Investing around the election: What should you think about? February 10, 2015 Be wary of specific sector bets, but look to policy changes around smaller firms for opportunities. With less than three months to go until the General Election, we’re no closer to a clear outcome. The two largest political parties have almost identical support in the opinion polls – both are hovering at around 32-33 per [...]
Four things we learned from the British Chambers of Commerce conference: Europe, Miliband’s absence, women in business and a British Mittelstand February 10, 2015 1. Where’s Ed? The audience of business leaders at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) annual conference attracted government's top tier today. Put them all in the same room together and it may as well have been PMQs… except for one notable absence. An Ed Miliband shaped hole in the line-up did not go unnoticed [...]
Campaign group secures a third of funding for nationwide “I Am An Immigrant” campaign ahead of General Election February 10, 2015 In the run up to the General Election there will be plenty of mudslinging and it's quite likely some of it will be directed towards the main parties' policies on immigration. It's for that reason, among others, that a campaign group is planning a nationwide poster campaign to celebrate the contribution immigrants make to [...]
General Election 2015: Nick Clegg pledges measures to get one million more women in work by 2020 February 10, 2015 The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has said the Liberal Democrats will aim to get one million more women into work by 2020. The ambitious plans, outlined by the Lib Dem leader at the British Chambers of Commerce annual conference, would place the UK in the top five OECD countries for female employment. If elected [...]
General Election 2015: David Cameron plans new “help to grow” scheme to create British Mittelstand February 10, 2015 David Cameron has pledged billions of pounds in new funding to help small and medium-sized businesses grow. The Prime Minister promised £1bn as part of a new “help to grow”scheme to create a British version of Germany’s Mittelstand- a backbone of medium-sized firms across the country. Speaking to business leaders at the British Chambers of [...]
Labour could lose half its Scottish seats, says new TNS poll February 10, 2015 The Scottish National Party (SNP) could double its vote in the 2015 General Election, according to a poll from TNS. The news is a further blow to Scottish Labour, who, if the figures are representative, could see themselves on the wrong side of a 10-point deficit and facing the loss of half of its Scottish seats. [...]
General Election 2015: Ed Balls tells British Chambers of Commerce EU exit is biggest risk to British business in the last decade February 10, 2015 Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has warned that a British exit from the EU poses the biggest risk to the UK in the last decade, adding that holding a referendum earlier than planned, in 2016, would also be bad for businesses. Speaking to business leaders at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) annual conference, Balls said [...]
General Election 2015: British Chambers of Commerce calls for quick EU referendum February 10, 2015 A vote on whether Britain should remain a part of the EU or not should take place soon to avoid uncertainties for business, the head of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has said. Speaking ahead of the BCC annual conference, director general John Longworth told the BBC: "Our members say that they actually want [...]
Labour paternity leave pledge: How does the UK compare to other OECD countries? February 10, 2015 Ed Miliband is advocating an increase in paternity leave (Source: Getty) Labour leader Ed Miliband has promised that if his party gets into power this May, it will dramatically increase paternity leave and pay. New fathers will get four weeks off and £260 a week under the new proposals: double the time and £100 a [...]
David Cameron at the British Chambers of Commerce conference: “Give Britain a pay rise” February 10, 2015 "It is time Britain had a pay rise": that will be the message from David Cameron, as the Prime Minister addresses the British Chambers of Commerce conference today. In his speech, Cameron will say that in the current low-inflation, low-oil-price environment, businesses can afford to pay workers more – and that conditions "have not been this good [...]