BBC Trust chair to call for update to licence fee December 1, 2015 The government's commitment to overhaul the BBC licence fee is expected echoed today by the chair of the BBC Trust Rona Fairhead later today. She is set to call for an update of the licence fee to make it encompass the BBC’s growing on demand services. Currently households only need to pay a licence fee [...]
Tory MP James Cleverly will lead the re-launched Free Enterprise Group December 1, 2015 A group of MPs favouring free market policies is relaunching today under the leadership of James Cleverly, the Tory MP for Braintree. Cleverly is taking the reins of the Free Enterprise Group from Kwasi Karteng, another Conservative. The group was first set up after the 2010 General Election, and counts government ministers Harriet Baldwin, Andrea [...]
UK poised to launch air strikes in Syria as David Cameron sets vote for Wednesday November 30, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has announced there will be a debate on Wednesday followed by a vote on UK air strikes against Islamic State in Syria. His decision comes after opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn was forced to back down on plans to make his divided party formally oppose the strikes. Instead, Corbyn has granted Labour [...]
Tory bullying scandal: City law firm Clifford Chance to take full control of investigation into Mark Clarke claims after Grant Shapps resignation November 30, 2015 The Conservative Party has handed over full control of an investigation into allegations surrounding the apparent suicide of a Conservative party activist to City law firm Clifford Chance, CCHQ confirmed today. CCHQ said Rob Halfon and Lord Feldman, who have both come under pressure to step down over the scandal, will recuse themselves from a board meeting held to consider the [...]
Syria air strikes: Labour confirms MPs will have a free vote on bombing campaign November 30, 2015 The Labour party has confirmed that its MPs will have a "free vote" on the government's proposal to extend the military's anti-ISIS bombing campaign into Syria. In a statement this afternoon, a spokesperson for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Today's shadow cabinet agreed to back Jeremy Corbyn's recommendation of a free vote on the Government's proposal [...]
Syria air strikes: 75 per cent of Labour members are against extending strikes into Syria November 30, 2015 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has written to Prime Minister David Cameron asking for a two-day debate on air strikes in Syria. In a letter sent this afternoon beginning "Dear David", Corbyn said the matter is "of such critical importance there must be full and adequate time for any debate". "A one day debate would inevitably lead to [...]
COP21 Paris climate change summit: Barack Obama calls talks an “act of defiance” after terror attacks November 30, 2015 US President Barack Obama has called the climate summit in Paris an “act of defiance”, taking place just weeks after terror attacks that left 130 people dead. Speaking in front of world leaders from nearly 200 countries, gathered to seal the deal on a new global climate agreement, Obama praised Paris and its citizens for [...]
COP21 Paris climate change summit: Reasons to feel more optimistic about a new agreement now than in Copenhagen November 30, 2015 Last week, a UN report declared our planet is halfway to dangerous levels of global warming, bringing into sharp focus the challenge world leaders face at this week’s climate talks. Are they up to the task and can they come away from COP 21 with a meaningful agreement that will drive down emissions and bring [...]
UK business backing strong deal at COP 21 climate change summit in Paris November 30, 2015 With world leaders gathering in Paris on the first day of the COP 21 climate summit, UK business has thrown its weight behind a strong global agreement to tackle climate change. Current international agreements expire in five years, and leaders of over 190 countries have been tasked with producing a new deal covering the years [...]
Skills shortage: One in three say they’re put off hiring apprentices because system is too bureaucratic November 30, 2015 One in three small construction firms is not taking on apprentices because of the bureaucracy involved, according to a new research report out today from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). FMB chief executive Brian Berry said that while a recent survey of his group's members showed that nearly all (94 per cent) of small construction companies [...]