Swiss voters reject plans to hoard gold, curb immigration and scrap rich expats’ tax benefits November 30, 2014 Swiss voters have rejected proposals requiring the central bank to to hoard huge amounts of gold, in a move that will help ensure the country's economic stability. It failed to secure the so-called "cantonal majority" — which is a yes vote from most of the country's "cantons" or states — needed to pass, according to [...]
Business “can’t ignore” public concern over immigration, warns IoD November 28, 2014 Businesses cannot ignore the UK's concerns about immigration, the Institute of Directors has warned, after David Cameron outlined new measures to curb immigration to the UK. Although business traditionally argues in favour of encouraging immigration, pointing out that immigrants can fill yawning skills gaps in the UK workforce, Simon Walker, director general of the Institute [...]
UK immigration: David Cameron to call for end to EU migrant tax credits November 27, 2014 David Cameron is to call for measures aimed at making the UK a less attractive option for European Union immigrants, in a move that will see more claims he is imitating UKIP. In a speech on Friday the Prime Minister will say that the UK’s continued membership of the EU is dependent on the UK [...]
Immigration figures: More workers came to the UK last year than ever before. Awkward… November 27, 2014 Net migration rose to 260,000 in the year to June, official statistics published today showed – that's an increase of 78,000, or 43 per cent, on the year before. And the number of immigrants coming to the UK for work rose to 247,000, the highest since records began. How's David Cameron going to explain that [...]
EU immigration in charts: Pope calls the European Union “elderly and haggard,” but how at risk are migrants? November 25, 2014 Pope Francis has castigated the EU, saying that the bloc has grown weary and is failing many of its poorest residents. He also called the European project elderly and haggard and criticised the treatment of migrants. The pope was speaking to around 700 MEPs in Strasbourg and said the Mediterranean was in danger of becoming [...]
Hardline Tories slam CBI over pro-Brussels stance November 24, 2014 The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) came under fire from Tory eurosceptics yesterday over its pro-European stance. In a speech hosted by eurosceptic group Business for Britain, former minister Owen Paterson said that the CBI did not represent small and medium-sized companies and acted instead for its own interests. The group has recently upped its [...]
EU referendum: Owen Paterson calls for Brexit after loss of Rochester and Strood to Ukip November 24, 2014 Ex-cabinet minister Owen Paterson has called for Britain to withdraw from the EU in a speech to business leaders. The Tory backbencher, who proved a controversial environment secretary, told the campaign group Business for Britain, which aims to get the UK a better deal with the EU, that a free trade agreement would be a [...]
Citi’s UK boss James Bardrick: The City won’t fall apart on a Brexit but Britain must do more to make EU work November 23, 2014 Britain’s increasingly fierce row over the EU can be highly polarised. Depending on who you listen to, the economy will either crumble and die outside Europe, or an exit will free the UK from the dead hand of Brussels and lead to a new golden era of trade and prosperity. Citi’s UK boss James [...]
Interactive: Theresa May says the Conservatives may miss their immigration targets, but how high is UK immigration? November 23, 2014 The home secretary Theresa May has all but admitted that the government will be unable to meet its target of limiting immigration to the tens of thousands in time for next year’s general election. What is more, David Cameron is expected to announce bans on benefits for UK migrants, despite the data showing immigrants are [...]
Mark Reckless splits with Nigel Farage on Ukip immigration policy after Rochester by-election win November 22, 2014 Barely 24 hours after being sworn in as Ukip's second elected MP Marke Reckless is as already criticising his party leader Nigel Farage. Speaking to the Times, Reckless said Ukip's immigration policy "changed on Wednesday, and I'm a bit sore about how I came out of that". Speaking on Tuesday at a hustings event during [...]