Well-meaning state interventions are making childcare increasingly unaffordable for many parents February 6, 2017 A couple of weeks ago an all-party Parliamentary Group report warned that many nursery schools may have to close, and called for a financial bailout from our beleaguered government. It was only the latest demand for extra state spending: in the last few months the CBI, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Welsh government, the [...]
As Labour Party splits over leaving the European Union intensify, can the party survive Brexit? February 6, 2017 Andrew Hawkins, chairman of ComRes, says Yes. The Labour Party is setting new standards for “normal” and “shambolic”, the Article 50 farrago being merely the latest milepost in what for many Labour MPs is a living nightmare. The Party is in an appalling mess but ironically its refusal to implode is evidence that it is [...]
Housing white paper: Deregulation and council targets are not enough – the government must confront our broken land market February 6, 2017 Following several rumours and proposed dates, it’s fair to say that anticipation surrounding the government’s housing white paper is ramping up. Reports last week suggested that the government is serious about committing to some real reforms, it’s just a question of whether they’re the right ones. Building on some parts of the green belt could certainly [...]
The UK is facing a “workforce crisis” if immigration levels fall, according to this consultancy February 6, 2017 Cutting migration into the UK will leave the country facing a “workforce crisis”, according to a new analysis from consultancy Mercer. Modelling different scenarios after Brexit, the firm found that even keeping net migration at current levels will fail to stem the challenges of the UK's ageing working population. Reductions in the size of the UK's [...]
Ancient woodlands will be offered boosted planning protection under Sajid Javid’s housing plans February 6, 2017 Ministers will bring in new protections for England's woodlands as part of the housing white paper. Communities secretary Sajid Javid will tomorrow lay out plans that will put some of the UK’s forests on par with green belt land. The Woodland Trust had raised concerns that more than 700 ancient woods are threatened by development ranging from housing [...]
A senior Eurosceptic is sounding the alarm over an Article 50 rebellion among Tory MPs this week February 5, 2017 A senior Tory Eurosceptic is raising concerns of a rebellion among MPs ahead of this week’s vote on Article 50 legislation. MPs will vote on a Bill granting the government power to begin divorce talks on Wednesday, but Brexiteer and Treasury committee member Steve Baker is worried that some Tories will back “wrecking” amendments. These could place more restrictions [...]
Thomas Cook is under pressure for its bonus plans ahead of this week’s annual meeting February 5, 2017 Thomas Cook is under pressure from shareholders relating to bonuses plans for chief executive Peter Fankhauser. The travel firm will host its annual meeting on Thursday, and one shareholder group has questioned whether the firm is providing enough about a proposal that could see Fankhauser pocket up to £1.6m a year. Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), which represents around 20 per cent of investors, has [...]
RMT boss says “fiasco” rail franchise system is beyond reform February 5, 2017 The RMT Union has welcomed the findings of a House of Commons select committee in its damning report on rail franchises. RMT general secretary Mick Cash called the franchise system a “fiasco” and said that the report confirmed the government had covered up Southern Rail’s poor performance. However, he did not think the suggested reforms [...]
Labour donor John Mills could be ejected from the party over Brexit referendum payments to Ukip February 5, 2017 One of Labour's largest individual donors could be thrown out of the party after claims that he financial supported Ukip. John Mills, the millionaire behind consumer products firm JML, created the Labour Leave campaign. But now London MEP Seb Dance is claiming the retailer broke party rules by handing cash to Eurosceptic party Ukip. Labour rules mean that [...]
Entrepreneurs mad at Donald Trump should come to France, says Presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron February 5, 2017 French Presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron has reached out to entrepreneurs, academics and scientists in the US reeling from President Trump's travel ban and welcomed them with open arms to the country. "I want to make a solemn call to all the researchers, academics, businesses who in the United States are battling obscurantism,” he told a rally [...]