General election 2015: There’s a 74 per cent chance Ed Miliband will be the next PM, according to poll February 27, 2015 Despite reports of consistent unpopularity among both his supporters and opponents, there's a pretty high chance Ed Miliband will become our next Prime Minister after May's general election. To be fair, the Populus/Hanover election outcome predictor is not based on just a head-to-head between the Conservatives and Labour – it takes into account all possible [...]
What is the likelihood of Brexit? 17 per cent according to top think tank February 27, 2015 One of Britain's leading think tanks has revealed its preidction of the likelihood a British exit from the EU. Open Europe, which launched its "Brexit barometer" last night, estimated Britain had a 17 per cent chance of leaving the EU. The estimate will dash the hopes of Eurosceptics who are banking on public dissatisfaction with [...]
Immigration data forces David Cameron to explain failed commitment as net migration rises significantly February 26, 2015 The net migration rate in the UK has risen significantly, official figures showed yesterday, leaving Prime Minister David Cameron to explain why he has failed to meet his commitment to slash the number of people who come to the UK. The PM had said that he would reduce the rate of net migration, the difference [...]
General Election uncertainty spooks service firm Countrywide February 26, 2015 PROPERTY service provider Countrywide saw profits soar in 2014, but warned impending uncertainty due to May’s General Election will take its toll this year. The company continued to diversify last year, with the acquisition of 38 new businesses at the cost of £48.8m with 40 per cent of last year’s profit being derived from these [...]
General Election 2015: Labour brushes off talk of an SNP alliance February 26, 2015 Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has moved to play down rumours that Labour could form a post-election alliance with the Scottish National Party. Labour didn’t, however, deny the plan but Balls did say that a deal with the SNP was not high up the Labour wish list. Speaking during a visit to Scotland Balls said: “It [...]
Fast-growth businesses wary of a Labour government February 25, 2015 The Labour party’s uncomfortable relationship with the world of business is laid bare this morning, with a new survey revealing that fewer than seven per cent of fast-growing firms think its policies would support their growth. When asked “which political party do you think has the best policies to support your business’s expansion?”, 71 per cent [...]
OECD: Keep UK growing with spending cuts and immigration February 24, 2015 BRITAIN is outstripping rival economies across the developed world, with a successful balance of spending cuts and a flexible jobs market, the influential Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said yesterday. But more needs to be done, spreading spending cuts into previously protected departments such as healthcare, and reversing damaging moves to cut immigration. [...]
Athens torn over compromise with EU so soon after election February 24, 2015 GREEK leaders were divided yesterday over the compromises being agreed with other European nations, with some backing the deal to extend the bailout and others attacking the failure to stick by election vows. Energy minister Panagiotis Lafazanis voiced his opposition to any privatisations, Greek media reported, while there is also the threat of a coalition [...]
General Election 2015: Will the government raise the minimum wage? February 23, 2015 Minimum wage in the UK should rise by 20p to £6.70 an hour, according to the Low Pay Commission. The rise, the commission says, should take place in October, and would mean a pay rise for 1.2m workers. If the government decides to implement the rise, which it may do in next month’s budget, it [...]
Tories suspend Sir Malcom Rifkind as chief whip over cash for access claims February 23, 2015 The Conservative Party has suspended Sir Malcolm Rifkind from Parliament after he was caught in a "cash for access" sting. Rifkind and Labour MP Jack Straw were secretly filmed offering to use contacts and influence in exchange for payment from a private company. Both men have denied wrongdoing but have referred themselves to Parliament's standards watchdog. [...]