Xi Jinping: Britain has made “visionary” progress to strengthen ties with China October 18, 2015 China’s president Xi Jinping has called the UK’s ambitions to become China’s best partner in the West a “visionary and strategic choice”, as his state visit to the UK draws near. The visit, which officially begins on Tuesday, will be Xi’s first time in the UK in over two decades. It’s been described by officials [...]
EU referendum: It’s the UK’s young people who will be most affected by a Brexit, and that’s why the vote should be extended to 16 and 17-year-olds October 16, 2015 The government’s commitment to a referendum on our membership of the European Union has come to the fore again in the past fortnight with the launch of the “In” campaign supporting our continued membership, and a shoal of campaigns competing to leave “at any price”. For too long the debate has been one sided – portraits have continued [...]
Government to hold crisis summit on UK’s troubled steel industry following SSI Redcar closure October 16, 2015 Government ministers are holding a crisis summit on the UK's troubled steel industry today, in the wake of high-profile mill closures that have led to thousands of job losses. Ministers, along with steel companies, unions and trade bodies, are meeting in Rotherham to discuss how the industry can counter overcapacity, cheap imports from China and the [...]
EU referendum: A Brexit vote could spark a Scottish independence rerun, warns Nicola Sturgeon October 15, 2015 Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday warned Prime Minister David Cameron that a Brexit could spark another independence referendum north of the border. 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 you try to take [...]
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 [...]