CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn says mid-sized firms are the “missing link” in the British economy November 30, 2015 Carolyn Fairbairn will use her first major speech as Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general today to call on the government to introduce new policies to promote medium-sized businesses. Speaking at CBI event in London, Fairbairn will say that Britain’s 3,000 so-called “scale-up medium-sized businesses” (MSBs) contributed £59bn to the UK economy between 2010 and 2013. [...]
Chancellor George Osborne and business secretary Sajid Javid vow to boost competition in 11 sectors including banking, broadband and energy November 30, 2015 British families could save £470 a year thanks to a new government plan to boost market competition, chancellor George Osborne and business secretary Sajid Javid have said. In a joint announcement today, Osborne and Javid will reveal a new, 25-page document intended to create more competitive business conditions – something they say will bring down [...]
London airport expansion: Government gearing up to make a decision on Heathrow as soon as this week November 29, 2015 A government ruling on airport expansion could come as soon as this week, with ministers gearing up to decide whether or not to reject the Airports Commission’s recommendation for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. The Airports Commission, led by RBS chairman Sir Howard Davies, said in July that it backed building a third runway [...]
“High risk” of Paris-style attacks in UK, warns defence secretary Michael Fallon ahead of Cameron’s crucial vote on Syrian air strikes November 29, 2015 Defence secretary Michael Fallon has warned of the high risk of Paris Style attacks as the government seeks cross-party support for Syian air strikes in the fight against Islamic State (IS). “What happened in Paris and Brussels could easily happen in London,” warned Fallon in an interview with a Sunday newspaper. "The threat to the UK is extremely high. An [...]
Conservative ministers to lobby Labour MPs over air strikes in Syria November 28, 2015 Ahead of a vote in the House of Commons on whether the UK should extend air strikes into Syria, ministers are expected to be making calls to Labour MPs to shore up support from the opposition benches. The foreign secretary Philip Hammond and defence secretary Michael Fallon are said to be among those making calls, [...]
Stop the War coalition organises march on Downing Street today November 28, 2015 With Prime Minister David Cameron's campaign to persuade the House of Commons of the need for air strikes in Syria gaining more support, the Stop the War coalition has called for a protest march in London today. Thousands of protesters are expected to turn up outside Downing Street to urge the Prime Minister to change [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s policy adviser Andrew Fisher has suspension from the Labour party lifted by the ruling national executive committee November 27, 2015 After having been suspended from the Labour party following a stream of controversial tweets, leader Jeremy Corbyn's policy adviser Andrew Fisher has had his suspension lifted by the ruling national executive committee (NEC). Fisher had suggested that a Class War candidate should be back as leader of the party instead of Corbyn, while calling Tony Blair a [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn facing revolt as shadow cabinet members back David Cameron’s plans for air strikes in Syria November 27, 2015 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been put under more pressure as senior members of his shadow cabinet have threatened to resign over his stance on air strikes in Syria. Corbyn has written to Labour MPs to say he cannot support Prime Minister David Cameron's call to take military action in Syria against the so-called Islamic [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: George Osborne’s spending plans slammed by leading economists from the Institute for Fiscal Studies November 26, 2015 George Osborne’s spending plans have taken a hit from leading economists, who say it is unlikely that the chancellor will be able to keep his fiscal promises. The Treasury was forced to defend this week’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review announcements last night after the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), an independent research institute, [...]
Portugal’s anti-austerity government led by Socialist PM Antonio Costa sworn in after tumultuous period November 26, 2015 After eight tumultuous weeks of political upheaval, Portugal’s anti-austerity left took power yesterday, marking a pivotal moment for the eurozone as Germany’s firm grip on economy policy is broken. The country’s new Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa has sworn to end austerity for the country, saying on Thursday that the new government’s programme was “a [...]