German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Greek deal still possible – and EU must engage seriously with UK on Brexit June 18, 2015 German Chancellor Angela Merkel struck a conciliatory tone on the UK's plans to renegotiate its relationship with the EU, saying the bloc must "engage seriously" with the UK's demands. During a speech to the German parliament today, Merkel said she wanted the UK to remain a "strong, active" partner with the European Union. "It's about [...]
Britain’s still great: Opportunities abound from the Northern Powerhouse to infrastructure revamp June 18, 2015 EUROPE REFERENDUM To the relief of many, the UK election turned out to be a simple affair. But while we avoided protracted wrangling over the make-up of the government, the key risk facing the UK now is the referendum on European Union membership. It is due to be held before 2017 – but some business [...]
UK house prices: Tony Pidgley’s Berkeley calls for Britain to stay in the EU as housebuilder’s profits rise 42 per cent June 17, 2015 London-centred residential property developer Berkeley Group announced a 42 per cent increase in full-year profits today, but warned a British exit from the EU would be bad for the capital's property market. Read more: How can the UK build more houses? In preliminary results for the year to the end of April, Berkeley stressed that the [...]
David Cameron gets a bloody nose as rebel Tory backbenchers flex their muscles over EU referendum bill June 16, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron avoided an embarrassing parliamentary defeat last night, but only after Labour decided to abstain from a key vote. More than two dozen Conservative backbenchers rebelled over rules surrounding an EU referendum that Cameron has promised will take place before the end of 2017. A cross-party combination including 27 Tory rebels and [...]
EU referendum bill: 27 Tories rebel as David Cameron beats “purdah” amendment June 16, 2015 David Cameron has won his first significant battle with the Eurosceptic arm of his party – and he has Labour to thank after a "purdah" amendment to the EU referendum bill was defeated in the Commons Although 27 Tories rebelled against their Prime Minister, Labour abstained from the vote meaning Bill Cash's rebel amendment was [...]
Alexis Tsipras: International Monetary Fund bears “criminal responsibility” for Greek crisis, as survey shows fund managers aren’t prepared for Brexit June 16, 2015 The International Monetary Fund (IMF) bears "criminal responsibility" for the damage caused to Greece's economy since its first bailout, the country's Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, said during a powerful speech today. Read more: Debate – Should Greece accept it's better off without the euro? During a televised speech from parliament in Athens, Tsipras lost his [...]
Cameron to promise more Eurosceptic concessions as he limits public money for yes campaign June 16, 2015 David Cameron will today concede to his Tory backbenchers that he will limit public money for a pro-EU campaign in the upcoming referendum. In a bid to pacify its slim majority, the government will reassure its Eurosceptic MPs that there will be no taxpayer-funded push for the UK to remain in the EU. Read more: [...]
There will be no 5 May EU referendum vote as Cameron offers concession to Eurosceptics June 16, 2015 In the fight over the EU referendum, the Eurosceptics have won a point. The date for the ballot will not now be 5 May 2016, after ministers tabled an amendment to the referendum bill on Monday evening. The amendment comes before David Cameron embarks on a series of one-to-one meetings with EU leaders this week. [...]
David Cameron courts EU leaders amid Commons row over referendum June 15, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron will hit the road again this week for more one-on-one meetings with European leaders, while MPs in the House of Commons gear up for more divisive debate over the EU referendum bill. Cameron is due to visit Italy, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Slovenia later this week, as well as welcome the president of [...]
One in three Tory MPs said to back eurosceptic group Conservatives for Britain June 15, 2015 More than one-third of Conservative MPs have put their weight behind a new eurosceptic group, just one week after it was set up. Conservatives for Britain founder Steve Baker, the MP for Wycombe, told City A.M. yesterday that over 110 MPs have expressed interest in the group. Baker added that while the group is preparing [...]