Leaked tax returns: Four things we learned about US President Donald Trump’s income March 15, 2017 US President Donald Trump paid $38m (£31m) in taxes on income of $150m (£123m) in 2005, according to leaked copies of his tax return. Two pages of what are purported to be Trump’s tax return were sent in the post to David Cay Johnston, founder of the website DCReport.org, and reported by MSNBC. The White [...]
Don’t panic – but remember Brexit will be a tough political process March 15, 2017 Everyone benefits from free trade. For years now the UK has had a persistently large trade deficit with the EU, which by rights should make Europe more amenable to doing a “business as usual” Brexit deal with us. If only life were so logical our Brexit negotiations would run smoothly and full future access would [...]
Need a reason to cut public sector pay and pensions? Look at Jeremy Corbyn March 15, 2017 The shambles over the treatment of National Insurance has dominated the media’s reporting of the recent Budget. But only the previous week, Jeremy Corbyn made a complete horlicks of his tax return for the second year running. The Bearded One makes a saintly fuss over making his tax affairs transparent. In 2016, he forgot to [...]
May 2, Sturgeon nil: The SNP has no case for a second referendum on Scottish independence March 15, 2017 If there is one thing that we can be certain about following this week’s political events, it is that Prime Minister Theresa May is not simply David Cameron in a skirt. After a significant amount of establishment and media pressure to back down on her Brexit timetable and allow many concessions and delays, she has had her [...]
The UK risks missing out on the benefits of driverless cars without government action March 15, 2017 The economic gains from driverless cars could bypass the UK entirely without rapid ministerial action, a House of Lords committee has warned. The UK has sought to be at the forefront of trials for autonomous vehicles, but peers have today said ministers must engage in a more cross-governmental approach. The House of Lords science and technology [...]
Google, Facebook and Twitter won’t tell MPs how many staff moderate content in a major grilling by the Home Affairs Select Committee March 14, 2017 Several of the world's biggest tech companies faced a major grilling from MPs over their efforts to tackle online abuse and hate crime as German authorities pushed further, threatening them with multimillion pound fines over failures. Top executives from Google, Facebook and Twitter faced a lashing from MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee for failing to do enough [...]
Now “gallant George” Osborne has ridden to Charlotte Hogg’s defence March 14, 2017 Former chancellor George Osborne has taken time out from his newly-established portfolio career to wade into the debate about Charlotte Hogg, the now ex-Bank of England deputy governor for markets and banking. Hogg, who came under fierce criticism last week when it emerged that she had forgotten to add her banker brother's name to her official list of [...]
Spain issues Scottish warning as Holyrood vote on referendum motion is dated for next week March 14, 2017 A Spanish minister has warned that Scotland must “join the queue” for EU membership, and backed the continuation of the United Kingdom. Speaking in Peru, Spanish foreign minister Alfonso Dastis said: “Spain supports the integrity of the United Kingdom, and does not encourage secessions or divisions in any of the member states.” Dastis added that Scotland, [...]
Donor Arron Banks cuts ties with Ukip to focus on his own political plans March 14, 2017 One of Ukip's largest donors has announced that he will sever his links with the party to focus on his own political movement. Insurance boss Arron Banks has been locked in disputes with the party's sole MP, Douglas Carswell, over a potential honour for former Ukip leader Nigel Farage. Banks, a close ally of Farage, has [...]
French presidential candidate Francois Fillon placed under formal investigation by French prosecutor for misuse of public funds March 14, 2017 French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has been placed under formal investigation for misuse of public funds, the country's prosecutor has confirmed. Fillon reportedly employed his wife Penelope, who was brought up in Abergavenny in South Wales, and paid her more than €800,000 (£682,000) for work as a parliamentary assistant which was never done. He also allegedly [...]