General Election 2015: WPP founder Sir Martin Sorrell wants a UK version of the Chinese Five Year Plan and an acknowledgement that immigration benefits the economy May 5, 2015 ELECTION COUNTDOWN: 1 DAY TO GO We have been asking a business leader each day to say what policies would entice them to vote for a particular party. SIR MARTIN SORRELL: FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF WPP 1. Articulate a practical overall economic plan covering, among other things, education, infrastructure investment (hard [...]
General Election 2015: Aberdeen Asset Management boss Martin Gilbert calls for speedy coalition talks May 5, 2015 Aberdeen Asset Management boss Martin Gilbert said party leaders should move fast to form a government if tomorrow’s General Election results in a hung parliament. “The longer it takes, the worse it’s going to be,” Gilbert said yesterday. “Markets don’t like uncertainty.” The FTSE has brushed off fears of political instability in recent weeks with [...]
Nick Clegg warns of second election if Lib Dems not in government May 5, 2015 Nick Clegg has warned that the country could be forced to hold a second election before Christmas, if his party is not in government as part of a coalition. The Liberal Democrat leader and deputy prime minister said that “everybody knows that no one will win this election.” Clegg said: “The last thing Britain needs [...]
HSBC boss Stuart Gulliver warns George Osborne or Ed Balls tax hikes could drive bank from UK May 5, 2015 HSBC’S chief executive warned yesterday that the Conservative and Labour parties both risk driving the bank out of the country with tax hikes. The giant lender is looking at moving its headquarters out of the UK after more than 20 years in London, as its global business may be harmed by regulation and taxes. George [...]
Mike Huckabee joins 2016 US presidential race for White House May 5, 2015 Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee became the latest US politician to announce he is running for president yesterday. In doing so, Huckabee joined an ever-growing list of Republicans seeking their party’s nomination in the 2016 presidential contest. Senators Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio have all thrown their hats into the ring, as have [...]
London’s General Election: On the trail with Labour’s business star Chuka Umunna May 5, 2015 Our third seat profile sees Charlotte Henry talk to shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna in his Streatham seat. Find the first profile in our series here: Battle for Poplar and Limehouse at the edge of the City Find the second profile here: Lib Dem Bermondsey battler Simon Hughes still going strong Under Ed Miliband’s leadership, Labour’s [...]
Nick Clegg suggests no deal with the Tories if Brexit is government policy May 5, 2015 Nick Clegg has suggested that the Lib Dems would not enter a coalition if British withdrawal from the EU were government policy. Speaking on the campaign trail the Lib Dem leader said: “I would never, of course, accept being part of a government that advocated withdrawal from the European Union”. He reiterated the Lib Dem [...]
Ukip candidate for North East Hampshire, Robert Blay, suspended after threatening to shoot Tory opponent in racist diatribe May 5, 2015 The Ukip parliamentary candidate for North East Hampshire Robert Blay has been suspended with immediate effect. In a video taken at a public meeting by the Daily Mirror, Blay privately lambasted his Tory opponent Ranil Jayawardena with a string of racist abuse. Blay then threatened to shoot the Tory candidate in the head. "I think [...]
Ed Miliband: Labour won’t borrow more than the Tories and non-doms are a red line May 5, 2015 Ed Miliband has said he will not borrow more than the Conservatives, rejecting analysis from the Independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Miliband claims a government led by him would spend more than the Tories but wouldn't borrow more. Speaking to the BBC's James Landale, the Labour leader said he didn't accept the IFS's verdict [...]
General Election 2015: Conservative-Labour gap narrows as Tory lead falls four points, Ashcroft polling finds May 5, 2015 The gap between the Conservatives and Labour has narrowed as the Tories' lead fell four points according to the latest national polling from Lord Ashcroft. The Tory lead fell to 32 per cent, placing the party now just two points ahead of Labour, which remained on 30 per cent just days away from the General [...]