As public borrowing remains high, is Osborne’s failure to tackle the deficit a cause for concern? November 23, 2014 David Kern is chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, says Yes. October’s public finance figures have provided further evidence that the government’s plan to reduce Britain’s deficit in the current financial year is unlikely to be realised. It’s a major concern that the deficit has remained unsustainably large since the crisis, and progress [...]
Princess Diana’s wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel talks Catch-22s and Richard Branson November 23, 2014 You'd be hard pressed to get one up on Elizabeth Emanuel when it comes to heydays – and the fashion designer hasn’t just had one. At the age of 28, she designed the wedding dress of Lady Diana Spencer – a day she wouldn’t trade for the world, she says. And ten years later, [...]
Interactive: Theresa May says the Conservatives may miss their immigration targets, but how high is UK immigration? November 23, 2014 The home secretary Theresa May has all but admitted that the government will be unable to meet its target of limiting immigration to the tens of thousands in time for next year’s general election. What is more, David Cameron is expected to announce bans on benefits for UK migrants, despite the data showing immigrants are [...]
Cameron plans to ban EU migrant benefits following Mark Reckless win for Ukip at Rochester and Strood November 23, 2014 David Cameron will announce plans to ban benefits for some EU migrants this week, as he takes a tougher stance on Europe and tries to ward off the political threat posed by the UK Independence Party (Ukip). A report being published tomorrow by think tank Open Europe reveals that the Prime Minister is working [...]
Tessa Jowell plans to run for London Mayor in 2016 as Labour candidate in fight to succeed Boris Johnson November 22, 2014 Veteran Labour MP and former cabinet minister Tessa Jowell has thrown her hat in the ring for the race to succeed Boris Johnson as London Mayor in 2016. The former culture secretary told the BBC she is "certainly planning to run" for mayor. However, she added that now "isn't time for a formal declaration". Jowell [...]
Mark Reckless splits with Nigel Farage on Ukip immigration policy after Rochester by-election win November 22, 2014 Barely 24 hours after being sworn in as Ukip's second elected MP Marke Reckless is as already criticising his party leader Nigel Farage. Speaking to the Times, Reckless said Ukip's immigration policy "changed on Wednesday, and I'm a bit sore about how I came out of that". Speaking on Tuesday at a hustings event during [...]
ECB kicks off its asset-back securities purchase programme November 21, 2014 The European Central Bank (ECB) has kicked off its programme to buy asset-backed securities in an effort to stimulate the region's flagging economy. ECB chief Mario Draghi confirmed in September that the bank would start buying asset-backed securities in a programme slated to last "at least" two years. Because of the ECB's collateral rules, the [...]
Mario Draghi delivers dovish speech as inflation becomes ‘increasingly challenging’ November 21, 2014 European Central Bank (ECB) boss Mario Draghi has said the Bank will "do what we must to raise inflation and inflation expectations as fast as possible" across the eurozone, hinting a new round of monetary stimulus is on its way. At a conference in Frankfurt, Draghi suggested that if current policies fail to work, then the [...]
The politicians brought down by Twitter: Emily Thornberry’s Rochester nightmare, Diane Abbott’s divide and rule and Miliband’s Bob Holness disaster November 21, 2014 After a storm on Twitter which was then picked up by the mainstream press, Islington MP Emily Thornberry resigned from the shadow cabinet last night. While pounding the pavements of Rochester and Strood, the Labour MP tweeted a picture of a white van parked in the driveway of a house displaying several England flags with the [...]
George Osborne calls off challenge to EU bankers’ bonus cap November 20, 2014 The UK government has withdrawn its legal challenge to the EU bankers’ bonus cap, George Osborne admitted today. The chancellor admitted the challenge was “unlikely to succeed” after an advisor to the European Court of Justice rejected the UK government’s argument. The EU legislation limits bonuses to 100 per cent of a banker’s [...]
