Brexit: The EU is a science powerhouse – leaving it will put us behind the US in innovation October 9, 2015 From today onwards, when you hear “EU”, you should think “science and innovation”. The EU has more scientific output than the US, it’s better networked, and its output is growing faster. In the UK, we are huge beneficiaries of being in the EU. Although our own successive governments have dithered on backing science, the EU [...]
Former foreign secretary Lord Owen warns Brexit looms if Cameron fails to get EU change October 9, 2015 Former foreign secretary Lord David Owen has warned that unless Prime Minister David Cameron secures treaty change within the European Union, UK voters will vote to leave the EU. “If the British government reach an agreement in principle before the end of 2017, but do not achieve real and specific treaty changes prior to a [...]
Labour’s London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan brands student visa rules ‘silly’ October 9, 2015 Labour's London mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan has called the government’s immigration policies for students “silly”, just days after home secretary Theresa May took a hard line against visas for postgraduates. In a speech at the Institute of Directors (IoD) yesterday, Khan said: “As mayor, I’ll stand up to the silly visa restrictions this government has placed [...]
Andrew Tyrie ramping up efforts to block George Osborne’s proposed new bank tax October 8, 2015 The chairman of an influential parliamentary committee is doubling down today on his efforts to block a new tax on banks. Andrew Tyrie, who chairs the Treasury Select Committee, has written to Andrew Bailey, deputy governor for prudential regulation at the Bank of England, about the effect of the so-called bank tax surcharge. The new tax, [...]
Party conferences: Conservative brand wins the conference battle against Liberal Democrats and Labour October 8, 2015 As we get to the end of the party conference season it’s been fascinating to see how the political landscape has been reinforced by the way that the main parties have presented themselves, and their brands at the events. But the parties have not all been as successful as each other. Here's how they got [...]
Labour pile pressure on Conservatives to halt donations from Lycamobile October 8, 2015 Labour has formally written to the Conservatives to raise concerns over donations made to the Tories by Lycamobile after it was alleged the company had been involved in suspicious financial activities. Jonathan Ashworth, a Labour MP for Leicester South, wrote to Lord Feldman, the Conservative chairman, to request clarification on whether "checks have been carried in relation to [...]
Even Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership victory hasn’t improved Labour’s fortunes in Scotland, according to new poll October 8, 2015 Jeremy Corbyn’s electoral success had led to optimism that Labour can regain some ground in Scotland that was lost in the 2015 General Election. A new poll, however, has suggested that the election of the new leaders of UK and Scottish Labour has had no immediate impact “on the standing of the party in Scotland, where it [...]
The best reactions to David Cameron’s Conservative party conference speech October 7, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron took to the podium today to give his speech at the annual Conservative party conference, promising an "assault on poverty", pledging 200,000 new starter homes and attacking Jeremy Corbyn (and Richard Murphy, the man behind Corbyn's economic policy). And Twitter has been going mad with responses, both in praise and condemnation. [...]
“It is precisely now that we need more Europe”, says German Chancellor Angela Merkel alongside French President François Hollande October 7, 2015 German Chancellor Angela Merkel told MEPs in Strasbourg that “it is precisely now that we need more Europe”, in a renewed effort to bolster support for consensus on the European migrant crisis. Read more: Cameron "hasn't got anywhere" with EU renegotiations In the first joint address to the European parliament since 1989, when French President [...]
London house prices: You’ll need to earn £77k each year to afford one of David Cameron’s starter homes October 7, 2015 Housing groups have called out Prime Minister David Cameron's new plans to accelerate the building of discounted properties for first-time home buyers, saying the government's so-called starter homes will still be out-of-reach for most workers. In his speech at the Conservative party conference in Manchester today, Cameron announced the government’s proposed “starter homes” initiative, which will be part [...]