Don’t read this, Jamie Oliver: Government axes plans for sugar tax and delays obesity strategy February 26, 2016 David Cameron can expect an angry phone call from Jamie Oliver tonight, after it was revealed that the government is unlikely to introduce a tax on sugary drinks. The Department of Health has announced that the tax is unlikely to go ahead as part of the forthcoming childhood obesity strategy, which has just been delayed for a [...]
EU referendum: Want a Brexit? We need to talk about Northern Ireland February 26, 2016 It’s been a week since David Cameron announced the details of the EU referendum, and the battle lines have well and truly been drawn. But perhaps the most surprising member of the pro-Brexit camp is Theresa Villiers. While her personal views on Europe have been well documented, in her role as Northern Ireland Secretary of State [...]
EU referendum: Filmmaker Martin Durkin says “Brexit: The Movie” crowdfunding campaign has hit its £100,000 target February 26, 2016 It may not actually have happened yet – but some people really want the story of Britain's EU referendum to be told. A crowdfunding campaign to raise money for "Brexit: The Movie" has hit its £100,000 funding target, the production company behind it said today. Wag TV said it had raised the money from 1,500 members of [...]
MPs on the Treasury Select Committee want to be able to reject chancellor George Osborne’s appointments to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) February 26, 2016 An influential parliamentary committee has called for MPs to be able to veto the appointment and dismissal of the chief executive of the City watchdog, among others. The Treasury Select Committee tabled an amendment to the Bank of England and Financial Services Bill today that would allow MPs to reject the hiring and firing of the [...]
EU referendum: City of London Corporation is one step closer to making the case for remaining in the EU despite member opposition February 25, 2016 The City of London Corporation has moved one step closer to campaigning for Britain to remain in the European Union, despite vocal opposition from many of its members. In a move that sparked outrage among eurosceptic City figures but was welcomed by the pro-EU campaign yesterday afternoon, members of the Corporation's policy and resources committee voted 17-3 [...]
Royal Bank of Scotland boss Ross McEwan will give up half of his £1m allowance to charity February 25, 2016 Royal Bank of Scotland's chief executive Ross McEwan is to give up half of his £1m allowance to charity for the third year in a row amid an annual pay row at the bank. McEwan is to make the announcement tomorrow, according to Sky News, despite the confidence extended to him from City investors and his [...]
Former Conservative councillor faces a trial over “offensive” tweet about Sadiq Khan February 25, 2016 A former Conservative councillor will be standing trial next month, accused of posting an "offensive" tweet about Labour's London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan. Jim Buckley, 60, will face trial after sending the tweet about Khan, which said: "Your next London Mayor? You think his corner shop would be open on a Saturday?" Buckley's local Conservative party [...]
EU referendum: Over 50s now more likely to vote for a Brexit than to stay in the EU, with men more likely to be saying no to the union than women February 25, 2016 Over 50s are not that keen on David Cameron's latest EU deal, a survey released by Saga today would suggest. The poll discovered that 43 per cent of those aged over 50 would vote to leave the EU if the referendum was held tomorrow, compared with only 40 per cent who would vote to stay. However, Paul Green, director of communications [...]
Business secretary Sajid Javid says the steel sector won’t be bailed out like banks amid industry pressure February 24, 2016 Britain's steel industry should not expect to be bailed out in the same way that banks were after the financial crisis, according to business secretary Sajid Javid. Speaking at the EEF National Manufacturing Conference, Javid gave a stark warning that public funds will not be used to help out the crisis-struck steel industry, which has seen thousands [...]
Electoral register is “getting more unequal by the year”, warns Electoral Reform Society as figures show a drop in the number of registered voters February 24, 2016 Thousands of voters might not get the chance to cast a vote in upcoming elections after changes to the registration process, prompting fears the electoral register is become more unequal and people could miss out on their "basic civic right". At least 770,000 names have been removed from the electoral register, according to the Electoral Commission, meaning [...]