Tax fractures in the Labour party: Balls refuses to back Miliband’s “deed of variation” February 15, 2015 Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has refused to condone Ed Miliband's use of a tax loophole to avoid paying full inheritance tax. The Labour leader and his family reportedly adopted the “deed of variation” when posthumously changing the will of Ralph Miliband, Ed's father. This allowed them to not pay full inheritance tax on [...]
General Election 2015: David Cameron’s approval rating at its highest for four years – poll February 15, 2015 He who laughs last in May will laugh the loudest, but David Cameron may allow himself a wry chuckle today after the results of a new poll put his personal rating at 41per cent, 18 points higher than that of Ed Miliband. According to the Opinium poll for the Observer, Cameron’s rating is the highest [...]
General Election 2015: Ed Miliband promises review of HMRC after HSBC tax avoidance row February 14, 2015 Labour has set its sights on the tax inspector, promising a “root and branch” review of HMRC following criticism of the investigation it made into tax avoidance which came to light from the HSBC Swiss bank leaks. Miliband made the pledge speaking at the Welsh Labour Conference in Swansea as the issue of tax avoidance [...]
Too much discipline, knot enough romance – Editor’s Letter February 12, 2015 Perhaps, whatever Ed Miliband says, Britain likes the idea of being dominated by a successful businessman with a dark side. With the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey in cinemas from tonight, DIY stores are stocking up on rope and cable ties, anticipating a surge of curious customers inspired by the big screen action. [...]
Grant Shapps puts free trade at heart of Conservatives’ election pitch February 12, 2015 Conservative chairman Grant Shapps made a robust defence of free trade yesterday, telling Tory activists: “The only times in human history when ordinary people have escaped a life of grinding poverty is when we’ve allowed enterprise to flourish.” Speaking at the Institute of Directors, he called for the removal of tariffs that are “making it [...]
FTSE Shades of Grey: Why markets should not fear election uncertainty February 12, 2015 Many may well be planning their Valentine’s weekend around the much-anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey film, released today. But the fact we’re now 82 days away from the long-awaited General Election is more likely to get investors slightly hotter under the collar. Of course, in most cases, elections don’t matter very much at all to [...]
Ukip’s Nigel Farage claims “corporatism” has made us “victims of the economy” February 12, 2015 Today, Nigel Farage spoke of the dangers of “corporatism” during a speech on Ukip's vision for the future of Britain. At Castle Point in Essex, where Ukip candidate Jamie Huntman is currently standing, Farage said the current system made us “victims of our own economy”, and that we are living under a “lethal [...]
General election stalemate set to rock stocks: Markets face historic uncertainty, UBS warns February 11, 2015 Uncertainty before and after 7 May threatens to make 2015 a turbulent year for markets. Markets will take a hit from historic levels of uncertainty before and after May’s General Election, analysis by a leading investment bank has warned. Share indices typically fall by an average of three per cent in the six months after [...]
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon calls for boost to UK state spending February 11, 2015 As the Scottish First Minister sets out her election agenda, Chris Papadopoullos reports from University College London Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon ventured to University College London (UCL) yesterday where she received the backing of loyalists and anti-cuts activists, as she laid out her election pledges. “I am impressed with Sturgeon thus far, [...]
PMQs descends into mud-slinging match as Cameron and Miliband attempt to distance themselves from HSBC tax taint February 11, 2015 HSBC dominated Prime Minister's Questions today as David Cameron and Ed Miliband traded insults over which party had closest ties to those clients on the list of alleged tax evaders. The two took turns to sling mud at each other over the matter, with the Labour leader describing his counterpart as a "dodgy Prime [...]