Interactive: Why Britain should think before freezing its defence budget March 6, 2015 As the engines of Russian bombers rumble above the English channel, the government could be about to freeze defence spending. Sources inside the treasury told The Times the move, said to be possible after the election, has stirred the Tory ranks and spawned whispers of a rebellion. The UK currently spends 2.07 per cent of [...]
Economic policy must not be made by sound-bite, says Rake March 5, 2015 ECONOMIC policy must not be made by sound-bite, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) president, Sir Mike Rake, warned UK politicians last night. Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Trade and Industry Dinner at the Mansion House, Rake said: “As the UK economic situation has improved, the political risks have increased.” Sounding a warning about the fears [...]
2015 General Election TV debates in doubt as scrapping over line-ups and schedules rumbles on March 5, 2015 A serious of election television debates between party leaders is looking increasingly unlikely, as the impasse between political parties and broadcasters deepens. On Wednesday, David Cameron made it clear that he didn’t want a one-on-one debate with Ed Miliband, just a week before the election. Later that evening, Downing Street head of communications Craig Oliver [...]
General Election 2015: Voters predict Conservative win as Labour support wanes March 5, 2015 The last raft of opinion polls have made happy reading for the Conservative Party. After weeks of level pegging, several polls have given the Tories a slight lead over Labour. The website electionforecast at its current prediction, forecasts a hung Parliament with the Conservatives as the largest party. However, with two months to go and [...]
General election 2015 interactive: Nigel Farage’s Ukip fighting fit on social media March 5, 2015 The election will be fought on the economy, on the NHS and maybe even on the beaches. But it will also be contested on social media, and it is here that Ukip is making a stand. Research from specialist marketing recruiter EMR has revealed what the makeup of the commons would look like if it [...]
Boris Johnson top choice for Tory leader among Londoners if Cameron fails to win General Election March 5, 2015 Boris Johnson is Londoners top pick for the next Tory leader if David Cameron fails to secure victory in May and the country is forced to go to the polls for a second time. The Tory Mayor enjoyed the support of 40 per cent of those who expressed a view. David Cameron had the support [...]
David Cameron agrees to one TV debate featuring seven party leaders March 4, 2015 David Cameron has put his cards on the table and agreed to just one TV debate that would feature seven party leaders and last 90-minutes. Downing street said this was its final offer after the "chaos" of the negotiating process. Today at Prime Minister's Questions Labour leader Ed Miliband challenged the Prime Minister to take [...]
Lord Aschcroft poll of marginal constituencies shows Labour and Tories neck and neck March 4, 2015 Lord Ashcroft has released his latest round of polls of marginal constituencies that could signal the winner of this year's general election. In total, Lord Ashcroft polled four Conservative-Labour marginals and eight Scottish seats. In two of the marginals, Labour was ahead by one point. In the Colne Valley the Tories were up by one [...]
Plebgate: Andrew Mitchell to pay out £80k in libel damages to police officer March 4, 2015 MP and former chief whip Andrew Mitchell will pay £80,000 in damages to the police officer at the centre of the "plebgate" row. PC Toby Rowland has accepted the libel damages to settle the legal case after the high court ruled last year that Mitchell had called Rowland a pleb while cycling past the officer [...]
Balls joins Ford exec in warning against Brexit March 3, 2015 SHADOW chancellor Ed Balls last night described the prospect of Britain leaving the EU as the greatest threat to London – echoing warnings from some business leaders. “The whole of Britain benefits from London’s growth and dynamism,” Balls told London First, a business group in the capital. “We should have no truck with the argument [...]