UK house prices: Why Help to Buy, Starter Homes and other government initiatives won’t boost housebuilding in the UK February 9, 2016 There's nothing like a target to focus the mind. Last year, the newly elected Conservative government set themselves several in an attempt to tackle the housing crisis and get more new homes built over the course of this parliament. The numbers are ambitious. The government says it wants a million new homes built in England [...]
EU referendum: Out campaign groups Leave.EU and Vote Leave finally unite, in support of independent Brexit film February 9, 2016 Tensions may have reached fever pitch last week between Leave.EU and Vote Leave, but the Out campaign groups have now found a common cause to unite around. If leaving the European Union wasn't enough, the groups have now rallied around an independent Brexit film, according to Leave.EU. An independent, crowd-funded initiative to produce a feature-length [...]
Local councils handed power to extend Sunday trading hours in bid to address high street decline February 9, 2016 Local councils will be given the power to extend Sunday trading hours under new rules confirmed today. The government is introducing amendments to the Enterprise Bill – which are expected to be implemented in the Autumn – to devolve powers to local authorities, aimed at helping shops compete better with online retailers. As well as [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Sadiq Khan has danced into the lead over Zac Goldsmith for London mayor, but how important will voter turnout be on 5 May? February 9, 2016 In three months’ time London will have a new mayor, ending the eight year era of Boris. Sadiq Khan may well be in the box seat with both pollsters and bookmakers at present, but the Tooting MP has a delicate dance to perform until voters head to their local polling places on 5 May. Khan’s [...]
A day with Zac Goldsmith: Just one of the prizes up for grabs at the Conservatives’ Black & White ball February 8, 2016 Guests at the Tories' Black & White Ball just can't get enough of hanging out with Conservative MPs it seems. Despite having to fork out at least £5,000 for a standard table for ten, and up to £15,000 for a premium table, one of the guests at the lavish event, held last night at the Brewery in [...]
Media mogul Michael Bloomberg says he is considering running for US President in 2016 White House race February 8, 2016 Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York and owner of the global media group that shares his name, has said he is considering entering the race for US President. When asked whether he would pursue a nomination, Bloomberg told the Financial Times he was "looking at all the options". "I find the level of discourse and [...]
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson says big businesses should tie executive pay schemes to company performance February 8, 2016 Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will use a major speech in London today to call on Britain's biggest businesses to tie executive compensation schemes to company performance. "I do think we should consider the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's proposal for companies to ensure that reward packages are more aligned to financial and non-financial [...]
Higher tuition fees and rising student expectations mean universities and employers must work together February 8, 2016 Graduate employment figures have finally returned to pre-recession levels, but in an era of higher tuition fees and a competitive global labour market, universities must innovate to meet market demands, as well as students’ ever increasing expectations. Businesses are frustrated with the status quo in higher education provision. Various sectors including digital, manufacturing and construction [...]
EU referendum: Downing Street doubles down on warning that Brexit could lead to a massive influx of asylum-seekers February 8, 2016 Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister David Cameron believes that a huge influx of asylum-seekers would suddenly move to Britain if the UK votes to leave the EU. "We currently have these juxtaposed controls with France. Should the UK leave the European Union, there is no guarantee that the controls will remain in place," [...]
EU referendum: Pro-European Union group says Brexit would cost London £13.9bn February 8, 2016 Staying in the European Union will deliver a “permanent boost” to the capital's economy, according to new figures released by pro-Europe business group London First. Analysis conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) for the lobby outfit says that EU membership could add £13.9bn a year and 75,000 jobs to London's economy [...]