Labour’s nationalisation plans: The threat and opportunity November 18, 2019 The Labour Party is expected to release its manifesto this week, with leader Jeremy Corbyn promising to publish “the most transformative, radical and exciting programme ever put before the British electorate”. The party is set to recommit to some of its major pledges made in 2017, including plans to bring energy, water, rail and mail [...]
Boris Johnson to woo businesses with extensive tax breaks November 18, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today offer British companies a series of tax cuts and breaks as he seeks to mend his relationship with the country’s firms. Read more: Boris Johnson’s Conservative party opens up 17-point poll lead In a speech to the annual CBI conference in London Johnson will pledge to cut the taxes [...]
How the pound could react to a Tory General Election victory November 18, 2019 Buffeted by Brexit and a global economic slowdown, the pound has had a wild ride in 2019. Now, City economists believe sterling is at a crossroads, with the upcoming General Election poised to send sterling soaring – or diving. A Conservative majority could fire the pound above $1.40, analysts said, but a Labour victory may [...]
The City is wise to wince at McDonnell’s statism November 18, 2019 This newspaper has, in the past, given credit to John McDonnell for his honesty and for his openness with the City. We may not have welcomed his ideas, but we’ve often acknowledged that he has at least been upfront about his plans for government and has ventured into City boardrooms to explain his thinking more [...]
Sajid Javid: My pitch to the businesses of Britain November 18, 2019 Britain’s 6m businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. They have driven employment to record highs, with wages outstripping inflation. And they have made our country a hotbed of furious innovation in products and services. We would all like to see higher economic growth — after a decade of recovery from the last Labour government [...]
DEBATE: Is there a case for Labour’s ‘free broadband’ proposals? November 18, 2019 Is there a case for Labour’s ‘free broadband’ proposals? Miranda Hall, a researcher at the New Economics Foundation and co-author of forthcoming report on digital infrastructure for Common Wealth, says YES. Without internet you can’t look for a job, receive childcare and housing benefits, or keep in touch with friends. But across the UK, digital [...]
CBI: Labour pledges could “crack the foundations of the economy” November 18, 2019 The head of Britain’s biggest business group warned yesterday that Jeremy Corbyn’s policies could “crack the foundations of the economy” at the start of a week which holds the potential to define the upcoming General Election. Carolyn Fairbairn, head of the CBI, told Sky News that business leaders are asking “who’s next” after the “bolt [...]
General election: Labour and Conservatives row over immigration November 17, 2019 Labour and the Conservatives traded blows over immigration policy today, as both shed light on their respective plans. The Tories revealed details of a points-based immigration system that would see “equal” treatment of EU and non-EU citizens. Read more: Jeremy Corbyn labels Labour nationalisation plans as ‘very modest’ The vast majority of immigration applicants would [...]
Labour’s BT plans show ‘misunderstanding’ of broadband industry, firms warn November 17, 2019 British broadband providers have slammed Labour’s proposals to nationalise parts of BT, saying the plans show a “fundamental misunderstanding” of how the industry works. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell last week said Labour would take Openreach and other parts of BT into public ownership, and promised free full-fibre broadband for every UK household. Read more: Labour [...]
Labour manifesto will be ‘significantly’ more radical than in 2017 November 17, 2019 Labour insiders have branded the party’s election manifesto as “significantly” further to the left of the party’s 2017 offering. Labour will release its General Election manifesto on Thursday, after holding a Clause V meeting of senior party figures and union bosses last night. Read more: Jeremy Corbyn labels Labour nationalisation plans as very modest Labour [...]