Number 10 announces a new review led by Lord Strathclyde into the House of Lords October 27, 2015 The government has announced new details of a review into the role of the House of Lords, following peers' votes last night to delay the implementation of tax credit cuts. A Number 10 spokesperson said tonight that the government is "setting up a review to examine how to protect the ability of elected governments to secure their [...]
Forget the data roaming charge overseas: It’s just been banned across the EU October 27, 2015 Good news for tourists and business travellers alike: Those pesky roaming charges are about to become history (at least within the European Union). The European Parliament today voted to ban data roaming charges across all EU countries, starting 15 June 2017. Roaming charges are what mobile operators charge you to use mobile internet overseas. You [...]
Chancellor George Osborne says he will continue with reforms to tax credits while “lessening the impact on families” October 27, 2015 After the government was slammed by the House of Lords twice last night, chancellor George Osborne has said he will "lessen" the impact of tax credits on families. Osborne promised "transitional help" for those affected, but pledged that the government would continue with reforms that will save billions for the Treasury in welfare payments. Read [...]
Preaching to the choir? Jeremy Corbyn brands Conservatives “poverty deniers” at TUC conference October 27, 2015 Union leaders are singing the praises of newly-elected Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn after he used one of his first public appearances as party leader to call the Conservatives “poverty deniers” who spend “billions” cutting taxes for the rich. Corbyn – who has avoided media interviews and has yet to speak in the House of [...]
MPs reject a tampon tax bill calling for a reduction in the rate of VAT on women’s sanitary products October 26, 2015 Eurosceptic Tory MPs joined forces with Labour and the SNP in a surprising alliance last night to try to force the government to cut taxes on women’s sanitary products. The coalition failed with MPs rejecting The Finance Bill amendment, which would have forced a negotiation with the EU to reduce VAT rate, by 305 to 287 votes. HM Revenue and Customs [...]
Tax credit changes: House of Lords slams government by voting twice to delay tax credit cuts October 26, 2015 In a move that Downing Street has accused of breaking convention, the House of Lords has twice voted to delay the implementation of the government's controversial tax credit cuts, backing amendments from both Labour peer Baroness Hollis and crossbench peer Baroness Meacher. Baroness Hollis's amendment, which passed 289 to 272, required a three-year "transitional period" with "full protection" for [...]
Tax credit changes: the four ways the House of Lords could vote today October 26, 2015 The government's plans to cut tax credits will face their fiercest opposition yet today as peers consider killing the reforms. The House of Lords is set to debate and vote on four amendments this afternoon to the proposed cuts to in-work benefits, including a “fatal motion” which could stop the cuts altogether but trigger a [...]
Tax credit cuts poll: Over half of Londoners want chancellor George Osborne to make changes, but Britons accept it as necessary October 26, 2015 Two polls on chancellor George Osborne's controversial decision to cut tax credits have found that six in 10 Londoners want chancellor George Osborne to amend the government's controversial decision to cut tax credits, but many Britons accept it is necessary. A London based poll, released by campaigning group 38 Degrees and conducted by YouGov, shows 58 per cent of [...]
Seven points to ponder from Jeremy Corbyn’s alternative to the northern powerhouse October 26, 2015 Jeremy Corbyn has been under pressure from more moderate Labour politicians for his economic plans, but what does he want to achieve in his desire to see the North returned to a "great engine of prosperity" and how would he do it? Here are the seven things to take from Corbyn’s “Northern Future” proposals. The [...]
Government to face direct legal challenge over the ministerial code October 26, 2015 A direct legal challenge is to be made against the government and Prime Minister David Cameron over changes to the ministerial code. On Thursday the government changed the wording of the ministerial code, which now omits a previous reference to ministers being bound by international law. The code sets out the standard of conduct expected of government [...]