General Election 2015: David Cameron plays it safe to fight Ukip and Labour January 12, 2015 David Cameron should be riding high, and he knows it. Such a strong economic turnaround compared with the position in 2010 would traditionally mean he had it in the bag. But with just 113 days to go until the general election he is still neck and neck with Labour. The Prime Minister cannot even take [...]
Thomas Piketty: Anti-austerity parties are good for Europe January 12, 2015 Economist Thomas Piketty's latest argument that the increased popularity of anti-austerity parties is actually "good news for Europe" will no-doubt rile many. He took the world by storm last year with the publication of Capital in the 21st Century which argued for a global, progressive tax of capital to combat increasing equality. It's attracted attention (and criticism) [...]
George Osborne warned oil and gas firms cannot afford North Sea tax regime January 11, 2015 The chancellor must drop taxes on North Sea oil and gas firms as quickly as he raised them, Oil & Gas UK said yesterday. Following the Autumn Statement in December, the Treasury said it would introduce a single basin-wide investment allowance, designed to “reward investment and simplify the tax regime”, as part of a package [...]
Angela Merkel and Syriza are about to open Pandora’s box: Watch out, Eurozone January 11, 2015 It is not often that I feel sorry for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Having lived in her country since 2006, for me she is the most overrated of modern politicians, having accomplished almost nothing in terms of substantive policy achievements, while somehow being lionised for her lack of ambition. She is the archetype of this [...]
General election 2015 TV debates: David Cameron “running scared” says Ed Miliband January 11, 2015 David Cameron is “running scared” of live TV debates, according to Ed Miliband. Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, the Labour leader claimed the Prime Minister was acting in a “pretty disreputable” manner regarding the debates, after Cameron claimed he would not take part unless the Green Party was also represented. According to the Guardian, [...]
SpaceX rocket landing: Why did Elon Musk’s mission go wrong? January 10, 2015 Today, the American firm SpaceX launched a rocket into space. After releasing its cargo up in the direction of the International Space Station (ISS), the rocket started to change direction and headed back down to Earth. The plan was to eventually land the Falcon 9 rocket on a launch pad just off the coast [...]
Eurozone: ECB said to have discussed €500bn quantitative easing programme January 9, 2015 European Central Bank (ECB) officials are said to have discussed a €500bn quantitative easing programme, which many hope will rescue the embattled Eurozone from its economic quagmire. If the programme is launched, it will involve the central bank buying up government debt rated BBB- or higher. Purchasing only investment-grade debt minimises the bank's exposure to [...]
Labour shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna calls for inquiry into collapse of City Link January 9, 2015 Labour's shadow business secretary has urged the government to initiate an inquiry into the controversial collapse of delivery giant City Link. Chuka Umunna piled pressure on the government, asking for a "full and proper inquiry" and adding "those who have lost their jobs and contractors who are owed money deserve nothing less". Business secretary Vince [...]
Tesco share price rallies as chief Dave Lewis wins over City funds, but Moody’s issues junk rating January 8, 2015 Tesco boss Dave Lewis won the cautious backing of stock-pickers yesterday as he unveiled radical plans to cut hundreds of millions of pounds worth of costs in a bid to revive the fortunes of the troubled supermarket. Shares rallied 15 per cent, marking their biggest one-day gain in six years. Yet lenders to the retail [...]
Cameron: I won’t join TV debates without Greens January 8, 2015 DAVID Cameron has drawn a firm line in the sand over the proposed TV election debates, vowing not to take part unless the Green party is invited too. The Prime Minister’s tough stance on the issue came after regulator Ofcom published provisional guidance suggesting that the Green party has not secured enough support in previous [...]