Our unelected House of Lords is in dire need of a clear-out August 14, 2015 Another month, another political controversy. In the Lords however – unlike our elected Commons – there’s no way for the public to hold Peers to account at the ballot box. Instead, you have to hope that those who have brought our legislature into disrepute will forfeit their £300 a day expenses, accept their mistakes and [...]
Migrant Advisory Committee warns government on changes to salary thresholds for skilled migrants August 13, 2015 The government should think twice before raising the minimum salary requirements for skilled migrant workers, an expert committee said today. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which advises the government on migration issues, published its "early advice" today on reforming so-called "Tier 2" visas for skilled workers. Sir David Metcalf, who chairs the committee, [...]
EU referendum: Almost half of Britons think EU integration has “gone too far” August 13, 2015 Almost half (well, 47 per cent) of Britons think integration between EU countries has "gone too far" and that powers of individual EU countries must be repatriated, a poll has suggested. The survey, by pollster Opinium, found 42 per cent of Dutch adults also thought powers should be returned to individual countries. Meanwhile, 24 per [...]
Tony Blair to Labour supporters: Love me or hate me, don’t vote Jeremy Corbyn August 13, 2015 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has ramped up his efforts to stop the Labour party from electing far-left candidate Jeremy Corbyn as its next leader. Writing in the Guardian today, Blair said: “The party is walking eyes shut, arms outstretched over the cliff’s edge to the jagged rocks below.” He added: “It doesn’t matter whether [...]
Mark Reckless is Ukip’s new economics spokesperson August 12, 2015 Conservative defector and Ukip MP Mark Reckless is back on the scene – this time as a mouthpiece for Ukip's economic policies. Reckless, who lost his seat in Rochester and Strood to the Tories in the General Election, replaces MEP Patrick O'Flynn as economics spokesperson. O'Flynn resigned from the post in May. At the time, [...]
Donald Trump goes up in the Republican Presidential nomination polls after each controversial comment August 12, 2015 Multi-billionaire businessman Donald Trump continues to lead the Republican pack, despite Fox News turning the heat on him in the Republican debate, and after remarks that have alienated him from sections of the Republican party. The most recent poll of the Republican field in Iowa by Suffolk University shows Trump leading the field, with 19 [...]
Labour leadership contest: City leader Martin Clarke says Jeremy Corbyn would be “disastrous” August 11, 2015 A prominent City dealmaker and Labour party supporter has said that a victory for leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn would do “irreparable damage.” Martin Clarke, chief financial officer of roadside recovery giant AA and a former executive at the private equity firm Permira, told City A.M. in an interview yesterday that electing Corbyn would sever Labour’s [...]
Punters put even more money on Jeremy Corbyn victory in Labour leadership contest August 11, 2015 Support for Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn has flooded the betting markets this morning, with Britain’s biggest bookies now saying the far-left candidate is on course to make gambling history. Ladbrokes, William Hill, Betway and Betfair have all put Corbyn in pole position off the back of a new opinion poll strongly favouring the Islington [...]
Eurosceptic group Business for Britain research shows the European Union spends over £500m a year promoting itself August 11, 2015 The European Union spent €664m (£536m) directly on publicity and communication in 2014, according to research from Eurosceptic group Business for Britain. The spending came through budgets “where their primary purpose was promoting the EU and the political priorities of the Union", a report by the organisation said. According to the research, the EU committed [...]
London mayoral elections: Tackling air quality is a priority, but we must go beyond the nanny-state approach in addressing pollution August 11, 2015 At their hustings last week the six Labour mayoral hopefuls called on Londoners to change their behaviour to tackle the scourge of air pollution. Dame Tessa Jowell wanted Londoners to give up driving in in their cars. She would pedestrianise the centre of London and only allow electric vehicles to come into London. David [...]