Tube fare hikes have cost Londoners an extra £2,683 each, a new report shows November 11, 2015 Talk about a top-up: Londoners have each spent an additional £2,683 using the London Underground since 2008, thanks to fare hikes. The team behind Labour's London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan crunched the numbers, finding commuters going between Zone 1 and Zone 6 have been charged an extra £2,683 for their monthly travel cards since 2008, compared to a [...]
Nearly three in four UK financial services firms say cutting skilled migration will hurt the economy November 11, 2015 Britain's financial services companies are overwhelmingly worried that proposed changes to visas for non-European Union workers will make it difficult to attract top talent. A new survey out today from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) found that 73 per cent of finance workers think that the government’s plans to reduce the number of [...]
Public spending watchdog warns government over devolution deals November 11, 2015 An influential parliamentary committee is cautioning the government over its plans to devolve further powers to local authorities, calling for more transparency about how devolution is carried out in various regions. In a new report out today, the Public Accounts Committee says that the government needs to “provide clarity on accountability, funding and economic impact” [...]
Barclays chairman John McFarlane: London risks losing its status as a global financial centre November 11, 2015 The City risks losing its status as the world’s leading financial centre, Barclays chairman John McFarlane will warn in a speech tonight. Speaking at TheCityUK’s annual dinner at Mansion House, McFarlane will say that Britain’s attractiveness as a financial centre is reaching a “tipping point” due to disadvantages in taxation, levies, regulation and infrastructure. “London [...]
EU referendum: Eurosceptics and Europhiles tear apart Cameron’s reform demands November 10, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has come under criticism from both European Union officials and members of his own political party over his European Union reform agenda. Cameron spelled out new details of his top demands, including major changes to welfare benefits for EU migrants in the UK, in a speech in central London yesterday morning. [...]
Government delays Sunday trading plans after SNP threats November 10, 2015 The government has reportedly postponed plans to relax Sunday trading laws in England and Wales after the SNP threatened to block legislation including the proposals. Chancellor George Osborne first proposed in his summer budget changing the rules to allow high street shops in England and Wales to stay open longer on Sundays, but the SNP’s Westminster leader [...]
EU referendum: UBS chairman Axel Weber says Brexit wouldn’t undermine the City November 10, 2015 UBS chairman Axel Weber dismissed concerns about Britain leaving the European Union this morning, saying that a so-called Brexit was unlikely to be a big blow to London’s status as a leading financial hub. “I don’t think it would completely undermine the financial sector of London," Weber said, adding that he thought a Britain outside the European Union would be able to [...]
EU referendum: Prime Minister David Cameron proposes tighter rules for EU migrants in Chatham House speech November 10, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron insisted that his European Union reform agenda is achievable this morning when he spelled out new details of his top demands, including major changes to welfare benefits for EU migrants in the UK. In a speech this morning at Chatham House in central London, Cameron said that his desired changes to Britain’s relationship with the European [...]
EU referendum: Cameron spells out his demands, saying reform is not Mission Impossible November 10, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron will insist that his European Union reform agenda is achievable when he spells out his top demands today. In a major speech this morning at Chatham House, Cameron will say that his desired changes to Britain’s relationship with the European Union are “eminently resolvable, with the requisite political will and political [...]
New Policy Exchange report: Government should radically overhaul energy regulation November 10, 2015 A leading Westminster think tank is today calling for a “radical overhaul” of energy regulation ahead of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) later this month. In a new report out today, Policy Exchange says that by consolidating the 30 different bodies that are responsible for energy policy, regulations and rules, the government could save [...]
