Russian airstrikes mainly hitting Syrian civilians, says defence secretary Michael Fallon October 3, 2015 UK defence secretary Michael Fallon has accused Russia of protecting Syria's Assad regime by targeting airstrikes at civilians. He told The Sun that very few strikes by the country, which began its launches there earlier this week, were hitting Islamic State (IS) militants. We're analysing where the strikes are going every morning. The vast [...]
Conservatives name Zac Goldsmith as candidate for London Mayoral Election 2016 October 2, 2015 The Conservatives have chosen their man for next year's London mayoral race: Zac Goldsmith, who was widely expected to win the online primary. In a statement this morning, the Conservative party said Goldsmith received 70 per cent of the online vote – way above runner-up Syed Kamall, who clinched 16 per cent. The decision will [...]
EU referendum: Two-thirds of Conservative MPs still undecided about Brexit – but Eurosceptics have the edge October 2, 2015 Almost two-thirds of Tory MPs are undecided about whether the UK should stay in the European Union – but up to one in five are likely to vote for Brexit, new research suggests. The research, published ahead of the Conservative party conference which starts on Sunday, found that opponents of membership “have a slight [...]
“What is Twitter?” Twitter has a 136-page manual to help politicians stay out of trouble October 1, 2015 Twitter has a 136-page handbook for politicians trying to stay out of trouble on social media. It’s tricky to maneuver the minefield that is social media. Emily Thornberry famously had to resign from the shadow cabinet last year after posting a photo on Twitter and immediately feeling the wrath of the crowd. The Islington MP [...]
Manufacturers warn new National Living Wage will increase costs and uncertainty October 1, 2015 The new National Living Wage (NLW) stands to give 2.5m British workers a pay rise, but half of British manufacturers are worried about the impact compulsory higher wages will have on their business. According to a new survey out today from the EEF, 45 per cent of manufacturers say they are concerned the NLW – set to go into [...]
Could Nicky Morgan be the next Conservative leader? Women and equalities minister says she is considering the top job when David Cameron steps down October 1, 2015 A woman should be in the running to become the next Conservative leader, education secretary Nicky Morgan has said, hinting that she may throw her own name into the hat for the top job. Morgan, who has risen quickly through the Tory ranks to sit on Cameron's front bench, said in an interview published today [...]
The Conservatives are launching their own trade union movement to win over “moderate” unionists October 1, 2015 The Conservatives are launching their own trade union movement, which will target workers unhappy with more “militant” leaders. It might sound like an oxymoron, but Harlow MP and the party's deputy chairman Rob Halfon said the Conservative Workers and Trade Union movement was designed for right-wing trade unionists. “There will be a voice [...]
EU referendum: Lord Lawson to head up Brexit group Conservatives for Britain, warning negotiations will yield “wafer thin” reforms October 1, 2015 The former chancellor Nigel Lawson is to head up Conservatives for Britain, the campaign group that will advocate Britain leaving the European Union, in the run up to the forthcoming referendum. Lord Lawson, who is famously Eurosceptic, said while he "applauds" David Cameron's attempts to negotiate reforms with the EU, he expected the government would [...]
Labour party conference 2015: Housing is the capital’s greatest challenge says London mayor candidate Sadiq Khan September 30, 2015 Labour's candidate for mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said next May’s election in the capital will be a “referendum on London’s housing crisis”. Addressing the party's conference delegates in Brighton, Khan said that housing was “the greatest challenge facing our city that now affects all Londoners, regardless of age or income” and vowed to [...]
Iran nuclear deal: Oil boss Ian Taylor “can’t see” sanctions being lifted till next year September 30, 2015 The Iran nuclear deal may have been reached two months ago, but economic sanctions against the Middle Eastern country are likely to remain in place until February or March next year, the boss of a multinational commodity trader has warned. At the Kazenergy forum in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan's capital, Vitol chief executive Ian [...]