Chancellor George Osborne: Links with the European Union should be based on free trade July 29, 2015 As negotiations between the UK and European Union around terms of the UK's membership continue, George Osborne has said the relationship should be based around free trade. Read more: Osborne says France and UK can strike deal The economic benefits are key to EU membership, and should therefore be at the heart of renegotiation, the chancellor [...]
Population growth: UK to become biggest country in European Union by 2050 July 28, 2015 The UK will become the most populous country in the European Union by 2050, according to new estimates. That is, as long as we are still in the EU by then. Eurostat's predicts that the UK's population will continue to rise, from 65 million in 2015 to 67m in 2020. By 2050 it will [...]
Britain’s global influence will fade if it turns itself into an Atlantic Singapore July 27, 2015 President Obama’s carefully chosen words last week are a reminder of what is at stake in the forthcoming referendum on Britain’s place in Europe. Known to be a cautious and contemplative leader, the President spoke directly to the British people with a very clear message: the UK’s membership of the European Union “gives us much [...]
EU Referendum: David Cameron “pencils in June 2016” for Brexit vote as George Osborne heads to Paris July 26, 2015 A referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union could be held within the next year, with June 2016 pencilled in for the vote, the Independent on Sunday reports. David Cameron has promised a vote before the end of 2017 and has embarked on a whistlestop tour of Europe since winning the election. meeting leaders to [...]
From Cadbury’s reducing its variety boxes to everyone leaving London: Here’s what got us talking this week July 24, 2015 There was a (sexual) revelation. There was a time capsule. And somewhere in a field near Bath, there was a really big emoji. Here's what got us talking this week 1. The mysterious case of the shrinking Roses We were up in arms when we learned Cadbury's dastardly plans to cut the size of [...]
Obama’s Brexit intervention is not in Britain’s interests: It benefits an America suffering from an increasingly hostile Europe July 24, 2015 Voters! Hold-up! Stop worrying about that pesky decision about what our future relationship with the EU should look like. You don’t need to worry about exercising your democratic right in the UK, the President of the United States wants the UK to stay in the EU come what may. Phew, glad that’s settled. Ok. [...]
Brexit: UK would lose influence and damage prosperity if it leaves European Union, warns Barack Obama July 24, 2015 Barack Obama has urged Britain to stay in the European Union, saying the country would lose global influence and damage prosperity in the event of a Brexit. Speaking in an interview with the BBC last night, the US President suggested the UK's role in the EU was essential for both business and international security. [...]
MPs warn EU referendum could be unfair if ministers do not respect purdah rules July 22, 2015 MPs have warned the government that fairness in the European Union referendum could be in jeopardy because of attempts to relax rules designed to maintain official impartiality before the vote. David Cameron is hoping to renegotiate Britain’s membership with the EU before holding a referendum before the end of 2017, having said previously he'd rather [...]
The voters aren’t stupid: David Cameron must hold his In/Out EU referendum now July 15, 2015 Between David Cameron’s election victory and his address at the recent summit in Brussels, the debate in Britain over its place in Europe has sparked into life. Polls suggest more than half the electorate support remaining in the EU. Business leaders’ views are varied, but one thing they all agree on is that prolonged uncertainty [...]
MPs on entrepreneurship: Do they even know what they’re talking about? July 15, 2015 Politicians rarely miss an opportunity to praise those business owners brave enough to strike out on their own. With 581,000 new firms registered last year, there is little doubt that Britain is in the throes of an exciting entrepreneurial purple patch. But how much credit can government take for the surge in new companies? Business [...]