EU 1) Cameron undermined as ministers join Tory ‘Out’ group “David Cameron is facing a growing Tory revolt over his plan to keep Britain in the European Union, as his own ministers have joined a new group preparing for an “out” campaign. The Eurosceptic organisation, Conservatives for Britain, which had just over 50 members last […]
Knighthood for Simon Burns in the Queen’s Birthday Honours “Trade union leader Paul Kenny has been knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Sir Paul, the general secretary of the GMB union, said the award was for “every trade unionist trying to make the world a better place”. Conservative MP Simon Burns and former Lib Dem […]
EU 1) European leaders rebuff Cameron’s reform proposals ‘David Cameron today suffered his worst day yet in his bid to reform the European Union as his plans were rejected by four countries. The Prime Minister met with leaders in Brussels as part of a charm offensive to try and renegotiate the terms of Britain’s membership […]
Cameron’s new plan for controlling immigration: make companies pay more “David Cameron has ordered companies to pay their immigrant workers thousands more in a bid to keep more jobs for Brits. … The PM has ordered officials to draw up plans to significantly hike the minimum annual salary businesses must pay foreigners before they are […]
Osborne to outlaw deficits ‘Future governments will be legally required to run a surplus, George Osborne will announce tonight. The Chancellor will use his annual Mansion House speech to say Britain should only go into deficit in exceptional circumstances. The change will be voted on in the Commons later in the year – laying down […]
Cameron: My remarks about ministers and Europe were “over-interpreted”… “The Prime Minister said on Sunday that rebels would be ordered to toe the line in the vote on Britain’s membership of the EU. … It meant any minister who disagreed with his position of hoping to remain in the EU after his renegotiation would be […]
Europe 1) Plans to corral the payroll vote in EU vote “Ministers must quit if they want to campaign for Britain to leave the EU, David Cameron warned last night. In a provocative intervention, the Prime Minister said there was no place in government for those unwilling to back him on Europe. Mr Cameron insisted […]
Cameron to discuss defence cuts at the G7 summit “David Cameron will have to justify his controversial £500 million package of defence cuts when he meets Barack Obama today. … The Prime Minister is expected to be challenged over the issue by the US President when they meet at the G7 summit of world economic […]
Prime Minister orders review on corruption controls for £12bn of British aid… “David Cameron has ordered a review of the corruption controls on £12billion of British aid money sent abroad, following warnings that huge sums may be going astray. The Prime Minister said last night that he was determined to use the publicity surrounding the […]
Brexit 1) Cameron considers May 2016 date for the EU referendum ‘David Cameron has cleared the decks for a referendum on Europe as early as May 5 next year. He overruled advice from the Electoral Commission that the vote should not be held then because it would clash with English local elections and major elections […]
Osborne urged by OECD to ease back on cuts “Pressure mounted on George Osborne on Wednesday to ease back on the pace of austerity when an international organisation that has consistently supported the chancellor’s overall fiscal plan joined those warning that the size of the state was being slashed too fast. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation […]
Morgan’s plans to speed up the conversion of struggling schools to academies ‘The education secretary, Nicky Morgan, has vowed to “sweep away bureaucratic and legal loopholes” obstructing the takeover of as many as 1,000 struggling local authority schools in England and their rapid conversion into academies. The education bill published on Wednesday details how council-maintained schools rated […]
Europe 1) Hammond says that leaving the ECHR isn’t an option… “The idea of Britain leaving the the European Convention on Human Rights is not ‘on the table’, Philip Hammond said today as he sought to heal a Cabinet split. … The Foreign Secretary insisted the UK would comply with its obligations under international law as […]
Cameron rules out leaving the ECHR, claims the Daily Telegraph… “David Cameron has ruled out withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights despite objections from Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, and Theresa May, the Home Secretary. In the first major cabinet split since the election, Mr Gove and Mrs May believe that pulling out […]