London Mayor 2016: Tessa Jowell focuses on housing for Labour bid May 19, 2015 Mayoral bids are like London buses. You wait for five years (or so it feels) and then two come along at once. Yesterday was the somewhat unorthodox launch of entrepreneur-turned-Tory candidate Ivan Massow, who opted for the “disarmingly honest” approach with his bid. Today it was the turn of Tessa Jowell, who stood [...]
Dan Jarvis throws weight behind Andy Burnham in Labour leadership contest May 19, 2015 Dan Jarvis, the Labour MP seen as a dark horse contender for the leadership contest, has thrown his weight behind shadow health secretary Andy Burnham. Jarvis, MP for Barnsley Central and a former British army officer, said the party had suffered a “tragedy” during the General Election, in which the Conservatives rose to a [...]
The glamorous world of Ivan Massow: Everything you need to know about London’s latest Mayoral candidate May 18, 2015 London's Mayoral election just got interesting, after entrepreneur Ivan Massow announced his intention to run as Conservative candidate in the vote, due to take place next year. There's no doubt London likes its leader to have bags of character (see: "Boris Johnson cheerfully dangling off a zipwire") – and Massow has character a-plenty. Here's everything [...]
David Cameron to appoint Joanna Shields as web safety minister May 17, 2015 Joanna Shields, the former Facebook executive turned Conservative peer, is set to be appointed as minister for internet security in the new government. Baroness Shields is formally listed on the government’s website as a minister in the department for culture, media and sport. However, she has not yet been given a full portfolio by Conservative [...]
New energy secretary Amber Rudd says Tory government will back fracking May 17, 2015 The Tory-led government will back fracking, according to the new energy and climate change secretary. Shale gas extraction will be allowed under national parks under the new government, Amber Rudd told The Sunday Times in an interview this weekend. Rudd added that while the government would allow firms to exploit oil and gas resources, such [...]
Unite leader Len McClusky tells Labour to be the voice of the workers May 17, 2015 As Labour struggles with its identity and future after a brutal general election defeat, it’s relationship with the trades unions is coming under increasing pressure. Len McClusky, the leader of union Unite, said in an interview with the BBC that Unite could reconsider its relationship with Labour if the party does not demonstrate its dedication [...]
Whitehall could face 100,000 more job losses as chancellor George Osborne looks to balance the books May 17, 2015 Whitehall could lose up to 100,000 jobs during the next parliament, as part of government targets to wipe £10bn from the civil service's budget by 2020. The £10bn target represents a third of the total needed to be cut from government spending, if the Conservatives are to eliminate the budget deficit by the end of [...]
Cranes, planes, urns and eight ice-hocky goals: Six times Vladimir Putin has played the all-Russian action hero May 17, 2015 Vladimir Putin is the king (or perhaps tsar) of the publicity stunt. Not content with annexing such macho activities as hunting on horseback, fishing, and archaeology Putin took to the ice to score a devastating eight goals in an ice hockey match involving ex-NHL legends. Putin was, of course, on the winning side in the [...]
Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham says party must adopt pro-business approach May 17, 2015 Andy Burnham, the bookies' favourite to be next Labour leader, claims he will bring a "pro-business approach" to the party if elected. The shadow health secretary appeared on The Andrew Marr Show this morning to set his stall out as the "unifying" leadership candidate and reveal the support of Rachel Reeves, the shadow work and [...]
Chancellor George Osborne to deliver new budget on 8 July May 16, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne has said he will deliver a new budget "for working people" on 8 July following the Conservative's shock electoral win last week. "On the 8th of July I am going to take the unusual step of having a second budget of the year – because I don’t want to wait to turn the promises [...]