Confederation of British Industry (CBI) wants the government to “give teeth” to Lord Andrew Adonis’s National Infrastructure Commission so it can approve airport expansion and other major projects February 29, 2016 Britain's biggest business group is calling on the government to “give teeth” to a new body set up to oversee large-scale infrastructure projects, warning that the National Infrastructure Commission “cannot afford to be way-laid by politics”. In a new report out today, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) sets out its recommendations for the commission, which [...]
US Presidential Election 2016 odds: Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton looks like a done deal, says bookmaker February 28, 2016 As Donald Trump becomes ever more dominant and after Hillary Clinton convincingly swept to her third primary win, one bookmaker now thinks a Clinton versus Trump showdown is a done deal. William Hill now thinks that Clinton and Trump are so far ahead of their rivals in the nomination stakes that they look past the post. [...]
EU referendum: Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith says UK could make trade deal with EU in event of Brexit February 28, 2016 The United Kingdom will trade with the European Union even if it votes for Brexit, Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said, as he lambasted the union as a political project. Speaking to BBC's The Andrew Marr Show, Duncan Smith said the EU is an important trading partner and it would want to [...]
EU referendum: Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle says Labour is not split on EU but the Conservatives are in “meltdown” February 28, 2016 The Labour party is not split on the question of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, in stark contrast to the Conservative party, the shadow business secretary has said. Angela Eagle said Labour is "not split down the middle like the Conservative party" which is "in meltdown" over the EU, adding that the Labour party is [...]
EU referendum: Top civil servant Jeremy Heywood to face MPs on why pro-Leave ministers are denied access to government papers February 28, 2016 The United Kingdom's top civil servant is to face a grilling by MPs over why ministers supporting Brexit are being denied access to government papers ahead of the impending EU referendum. Sir Jeremy Haywood has been called by the Public Administration Select Committee on Tuesday to explain the guidance that he issued last week. Read more: 42 per cent [...]
US Presidential Election 2016: Hillary Clinton wins overwhelmingly over Bernie Sanders in South Carolina February 28, 2016 Hillary Clinton has overwhelmingly won over senator Bernie Sanders in South Carolina, closing in on the Democrat nomination. Clinton stormed to victory with 73.5 per cent of the vote, compared to Sanders' 26 per cent. Though Clinton was widely expected to win the primary, the vote gives her momentum moving into "Super Tuesday", when 11 states and [...]
Warren Buffett annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders 2015: US presidential candidates have it all wrong – those being born today are the luckiest generation February 27, 2016 Kids these days are the luckiest of all, according to Warren Buffett's annual letter to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway released today. Commenting on the impending US elections, Buffett scoffed at the "negative drumbeat" of the presidential candidates, who seemed to be making a habit of pointing out all of the country's problems, despite GDP per capita having [...]
Iran holds first election since sanctions over its nuclear programme were lifted February 26, 2016 Millions of Iranians went to the polls for the first time since it was freed from sanctions following a deal with world powers over its nuclear programme today. The two crucial elections could alter the balance of power between moderates and hardliners in two of the Iran's key institutions. Both are currently dominated by the latter. Around 5,000 candidates [...]
Don’t read this, Jamie Oliver: Government axes plans for sugar tax and delays obesity strategy February 26, 2016 David Cameron can expect an angry phone call from Jamie Oliver tonight, after it was revealed that the government is unlikely to introduce a tax on sugary drinks. The Department of Health has announced that the tax is unlikely to go ahead as part of the forthcoming childhood obesity strategy, which has just been delayed for a [...]
EU referendum: Want a Brexit? We need to talk about Northern Ireland February 26, 2016 It’s been a week since David Cameron announced the details of the EU referendum, and the battle lines have well and truly been drawn. But perhaps the most surprising member of the pro-Brexit camp is Theresa Villiers. While her personal views on Europe have been well documented, in her role as Northern Ireland Secretary of State [...]