Zahawi told to support planning reforms or resign “Nadhim Zahawi, the MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, decided to attack the National Planning Policy Framework this week. Mr Zahawi was simply repeating what many colleagues feel when he said the reforms were causing ‘physical harm’ and ‘pain’ to the countryside. His intervention was significant, though, because he is […]
UK economy enters virtuous circle “Britain’s economic recovery is gathering momentum as demand for mortgages surges, banks become more willing to lend and companies scramble to hire staff. Strong data on Wednesday showed the economy was entering a virtuous circle. ‘The recovery is snowballing,’ said Robert Wood, an economist at Berenberg” – Financial Times House prices […]
Osborne “refuses to back inflation busting minimum wage rise plan”… “A cross-section of the governing party is pressing the chancellor and Downing Street to commit to a big rise in the minimum wage ahead of the 2015 election to debunk a perception that the Tories are the party of the rich. But the chancellor has […]
Cabinet concern at Osborne’s £12 billion of extra welfare cuts “George Osborne is facing a battle with the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, over his plan to impose an extra £12bn in welfare cuts after the next general election. … Conservative sources said Osborne’s intervention – a proposal that also prompted Nick Clegg […]
Cameron confusion: will he or won’t he cut pensioner benefits? “On a day of confusion, David Cameron appeared to ditch a cherished pledge that the winter fuel allowance, free bus passes and TV licences for the over-75s would continue for the better off after the next election. … Only hours later though No 10 moved […]
The impact of mass immigration; Cameron pledges pension rise; Gove and Clegg go to war.
Owen Paterson backs developers building on woodland if there is “massive offsetting” of new trees elsewhere “Developers could be allowed to destroy ancient woodland if they agree to plant 100 trees for each one felled, the Environment Secretary has said. Owen Paterson said that “biodiversity offsetting” could apply to 400-year-old woodland. Under the scheme, the […]
New documents give insights into Thatcher’s Downing Street – plus good economic news, and a battle over 100-year prison sentences.
Cameron to sing the praises of Help to Buy “More than 100 people every working day are buying new homes under the Government’s Help to Buy scheme. … David Cameron will announce today that 6,000 applicants have applied for a mortgage using the scheme at a rate of 500 a week in the three months […]
Cameron’s New Year message: Let’s stick to the plan… “In his New Year statement, Mr Cameron says 2014 will be ‘a vital year’ for the economy. ‘It’s a new year – and for Britain there can only be one New Year’s resolution – to stick to the long-term plan that is turning our country around,’ […]
Cameron accused of “cronyism” over the New Year’s Honours list “David Cameron was accused of ‘cronyism’ last night after handing gongs to friends, Tory donors and even the woman who runs his supper club. … Alan Parker, a City public relations chief who has holidayed with the Prime Minister, was handed a knighthood in the […]
Foreigners “to be charged for A & E use…” “Short-term migrants and holidaymakers may be billed for emergency casualty care to help claw back some of the estimated £2billion a year they currently cost the NHS. However, top doctors have warned the proposal — expected to be announced by ministers next year — is unworkable. […]
Tory discontents 1): fears that Salmond could break Union “David Cameron has been warned that the future of the United Kingdom is in jeopardy as the campaign to save the Union founders. Senior Tories have spoken of their fear that Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister and nationalist leader, could defy the odds and pull […]
“Moderniser” attacks Cameron… “David Cameron is guilty of “pandering to prejudice, uncertainty and anger” as he responds to the threat posed by the UK Independence party by championing a “negative and uninspiring” form of politics, a leading moderniser has warned. Ryan Shorthouse, the head of the Bright Blue thinktank, warns No 10 that it cannot […]
Today’s newslinks: The UN meddles in welfare reform (again); Osborne is The Times’ Briton of the Year; plus, rate rise row