General Election 2015 cabinet reshuffle: Sajid Javid – three things you need to know about the new business secretary in David Cameron’s cabinet May 11, 2015 David Cameron has lined up Sajid Javid as his new secretary of state for business in his first all-Conservative government. 1. In government Javid has had a meteoric rise in politics, having gone from parliamentary candidate to secretary of state in less than five years. Javid was culture secretary in the last government, a role he [...]
General Election 2015: George Galloway starts legal action after losing Bradford West constituency to Labour’s Naz Shah by over 11,000 votes May 11, 2015 George Galloway has announced he will be starting legal proceedings in an attempt to have his 11,000-vote defeat in the General Election overturned. Galloway won the Bradford West seat for the Respect Party in a by-election in 2012, but suffered a 29.7 per cent reverse after last week's voting, losing to Labour’s Naz Shah by 19,977 [...]
Tory MPs demand end to banker bashing: Bank levy debate hots up after historic Conservative election victory May 11, 2015 Conservative MPs and senior City figures want the new government to rein back punitive taxes aimed at banks and avoid weakening one of the UK’s most competitive industries. Shares in banks jumped on last week’s unexpected election result. Defeated Labour leader Ed Miliband had threatened major hikes to the bank levy, more bonus taxes and [...]
Senior Tory Eric Pickles hints at new Budget in coming weeks May 11, 2015 A Conservative member of the last coalition Cabinet said yesterday that chancellor George Osborne could unveil a new Budget “relatively soon”. Eric Pickles, who served as secretary of state for communities and local government, said that the move would be needed to outline Tory attempts to reduce the state’s huge annual deficit. Osborne revealed his [...]
Andrew Tyrie MP faces fight to keep Treasury Committee chair May 11, 2015 High-profile MP Andrew Tyrie is facing a challenge to his position as Treasury Select Committee (TSC) chairman, City A.M. understands. Jesse Norman, fellow Conservative and former Barclays banker, is believed to be seeking the role for the coming parliament. Such a move could shock political and financial circles, given that Tyrie is held in high [...]
David Cameron’s cabinet reshuffle: Iain Duncan Smith keeps job as Tory big beasts are reappointed May 11, 2015 David Cameron will today confirm that Iain Duncan Smith is the latest big gun in the new all-Tory cabinet, holding on to his job as work and pensions secretary. Duncan Smith will be in charge of meeting the Conservative pledge to find £12bn worth of savings in the welfare budget by 2020. Only £2bn of [...]
David Cameron to act quickly on EU renegotiations and in-out referendum May 11, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron is facing increased pressure to fast-track his plans to reform Britain’s relationship with the European Union. Cameron is widely expected to introduce legislation for an in-out referendum during the early days of the new parliament, as well as ramp up discussions about reform within the EU ahead of the next [...]
Labour hopefuls line up bids to replace Ed Miliband: Liz Kendall, Andy Burnham, Chuka Umunna and Yvette Cooper top contenders May 11, 2015 Liz Kendall yesterday became the first Labour MP to officially announce a campaign to succeed Ed Miliband as party leader. Kendall is a rising star in the party, impressing as a shadow health minister and in the media. Liz Kendall Chuka Umunna The charismatic and business-friendly Chuka Umunna is one of [...]
Tax-and-spend plans: What to expect from the new Tory Treasury May 10, 2015 With the Conservative party winning a majority and George Osborne returning to his position as chancellor of the exchequer, the UK now faces another five years of Tory-led tax-and-spend plans. But without the competing visions of coalition partners, how will this Tory Treasury be different from that of the last government? When looking for answers, [...]
Nicola Sturgeon: SNP will be the main opposition to Conservatives May 10, 2015 Nicola Sturgeon rubbed salt into the Labour Party’s wounds yesterday, arguing that her Scottish National Party (SNP) is now the real opposition to the Conservative government. “Given that Labour are entering a period of introspection, questioning their very purpose in life – the SNP is going to be the principal opposition to the Conservatives,” she [...]