Osborne’s “rhetoric on tax credits is just empty words” due to lack of analysis – Helen Goodman October 15, 2015 The government's controversial decision to cut tax credits has come under renewed fire after it emerged that its analysis of the distributional effects of measures in the July Budget, including changes to tax credits and the national living wage, has been largely absent. In July the Treasury select committee was surprised not to receive the distributional [...]
SNP conference 2015: Nicola Sturgeon says Brexit could lead to another independence referendum October 15, 2015 Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon doubled down today on her warning to Prime Minister David Cameron that Britain leaving the European Union could spark another Scottish independence referendum. Speaking at the SNP conference in Aberdeen, Sturgeon said taking Scotland out of the EU will result in a surge of demand for yet another in/out vote. "If [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron says he’ll spell out his demands in November October 15, 2015 After months of speculation, Prime Minister David Cameron has finally set a date for spelling out his demands to the European Union – and it's only weeks away. Cameron told reporters in Brussels today that the pace of renegotiation efforts between Britain and the EU would "quicken" and that he would set out "four vital areas where [...]
Deloitte: easy fixes among public sector workers could save Treasury £72m October 15, 2015 Marginal improvements in productivity among public sector workers could deliver savings of £72m, according to a new report out today from Deloitte and the think tank Reform. The report finds that by freeing up just one hour of public sector workers’ time over the course of an entire year, the Treasury could gain £57.7m in [...]
Parliament votes to pass the fiscal charter as Labour MPs abstain and defy shadow chancellor John McDonnell October 14, 2015 The government's fiscal charter has passed with 320 votes in favour and 258 votes against, a majority of 62. Some 21 Labour MPs defied shadow chancellor John McDonnell and leader Jeremy Corbyn by abstaining. On Monday McDonnell sparked outrage among Labour MPs when he announced his party would reject the government's fiscal charter less than one [...]
EU referendum: Lloyds Banking Group chairman says UK-EU relationship is unsustainable and Brexit wouldn’t hurt the economy October 14, 2015 Lloyds Banking Group chairman Lord Blackwell has called the UK-EU relationship “increasingly unsustainable”. Speaking in the House of Lords yesterday, the Conservative Peer advocated for “significant change in the current treaty arrangements”. “The current position of the UK, bound by the same treaties and institutions, may become increasingly unsustainable,” he told peers. “I don’t agree [...]
European Commission President Jean Claude-Juncker says UK does not need EU but EU needs UK October 14, 2015 The United Kingdom does not need the European Union, but the EU does need the UK, according to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Speaking to the European parliament about the EU migrant crisis and UK membership, Juncker said: "We want a fair deal with Britain, and we are working in that direction. I cannot give [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will bring up China’s human rights record at Buckingham Palace state dinner October 14, 2015 Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn is planning to voice concerns over China's human rights record at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace next week. The Labour leader will be "using the opportunity" of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the UK to raise the issue, and will attempt to set up a private meeting, a [...]
PMQs today: Prime Minister David Cameron joins chancellor George Osborne in asking Labour MPs to back government’s fiscal charter October 14, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron used today's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) to attack the Labour party over its U-turn on the government's so-called fiscal charter. Cameron confronted Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at least four times about the party's last-minute switch to opposing the charter, which will require future governments to maintain a surplus – but Corbyn refused to reply directly to Prime [...]
Zac Goldsmith: 2016 London mayoral candidate hits back at Labour over business record October 14, 2015 Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith has hit back at Labour attacks on his business record, defending his positions on Heathrow expansion, the European Union and the role of business in the capital. The Richmond Park MP told City A.M. in an interview yesterday: “I don't think we've ever had a Labour party that is more [...]