EU referendum: Lord Mandelson warns Brexit would lead to tariffs of up to 20 per cent on UK exports, inflicting “serious damage on competitiveness” March 1, 2016 Labour peer Peter Mandelson has warned Britain leaving the European Union would lead to tariffs of up to 20 per cent on UK exports, inflicting "serious damage on the competitiveness" of some industries. The former European Union trade commissioner said in a speech today that those campaigning for a so-called Brexit are "trying to sell people a fantasy” [...]
EU referendum: Mayor Boris Johnson backs report saying London could be Europe’s world city after Brexit – but needs further infrastructure investment March 1, 2016 Mayor of London Boris Johnson has made his latest intervention into the EU debate, arguing that can still be "Europe's world city" even in the case of a Brexit. The Johnson-backed report, titled London: The Global Powerhouse, says that if the UK forges ties with new markets and maintains its competitive edge, London can overcome competition from rival global [...]
EU referendum: These are the most eurosceptic – and europhile – parts of Britain March 1, 2016 The campaign is heating up in the build up to the EU referendum in June, with Prime Minister David Cameron recommending the UK to stay in but many in parliament, his party, and even his cabinet disagreeing. The In and Out campaign groups will now be ramping up their efforts in a last ditch attempt to win over [...]
Super Tuesday 2016: Democratic vs Republican polls and predictions – what to expect in the US Presidential Election primaries March 1, 2016 Republican and Democrat presidential candidates will undergo their biggest day of judgement in the build up to the 2016 Presidential election so far today, with a dozen states and one territory voting on one day, in the first taste of a national test for candidates of both colours. Republican Republican candidates have the opportunity to [...]
Budget 2016: Royal Statistical Society rejects Treasury Select Committee’s calls for Treasury to take control of UK statistics at next month’s Budget February 29, 2016 Statistics experts have today slammed calls from MPs to hand full responsibility of national statistics to the Treasury, saying such a change would be "the wrong move". In a letter today to City A.M., Mike Hughes, chair of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) advisory group, said "strengthening the independence of statistics is laudable but bringing them under [...]
Budget 2016: Brewers call on chancellor George Osborne to announce a fourth consecutive cut in beer duty February 29, 2016 Surprise, surprise: the British brewing industry is calling on chancellor George Osborne to once again cut beer duty in next month's Budget. If Osborne were to axe the tax on booze on 16 March, it would mark the fourth consecutive annual cut in beer duty. In a 23-page submission to the Treasury today, the Society of [...]
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says to make change in Europe we must remain in the EU ahead of June referendum February 29, 2016 First Minister Nicola Sturgeon desperately wants the United Kingdom to vote to remain in the European Union, arguing it is the only way to make real change. Speaking at the Resolution Foundation, Sturgeon said that if the UK is to influence positive change in Europe, we must remain within the EU. Sturgeon echoed other Remain campaigners [...]
Labour party signs up former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis to advisory role February 29, 2016 Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis just couldn't stay away from the political arena. After having left his position in the government and started his own political movement, he's now taking a role advising the Labour party. Supporting Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, Varoufakis will be advising Labour in "some capacity" due to his experience in dealing [...]
EU referendum: Six in 10 small business owners would vote for the UK to stay in the EU, while 17 per cent back Brexit according to new Moore Stephens pol February 29, 2016 Six in 10 owners of small and medium-sized businesses in Britain would vote to stay in the European Union, according to a new poll out today from a leading accountancy group. Moore Stephens polled nearly 500 owner-managed businesses in Britain, across multiple sectors, finding that just 17 per cent of so-called SMEs back Brexit. "Owner-managed businesses [...]
Budget 2016: Sir Charlie Bean’s report on national statistics should be published ahead of Osborne’s budget, according to the Treasury Select Committee February 29, 2016 An influential group of MPs have today raised red flags over the government's handling of official national statistics, ahead of the publication of a major review on the subject. Andrew Tyrie, the Conservative MP who chairs the Treasury Select Committee, has written to Sir Charlie Bean calling for a "shake up" of UK national statistics. [...]