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 [...]
Jeremy Corbyn labels Labour nationalisation plans as ‘very modest’ November 17, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn has claimed Labour’s spending and nationalisation plans are “very, very modest” in an attempt to reassure people the party is “not trying to grab hold of the economy”. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell announced on Thursday the party would part nationalise BT for £20bn and provide free full-fibre broadband across the country. Read more: [...]
Labour’s plans to part-nationalise BT ‘illegal under EU law’, Conservatives say November 16, 2019 Labour’s plans to nationalise BT’s digital arm to provide free internet would be illegal under European Union state aid rules according to the Conservative Party. The opposition pledged this week to provide the public and businesses throughout the country with free full-fibre broadband by 2030. Read more: General Election 2019: Labour officials meet to finalise [...]
General Election 2019: Labour figures meet to finalise manifesto November 16, 2019 Labour officials will meet later today to finalise the party’s manifesto ahead of December’s general election. The party has already unveiled a number of policies and on Thursday announced it would part-nationalise telecomms giant BT in a bid to provide free full-fibre broadband for all. However, there are some areas in which Labour is yet [...]
Labour hasn’t factored BT’s pensions black hole into its nationalisation plan November 16, 2019 Here’s a riddle: how do you spend several billion pounds of taxpayers’ money and get nothing but a bunch of smiling accountants in return? The answer: tear Openreach out of BT, as Ofcom attempted a few years ago and Labour now proposes as part of its plan to nationalise the provision of ultrafast broadband. Read [...]
Sir Ed Davey pledges £100bn to tackle the climate crisis November 15, 2019 Liberal Democrat deputy leader Ed Davey this afternoon laid out his party’s economic plans, announcing that his party would spend an additional £100bn of public finance on tackling the climate crisis. Speaking at an event in Leeds, the party’s shadow chancellor said: “This includes a new £10bn renewable power fund to leverage in over £100bn [...]
Four reasons to fear Labour’s plan to part-nationalise BT November 15, 2019 British businesses today poured scorn on Labour’s plans to provide Brits with free broadband and part-nationalise BT, slamming the policy as a major setback for the UK’s digital economy. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has set out plans to nationalise BT’s full-fibre arm, Openreach, along with other divisions, funding it by taxing multinational tech giants. Read [...]