New Policy Exchange report: Tweaking Whitehall HR system could save taxpayer £1bn November 12, 2015 Cutting government spending on contractors by just 20 per cent could save the taxpayer over £1bn, according to a new report out today from a Westminster think tank. The report from Policy Exchange says that the amount of money government departments spend on external contractors has risen significantly in recent years, from £610m in 2011/2012 [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron calls two-day visit from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi an “historic opportunity” November 12, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first official visit to the UK today an “historic opportunity” for the relationship between Britain and India, signalling billions of pounds of deals and other financial partnerships. Modi is in Britain for a two-day visit which will today include one-on-one talks with Cameron at [...]
Nearly three in four UK financial services firms say cutting skilled migration will hurt the economy November 11, 2015 Britain's financial services companies are overwhelmingly worried that proposed changes to visas for non-European Union workers will make it difficult to attract top talent. A new survey out today from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) found that 73 per cent of finance workers think that the government’s plans to reduce the number of [...]
Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna to chancellor George Osborne: Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face November 11, 2015 While the deficit and debt need to be reduced, "raiding growth inducing budgets" such as that of the department of business is a "false economy", former shadow business secretary has warned chancellor George Osborne. Speaking in Warwick to a group of manufacturers including representatives from Boeing and Jaguar Landrover, Unumma warned that ahead of the chancellor [...]
Helmut Schmidt: As Germany loses a historic figure, the UK has lost the most Anglo-Saxon of all Chancellors at a crucial time for Brexit November 11, 2015 The death of Helmut Schmidt is a profound moment for all post-war Germans. More than any other German Chancellor, Schmidt was the incarnation of a deep commitment to his nation as a part of the European Community, but also as a strong member of the Atlantic alliance. As an inveterate workaholic, Schmidt was used to burning [...]
Public spending watchdog warns government over devolution deals November 11, 2015 An influential parliamentary committee is cautioning the government over its plans to devolve further powers to local authorities, calling for more transparency about how devolution is carried out in various regions. In a new report out today, the Public Accounts Committee says that the government needs to “provide clarity on accountability, funding and economic impact” [...]
Controversial Trade Union Bill passes third reading in the House of Commons November 10, 2015 The government’s controversial Trade Union Bill was met with strong opposition, but ultimately passed the House of Commons in the third reading. Parliament voted 305 in favour, with 271 against, giving a majority of 34. Under the existing rules, if 100 members are balloted and only five vote and three vote yes and two vote [...]
EU referendum: Eurosceptics and Europhiles tear apart Cameron’s reform demands November 10, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has come under criticism from both European Union officials and members of his own political party over his European Union reform agenda. Cameron spelled out new details of his top demands, including major changes to welfare benefits for EU migrants in the UK, in a speech in central London yesterday morning. [...]
Government delays Sunday trading plans after SNP threats November 10, 2015 The government has reportedly postponed plans to relax Sunday trading laws in England and Wales after the SNP threatened to block legislation including the proposals. Chancellor George Osborne first proposed in his summer budget changing the rules to allow high street shops in England and Wales to stay open longer on Sundays, but the SNP’s Westminster leader [...]
Portuguese government ousted by Socialist coalition after losing parliamentary confidence vote November 10, 2015 Portugal's centre-right coalition government has been voted out of parliament by a vote of 123 to 107 after just 11 days in office. While Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coehlo was expected to lose, it is unclear whether the president of Portugal will ask the Socialist-led coalition – which formed over the weekend to oust the current [...]