Libor-rigging scandal: As trader Tom Hayes comes to court, wait for justice will soon be over – Bottom line May 26, 2015 Politicians have been screaming for blood over the Libor scandal for years, as fines and firing have not sated their anger with banks. Now they have a chance to see if one accused trader will be jailed, as the evidence is presented to a jury. But coming three years after the Barclays fine blew [...]
Nicola Sturgeon on Brexit: In/out EU referendum must have “double majority” rule May 26, 2015 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has slammed Tory austerity measures and reaffirmed her party's commitment to staying in the EU in her first major economic speech since the election. Speaking to business leaders at Heart of Midlothian's Tynecastle Stadium, Sturgeon said the SNP would propose a "double majority" on the vote, in which each of the [...]
First Libor case with ex-UBS and Citigroup trader Tom Hayes comes to trial at Southwark Crown Court today May 26, 2015 The first criminal trial over allegations of conspiracy to rig the Libor benchmark interest rate will start in London court today. Tom Hayes, a former trader at banks UBS and Citigroup, will appear at Southwark crown court charged with eight counts of conspiring to rig the Libor rate. Hayes previously pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy [...]
Sir Malcolm Bruce: House of Commons would be cleared “very fast” if you got rid of all liars May 26, 2015 If we wanted to get rid of every MP who had ever told a porkie, "we'd clear out the House of Commons very fast", the former deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats admitted this morning. Sir Malcolm Bruce, who stepped down at the General Election, was attempting to defend Alistair Carmichael – the only [...]
Sajid Javid on O2 outage: “Sort it out” May 26, 2015 He's still pretty new to the role but business secretary Sajid Javid has already secured some fans – and potentially at least one telecoms enemy. Yesterday mobile phone network O2 suffered a series of outages that affected users in London, Sussex, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow and parts of Northern Ireland. O2 said it [...]
David Cameron starts EU reform road show with Jean-Claude Juncker vow May 25, 2015 European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker last night promised to help solve David Cameron’s EU dilemma, as the Prime Minister sets off on a month-long European tour to drum up support for his reform plan. Cameron began his charm offensive by hosting Juncker for a working dinner at his Chequers country estate. The Prime Minister laid [...]
Putin praises David Cameron for 7 May win but talk on Ukraine crisis remains icy May 25, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron received a rare phone call yesterday when Russian president Vladimir Putin rang Number 10 to congratulate Cameron on the Conservatives’ success at the General Election. According to Downing Street, the two leaders spoke about Syria and the Ukraine during the 30-minute phone call. A Number 10 spokesperson said that Cameron and [...]
Despite Obama’s silver tongue, the future of Iraq is looking pretty bleak after fall of Ramadi to Islamic State May 25, 2015 No Mr President, losing Ramadi is not a “tactical setback” – it is a catastrophe. Having also got by on my wits in graduate school, I always had a sense that I understood the elusive failings of Barack Obama far too well. When he obfuscates, he does so elegantly, often speaking in half-truths, illustrating his [...]
EU referendum: Over one million migrants will be barred from voting May 25, 2015 Over 1m European migrants living in Britain will not be able to vote in the EU referendum, unless they qualify to vote in General Elections David Cameron has decided. The prime minister’s move will placate some Eurosceptics on the right of the Conservative party, who were afraid voting restrictions would follow the looser rules of [...]
Labour has performed a U-turn on the EU membership referendum, as Cameron prepares legislation May 24, 2015 Labour has performed a balletic U-turn this morning, abandoning its opposition to EU membership referendum. Harriet Harman, the acting leader of the party, has given David Cameron a boost by saying her party will vote in favour of the Conservative’s bill, which would see a vote on the UK’s EU membership before the end of [...]