London mayoral election 2016: Labour candidate Sadiq Khan and Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith spar as official campaign kicks off March 21, 2016 The front-runners to replace Boris Johnson as mayor of London traded sharp words today, the first official day of the mayoral campaign. With just seven weeks to go until voters head to the polls, Labour candidate Sadiq Khan used a speech in Westminster to say he would be the “British Muslim who takes the fight [...]
Budget 2016: John McDonnell says George Osborne should withdraw his Budget as Prime Minister David Cameron stands by the chancellor March 21, 2016 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has warned that the Budget process is in "absolute chaos" as the government has withdrawn a large part of the Budget and accepted two opposition amendments before the end of the third day of the budget debate. Speaking in the House of Commons, McDonnell asked if the chancellor would make a statement on [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Official start to campaign kicks off as poll reveals Labour’s Sadiq Khan ahead of Conservatives’ Zac Goldsmith March 21, 2016 The campaign proper for the London mayoral election kicks off today, as official nominations can be made and a host of candidates join the race. While Labour's Sadiq Khan and the Conservatives' Zac Goldsmith have engaged in fierce and tense debates since they each won their party's nomination, it is only now that official nominations that [...]
Scottish election 2016: Nicola Sturgeon accused of being arrogant by Labour’s Kezia Dugdale as new poll reveals SNP on for huge victory March 21, 2016 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of being "utterly arrogant" by the Scottish Labour leader after declaring victory in the Scottish election before the vote has been cast. Kezia Dugdale said the upcoming election was the "most interesting, exciting and important we have ever faced" and that new devolved powers meant Scottish voters would be able [...]
Moody blues: Tories forced to abandon controversial welfare cuts as Iain Duncan Smith lashes out March 21, 2016 The government will perform a screeching U-turn today as ministers scramble to repair the damage caused by controversial plans to cut disability payments. Prime Minister David Cameron will aim to draw a line under a blistering row prompted by the resignation of former party leader Iain Duncan Smith, who stepped down as welfare secretary at [...]
EU referendum: Former prime minister John Major slams Brexit campaign as built on “fantasy” March 20, 2016 Former conservative prime minister John Major has issued a damning critique of those who want Britain to leave the European Union. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Major derided the arguments which underpin the Leave campaign as "disingenuous" and "fantasy". Major, the last Conservative prime minister before current incumbent David Cameron, said it would be "verging [...]
Iain Duncan Smith on Marr: Ex-work and pensions secretary defends resignation branding welfare cap “deeply unfair” March 20, 2016 Iain Duncan Smith, the former work and pensions secretary who spectacularly resigned on Friday, has revealed he has turned against the government's cap on welfare and benefits, saying "this is not the way to do government". In his first media appearance since his exit speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, he said the cap was "arbitrarily lowered" following the [...]
Iain Duncan Smith resignation: Pensions minister Baroness Ros Altman blasts move as “all about the EU referendum” not disability cuts March 20, 2016 The pensions minister Baroness Ros Altman has blasted Iain Duncan Smith's resignation saying she believes it's really about the EU referendum. "I’m particularly saddened that this really seems to be about the European referendum campaign rather than about DWP policy," Altman said in a statement. Duncan Smith, who unexpectedly resigned as work and pensions secretary on Friday [...]
Odds not on George: Iain Duncan Smith’s resignation has made Osborne vulnerable as William Hill slashes Tory leader odds March 19, 2016 Bookmaker William Hill has doubled its odds on George Osborne becoming the next leader of the Conservative Party from 2/1 to 4/1 second favourite. William Hill also shortened Boris Johnson's odds from 3/1 to 15/8, becoming the clear favourite, as "a series of mistakes" started to impact on Osborne's "future prospects". "So sure-footed for so long, Mr Osborne was [...]
Iain Duncan Smith: Full resignation letter March 19, 2016 I am incredibly proud of the welfare reforms that the Government has delivered over the last five years. Those reforms have helped to generate record rates of employment and in particular a substantial reduction in workless households. As you know, the advancement of social justice was my driving reason for becoming part of your ministerial team and [...]