London mayoral election 2016: New YouGov poll shows Sadiq Khan has a six-point lead over Zac Goldsmith December 3, 2015 Labour candidate for mayor of London Sadiq Khan now has a six-point lead over Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith, according to a new poll out today. A YouGov survey of more than 1,000 Londoners found 53 per cent of likely voters favoured Khan, compared to 47 per cent backing Goldsmith. The poll found that Khan has a particularly strong lead (57 [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith courts small businesses December 3, 2015 Conservative London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith will launch a charm offensive on the capital’s small businesses tonight, promising to provide them with better broadband, faster payments and more funding from City Hall. Speaking at a dinner for London members of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Goldsmith will say that while “business is good in [...]
Business groups slam shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s proposal for ministers to “kitemark” businesses December 2, 2015 Business groups have hit back at shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s suggestion that a Labour government would recognise firms for meeting living wage targets and paying their taxes “transparently and properly”, while naming and shaming those who failed to comply. Speaking at the London Chambers of Commerce yesterday, McDonnell said Labour would bring in a “Good Business” [...]
Syria air strikes vote: Yvette Cooper, Margaret Beckett and Tim Farron say they’ll vote for bombing during all-day debate December 2, 2015 Labour, Liberal Democrat and DUP MPs have all backed British air strikes against Islamic State (Isis) targets in Syria in today's all-day debate in the House of Commons. High-profile Labour backbenchers, including former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and former deputy Labour leader Margaret Beckett, have said they will vote in favour of the government's proposals for [...]
Tory MP James Cleverly will lead the re-launched Free Enterprise Group December 1, 2015 A group of MPs favouring free market policies is relaunching today under the leadership of James Cleverly, the Tory MP for Braintree. Cleverly is taking the reins of the Free Enterprise Group from Kwasi Karteng, another Conservative. The group was first set up after the 2010 General Election, and counts government ministers Harriet Baldwin, Andrea [...]
Tory bullying scandal: City law firm Clifford Chance to take full control of investigation into Mark Clarke claims after Grant Shapps resignation November 30, 2015 The Conservative Party has handed over full control of an investigation into allegations surrounding the apparent suicide of a Conservative party activist to City law firm Clifford Chance, CCHQ confirmed today. CCHQ said Rob Halfon and Lord Feldman, who have both come under pressure to step down over the scandal, will recuse themselves from a board meeting held to consider the [...]
Syria air strikes: Labour confirms MPs will have a free vote on bombing campaign November 30, 2015 The Labour party has confirmed that its MPs will have a "free vote" on the government's proposal to extend the military's anti-ISIS bombing campaign into Syria. In a statement this afternoon, a spokesperson for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Today's shadow cabinet agreed to back Jeremy Corbyn's recommendation of a free vote on the Government's proposal [...]
Skills shortage: One in three say they’re put off hiring apprentices because system is too bureaucratic November 30, 2015 One in three small construction firms is not taking on apprentices because of the bureaucracy involved, according to a new research report out today from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). FMB chief executive Brian Berry said that while a recent survey of his group's members showed that nearly all (94 per cent) of small construction companies [...]
US ambassador to UK Matthew Barzun: Americans should continue to be in UK despite terror-related worldwide travel alert November 30, 2015 American citizens should continue to work, travel and study in Britain despite a worldwide travel alert put in place by the US state department, the US ambassador to the UK has said. Speaking to City A.M. this morning at the London Stock Exchange, ambassador Matthew Barzun said: "We need to be smart, and all of [...]
MPs back sugar tax endorsed by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver November 30, 2015 An influential parliamentary committee has called for a new “sugary drinks tax” on full sugar soft drinks. In a report published today, the health select committee says that “bold and urgent action” is required to curb childhood obesity. Committee chair Sarah Wollaston, a GP who has been the Conservative MP for Totnes since 2010, said: “One-third [...]
