Ukip spoof Tory attack ad: Nigel Farage has some fun at Cameron’s expense March 9, 2015 The Tory party has been consistently attacking Ed Miliband over whether Labour will enter into a deal with the SNP if the General Election fails to produce a clear result. There was no let-up in the attack today as the Tories unveiled a new poster produced by advertising agency M&C Saatchi showing Ed Miliband in [...]
Tesco loses Harris + Hoole and Giraffe chief Michael Holmes amid Dave Lewis restructure March 9, 2015 Tesco has lost another senior executive, after the man in charge of its Harris + Hoole coffee shops and restaurant chain Giraffe stepped down. Chief executive of new food experiences Michael Holmes, the man behind Tesco’s strategy to offer dining experiences in-store in a bid to pull in customers, has fallen on the wrong side [...]
Bullish results for Martin Sorrell’s WPP: World’s largest advertising group reports 12 per cent jump in profits March 9, 2015 2015 has started well for the world’s largest advertising group and its chief Martin Sorrell. The figures WPP has announced a 12 per cent boost in profit before tax during 2014: it rose to £1.5bn, with sales of £11.5bn, five per cent higher than in 2013. The company also started January well, with like-for-like sales rising an [...]
General Election 2015: David Cameron to open 500 extra free schools if Conservatives win March 9, 2015 The Conservatives are set to double down on free schools, opening a further 500 if they win the General Election. In a speech today, David Cameron said that the government plans to create 270,000 new school places, on top of the final wave of 49 free schools to be opened during the final throws of [...]
David Cameron set for double trouble over plain cigarette packaging and defence spending March 9, 2015 Disgruntled Tory backbenchers are set to defy David Cameron over two controversial issues this week, intensifying pressure on a Prime Minister who faces growing criticism for refusing to accept invitations to TV leaders debates. Around 100 Conservative MPs will vote against the government’s proposals to force cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging on Wednesday. [...]
General Election TV debates: Ed Miliband ups David Cameron pressure with call for new law March 9, 2015 With lesss than two months until polling day, the row over television leader debates has taken a new turn. It has emerged that the broadcasters may have to give David Cameron his own television slots if he refuses to take part in debates, to comply with strict election rules. Miliband has formally agreed to take [...]
Manufacturers ask Osborne for bigger cuts to the cost of energy March 9, 2015 MANUFACTURERS today called on the chancellor to help out with their energy bills and with more advice and support on exporting. Rapid drops in global oil prices have driven down UK energy bills, dragging inflation into negative territory and so putting giving a break to hard-pressed firms and consumers. But in its budget submission, manufacturers’ [...]
Boris Johnson’s apprenticeship plan will not meet target, says Labour March 9, 2015 Figures released by Labour at the start of National Apprenticeship Week claim that Boris Johnson is unlikely to meet his target of creating 250,000 apprenticeships by the time he leaves City Hall in 2016. Labour London Assembly Members say government figures show only 96,500 apprenticeships were created from 2012 until 2014. They also criticise the [...]
Netanyahu wants to kill the US-Iran nuclear deal: Obama must not let him March 9, 2015 For all the clouds of controversy that perpetually swirl around him, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu possesses two great qualities that wholly elude the timid and colourless European leaders I am fated to spend so much of my time writing about: he has a gambler’s heart and he is eloquent. Both these admirable traits were [...]
Iran nuclear talks: Obama says he would “walk away” from a bad deal March 8, 2015 Amid mounting criticism from the Republicans over his approach to Iran's nuclear programme, US President Barack Obama has insisted he would “walk away” before agreeing to a bad deal. In an interview with CBS News today, he said any agreement would have to satisfy Washington's demands and ensure Iran had no way of making an [...]