Autumn Statement 2015: The seven invisible rabbits that will help George Osborne balance his books November 25, 2015 The first Autumn Statement of a new parliament is a big event in the economic calendar. Yesterday’s statement by George Osborne was made, so we thought, against a difficult background: the latest statistics on public receipts and spending had been disappointing; the re-classification of the Housing Associations as public entities had put up his starting [...]
As George Osborne poaches policy from the opposition, have the Tories now won the centre ground? October 5, 2015 Laura Swire, director at Hanover Communications, says Yes George Osborne not only parked his tank on Labour’s lawn; he disembarked, helped himself to their porridge and then settled himself into bed. Labour has spent months telling the nation (the parts of it on Twitter anyway) that anybody who believes in prudent financial management or a [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond is to host Chinese officials for November talks on future ties with the UK October 16, 2016 Philip Hammond is set to host senior Chinese officials for trade talks next month, as the UK seeks to build ties with non-EU trade partners. The talks will be the latest in a series of annual summits between the UK and China, and comes after George Osborne last year travelled to the Far East. Senior [...]
EU referendum: Politicians and business leaders line up to campaign for and against Brexit October 12, 2015 Heavyweight politicians and business leaders have nailed their colours to the mast in the debate over Britain’s EU membership by throwing their support behind the “in” and “out” campaigns, as referendum battle lines are drawn. The campaign for the UK to remain in the EU, Britain Stronger in Europe, officially launches today. Led by former Marks [...]
Lord Nigel Lawson hits out at Bank of England governor Mark Carney’s EU speech October 22, 2015 Former Conservative chancellor Lord Nigel Lawson has taken issue with governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney's eagerly-awaited European Union speech, which was delivered last night. In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lawson said Carney's speech was "regrettable" and that he went above his remit. No other Bank governor would have "waded in" [...]
EU referendum: Downing street denies scaling back on renegotiating terms of EU membership October 11, 2015 Number 10 has denied reports that the government is backing down on some key tenants of its attempted EU renegotiation. Reports over the weekend suggested Prime Minister David Cameron had watered down his demands, including restricting benefits to EU migrants, the Guardian reported. Read more: Treasury Select Committee to review UK's EU membership Downing street said [...]
The Leap have flourished in pro-entrepreneur Britain December 16, 2015 THE year in politics has been nothing short of astonishing. Defying predictions, we now have a Conservative majority government and Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader, and the gulf between the two main parties is widening faster than thought. Yet there has been one subject on which all parties have been agreed: that entrepreneurs are good [...]
Davos 2016: An outlook as chilly as the setting January 22, 2016 So much for a fourth industrial revolution. It’s an inexorable law of the World Economic Forum that each year’s summit must be more crowded, expensive and pessimistic than the last. Whether it’s robotics, fintech or climate change, you can take your pick of this year’s buzz-themes – many dreamed up with the aid of handsomely [...]
Prime Minister’s Questions: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hammers David Cameron on tax credits again November 4, 2015 In this week's episode of Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn grilled Prime Minister David Cameron on tax credit changes again. Read more: David Cameron's first PMQs in full Tory goverment: The bunfight returns Corbyn said he had asked Cameron the same question six times last week and the Prime Minister failed to give him [...]
EU referendum: “UK is yet to reveal details of renegotiation”, say European leaders October 29, 2015 As Prime Minister David Cameron met with eight other European leaders in Iceland yesterday, two revealed the United Kingdom has not yet laid down concrete plans on what it wants to achieve in a renegotiation with the European Union. Cameron has previously said he will announce a full set of proposals in November, adding that "negotiations [...]