DEBATE: Should business rates be scrapped and replaced with a land tax, as the Lib Dems suggest? December 10, 2019 Should business rates be scrapped and replaced with a land tax, as the Lib Dems suggest? Liz Jarvis, writer, editor, and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Southampton Itchen, says YES. Nearly a million businesses in the UK have closed in the past three years. Businesses, especially small firms unable to bear the brunt of Brexit [...]
How the Tories could become the party of the working class December 10, 2019 Polls are inherently unreliable. We know this from the 2017 election, the 2015 election, the 2016 EU referendum — the list goes on. The latest polls show a roughly 10-point lead for the Tories. That should be enough to form a government, but is some way off the 68 seat majority that YouGov’s famous MRP [...]
Election 2019: ‘It was very personal, very hurtful,’ says Wimbledon’s Stephen Hammond December 9, 2019 “I’ll be voting for you because you’re not like Boris, you’re not like those nutters,” says a softly-spoken man from within a rather grand house. “You’re rational and I want to keep the rational ones in.” As endorsements go, it’s a mixed bag. But in Wimbledon — as in so many affluent, Remain-voting constituencies, it’s [...]
Election 2019: Tories backtrack over claim aide was punched at Leeds Hospital December 9, 2019 The Conservatives have been forced to backtrack over claims a government aide was punched by a Labour activist during an altercation at Leeds General Infirmary. Health secretary Matt Hancock had been visiting the hospital after pictures emerged of a four-year old boy with suspected pneumonia sleeping on the hospital floor with coats for cover. However, [...]
Jaguar Land Rover sales fall despite hopes for Chinese recovery December 9, 2019 Jaguar Land Rover sales fell last month, despite the car maker seeing “green shoots” of a recovery in the all-important struggling Chinese market. The manufacturer, which is owned by Indian conglomerate Tata, saw retail sales drop 3.4 per cent year-on-year in November. Read more: British car industry troubles run far deeper than Brexit But in [...]
Election 2019: BBC licence could be scrapped, Boris Johnson hints December 9, 2019 Boris Johnson has hinted he may scrap the licence fee that funds the BBC, during an unscripted question and answer session while visiting the North East of England. Asked if he would consider scrapping the licence fee as a whole, Johnson said he was “under pressure not to extemporise policy on the hoof” but admitted [...]
Election 2019: McDonnell pledges Labour Budget on 5 February December 9, 2019 A Labour government would hold its first Budget on 5 February, shadow chancellor John McDonnell has pledged today. Speaking from Vauxhall, where Labour candidate Florence Eshalomi is expected to replace outgoing MP Kate Hoey, McDonnell said the party had already “won the argument” that austerity was wrong. “We face an existential threat… we need to [...]
Too much regulation on bitcoin and cryptocurrency could scare away future tech innovators December 9, 2019 Back in October, the FCA closed its consultation on banning the sale of cryptocurrency derivatives to retail investors. A consultation that I hope will start a collaborative discussion, bringing crypto and its regulatory framework up to speed with the rapid growth of the industry. Thankfully, the FCA’s approach so far has been inclusive and forward-thinking. [...]
Jo Swinson admits revoking Article 50 ‘doesn’t look likely’ as Lib Dems unveil second ref plan December 9, 2019 Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has admitted the best chance of stopping Brexit is through a second referendum rather than pursuing the party’s divisive policy of revoking Article 50. Read more: Jo Swinson confronts Extinction Rebellion protesters glued to Lib Dem bus This morning the party unveiled plans for “ready-to-go” legislation for a second referendum [...]
World’s largest whisky collection expected to fetch £8m at auction December 9, 2019 Auctioneers have unveiled what is believed to be the world’s largest private collection of whisky to ever go under the hammer. The collection, which is expected to fetch between £7m and £8m at auction, includes over 3,900 bottles. Read more: South African drinkers get their whisky fix with post-Brexit trade deal It was built up [...]