London mayoral election 2016: Sadiq Khan has danced into the lead over Zac Goldsmith for London mayor, but how important will voter turnout be on 5 May? February 9, 2016 In three months’ time London will have a new mayor, ending the eight year era of Boris. Sadiq Khan may well be in the box seat with both pollsters and bookmakers at present, but the Tooting MP has a delicate dance to perform until voters head to their local polling places on 5 May. Khan’s [...]
A day with Zac Goldsmith: Just one of the prizes up for grabs at the Conservatives’ Black & White ball February 8, 2016 Guests at the Tories' Black & White Ball just can't get enough of hanging out with Conservative MPs it seems. Despite having to fork out at least £5,000 for a standard table for ten, and up to £15,000 for a premium table, one of the guests at the lavish event, held last night at the Brewery in [...]
Media mogul Michael Bloomberg says he is considering running for US President in 2016 White House race February 8, 2016 Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York and owner of the global media group that shares his name, has said he is considering entering the race for US President. When asked whether he would pursue a nomination, Bloomberg told the Financial Times he was "looking at all the options". "I find the level of discourse and [...]
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson says big businesses should tie executive pay schemes to company performance February 8, 2016 Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson will use a major speech in London today to call on Britain's biggest businesses to tie executive compensation schemes to company performance. "I do think we should consider the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's proposal for companies to ensure that reward packages are more aligned to financial and non-financial [...]
Higher tuition fees and rising student expectations mean universities and employers must work together February 8, 2016 Graduate employment figures have finally returned to pre-recession levels, but in an era of higher tuition fees and a competitive global labour market, universities must innovate to meet market demands, as well as students’ ever increasing expectations. Businesses are frustrated with the status quo in higher education provision. Various sectors including digital, manufacturing and construction [...]
EU referendum: Downing Street doubles down on warning that Brexit could lead to a massive influx of asylum-seekers February 8, 2016 Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister David Cameron believes that a huge influx of asylum-seekers would suddenly move to Britain if the UK votes to leave the EU. "We currently have these juxtaposed controls with France. Should the UK leave the European Union, there is no guarantee that the controls will remain in place," [...]
EU referendum: Pro-European Union group says Brexit would cost London £13.9bn February 8, 2016 Staying in the European Union will deliver a “permanent boost” to the capital's economy, according to new figures released by pro-Europe business group London First. Analysis conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) for the lobby outfit says that EU membership could add £13.9bn a year and 75,000 jobs to London's economy [...]
UK steel crisis: Companies to ramp up pressure on British government to take action over China and Russia driving commodity prices down February 8, 2016 Steel companies will this week ramp up pressure on the government to come to the industry's defence ahead of an emergency European conference on 15 February. The conference, called at the behest of the UK and involving executives from Tata Steel and Celsa, will call on the European Commission to take action against cheap steel flooding [...]
North Korea fires long-range rocket defying international sanctions – UN Security Council to meet as foreign secretary Philip Hammond condemns ballistic missile technology testing February 7, 2016 The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting after North Korea fired a long-range rocket it claims put a satellite into orbit. The move was condemned by the US, UK, South Korea and Japan as a missile test against international sanctions. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond said: "I strongly condemn North Korea’s ballistic missile technology test. This is a clear [...]
George Osborne urged to clarify banks’ tax deductions on fines and regulatory costs by Andrew Tyrie and Treasury Select Committee February 7, 2016 George Osborne has been urged to clarify how banks offset the costs of fines such as PPI mis-selling and other regulatory costs against their corporate tax bill. The chair of the influential Treasury Select Committee Andrew Tyrie has written to the chancellor asking him to make clear whether banks can offset the costs associated with regulatory penalties. “It [...]