Nicola Sturgeon calls for devolved government leaders to have input into EU renegotiation June 19, 2015 Nicola Sturgeon, first minister of Scotland, has demanded that her views should be heard in David Cameron's renegotiation talks with the EU. As the Prime Minister continues his discussions with EU leaders in a diplomatic blitz of Europe, Sturgeon called for a "forum" which would allow the administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to [...]
SNP calls for full fiscal autonomy for Scotland but Tory minister slams it as a “shambles” June 16, 2015 The SNP is using its newly acquired Westminster clout to push for more powers to be devolved to Scotland. The party, which is now the third largest in Parliament, has sent a letter to the government's Scottish secretary David Mundell calling for more Holyrood powers. Under its plans, Scotland would be able to control corporation tax, capital [...]
Bills, bills, bills: EU referendum and Scotland bills go before parliament May 28, 2015 Just a day after the Queen's Speech confirmed what we knew the Tories would have to do, a bill has dropped into the House of Commons' in-tray aimed at clearing a path for the in-out vote to take place. The summary of the European Union Referendum Bill says its aim is “to make provision [...]
What was in the 2015 Queen’s Speech, bill-by-bill May 28, 2015 A full employment and welfare benefits bill aiming to create 2m more jobs and 3m more apprenticeships An enterprise bill to cut red tape and help small and medium-sized businesses resolve late payment disputes A personal tax allowance bill raising the personal allowance to £12,500 and linking future increases to the minimum wage A finance bill [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: Business community and others react to announcements on immigration, housing, employment, tax, Scotland and English devolution May 27, 2015 The Queen's Speech – the first full-Tory state opening of Parliament since 1996 – has come and gone. But what is the business community making of it all? Here are the best reactions so far. On the tax lock: Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of tax at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants says: “This is a [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: Everything we know so far including the EU referendum, devolution, Human Rights Act, income tax, housing and Scotland May 26, 2015 The Queen's Speech will unveil the Conservative government's policy agenda on Wednesday and having shed its coalition partner at the General Election, some pretty major shifts in policy are expected. Here are some of the top pledges expected to feature in the state opening of parliament tomorrow. EU referendum bill Having committed to holding an [...]
As Nicola Sturgeon demands more powers, is a second Scottish independence vote inevitable? May 17, 2015 Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, says Yes. The genie is out of the bottle, the toothpaste out of the tube. Pick whichever metaphor you like, but be sure of one thing: it’s a case of “when”, not “if”. The SNP is simply biding its time, waiting for its chance. [...]
David Cameron and Nicola Sturgeon talk Scottish devolution as PM bids to save the union May 14, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will meet face-to-face for the first time today since last week’s General Election. The election ushered in big victories for both Cameron’s Conservatives and Sturgeon’s SNP, with the Prime Minister’s party securing an outright national majority and the Scottish nationalists winning 56 of Scotland’s [...]
Thousands want Manchester, Sheffield and the north to become part of “New Scotland” May 14, 2015 Thousands of northerners want to break away from the UK, even as chancellor George Osborne announces new devolved powers to cities across the country. More than 12,000 people have signed a petition calling for the north to secede from the UK and join Scotland, creating a "New Scotland" that includes Manchester, Sheffield and some of the country's [...]
Can Labour win in 2020? The tectonic plates are shifting in the Tories’ favour May 13, 2015 Deja vu about 1992 is back. In the immediate aftermath of the 1992 election, speculation was rife that the Labour Party would be out of power for a generation. Five years later, Tony Blair won in a landslide. Will we see the same political cycle over the coming years, with Labour gradually re-establishing itself and [...]