Ex-Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson defects to become first Reform UK MP March 11, 2024 Former Conservative MP Lee Anderson has defected to Reform UK to become its first MP, in a blow to the Tories ahead of the general election.
Ministers demand extra defence spending in the face of rising global threats March 9, 2024 Rishi Sunak is under pressure to boost defencing spending after two serving ministers publicly called for a “much greater pace” of investment. The call from Foreign Office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan and security minister Tom Tugendhat came after the Budget was criticised for failing to boost defence spending. The two senior Tories said the UK needs [...]
Letter to the editor: Be careful what you wish for March 7, 2024 [Re: The Notebook: The Conservative Party has forgotten what it once stood for, 4 mar] I always enjoy City A.M’s The Note Book column. Opinions from those across the spectrum are valuable. Especially to those of us elected, who should always listen. But James Chapman has swallowed the “fashionable” view: “The Conservatives have forgotten what [...]
‘It’s not uncommon’: Minister defends £15,000 taxpayer payout to settle Donelan libel claim March 6, 2024 A minister has defended a £15,000 payout of taxpayer money to settle a libel case after tech secretary Michelle Donelan falsely accused two academics of "sharing extremist views" and one of supporting Hamas.
Spring Budget 2024: Hunt doesn’t rule out May election after £10bn tax cut March 6, 2024 Jeremy Hunt has announced the rate of National Insurance (NI) will be cut by two per cent in the Spring Budget as the government gears up for a rocky general election.
Spring Budget 2024: Why a May election is now looking less likely March 6, 2024 After Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Budget, the tide of May election speculation that temporarily flooded Westminster has, well, swept out again.
Spring Budget 2024: Air passenger duty on business class flyers to rise March 6, 2024 The Chancellor has confirmed a rise in business class air fares as part of the Spring Budget, breaking a pledge to the airline industry.
Spring Budget 2024: OBR upgrades UK growth forecasts on lower inflation and growing population March 6, 2024 The OBR is markedly more optimistic than the Bank of England and has upgraded next year's prospects are better than expected
Moving markets: Five things shaping the FTSE 100 today March 6, 2024 Asian markets falter with China stocks leading the decline, while bitcoin retreats from record highs. Apple's iPhone sales in China drop sharply. Attention shifts to the UK's Spring budget and Fed Chair Powell's testimony.
Spring Budget 2024: Hunt to say ‘lower tax means higher growth’ as he slashes NI March 5, 2024 Jeremy Hunt will today unveil a spring budget designed to reverse his party’s lagging polling numbers, headlined by a 2p cut to National Insurance.