EU migrant crisis: Austria to cap migrants at 3,200 a day and asylum claims at 80 a day as country’s in Schengen zone come under more pressure February 19, 2016 Austria, a part of the Schengen passport-free zone, is to limit the number of migrants and asylum applications it receives each day from today, the country's interior minister has said. The daily migrant cap will be set at 3,200 people, while it will limit the number of asylum claims it receives daily to 80. "It is a matter of [...]
Down to the wire: David Cameron battles to secure his deal during late night EU talks February 19, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron’s hopes of securing a reform deal today on Britain’s relationship with the European Union were called into question late last night, as Downing Street warned that EU leaders had made “no real progress” towards coming to an agreement. A Number 10 source said the first session of the highly-anticipated European Council meeting [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron says EU leaders have a make-or-break opportunity to “settle” the issue of Britain’s EU membership “for a generation” February 18, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is “battling for Britain” today as he urges European leaders to come to an agreement on reforming the UK's relationship with the European Union. Cameron said tonight that EU leaders have a make-or-break opportunity to “settle” the issue of Britain’s EU membership “for a generation”. "The question of Britain's place [...]
EU referendum: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn calls Prime Minister David Cameron’s reform agenda a “theatrical sideshow” February 18, 2016 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will use a trip to Brussels today to slam Prime Minister David Cameron's efforts to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the European Union, calling the negotiations a "theatrical sideshow". Speaking at a meeting of the Party of European Socialists in Brussels – a stone's throw from where Cameron is making a final [...]
The Lord Mayor is taking too many overseas trips, according to a new City of London Corporation report by Sir Simon Fraser February 18, 2016 The Lord Mayor of London should cut down on the number of overseas trade promotion visits he takes, a new report commissioned by the City of London Corporation has recommended. The report, written by Sir Simon Fraser, a partner at consultancy Flint Global who previously worked at the Foreign Office and Department for Business, is aimed at [...]
Satisfaction with chancellor George Osborne dips but we still rate him higher than shadow chancellor John McDonnell February 18, 2016 This probably isn't the news George Osborne wanted to receive just a month before he's due to deliver his Budget speech: more people in Great Britain are now unhappy than happy with the chancellor's performance. According to results of a poll released today by Ipsos MORI, 46 per cent of people say they are dissatisfied with Osborne's track record, [...]
Scottish election 2016: New Survation poll shows Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP heading for a big victory while Ruth Davidson’s Tories struggle to gain ground February 18, 2016 A new poll out today shows the SNP commanding a dominant lead going into of May's Scottish elections, with the party's leader, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the only major politician that Scottish voters view favourably. According to the latest figures from Survation, the SNP "continue to dominate the political landscape in Scotland", with 53 per [...]
General Election: Electoral Commission opens investigation into Conservative party spending at 2015 election in South Thanet constituency where Craig Mackinlay beat Ukip’s Nigel Farage February 18, 2016 The Electoral Commission is to open an investigation into allegations around Conservative party spending at the 2015 General Election. The commission's announcement follows Kent Police's decision not to pursue an investigation into allegations regarding the Conservative candidate for South Thanet's spending return at the General Election. The constituency was won by Conservative Craig Mackinlay with a vote [...]
EU referendum: We must vote to remain in the EU as London is Europe’s financial capital and David Cameron has protected the rights of non-Eurozone countries February 18, 2016 A recent visit to Brussels brought back mixed memories of my time as a minister in the last Government. In my roles in both the Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions, I had to negotiate with the European Commission, other member states and MEPs. My first visit was a culture shock, but over [...]
EU referendum: Frexit? France-EU relationship could be set for change if Le Pen’s National Front wins presidential election February 18, 2016 French National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen is revelling in the EU drama that has been unfolding over recent months, hoping a potential Brexit vote could lead to growing euroscepticism in France. Currently garnering support, Le Pen is planning a push for the French presidency next year, and if she wins she hopes to renegotiate France's membership terms [...]