Heathrow third runway expansion: Boris Johnson says “it’s not going to happen” July 1, 2015 "It's not going to happen" Boris Johnson has said of the Airport Commission's decision to back expansion at Heathrow airport. The London mayor whose own proposals for a new airport on the Thames estuary dubbed "Boris Island" were sunk last year, called the Heathrow plans "disastrous". He accused Sir Howard Davies who led the commission [...]
Labour will stop pushing for 50p tax rate says shadow chancellor June 30, 2015 Labour is letting go of the 50p tax rate, the shadow chancellor has indicated. In the last government, former Labour leader Ed Miliband proposed raising the top rate of tax to 50p for people earning more than £150,000 per year. But in a speech in Canary Wharf yesterday, shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said that the party [...]
John Vickers says ringfencing rules are still necessary June 30, 2015 Despite some bankers calling for an end to ringfencing, John Vickers says the case for separating the retail banking and investment banking arms of banks is still necessary. The architect behind ringfencing plans has said British banks still need to protect domestic retail customers from riskier parts of their operations, and the case for this [...]
Ivan Massow: Conservatives to host open primaries for 2016 London mayoral election June 30, 2015 The Conservative candidate for mayor will be selected in an open election, Morning Wire has learned. London voters who have been registered as members of the Tory party for at least three months will be able to participate in an online ballot, according to one of the party's five candidates. Non-Tory voters will [...]
Chancellor George Osborne says no-one should underestimate the impact of a Greek exit from the Eurozone June 29, 2015 George Osborne has reiterated Britain’s attitude regarding Greece is to “hope for the best, but plan for the worst,” in a speech to the House of Commons. The chancellor told MPs no-one should understate the "impact a Greek exit from euro would have on the European economy and the knock-on effects on us." This is [...]
Up to 160 Conservative MPs want to cut the top rate of income tax to 40 per cent June 29, 2015 Senior Conservatives have said up to 160 MPs want the top rate of income tax taken down to 40p in the next budget, due on 8 July. Read More: Think tank IFS says Labour cannot bank on 50p tax rate to bring in more money This mounts pressure on George Osborne ahead of his first truly Conservative [...]
EU referendum: London Mayor Boris Johnson wants public to vote for an exit June 28, 2015 London Mayor Boris Johnson has hinted he is in favour of voting “no” in the EU membership referendum. Read more: London mayor Boris Johnson calls on Cameron to drive through EU reform Ultimately, he says he wants the UK to remain in the bloc, but hopes voting to leave will shock EU leaders into [...]
David Cameron calls meeting of government emergency Cobra committee after terror attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait June 26, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee this afternoon, after terror attacks rocked France, Kuwait and Tunisia, leaving more than 40 people dead. Read more: French beheading suspect named In one attack on a factory in St-Quentin-Fallavier in France, a decapitated body was left in a gas canister factory [...]
Leaked document shows David Cameron wants to keep Britain in the EU by highlighting “risky” impact of UK exit June 26, 2015 A leaked note from a private meeting with a European leader has revealed the Prime Minister’s modest demands to secure agreement from fellow EU leaders, along with his desire to keep Britain in the EU. The document of the PM’s private conversation with a fellow leader shows that Cameron has set himself the “firm aim” [...]
Italy and Greece are sending 40,000 migrants to other EU countries, but the UK has opted out June 26, 2015 EU leaders have agreed to send 40,000 migrants from Italy and Greece to other member states over the next two years, but the UK has opted out of taking them. Read more: London attracted a third of the UK’s half-a-million new migrants The number due to be sent to each country has not yet [...]