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 [...]
HMRC to hire evening staff, having unveiling new telephone system to tackle customer service concerns November 10, 2015 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has today announced it is taking steps to improve customer service, including hiring staff for outside hours, the BBC has reported. Speaking in front of the Commons Treasury Committee today, Lin Homer, chief executive of HMRC, apologised for the tax authority’s poor track record of dealing with customer phone calls. [...]
Oldham West and Royton by-election 2015 result: There could be a massive upset on its way if Ukip has its way November 10, 2015 The forthcoming by-election in Oldham West and Royton will be a fascinating contest, prompted by the tragic death of Michael Meacher, an old school conviction politician who worked tirelessly for his constituents. His death, at a time when the Labour Party is in flux and the Tories are in state of post victory complacency, makes [...]
Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna says he supports Prime Minister David Cameron’s demands on EU treaty change November 10, 2015 Chuka Umunna, Labour's former shadow business secretary, has come out in support of Conservative prime minister David Cameron’s demands on European Union treaty changes. Umunna told City A.M. that Cameron’s demands, laid out in a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, are “reasonable”. He said: “In the end the demands the Prime Minister have [...]
EU reform: Dear Donald – the full text of David Cameron’s EU renegotiation letter to Donald Tusk November 10, 2015 David Cameron has finally outlined his plans for EU renegotiation to European Council president Donald Tusk. But what did he actually ask for? The full thing comes in at a weighty 2,000 words across six pages. The letter suggests the pair are on first-name terms – beginning with "Dear Donald" and ending with a simple [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron proposes tighter rules for EU migrants in Chatham House speech November 10, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron insisted that his European Union reform agenda is achievable this morning when he spelled out new details of his top demands, including major changes to welfare benefits for EU migrants in the UK. In a speech this morning at Chatham House in central London, Cameron said that his desired changes to Britain’s relationship with the European [...]
EU referendum: Cameron spells out his demands, saying reform is not Mission Impossible November 10, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron will insist that his European Union reform agenda is achievable when he spells out his top demands today. In a major speech this morning at Chatham House, Cameron will say that his desired changes to Britain’s relationship with the European Union are “eminently resolvable, with the requisite political will and political [...]
New Policy Exchange report: Government should radically overhaul energy regulation November 10, 2015 A leading Westminster think tank is today calling for a “radical overhaul” of energy regulation ahead of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) later this month. In a new report out today, Policy Exchange says that by consolidating the 30 different bodies that are responsible for energy policy, regulations and rules, the government could save [...]
UK risks EU fines after losing control of the rudder on renewable energy targets November 9, 2015 The UK will miss its renewable energy target by 25 per cent, according to a leaked government letter. Energy secretary Amber Rudd said the UK was unlikely to hit its target of having 15 per cent of the nation’s energy come from renewable sources by 2020. “The absence of a credible plan to meet the [...]
Out-going Waitrose boss to join Cabinet Office board as non-exec director November 9, 2015 Mark Price, the out-going managing director of up-market grocer Waitrose, is set to join the Cabinet Office board as a non-executive director. Price shocked the industry when he announced he would be stepping down from his role at Waitrose and deputy chairman of the John Lewis Partnership after 33 years with the company just last [...]