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 [...]
Tsipras and Merkel sound conciliatory tone after Berlin meeting March 23, 2015 Greece took its negations for EU cash all the way to Berlin today, where Prime Minsiter Alexis Tsipras met the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. The meeting appeared to go well, with both sides appearing keen to find common ground and there did seem to be genuine warmth between the two leaders. Looks like it was [...]
General Election 2015: I’ll step down after second term, says David Cameron March 23, 2015 David Cameron will not serve a third term as Prime Minister if he is reelected. The Conservative leader told the BBC he would lead the country for the full five years of another parliament and then step down. After 10 years in power, he said, “it will be time for new leadership”. When asked about [...]
Labour MP for Rochdale Simon Danczuk: Ed Miliband is more of a toff than Cameron March 23, 2015 Ed Miliband faced a scathing attack today – from a member of his own party. Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale, said Miliband was a liability and failed to connect with voters – many of which thought him a “f*****g knob.” The Labour leader, he said, was more of a toff than Cameron, while [...]
Jim Murphy fails to halt SNP momentum as Labour faces Scottish meltdown March 23, 2015 The stream of bad news for Labour's electoral chances in Scotland just keeps on coming. This morning it's provided courtesy of an ICM poll for The Guardian, showing Labour on course to shed 29 of its 41 seats north of the border. Jim Murphy, Labour's leader in Scotland, gained respect across the political spectrum for his [...]
General Election 2015: Alex Salmond says SNP could make Labour spend more March 23, 2015 Alex Salmond has warned that he could sabotage a Labour budget if the Scottish National Party holds the balance of power after May’s knife edge election, and if Labour refuses to provide the concessions he wants. The former Scottish First Minister said that in the event of Labour not having a majority, and Ed Balls [...]
General Election 2015: Tories pin hopes on right-to-buy housing boost March 23, 2015 The Conservatives could extend right-to-buy rules to include housing association tenants as part of their upcoming manifesto. Housing is likely to be a key area of debate in the run-up to May’s crunch General Election. The right-to-buy policy was first brought in by Margaret Thatcher. It gave council tenants the right to buy their council [...]