European Commission President Jean Claude-Juncker says UK does not need EU but EU needs UK October 14, 2015 The United Kingdom does not need the European Union, but the EU does need the UK, according to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. Speaking to the European parliament about the EU migrant crisis and UK membership, Juncker said: "We want a fair deal with Britain, and we are working in that direction. I cannot give [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will bring up China’s human rights record at Buckingham Palace state dinner October 14, 2015 Leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn is planning to voice concerns over China's human rights record at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace next week. The Labour leader will be "using the opportunity" of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the UK to raise the issue, and will attempt to set up a private meeting, a [...]
PMQs today: Prime Minister David Cameron joins chancellor George Osborne in asking Labour MPs to back government’s fiscal charter October 14, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron used today's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) to attack the Labour party over its U-turn on the government's so-called fiscal charter. Cameron confronted Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at least four times about the party's last-minute switch to opposing the charter, which will require future governments to maintain a surplus – but Corbyn refused to reply directly to Prime [...]
Zac Goldsmith: 2016 London mayoral candidate hits back at Labour over business record October 14, 2015 Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith has hit back at Labour attacks on his business record, defending his positions on Heathrow expansion, the European Union and the role of business in the capital. The Richmond Park MP told City A.M. in an interview yesterday: “I don't think we've ever had a Labour party that is more [...]
Home Affairs Committee to question Labour deputy leader Tom Watson over Leon Brittan allegations October 13, 2015 It's more bad news for those at the top of the Labour party as the influential Home Affairs Committee summons deputy leader Tom Watson to answer questions over the allegations he made against Leon Brittan. The Home Affairs Committee is to hold evidence on Wednesday 21 October around matters "currently in the public domain concerning [...]
Home secretary Theresa May says Britain’s immigration system must be balanced October 13, 2015 In the second reading of the Immigration Bill, Theresa May, the home secretary, told MPs that if the UK is to continue building an immigration system that is "fair to British citizens and people who come here legitimately and play by the rules we must ensure it is balanced, sustainable and that net migration can be managed". Read more: Businesses lash [...]
Here’s why the UK government was planning a £6m deal to modernise Saudi Arabian prisons in the first place October 13, 2015 Why the UK is pulling out of the deal Prime Minister David Cameron has backtracked on a deal worth £6m with the Saudi Arabian Prison Service due to the country's human rights record and criminal justice system. The cancellation is a victory for justice minister Michael Gove, who had lobbied the Prime Minister to cancel the [...]
Treasury and Financial Conduct Authority open consultation to improve financial advice October 13, 2015 The Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have opened a consultation into what can be done to improve people’s access to financial advice. Financial advisers and members of the public have until just before Christmas to tell the government and the regulator what they think should be done differently, they said yesterday. The FCA has faced criticism in [...]
Local planning authorities say they don’t have the resources to give planning permission on time October 13, 2015 Property firms have welcomed the government’s new housing and planning bill, as a survey out today exposes the inefficiencies of the current planning system. Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday that local authorities will have to produce local plans for new homes in their area within the next two years – or the national government [...]
Labour in crisis over tax U-turn: John McDonnell throws party into chaos at ‘car crash’ PLP meeting October 13, 2015 Firebrand shadow chancellor John McDonnell threw the Labour party into further turmoil last night with another screeching policy U-turn, announcing that his party would reject the government’s “fiscal charter” less than one month after saying he planned to support it. The move sparked outrage at a late-night meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), with McDonnell [...]