General Election 2015: A Labour government could turn to Michael Heseltine, says Chuka Umunna April 24, 2015 Labour could turn to the business expertise of former Conservative deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine if it wins the election. Speaking to the Guardian, the shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, said Heseltine was a “visionary” whose advice could benefit Labour’s plans for regional devolution. Labour is expecting to set aside £30bn for devolution if it comes [...]
General Election 2015: Undecided voters may go for David Cameron thanks to Tory strength on the economy April 24, 2015 The economy is the top issue for undecided voters, according to a new ComRes poll. With the Tories and Labour running neck and neck in the polls and much of the electorate still not sure who they're going to vote for, the election could be determined on just a few thousand undecided voters in a [...]
David Cameron says English votes for English laws will go ahead in first 100 days of Tory government April 24, 2015 David Cameron and William Hague have outlined their plans for English Votes for English laws (EVEL) which include an England-specific rate of income tax. The proposals are part of the Conservative Party's first ever English manifesto. The Tory campaign has zoned in on the possibility of a SNP-Labour deal as a key issue that could sway [...]
Lord Digby Jones slams Ed Miliband for “sneering” at wealth creators and accuses Labour of being “ignorant” about high taxes April 24, 2015 A former minister in Gordon Brown's government has blasted Ed Miliband's policies of higher taxes on the wealthy market interventionism. Lord Digby Jones, a former head of the CBI and minister for trade and investment, penned an open letter to the Labour leader in The Telegraph, saying Miliband needed to stop "sneering" at wealth creators and the profit [...]
Tory General Election pledge: English votes for English laws within a year April 23, 2015 English votes for English laws would come into effect within the first year of a Conservative government, it will be announced today. Speaking alongside outgoing leader of the House of Commons William Hague, Prime Minister David Cameron will vow to bring proposals of English votes for English laws before parliament within the first 100 days [...]
General Election 2015: BBA CEO Anthony Browne wants stability in the banking sector and a European single market April 23, 2015 ELECTION COUNTDOWN: 13 DAYS TO GO Every day until the final week of the election campaign, we ask a business leader to say what policies would entice them to vote for a particular party. ANTHONY BROWNE: CEO, BRITISH BANKERS ASSOCIATION ■ Growth was a priority. The financial crisis made politicians focus on [...]
2015 General Election promises under the microscope: IFS tears into the top party’s manifestos April 23, 2015 The political parties’ manifestos were given a thorough going-over by independent think tank, the Institute for Fiscal studies yesterday. The researchers who conducted the analysis on the proposals from the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (SNP) indicated that there are large and genuine differences between their offerings. However, all the [...]
David Cameron urges City workers: Labour-SNP coalition would be toxic for Britain – don’t put UK’s economic recovery at risk April 23, 2015 We have less than two weeks to save our economy. Stark, but true. At this election, the difference in economic policy on offer is more marked than it has been for a generation. The Conservative offer is clear: a continuation of the long-term economic plan that is turning our country around. Last year we were [...]
General Election 2015: Austerity “would last longer under SNP” – IFS April 23, 2015 Austerity would last longer if the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) spending plans were followed, the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) revealed this morning. At points, their proposed squeeze on public spending would also be tighter than others. In an extensive pre-election document comparing the fiscal plans of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal [...]
Voters back up Nigel Farage and say media are most biased against Ukip April 23, 2015 A plurality of British voters think the media is much more likely to be biased against Ukip than any other major political party. The media has often made great play of gaffes and inappropriate remarks made by Ukip politicians and members. However, Ukip consistently points out that the media rarely reports similar offences committed by [...]