Queen’s Speech 2015: SNP MPs wear the little white rose of Scotland May 27, 2015 All of the Scottish National Party's MPs wore white roses in Parliament today for the State Opening and Queen's Speech. Its parliamentary representatives wore the "little white rose of Scotland", the party said, "as SNP MPs and MSPs do at all Westminster and Holyrood parliament openings". The party said it was in homage to the [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: Business community and others react to announcements on immigration, housing, employment, tax, Scotland and English devolution May 27, 2015 The Queen's Speech – the first full-Tory state opening of Parliament since 1996 – has come and gone. But what is the business community making of it all? Here are the best reactions so far. On the tax lock: Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of tax at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants says: “This is a [...]
Labour leadership race: Andy Burnham gets northern support while London backs Liz Kendall May 27, 2015 The Labour leadership race is revealing geographical splits in the party as northern MPs back Andy Burnham – while London supports the female candidates. Some 56 per cent of Labour's northern MPs who have declared support for a candidate have backed Burnham. His northern support stands in contrast to Liz Kendall, who enjoys the backing [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: Here’s the full transcript May 27, 2015 My Lords and members of the House of Commons. My government will legislate in the interests of everyone in our country. It will adopt a one nation approach, helping working people get on, supporting aspiration, giving new opportunities to the most disadvantaged and bringing different parts of our country together. My government will [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: EU and tax cuts due to dominate while human rights plans delayed May 27, 2015 The EU referendum and tax cuts are expected to feature prominently in today's Queen's Speech. In the first all-Tory Queen's Speech since 1996, the government will set out its legislative plans at 11:30 BST. Prime Minister David Cameron has previously said the speech would set out a "clear vision for what our country can be". [...]
Dear Queen, here’s everything business wants you to say in your speech May 26, 2015 On Wednesday the Queen will give her Speech from the Throne, setting out the policy plan for the Conservative government. Big topics to be covered include the EU referendum, which Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to hold within the next two years, housing, immigration, and devolution for cities outside London. Many of the [...]
Moody’s doubts government’s ability to meet its deficit targets May 26, 2015 Credit ratings agency Moody's has questioned the speed by which the new government will be able to shrink its gnawing budget deficit. "We expect the budget deficit to decline continuously over the coming years, a credit positive," Moody's said. "However, we also believe that the pace of adjustment might be somewhat slower than the government [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: What is it, why is it happening and what will be announced? May 26, 2015 What is the Queen's Speech? The Queen's Speech takes place at the beginning of every new parliamentary session when the government's legislative plans are laid out. The Queen reveals a number of proposed bills for new laws and outlines policies in a speech drawn up by the government. It's an age-old tradition that dates back [...]
Nicola Sturgeon on Brexit: In/out EU referendum must have “double majority” rule May 26, 2015 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has slammed Tory austerity measures and reaffirmed her party's commitment to staying in the EU in her first major economic speech since the election. Speaking to business leaders at Heart of Midlothian's Tynecastle Stadium, Sturgeon said the SNP would propose a "double majority" on the vote, in which each of the [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: Everything we know so far including the EU referendum, devolution, Human Rights Act, income tax, housing and Scotland May 26, 2015 The Queen's Speech will unveil the Conservative government's policy agenda on Wednesday and having shed its coalition partner at the General Election, some pretty major shifts in policy are expected. Here are some of the top pledges expected to feature in the state opening of parliament tomorrow. EU referendum bill Having committed to holding an [...]