You can only enjoy the UK’s most beautiful scenery if you earn more than £45,000 July 23, 2015 The most beautiful scenery in the UK is the preserve of families who earn more than £45,000 a year, according to a new report by think tank ResPublica. Read more: Tidworth is top town in Royal Mail list of UK’s most desirable postcodes By carrying out a poll of people living across Britain, they [...]
Nick Clegg could top up his MPs salary as agent claims he could charge $55,000 per after dinner speech in five European languages July 23, 2015 Nick Clegg, the former deputy Prime Minister, who used to earn £134,565 in government, could boost his MP's salary, as he has taken on an agent to manage his after dinner speaking. A spokesperson for Clegg, however, has said he did not authorise a website listing with a Washington-based agent, which claims to manage his [...]
MPs warn EU referendum could be unfair if ministers do not respect purdah rules July 22, 2015 MPs have warned the government that fairness in the European Union referendum could be in jeopardy because of attempts to relax rules designed to maintain official impartiality before the vote. David Cameron is hoping to renegotiate Britain’s membership with the EU before holding a referendum before the end of 2017, having said previously he'd rather [...]
George Osborne’s train named Northern Powerhouse breaks down three times in four months July 21, 2015 Is the Northern Powerhouse running out of steam already? Back in March chancellor George Osborne renamed a refurbished Class 319 electric train operated by Northern Rail, the 'Northern Powerhouse' – supposedly as a symbol of the transformation he is pushing for northern England with his multi-billion Northern Powerhouse project. But the train has broken down [...]
S&P gives Greece credit upgrade as default “no longer inevitable” after bailout deal and repayments to International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank July 21, 2015 Some good news at last for Greece after the past months’ Eurozone drama over the indebted country. Ratings agency Standard & Poor has upgraded its rating after default was avoided and a deal struck with its lenders to discuss conditions for a third bailout. S&P lifted Greece’s rating from CCC- to CCC+ and changed the [...]
Chancellor George Osborne defends bank surcharge at Treasury Select Committee grilling July 21, 2015 MPs of the Treasury Select Committee have grilled chancellor George Osborne, questioning him on a variety of issues, including the new bank tax. Led by Mark Garnier, the chancellor was asked to explain his justification for replacing the bank levy with a new surcharge. At the committee hearing, Garnier said: I welcome the change of [...]
Chancellor George Osborne told to “sit down man” by speaker John Bercow July 21, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne was already looking at a fairly stressful day, given he's being grilled by the Treasury Select Committee about the Budget and the spending review he announced earlier in the day. Read more: Chancellor George Osborne defends bank surcharge as he faces Treasury Select Committee What he probably didn't expect was to be [...]
Does size matter? English devolution may not lead to productivity gains, admits Treasury secretary Lord Jim O’Neill July 21, 2015 One of George Osborne's most senior Treasury colleagues has admitted that when it comes to solving the productivity puzzle, English devolution is little more than a punt. Commercial secretary to the Treasury Jim O'Neill, who heads up the City Growth Commission, has been tasked with replicating London's economic success in other cities throughout the UK. The group [...]
Welfare Bill passes as Labour leadership descends into crisis July 21, 2015 The House of Commons passed government plans for £12bn in welfare cuts last night, including tax credit cuts and welfare caps, while acting Labour leader Harriet Harman suffered a rebellion in the vote. Read more: The government's welfare bill is necessary – but more must be done After five hours of debate, Parliament backed [...]
French President François Hollande calls for a Eurozone parliament with a shared budget July 20, 2015 French President François Hollande wants to see a new parliament and a shared budget for Eurozone countries. Writing in Le Journal Du Dimanche, a French Sunday paper, Hollande said: Europe has let its institutions weaken and the 28 governments struggle to agree to move forward. [National] parliaments remain too far from decisions. And the peoples [...]