Biography claims Osborne tried to block the EU referendum… “George Osborne pleaded with David Cameron not to hold an in/out referendum on the European Union, it emerged last night. Senior Tory sources revealed the Chancellor had repeatedly warned against the move in the run-up to the Prime Minister’s referendum pledge in 2013. Meanwhile a major […]
Immigration 1) May: Free movement should only apply to those with a job ‘I am not going to beat about the bush. The numbers are far too high. This government has an objective to reduce annual net migration to the tens of thousands — but the latest figures, released on Thursday, show it is three […]
Cameron ‘open’ to time-limiting peers “Growing calls for the House of Lords to be slashed to around 400 peers have received a boost as David Cameron is said to be “open” to time-limits in the upper chamber. It follows calls from Lord Winston and other well-known peers to shrink the chamber to half its current […]
Migration figures deliver fresh blow to Government’s ambitions… “The true scale of the immigration crisis facing this country was laid bare last night as damning figures revealed net migration had surged to a record 330,000 – a rise of 40 per cent in one year. It is a humiliating blow to David Cameron after his […]
Seven peerages blocked claim. Announcement of full list imminent (and timed to bury bad immigration figures) “On the day that the Government is expected to announce more than 40 new appointments to the House of Lords, it can be revealed that seven people who had been nominated were turned down by Whitehall’s appointments commission. There […]
Migrant crisis 1) UN wants European countries to share the burden equally “Migrants will continue to arrive in southern Europe at the rate of 3,000 a day until November, the UN’s refugee agency has predicted, as record numbers of people crossed into Hungary. … The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said all EU […]
Osborne warns of UK exposure to Chinese crisis “George Osborne warned on Monday that Britain’s economy was exposed to a global downturn and its vulnerability reinforced the need to resolve long-standing domestic weaknesses. As the FTSE-100 plunged almost 5 per cent to its lowest level in over two years, the chancellor issued his warning in […]
Osborne tries to woo European leaders on reform “George Osborne will tell European leaders today that Britain’s bid to reform the EU will also benefit their countries as he goes on a whistle-stop tour of capital cities. The Chancellor will warn that change is key to the future of the EU during meetings with Swedish […]
Eight ministers flirt with EU “no” vote “The EU referendum ‘no’ campaign is in talks with at least eight cabinet ministers about joining the fight to get Britain to leave the European Union. In an open challenge to David Cameron’s authority, some of the Conservative party’s biggest donors have already been signed up to support […]
Campaigners’ fury as Osborne prepares to relax rules on rural building “Campaigners have reacted with fury after George Osborne pledged to relax laws about building on green belt land. The Chancellor yesterday claimed the lack of housing in the countryside was a ‘scandal’, and that more development was needed to help first-time buyers hoping to […]
May’s deal with France: British police to be sent to Calais “British police will be deployed to Calais to target trafficking gangs in a new ‘command and control’ centre with French officers and Border Force staff, it will be announced today. … Home Secretary Theresa May will sign an Anglo-French border agreement to deter migrants […]
May “agrees deal” with France over Calais migrant crisis “Theresa May will travel to Calais tomorrow to unveil an agreement with the French on tackling the illegal immigration crisis. The Home Secretary’s visit will be the first by a cabinet minister since chaos erupted around the port earlier this summer. Officials say she will sign […]
Prime Minister prepares for tour of continental capitals “David Cameron will embark on a whirlwind tour of Europe next month to drum up support for his bid to reform Britain’s relationship with the EU. Government sources said the Prime Minister plans to visit a string of European capitals in the coming weeks as he makes […]
Plans to choreograph some ‘theatre’ to persuade voters Cameron has fought in Brussels “David Cameron will orchestrate a ‘bang the table’ row with the French to try to convince voters he has secured a good deal from Brussels, senior Tories have admitted. Former health secretary Andrew Lansley is reported to have told business leaders last […]
Cameron repeats that he will not fight the 2020 election as Prime Minister “The PM snubbed MPs urging him to go for a hat-trick and insisted he will call it a day at the next election — probably in 2020. The Sun on Sunday told last week how top Tories hoped the PM would reconsider […]