Lord Chris Rennard steps down from Liberal Democrat federal executive after leader Tim Farron urges him not to take the position November 17, 2015 Lord Chris Rennard has stepped down from the Liberal Democrat's executive following a call from party leader Tim Farron for him not to take up the position due to concerns over sexual harassment claims. Over 200 members of the Lib Dems had called for a special conference to discuss Rennard's appointment, who had been accused of [...]
Boris Johnson has just discovered Crossrail 2 route will go under his house – in an automated letter he sent to himself November 17, 2015 London Mayor Boris Johnson has just found out that the proposed route for Crossrail 2 will go 20 metres under his £3m Islington town house – discovering the news in an automated letter he sent out himself. Johnson, who in his mayoral role chairs Transport for London, said he was "very apprehensive" about the news – [...]
Chancellor George Osborne agrees budget cuts with a further seven government departments ahead of the spending review November 17, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne has come to an agreement with seven more governmental departments on cutting the amount each spends. A series of cabinet ministers, including Iain Duncan Smith, have made a deal with Osborne, under which day-to-day spending will be cut by an average of 21 per cent by 2019-20, which is on average six per cent [...]
Paris attacks and the economic impact of terrorism: As France mourns the cost of terror keeps climbing November 17, 2015 The economic impact of terrorism across the globe reached $52.9bn (£34.8bn) in 2014, rocketing 60 per cent on the previous year and increasing ten-fold since the start of the century, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index. The figure is the highest since at least 2001, when it was calculated at $51.5bn following the 9/11 [...]
Andrew Tyrie tells regulators “not give in to special pleading from banks” over post-crisis regulations November 16, 2015 An influential Conservative MP has slammed British banks over their attitude toward reform, calling on regulators to “not give in to special pleading from banks in implementing the reforms introduced as a result of the financial crisis”. In a speech tonight at City law firm Allen & Overy, Andrew Tyrie, who chairs the Treasury Select Committee, [...]
David Cameron speech on Paris attacks: PM delivers robust defence of UK’s counterterrorism strategy at Lord Mayor’s banquet November 16, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron launched a robust defence of the government’s counterterrorism strategies in a speech in the City last night, vowing that British “resolve” would defeat Islamist terrorism. Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s banquet at Guildhall, an annual white-tie formal dinner, Cameron said, “Britain, France and our allies around the world will never be [...]
Autumn Statement 2015 predictions: Accountants say George Osborne needs to spare UK Plc November 16, 2015 A leading industry group is making a wide-reaching appeal to chancellor George Osborne, calling for him to spare British businesses in next week’s Autumn Statement. The Institute for Chartered Accounts in England and Wales (ICAEW) said the chancellor should “not introduce anything that will impact businesses” in the fiscal update, saying measures introduced in the [...]
Paris attacks: France is at war and will intensify attacks in Syria with the EU, US and Russia, French President Francois Hollande tells parliament November 16, 2015 French President Francois Hollande has told the country's parliament that France "is at war", as he laid out his intentions to coordinate with the EU, US and Russia to raise their assault on the Islamic State (Daesh). In one of the most important speeches of his career he said "the need destroy Daesh concerns the whole international community" and [...]
Paris attacks: Jeremy Corbyn says French air strikes in Syria will “probably not” make a difference November 16, 2015 The renewed air strikes by France in Syria in the aftermath of Friday's tragic attacks in Paris will "probably not" make a difference, according to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. While condemning the "appalling" attacks, Corbyn said a political settlement must be reached in Syria in order to overcome the Islamic State, and that bombings will bring no [...]
Ukip MP Douglas Carswell hits out at CBI and says support for Out campaign is growing November 16, 2015 Former Tory backbencher Douglas Carswell was in a bullish mood when we met last Thursday, insisting that the Out campaign had enjoyed its best week so far. Carswell, now the UK Independence Party’s sole MP, believes that David Cameron’s “vacuous demands” over EU reform provided a boost to the eurosceptic side of the debate. “There’s nothing [...]