Immigration figures: More workers came to the UK last year than ever before. Awkward… November 27, 2014 Net migration rose to 260,000 in the year to June, official statistics published today showed – that's an increase of 78,000, or 43 per cent, on the year before. And the number of immigrants coming to the UK for work rose to 247,000, the highest since records began. How's David Cameron going to explain that [...]
EU immigration in charts: Pope calls the European Union “elderly and haggard,” but how at risk are migrants? November 25, 2014 Pope Francis has castigated the EU, saying that the bloc has grown weary and is failing many of its poorest residents. He also called the European project elderly and haggard and criticised the treatment of migrants. The pope was speaking to around 700 MEPs in Strasbourg and said the Mediterranean was in danger of becoming [...]
Hardline Tories slam CBI over pro-Brussels stance November 24, 2014 The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) came under fire from Tory eurosceptics yesterday over its pro-European stance. In a speech hosted by eurosceptic group Business for Britain, former minister Owen Paterson said that the CBI did not represent small and medium-sized companies and acted instead for its own interests. The group has recently upped its [...]
EU referendum: Owen Paterson calls for Brexit after loss of Rochester and Strood to Ukip November 24, 2014 Ex-cabinet minister Owen Paterson has called for Britain to withdraw from the EU in a speech to business leaders. The Tory backbencher, who proved a controversial environment secretary, told the campaign group Business for Britain, which aims to get the UK a better deal with the EU, that a free trade agreement would be a [...]
Citi’s UK boss James Bardrick: The City won’t fall apart on a Brexit but Britain must do more to make EU work November 23, 2014 Britain’s increasingly fierce row over the EU can be highly polarised. Depending on who you listen to, the economy will either crumble and die outside Europe, or an exit will free the UK from the dead hand of Brussels and lead to a new golden era of trade and prosperity. Citi’s UK boss James [...]
Interactive: Theresa May says the Conservatives may miss their immigration targets, but how high is UK immigration? November 23, 2014 The home secretary Theresa May has all but admitted that the government will be unable to meet its target of limiting immigration to the tens of thousands in time for next year’s general election. What is more, David Cameron is expected to announce bans on benefits for UK migrants, despite the data showing immigrants are [...]
Mark Reckless splits with Nigel Farage on Ukip immigration policy after Rochester by-election win November 22, 2014 Barely 24 hours after being sworn in as Ukip's second elected MP Marke Reckless is as already criticising his party leader Nigel Farage. Speaking to the Times, Reckless said Ukip's immigration policy "changed on Wednesday, and I'm a bit sore about how I came out of that". Speaking on Tuesday at a hustings event during [...]
Ukip wins Rochester and Strood by-election in spite of Mark Reckless’ immigration comments November 21, 2014 Mark Reckless has won in Rochester and Strood, gaining its second parliamentary seat. It was a night of bitter disappointment for the Conservative party, who, despite not being favourites, had invested much in the conservation of their seat. In the end Reckless, an ex-Tory MP whose defection forced the by-election, won by 2,920 [...]
Ukip rows back on Mark Reckless immigration comments ahead of Rochester & Strood by-elecion November 19, 2014 Ukip has sought to distance itself from comments made by its Rochester & Strood candidate Mark Reckless, after he suggested certain European migrants could be asked to leave Britain if the party came to power. Speaking yesterday at a hustings with other Rochester & Strood by-election candidates, Reckless said a Ukip government would have [...]
Labour’s Yvette Cooper on immigration, £10 visas and Ukip’s make-believe “nostalgia” November 18, 2014 Labour will charge visitors entering the UK from the US and 55 other countries around £10 a go as part of a wider pledge to get immigration under control. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper – who some say is a contender for the next Labour leader – outlined the plans today, saying the funds [...]