General Election 2015: Tories pin hopes on right-to-buy housing boost March 23, 2015 The Conservatives could extend right-to-buy rules to include housing association tenants as part of their upcoming manifesto. Housing is likely to be a key area of debate in the run-up to May’s crunch General Election. The right-to-buy policy was first brought in by Margaret Thatcher. It gave council tenants the right to buy their council [...]
It’s the economy, stupid… At least for Londoners on Facebook March 23, 2015 The economy was the most talked about election topic in London over the first 10 weeks of 2015, new data from tech giant Facebook has revealed. Overall though it was health that dominated general election conversations across the country. The NHS was the most talked about election-related topic in 377 of 650 constituencies, including those [...]
This is how the SNP could get another referendum, scrap trident, and get a high-speed train to Edinburgh March 22, 2015 Just how costly for England could a Labour capitulation in Scotland be? Alex Salmond, the former leader of the Scottish National Party, has suggested that a pact between Labour and the SNP could end up costing Westminster a second referendum, its Trident nuclear programme, and more cash. Some polls suggest Labour could lose all its [...]
Deal reached on TV election debates as broadcasters release dates and format March 21, 2015 Britain's broadcasters have finally reached a deal with the political parties on General Election TV debates. After what seemed like a never-ending series of concessions and argument the number of debates and their format has been agreed. One seven-way election debate that will be held on 2 April, hosted by ITV and moderated by Julie [...]
General Election 2015: Housing soars as one of top issues for voters March 21, 2015 Housing is racing up the voters' list of concerns as we head toward the General Election, according to pollster Ipsos Mori. A few years ago, rapidly rising house prices and getting on the property ladder were mainly seen as issues concerning London and the South East. However, as prices rise across the country housing is [...]
Labour MP Emily Thornberry threatens Guido Fawkes with legal action after buy-to-let bust up March 21, 2015 Two old foes are at it again and providing the public with a good old social media bust up. Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who was sacked from her position as shadow attorney general after and ill-advised tweet, is going head-to-head with renowned political blogger Guido Fawkes. There is no love lost between the two sides [...]
As a new scandal emerges, here’s how many Ukip MEPs have served time in prison March 20, 2015 More Ukip MEPs have served time in prison than there are Tory MPs in Scotland. It may be an overly easy comparison as the Conservatives only have one MP north of the border, but the last 24 hours show Ukip's penchant for scandal doesn't seem to be dying down as we head towards polling day. [...]
Ukip suspends MEP and General Election candidate Janice Atkinson March 19, 2015 Ukip has suspended MEP and General Election candidate Janice Atkinson "following allegations of a serious financial nature", the party said on Thursday night. Atkinson is an MEP for the South East and was due to contest the Folkestone and Hythe seat in the election on 7 May. The decision is thought to be related to [...]
Inheritance tax seen as the most unfair by voters in all parties March 19, 2015 Inheritance tax remains one of the most unpopular taxes and is loathed across the party lines. A new YouGov poll for the Red Box found 59 per cent of voters thought inheritance tax was unfair – the highest figure for all the taxes polled. The BBC licence fee and fuel duty came joint second for [...]
Jeremy Browne: George Osborne has given up making the case for a smaller state March 19, 2015 George Osborne has given up making the case for a smaller state and conceded ground to the Labour party, according to a former government minister. Speaking at a post-Budget briefing hosted by the Taxpayers' Alliance and the Institute of Economic Affairs, ex-home and foreign office minister Jeremy Browne said Osborne was failing to make the [...]