MPs went on £70,000 iPad, iPhone and laptop spending spree before the General Election May 13, 2015 A cohort of 60 MPs spent £70,000 on iPads, iPhones and laptops as the election loomed. They may not have broken any rules, but the spree meant expenses watchdog Ipsa (the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) wrote to politicians to express concern. Read more: How MPs stepping down at this election could make millions on their [...]
Business backs Sajid Javid over strike law reforms May 12, 2015 Business groups have rallied behind government moves to make big changes to strike laws. New business minister Sajid Javid said he will use his first days in office to tighten rules surrounding strikes, saying that the Tory government’s Queen’s Speech would introduce thresholds for strike ballots. Under the proposals, strikes affecting public services would need [...]
David Cameron ushers in a new era at the Treasury as Damien Hinds and David Gauke join Greg Hands and Harriet Baldwin May 12, 2015 George Osborne is set to work with a new team at the Treasury following this week’s Cabinet reshuffle. Prime Minister David Cameron announced one new Treasury minister and the reappointment of another yesterday, the latest in a slew of postings he has doled out to loyal Conservatives following last week’s General Election. Read [...]
George Osborne starts his EU reform push with ministers in Brussels May 12, 2015 Britain’s EU renegotiation process is officially underway, as chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne made his first post-General Election trip to Brussels yesterday. Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU finance ministers, Osborne said he went to Brussels “with a very clear mandate to improve Britain’s relationship with the rest of the European Union, and to [...]
EU referendum: German finance minister says Europe won’t be rushed on UK’s demands May 12, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has only just formed his new all-tory new cabinet, but already he's trying to get the ball rolling on Europe. In fact, earlier today it was reported that he wants to bring the referendum on EU membership forward to next year. First of all, he wants to try and get a [...]
How coalitions dominate Europe: David Cameron’s majority makes UK one of only three single party governments May 12, 2015 The UK may have what David Cameron would describe as a “strong and stable government”, led by one majority party, but the rest of the EU looks quite different. Of the 28 countries in the EU, only the UK, Malta, and Spain have single parties in power, with the others being led by coalitions. Some [...]
David Cameron might bring the EU referendum forward to next year May 12, 2015 David Cameron could bring the referendum on EU membership forward to next year – a year earlier than was originally promised. The Prime Minister is drawing up the plans in order to avoid coinciding with the German and French elections in 2017, which could end up creating a crash. One source told The Guardian [...]
Who will be the next Labour leader? Chuka Ummuna launches his leadership bid May 12, 2015 Chuka Umunna is in the running to become the next leader of the Labour party, confirming his widely suspected intention in a video posted on Facebook. The shadow business secretary and MP for Streatham has been widely tipped for the role. He made a number of media appearances in the immediate wake of the election [...]
Sajid Javid’s busy first day as business secretary – here’s what he said on the BBC, strikes and the EU May 12, 2015 Not even 24 hours into his first day as business secretary in David Cameron's all-Tory cabinet, and Sajid Javid is on the front foot with a media blitz having appeared on three different morning TV and radio shows. Notably, the government's business secretary chose the BBC (appearing on BBC Breakfast, Radio 5 Live and Radio [...]
David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle heralds a new dawn for business May 11, 2015 Sajid Javid gets promotion to top job as business secretary Greg Hands becomes second-in-command at Treasury Sterling continues its climb since the shock election result Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled his first all-Tory government yesterday, with a slew of business-related and economic positions being handed to new faces. Former [...]