Liberal Democrat London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon announces bid to become Mayor of London October 23, 2015 The leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, Caroline Pidgeon, today launched her campaign to become the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Mayor of London in the 2016 election. Visiting the Gower nursery school in Islington, she outlined the problems in London she would tackle if she got the job, including affordable childcare in the [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron is “acting like a school boy bully” by not listening to the Lords on tax credit cuts says Liberal Democrat Lord Newby October 23, 2015 The government's controversial decision to cut tax credits has come under renewed pressure as Lord Newby said the House of Lords will obstruct the legislation, and Prime Minister David Cameron would face a "constitutional crisis of his own making" if he took measures against the Lords in response. The government no longer has a majority in the House [...]
EU referendum 2017: British support for a Brexit is at its highest since 2012 October 23, 2015 A new poll has shown the number of Brits who want to leave the European Union is on the rise, as immigration becomes an increasingly topical issue. Pollster Ipsos Mori said yesterday that British support for an exit has risen to 39 per cent, the highest level since 2012, up from 27 per cent in June. However, most Brits [...]
China state visit: Xi Jingping visits Manchester City Football academy and announces new flights October 23, 2015 Chinese President Xi Jingping will wrap up his four-day state visit to Britain in Manchester today, where he and Prime Minister David Cameron will announce more business deals, including new direct flights from Manchester Airport to China. The UK government estimates the new flight path will add £50m to Manchester’s economy. Other partnerships set to [...]
Industry groups split over new report from CMA on retail banking sector October 22, 2015 Multiple industry groups have hit out at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)’s provisional recommendations for the retail banking sector, saying “more needs to be done”. British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) director general John Longworth said businesses will be “disappointed” with the CMA’s proposals, accusing the competition watchdog of “effectively endorsing a status quo that [...]
Challengers say CMA retail banks review does not go far enough October 22, 2015 Bosses at Britain’s smaller challenger banks are questioning the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), saying that watchdog’s latest report “does not go anywhere near far enough” in boosting competitiveness in the retail banking sector. TSB chief executive Paul Pester said the CMA’s provisional findings, first published this morning, were a “solid first start” but there [...]
BIS select committee to address UK’s troubled steel industry after Tata and SSI closures October 22, 2015 Business ministers and industry figures are set to be grilled by a committee of MPs over the crisis hammering the UK steel sector. The Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) select committee hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and will address the challenges facing the industry, which is struggling to compete in the global marketplace due to [...]
Andrew Tyrie slams CMA over free banking “con trick” October 22, 2015 A leading Tory MP has slammed the new Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report on retail banking, saying its conclusions are “going to take a lot of justifying”. Andrew Tyrie, who chairs the Treasury Select Committee, said free-if-in-credit (FIIC) accounts are a “con trick” and it was “disappointing” that the CMA decided not to end [...]
HSBC is mulling moving its headquarters to America rather than Asia October 22, 2015 Britain's biggest bank is considering moving its headquarters to the United States, rather than Hong Kong, it has been revealed. HSBC first announced in April that it was reviewing whether to relocate from London, when the bank’s chairman Douglas Flint told shareholders at the annual meeting that the bank’s board had “asked management to commence work [...]
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell welcomes CMA report despite no big bank break-up October 22, 2015 In a surprising move, chancellor John McDonnell said he “welcomed” the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) report today, despite the CMA’s decision to rule out forcing the break-up of banks. Former Labour leader Ed Miliband had pushed for a total restructuring of the banking sector, pledging in 2014 to break up the biggest British banks in [...]