Tony Blair: Sorry for Iraq war “mistakes” and admits conflict’s role in rise of Islamic State October 25, 2015 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has apologised for "mistakes" made during the Iraq war but said he was not sorry for toppling Saddam Hussein despite admitting there are "elements of truth" to the view that the war is connected to the rise of Islamic State (IS). Speaking in an interview with CNN which is due to [...]
Lord Grabiner quits Labour party whip over Corbyn leadership October 24, 2015 Lord Grabiner has become the second Labour peer to leave the party whip in a week. In a letter to The Times this morning, he said he left at the end of September due to his differences with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. “I can't square staying with my conscience,” he said. “I have nothing in [...]
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 [...]