North Korea fires long-range rocket defying international sanctions – UN Security Council to meet as foreign secretary Philip Hammond condemns ballistic missile technology testing February 7, 2016 The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting after North Korea fired a long-range rocket it claims put a satellite into orbit. The move was condemned by the US, UK, South Korea and Japan as a missile test against international sanctions. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond said: "I strongly condemn North Korea’s ballistic missile technology test. This is a clear [...]
George Osborne urged to clarify banks’ tax deductions on fines and regulatory costs by Andrew Tyrie and Treasury Select Committee February 7, 2016 George Osborne has been urged to clarify how banks offset the costs of fines such as PPI mis-selling and other regulatory costs against their corporate tax bill. The chair of the influential Treasury Select Committee Andrew Tyrie has written to the chancellor asking him to make clear whether banks can offset the costs associated with regulatory penalties. “It [...]
UK steel crisis: Sajid Javid joins EU governments to warn steel industry risks collapse unless Europe steps up cheap import fight against Russia and China February 6, 2016 The UK and six other European steel producers have urged the EU to fight back against cheap steel imports, to stop the European industry “collapsing”. Business secretary Sajid Javid joined ministers from Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium, France and Luxembourg in demanding the EU “ensure a global level playing field” for the industry. “The European Union [...]
EU referendum: Another row erupts between Out campaign groups Vote Leave and Leave.EU as Labour MP Kate Hoey stands down February 5, 2016 An open fight between two rival groups campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union has erupted, potentially just months before the EU referendum is held. Labour MP Kate Hoey, who is a member of Labour Leave, has quit Vote Leave, but will continue to support Grassroots Out, another Out campaign group. Labour Leave will [...]
EU referendum: The draft EU deal has given the Leave campaign a boost as Prime Minister David Cameron heads to Poland to continue negotiations February 5, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron's draft EU deal has given a boost to the Out campaign ahead of the referendum, a new poll has found. Read more: Rees-Mogg on the PM, the EU and gruel A poll by YouGov conducted in the immediate aftermath of Cameron's EU deal has found Leave is now leading with 45 per cent [...]
EU referendum: Why as a supporter of Brexit, I’m waiting for Prime Minister David Cameron’s own Hugh Grant Love Actually moment February 5, 2016 Watching our Prime Minister David Cameron negotiate with an institution that fundamentally doesn’t believe it’s heading in the wrong direction has been difficult. I for one, even as a solid supporter of Brexit, admire the Prime Minister for attempting to get a deal for Britain. He promised an In/Out referendum on Europe and he’s delivered it. [...]
Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg discusses David Cameron and the proposed EU reforms in an interview with City A.M. February 5, 2016 Thin gruel is hardly an appealing image, yet that’s how Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg first described David Cameron’s proposed EU reforms. As the Prime Minister outlined the details of his EU deal on Wednesday, the North East Somerset MP suggested that the gruel had been watered down yet further. I spoke to this colourful, popular Old Etonian MP [...]
AIIB: Former Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander named as vice president of new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank February 5, 2016 Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury under the coalition government until 2015, has been given a key leadership role in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Alexander, a former Liberal Democrat MP who lost his seat in the 2015 General Election, was appointed vice president and corporate secretary by the bank's president Jin Liqun. "I look forward to using my experience [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith attacks Labour rival Sadiq Khan over housing record February 5, 2016 Labour mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan's affordable housing plans are a "fantasy", Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith will claim today. Goldsmith will point to new analysis showing that not one of London's 16 Labour-led councils have delivered Khan's target of having 50 per cent of all new-build homes qualifying as affordable housing. According to Goldsmith's campaign, the average [...]
EU referendum: Scottish voters in favour of staying in EU but gap narrowing, according to new poll February 4, 2016 Scottish voters remain in favour of staying in the European Union – but the gap is narrowing according to a new poll. The first TNS poll of 2016 found that 44 per cent of voters would opt to remain a member of the EU, while 21 per cent would vote to leave. In May last year, [...]