Jim Murphy pledges redistribution from south to north by hitting the City of London March 25, 2015 Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy will unveil plans to spend £1bn on Scotland's "young working-class" in the heart of the City of London. The money for the new spending spree will come, in part, from reintroducing the bankers' bonus tax, which disproportionately hits workers in London. Murphy will say in the speech that the tax [...]
Kiev’s tough finance chief Natalie Jaresko puts her case to the world March 24, 2015 “I am facing very different challenges to those he faces,” says the Ukrainian finance minister hours after meeting George Osborne, the UK chancellor. Natalie Jaresko is in the middle of a whistlestop tour of London and New York, during which she hopes to put her case to her war-torn country’s creditors and also to enlist [...]
French minister Ségolène Royal rebukes George Osborne’s “spiteful” mockery of Hollande’s economy March 24, 2015 During last week's Budget, George Osborne's jokes at France's expense played well in the chamber of the House of Commons – at least among Tory MPs. The chancellor mocked the opposition for wanting to emulate the French economic model in operation under Francois Hollande. France is beset with high unemployment and low growth and has struggled [...]
Boris Johnson bookies’ favourite for next Tory leader as party members poll names him front-runner March 24, 2015 David Cameron's off the cuff remark that he will not serve a third term in number 10 has sparked a flurry of speculation as to who will be the next Tory leader. The speculation has been focused and intensified around three candidates at the top of the Conservative hierarchy – not least because they were [...]
Did Israel spy on the US’s private Iran talks? Here are the two sides of the story March 24, 2015 Senior White House officials have accused Israel of spying on talks between the US, Iran and other world powers over the Middle Eastern country's nuclear programme, but Israel denies the claims. The private meetings in question took place last year and involved the UK, Germany, France, China and Russia. The aim was to persuade Iran [...]
David Cameron should serve full second term if re-elected, say voters March 24, 2015 David Cameron dropped a bombshell of distraction yesterday by declaring that he would not serve a third term as Prime Minister. In an interview with the BBC's James Landale the PM said: I feel I’ve got more to bring to this job, I think the job is half done. The economy’s turned round. The deficits [...]
Angela Merkel and Alexis Tsipras talks light on substance – but at least they’re smiling again March 23, 2015 German Chancellor Angela Merkel struck a conciliatory tone with her Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras during talks last night as the two sought to repair the countries’ torn political relations. However, no substantial policy agreements were made with Greece still facing the prospect of running out of cash if it is unable to propose a suitable [...]
Yanis Varoufakis cancels City Week speech to go to Athens March 23, 2015 Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has pulled out of City Week, cancelling his plan to speak to City and global investors about Greece. Just last week his office was confirming that the high profile former professor would be giving a presentation, titled “Future of Europe: the Greek perspective” this afternoon. But instead he is [...]
James Dyson criticises Tory push for tougher immigration rules March 23, 2015 Sir James Dyson made a barely concealed attack on Tory party policy yesterday, while announcing a £12m grant to a design engineering school with chancellor George Osborne. The pair were visiting the new Dyson School of Design Engineering when the inventor said: “I think it’s important that people who have chosen to come and read [...]
General Election 2015: Labour will not raise VAT if it wins – Ed Balls March 23, 2015 The Labour party will lay down a significant general election marker today, with a pledge that VAT will not rise if it is elected to power on 7 May. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls will announce the new manifesto commitment during a speech in Birmingham. Balls will say: Today I can announce a clear pledge [...]