Eurosceptic group Business for Britain research shows the European Union spends over £500m a year promoting itself August 11, 2015 The European Union spent €664m (£536m) directly on publicity and communication in 2014, according to research from Eurosceptic group Business for Britain. The spending came through budgets “where their primary purpose was promoting the EU and the political priorities of the Union", a report by the organisation said. According to the research, the EU committed [...]
London mayoral elections: Tackling air quality is a priority, but we must go beyond the nanny-state approach in addressing pollution August 11, 2015 At their hustings last week the six Labour mayoral hopefuls called on Londoners to change their behaviour to tackle the scourge of air pollution. Dame Tessa Jowell wanted Londoners to give up driving in in their cars. She would pedestrianise the centre of London and only allow electric vehicles to come into London. David [...]
Landslide victory predicted for Labour leader candidate Jeremy Corbyn August 10, 2015 Jeremy Corbyn is set to ease to victory in the contest for Labour leadership, a new poll reveals. The hard-left Islington North MP can expect 53 per cent of the vote, 32 points ahead of his nearest rival. In second place was health secretary Andy Burnham, who was far behind at 21 per cent, according to [...]
Publicis boss Maurice Levy says Brexit would be a “bloody disaster” August 10, 2015 The boss of one of the world’s largest advertising firms has said that it would be a “bloody disaster” if the UK left the European Union. Maurice Levy, the chief exec and chairman of Publicis Group, accused Prime Minister David Cameron of opening Pandora’s box by seeking to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s relationship with [...]
Government cuts more red tape with invoice finance reform August 10, 2015 In its latest effort to cut red tape for small businesses, the government has vowed to lift restrictions on invoice finance. In a statement today, the business department said it will ban anti-invoice finance terms in contracts as soon as next year, helping more small businesses secure finance against money owed to them in invoices. [...]
Alastair Campbell says Jeremy Corbyn Labour leadership would be a “car crash” August 10, 2015 Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell is urging voters to support “ABC” – Anyone But Corbyn – in the upcoming Labour leadership contest. Despite saying after the General Election that he did not want to get involved in the race to replace Ed Miliband, Campbell wrote on his blog today that he was intervening to warn [...]
Housebuilder shares rise as government launches £36m fund to build first-time buyer homes on brownfield sites August 10, 2015 Shares in the UK's largest housebuilders rose today after the government unveiled two funds collectively worth £36m aimed at building homes for first-time buyers on brownfield sites. Communities secretary Greg Clark said a £26m fund will be used to acquire brownfield sites to provide land for starter homes, while another, £10m, fund is aimed at [...]
Chancellor George Osborne faces backbench revolt over cuts to tax credits August 10, 2015 The government is set to face its first Conservative backbench revolt over the Budget, after MPs voiced concerns about plans to reduce tax credits by up to £1,000 a year. The Times reported the chancellor will face “real anger and frustration” around the changes, which mean 3m families will lose on average £1,000 a year, [...]
Immigration minister James Brokenshire pledges to crackdown on “rogue employers” August 10, 2015 Ministers are to ramp up their actions against illegal immigration by targeting “rogue employers” who give illegal migrants jobs. The government is going to focus on employers in three sectors of the economy: construction, care and cleaning, immigration minister James Brokenshire told The Times. Suspected employers will be raided by enforcement teams as the government attempts [...]
Greek debt crisis: Greece hopes to conclude bailout talks by Tuesday, ahead of next repayment to European Central Bank August 9, 2015 Greece’s government is hoping to conclude bailout talks with its creditors by Tuesday, giving the debt-ridden country time to pass the deal ahead of its next repayment to the European Central Bank (ECB). Details of a plan that would make up to 86bn euros (£60.9bn) available to Greece are being negotiated with the International Monetary [...]