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 [...]
How much spare cash will the Treasury, the Department for Transport, the Department for Local Government and the Environment Agency have to spend after government cuts? November 9, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne’s axe has fallen, and four Whitehall departments have agreed to make budget cuts of eight per cent a year over the next four years. The Department for Transport, the Department for Local Government, the Environment Agency and the Treasury have all agreed deals ahead of the spending review on 25 November, provisionally cutting [...]
Shippers call for EU to stop interfering with global regulations and to focus on the single market November 9, 2015 The UK’s £10bn shipping industry has called the push toward closer union in Europe “distracting” and told the European Commission (EC) to stop interfering with the sector’s globally produced regulations. The UK Chamber of Shipping (CS) said that rules devised on a global scale helped to create a level playing field among competing firms. It [...]
CBI conference: Prime Minister David Cameron heckled by anti-European Union protesters during speech to business leaders November 9, 2015 Anti-European Union protesters interrupted Prime Minister David Cameron's speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference in London this morning, holding a banner and chanting "CBI, voice of Brussels". "If you wait a second you can ask me a question rather than interrupting what is a very good conference," Cameron told the hecklers, adding, "Come on [...]
Brexit referendum: Mayor of London Boris Johnson says without a deal the UK will leave the EU November 9, 2015 Mayor of London Boris Johnson has warned that if the United Kingdom doesn't get a deal on treaty change it would vote to leave the European Union. Writing in the Telegraph, Johnson said Prime Minister David Cameron is right to caution that he is prepared to support Britain leaving the European Union unless other European leaders [...]
EU referendum: Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny warns Brexit poses a “major strategic risk” November 9, 2015 The head of Ireland's government will issue a stark warning over Brexit this morning, saying that Britain leaving the European Union is an outcome that Ireland "does not wish to see materialise at all". Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) annual conference in London, Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny will say that Ireland "regards the prospect of the [...]
Myanmar elections 2015: Aung San Suu Kyi’s party wins first 15 of 16 seats declared November 9, 2015 Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has won 15 of the first 16 seats declared in the country's first free elections in decades, local media is reporting. The National League for Democracy is thought to be on course for a landslide victory, with all of the first 12 seats being declared a victory for the challenger party. NLD [...]
Chancellor George Osborne will wield the axe in Whitehall and make massive cuts in four departments November 9, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne will today pre-empt his upcoming comprehensive spending review (CSR) by revealing massive cuts to four government departments. The department for transport, department for local government and communities, the department for environment, food and rural affairs and the Treasury will all come under the axe, the chancellor will announce, saying he has agreed “provisional settlements” with the [...]