplus by the end of the decade may prove difficult to achieve. [...]