Countdown to Christmas: From Volkswagen’s emissions scandal and Ed Ball’s surprise defeat at the General Election to the Paris terror attacks, these are the most surprising news stories of 2015 December 20, 2015 Some news you register with perhaps a shrug of the shoulder, while other stories might prompt an arched eyebrow. There are some events, however, that make you sit up and pay attention. This year was not without a few of those key moments – good and bad – that gripped us. Here are the most [...]
Labour leadership campaign: Tories support Corbyn in bid to damage party June 17, 2015 Conservatives have launched a campaign to elect Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party in order to damage the party's electoral prospects. After Labour's poor results in the General Election, they believe that another left-leaning leader would lock the party out of government for another term. Changes in the Labour party rules now allow [...]
EU referendum: Stop the complacency or Britain could sleepwalk out of the European Union October 1, 2015 There must have been something in the water at Number 11 Downing Street in the 1970s and 1980s: two of the most famous post-war chancellors have now said they will vote Out in David Cameron’s forthcoming EU referendum. Denis Healey told the New Statesman some time ago that he would vote to quit Europe [...]
EU referendum polls: Eurosceptics’ unholy alliance with the anti-EU hard left – your enemy’s enemy isn’t your friend October 26, 2015 With the Prime Minister apparently arranging panicked meetings of special advisers to aid the floundering Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, the UK’s EU referendum debate is effectively underway. Polls appear to show Brexiteers on the march. With the EU stumbling from one crisis to the next, and the poverty of positive messages emanating from Europhiles, [...]
Welfare Bill passes as Labour leadership descends into crisis July 21, 2015 The House of Commons passed government plans for £12bn in welfare cuts last night, including tax credit cuts and welfare caps, while acting Labour leader Harriet Harman suffered a rebellion in the vote. Read more: The government's welfare bill is necessary – but more must be done After five hours of debate, Parliament backed [...]
Labour leadership race: Party gives positive reaction to Corbyn’s candidacy June 4, 2015 Many politicians and commentators from across the political spectrum have welcomed the addition of Jeremy Corbyn to the Labour leadership race, standing on a "clear anti-austerity platform". As Corbyn announced his candidacy on Wednesday, he said: This decision to stand is in response to an overwhelming call by Labour members who want to see a [...]
UK skills gap: Britain already has a crisis and rejecting skilled migration will only hit future growth harder October 6, 2015 It may sound like just another overused sound bite, but the skills gap is one of the most important issues affecting UK businesses today. With party conference season well underway, speeches about reducing the deficit and accelerating the UK’s economic recovery have been in plentiful supply. Yet while all eyes have been on Jeremy Corbyn’s [...]
Labour’s EU contortions miss the point: It’s the world’s sick man not socialism’s saviour September 20, 2015 Let the gormlessness begin. After horrifying his own party – and the rest of the country besides – over his utterly moronic refusal to sing the national anthem at the Battle of Britain memorial ceremony (of all the things I thought everyone might agree on, brave resistance to Hitler would be it), new Labour leader [...]
Ed Balls slams Labour’s “anti-business, anti-bank” rhetoric under Ed Miliband leadership August 1, 2015 Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has criticised the "anti-business" rhetoric used by Labour under the leadership of Ed Miliband. Read more: Ed Balls – "Never say never" of political comeback City trading floors are said to have whooped in celebration when news came through that Balls had lost his seat in the biggest upset of [...]
EU refugee crisis: Germany reinstates border controls and exits Schengen agreement as refugee system “reaches its limit” September 13, 2015 Germany has reinstated border controls with Austria and temporarily exited the Schengen system, overwhelmed by the number of refugees arriving to the country daily, as EU leaders gear up for an emergency summit about the biggest refugee crisis since World War II.. These emergency measures are designed to take some pressure off Germany's overheated asylum [...]