David Cameron’s former adviser Steve Hilton: Bank bosses should be paid the same as top civil servants May 19, 2015 David Cameron's former director of strategy has argued that the bosses of some large banks should be paid the same as top civil service employees. Steve Hilton, now based in Silicon Valley since stepping down from the role in 2012, claims that banks that require bailing out should be considered part of the public sector. [...]
Healthcare needs radical reform – but Cameron must brace for the backlash May 18, 2015 The new government’s policy on public services was launched yesterday by the Prime Minister, with an uncompromising statement of NHS reform. He pledged more competition, including in the private sector. He promised wholesale changes in the delivery of services, so that GPs, hospitals and other services work together and prevent ill health in the first [...]
Why David Cameron’s legacy hangs on tackling four huge economic challenges May 18, 2015 I once asked one of Margaret Thatcher’s senior advisers whether her governments had been “too obsessed with economics”. “Economics,” he replied, “is not the most important thing in life, or in public policy. But it is something that governments can really mess up”. Recent events have made me reflect on that sentiment. When David Cameron [...]
David Cameron to appoint Joanna Shields as web safety minister May 17, 2015 Joanna Shields, the former Facebook executive turned Conservative peer, is set to be appointed as minister for internet security in the new government. Baroness Shields is formally listed on the government’s website as a minister in the department for culture, media and sport. However, she has not yet been given a full portfolio by Conservative [...]
David Cameron and Nicola Sturgeon talk Scottish devolution as PM bids to save the union May 14, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will meet face-to-face for the first time today since last week’s General Election. The election ushered in big victories for both Cameron’s Conservatives and Sturgeon’s SNP, with the Prime Minister’s party securing an outright national majority and the Scottish nationalists winning 56 of Scotland’s [...]
It’s time for David Cameron to make unpopular decisions – Editor’s Letter May 14, 2015 Today the hard work begins. After a few days where the Conservatives still seemed to be in full campaign mode, setting out their blue collar pitch for 2020, David Cameron’s speech in Scotland brings the hard decisions he faces in this Parliament back to the forefront. Rightly so. This government has a once-in-a-generation chance to [...]
As he plans a new counter-extremism bill, is David Cameron right that Britain has been passively tolerant for too long? May 13, 2015 Emily Dyer, research fellow at The Henry Jackson Society, says Yes Tolerance is a fundamental British value and it should continue to underpin our treatment of everyone, no matter what their faith or beliefs. However, for too long, we have let our tolerance be abused by the intolerant: those who actively try to destroy our [...]
David Cameron ushers in a new era at the Treasury as Damien Hinds and David Gauke join Greg Hands and Harriet Baldwin May 12, 2015 George Osborne is set to work with a new team at the Treasury following this week’s Cabinet reshuffle. Prime Minister David Cameron announced one new Treasury minister and the reappointment of another yesterday, the latest in a slew of postings he has doled out to loyal Conservatives following last week’s General Election. Read [...]
How coalitions dominate Europe: David Cameron’s majority makes UK one of only three single party governments May 12, 2015 The UK may have what David Cameron would describe as a “strong and stable government”, led by one majority party, but the rest of the EU looks quite different. Of the 28 countries in the EU, only the UK, Malta, and Spain have single parties in power, with the others being led by coalitions. Some [...]
David Cameron might bring the EU referendum forward to next year May 12, 2015 David Cameron could bring the referendum on EU membership forward to next year – a year earlier than was originally promised. The Prime Minister is drawing up the plans in order to avoid coinciding with the German and French elections in 2017, which could end up creating a crash. One source told The Guardian [...]