US Treasury secretary Jack Lew urges an agreement as Greek drama continues June 23, 2015 The United States has heaped on the pressure for a deal between Greece and its creditors with Jack Lew, the US treasury Secretary, holding phone calls with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to push for an agreement in a “delicate” situation. "The Prime Minister had a phone conversation with US Treasury secretary Jack Lew in [...]
Lloyds Banking Group share price dips as government slashes its stake June 23, 2015 Shares in Lloyds Banking Group dipped to 86.9p this morning after it emerged the government had cut its stake in the bailed-out bank to less than 17 per cent. This could be among the final tranches of shares sold to institutional investors: chancellor George Osborne has said the government was planning to wrap up its current [...]
David Cameron says he will stop the welfare merry-go-round June 22, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed to end what he called the “ridiculous merry-go-round” of taxing low earners only to give them generous welfare handouts. Speaking at a school in Cheshire, the Prime Minister said yesterday: “We need to move from a low wage, high tax, high welfare society to a higher wage, lower tax, [...]
Cameron must take control of EU reform negotiations before referendum says Conservative rebel Tim Loughton June 22, 2015 David Cameron has been told by Conservative rebels to grab EU referendum negotiations by the scruff of the neck. Read more: EU referendum could be held October 2016, according to government source The former children’s minister, Tim Loughton, said leaving the reform plan to civil servants would end up with negotiations turning to mush. Loughton rebelled [...]
EU president Donald Tusk describes Greek offer as the “first real proposals in many weeks” as Euro Summit kicks off June 22, 2015 EU council president Donald Tusk has said Greece’s proposals are the “first real proposals in many weeks” as the Euro Summit on Greece kicks off. Read more: Athens stocks bounce as Greece outlines proposals Markets have rallied today, as hope grows that a deal will be reached in the coming days. It is considered unlikely [...]
David Cameron pledges tax credit reform as part of government’s drive to cut £12bn from welfare budget June 22, 2015 Tax credits are under fire as part of the government’s pledge to eliminate £12bn from the welfare budget, with David Cameron insisting Britain must not continue with the current “merry-go-round” system. The speech, in Cheshire, will attack the system introduced by Tony Blair’s Labour government, whereby low paid workers will have money taken in tax [...]
EU ministers agree to extend economic sanctions against Russia until January 2016 June 22, 2015 The European Union has decided to extend economic sanctions against Russia for another six months, imposed due to the country’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine. Meeting in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers are upholding economic sanctions to make Russia comply with the Minsk ceasefire accord, which was signed with Ukraine in February. #EU extended economic [...]
Boris Johnson says City will thrive even if there’s a Brexit June 22, 2015 Boris Johnson has poured cold water on fears over the potentially damaging impact of a Brexit on the City, also saying that London will continue to thrive as long as it invests in infrastructure. The incumbent London mayor shrugged off some business leaders' concerns that exiting the European Union would be harmful to Britain, saying [...]
European stocks soar as European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says proposals “good basis for progress” June 22, 2015 European stock markets had a strong start to the week, as renewed optimism about a deal between Greece and its lenders boosted indices. The Cac and the Dax were both up 3.1 per cent at pixel time, while the FTSE 100 was up 1.4 per cent. Stocks in Athens were up more than eight [...]
George Osborne insists £12bn in welfare cuts will go ahead June 22, 2015 Chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne has said that he will push ahead with plans to cut £12bn in welfare spending, despite previous reports that Conservative party campaign promises would be reined in under the new government. Writing with work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith in The Sunday Times, Osborne said that he would [...]