Queen’s Speech 2015: New parliament debates Queen’s Speech May 27, 2015 The new parliament has commenced its first debate, with new plans for legislation announced in the Queen's Speech due to be discussed. The new session was opened by the commons speaker John Bercow while MP Simon Burns kicked off proceedings with the humble address and MP Sheryll Murray seconding the address. Burns cracked jokes at [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: Here’s the full transcript May 27, 2015 My Lords and members of the House of Commons. My government will legislate in the interests of everyone in our country. It will adopt a one nation approach, helping working people get on, supporting aspiration, giving new opportunities to the most disadvantaged and bringing different parts of our country together. My government will [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: EU and tax cuts due to dominate while human rights plans delayed May 27, 2015 The EU referendum and tax cuts are expected to feature prominently in today's Queen's Speech. In the first all-Tory Queen's Speech since 1996, the government will set out its legislative plans at 11:30 BST. Prime Minister David Cameron has previously said the speech would set out a "clear vision for what our country can be". [...]
New government sets its agenda May 26, 2015 Lauren Fedor previews what we can expect from today’s Queen’s Speech PRIME Minister David Cameron has said that today’s Queen’s Speech will set out his government’s vision for a “one nation” country “of security and opportunity for everyone, at every life stage”. But what exactly does that mean? What legislative proposals can we expect the speech [...]
Why it’s highly unlikely that David Cameron’s immigration crackdown will work May 21, 2015 The government yesterday unveiled its latest plan to crack down on illegal immigration, by making it significantly less attractive for people to remain in the UK, working illegally. To achieve this, it is proposing to introduce a new criminal offence – “illegal working” – together with plans to seize the wages of those working illegally. [...]
National Waiters’ Day: Unions protest outside Pizza Express, Grosvenor House Marriot Hotel over low pay May 21, 2015 Waiting staff are out on protest today in central London over low pay and claims that Pizza Express management are “pocketing an estimated £1m that should go to poorly paid staff”. Unite the union is organising the event, which began at midday on National Waiters' Day, outside the Leicester Square branch of Pizza Express. [...]
Inflation turns negative for the first time in over 50 years – but it should only be a blip May 19, 2015 Britain fell into deflation for the first time since the 1960s after data released today showed the consumer price index (CPI) had dipped into negative territory. The Office for National Statistics said prices fell 0.1 per cent in the year to April on a fall in air and sea fares due to the timing of [...]
General Election 2015: Why I will be voting Labour, by Simon Franks May 6, 2015 As a nation, today we need to decide which party is most likely to deliver the kind of society we want. The society I want is balanced, dynamic, outward looking, just, entrepreneurial, and meritocratic. A society full of opportunities for all, regardless of where you live, what your parents do, or what type of school [...]
David Cameron is right: We should balance the budget without tax hikes April 29, 2015 The Prime Minister pledged yesterday to introduce a law to prevent increases in income tax, national insurance and VAT for the whole of the next Parliament. While a law may be a crude tool, it does reinforce two crucial points. First, deficit reduction should come primarily from reductions in public spending rather than further tax [...]
UK house prices: Is this the return of the first-time buyer? April 23, 2015 As UK house prices have risen, so has the story of the death of the first-time buyer. New data suggests this despair may have come too soon, however. A third of people feel better placed to move home than they did 12 months ago, despite wage growth lagging far behind house price inflation. The figures [...]