Folly of the Corbynistas: There’s nothing mainstream about Labour leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn’s economic plans September 1, 2015 A group of economists recently hit the headlines with their claim that Jeremy Corbyn’s policies are supported by mainstream economics. Perhaps the best known of them is David Blanchflower, a Monetary Policy Committee member when Gordon Brown was chancellor. He predicted before the 2010 General Election that, under the Conservatives, unemployment would rise [...]
Investors urged to vote against Mike Ashley and Keith Hellawell at Sports Direct AGM as USC, zero-hour contracts issues rage on September 1, 2015 Sports Direct investors are being advised to vote against both founder Mike Ashley and chairman Keith Hellawell retaining their seats on the board ahead of next week's AGM. Investor group Pirc is recommending six of the 15 resolutions be opposed, and three abstained. Its biggest concern was the large number of staff employed on [...]
Farage: Ukip is launching its own anti-EU campaign, but won’t seek to be the official leader of the “no” movement September 1, 2015 Ukip is gearing up to launch its own anti-EU membership campaign, but the party won't seek designation as the official leader of the "no" movement. Read more: Ukip leader Nigel Farage gets tough on Brexit: “David Cameron’s attempts at renegotiation are embarrassing” In an interview with Radio 4's Today programme, party leader Nigel Farage [...]
UK income tax haul from non-doms has risen 7 per cent and hit £6.6bn last year August 31, 2015 The amount of income tax paid by so-called “non-doms” based in the UK has risen by seven per cent, according to a new report out today from Pinsent Masons, the global law firm. According to the report, non-doms – individuals claiming certain tax benefits because their permanent home is outside of the UK – [...]
Europe’s hidden political crisis: Internal Eurozone disagreements over Greece could have deep-seated implications – CNBC Comment August 31, 2015 The Eurozone economy may be showing signs of strength this year, thanks in part to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) massive bond-buying programme but, politically, Europe is struggling. And we can thank Greece for that. ECONOMIC BOOST The forecast for GDP growth for Europe is much stronger this year than it was in 2014 [...]
Ready for Hillary? Don’t be surprised if Clinton’s campaign crashes and burns August 31, 2015 Washington DC – While Donald Trump has shot across the summer political sky like a meteor, the more important story of the season has gone less remarked upon: the surprising difficulties of Hillary Clinton. The odds-on favourite (again) for the presidency has run into a series of problems, culminating in the self-inflicted wound of [...]
George Osborne’s damaging bank tax changes are a blow to competition in the sector August 31, 2015 Who is taxed, and by how much, is one of the best windows into the mind of any chancellor. Who does he want to help, who does he want to hit, and why? How you raise the money matters just as much as how you give it out. With that in mind, consider [...]
George Osborne announces £500m funding for Faslane submarine base in new push for Trident programme August 31, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne has pledged £500m for the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane, funding he says will create “thousands” of jobs. The base in Faslane, one of the UK’s three naval hubs, is home to Britain’s Trident programme, with four submarines armed with Trident missiles based there. Read more: What you need to know [...]
Crazy markets, Night Tube called off and Jeremy Corbyn goes off the rails: Here’s what got us talking this week August 28, 2015 It was the week in which everything got a bit trippy: the markets went bananas. The South Bank went psychedelic. Someone discovered a Nazi train full of gold (allegedly). And after 60 years of rivalry, Burger King finally proposed a truce with McDonald's… What got us talking 1. Up, down, up, down… Who said August was [...]
Labour leadership race: Jeremy Corbyn’s tweets ahead in the social media stakes – but not enough to win outright August 28, 2015 Surprise Labour leadership frontrunner, Jeremy Corbyn has taken Twitter by storm. Of all four candidates, he dominates: As a ratio, he has 38 per cent of candidates' Twitter following, up 18 per cent in the last two weeks alone and leading his closest competitor, Andy Burnham, who takes 27 per cent. Read more: Can geography help [...]