Lib Dems would scrap Treasury for ‘Department for Growth’ Politics The Liberal Democrats have laid out plans to scrap the Treasury department if elected in favour of a ‘Department for Growth’. Daisy Cooper, the party’s deputy leader and Treasury spokeswoman, said on Wednesday took aim at failed government economic policy and said the Treasury “does too much”. “Fiscal policy, economic policy and controlling government spending. [...]
Lib Dems and Tories erupt in row over Employment Rights Bill Politics The Liberal Democrats and the Tories have clashed over a late evening vote on the Employment Rights Bill that saw LibDem peers fall in behind the Labour government. Tory business speaker Andrew Griffith accused the Liberal Democrats of voting with Labour in the House of Lords on Wednesday night on the basis that the party [...]
George Osborne: Income tax hike is ‘easier’ option for Reeves Politics Former Chancellor George Osborne has said that hiking one of the three main taxes which Labour said they would not raise – income tax rates, VAT and national insurance – would be the “easier” option for Rachel Reeves to add significant revenue. In an appearance before the Treasury Select Committee alongside former business secretary Vince [...]
Even in Lib Dem Bournemouth, Farage makes the weather September 24, 2025 Two important speeches took place yesterday, attracting, I suspect, very different sized audiences. At the United Nations in New York, US President Donald Trump disregarded the 15 minute slot he’d been allocated to embark on a rambling, contentious, provocative and interesting speech to the assembled nations. Meanwhile, in Bournemouth, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, [...]
Reform’s lessons from the Lib Dems in what not to do September 24, 2025 There’s more to the Lib Dems than Ed Davey’s ridiculous stunts. If Nigel Farage wants to turn his polling lead into lasting power he would do well to learn from their effective ground game – as well as their mistakes, says Emma Revell Reform UK is riding so high at the moment, pollsters might have [...]
Ed Davey claims Farage will make UK ‘Trump’s America’ September 23, 2025 Ed Davey told Lib Dem members that Nigel Farage would make the UK “Trump’s America” if he were elected prime minister, with claims that Reform would destroy the NHS and roll back gun laws among the main messages made by the Liberal Dem’s leader in his conference speech. Speaking to the party faithful in Bournemouth, [...]
Natwest and HSBC shares dip as bank tax chatter heats up September 22, 2025 Shares in Natwest and HSBC dipped on Monday morning as traders digested renewed chatter of a tax hike on Britain’s banking giants. Natwest tumbled as much as 1.3 per cent to 506p when markets opened, while HSBC fell 0.6 per cent to 1,022p. Barclays fell nearly 0.2 per cent to 381p. Lloyds was broadly flat [...]
How did soggy liberalism win over Mickleham? August 14, 2025 The Lib Dems represent one big shrug, so why did Conservative utopia Mickleham fall for it, asks Simon Clarke.
Reform top the polls but voters cool on Nigel Farage July 9, 2025 Reform UK continues to ride high in the opinion polls – climbing 16 points since last year’s election – yet voters appeared to have cooled on Nigel Farage as new City AM polling suggests he’s lost some of his shine. A post-government slump in support for the Conservative Party and lack of approval for the [...]
Barclays: Consumers plan to ‘buy British’ amid escalating trade war April 15, 2025 British consumers are planning to buy more UK-made products as two thirds of adults fear tumbling markets could lead to a deterioration in household finances, new research by Barclays has shown. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have dampened the UK’s economic outlook and put household finances under pressure. Consumers are now rapidly responding to the changes, [...]