Jihadi John 1) Cameron defends security services efforts “Angry David Cameron has branded claims that MI5 pushed Jihadi John into Islamic State’s arms as “completely reprehensible”. Controversial campaign group Cage blamed our spooks for inadvertently radicalising Mohammed Emwazi when they hauled him in for a grilling before he went to Syria in 2013. ..Hitting back, […]
Prime Minister urges schools to teach profit making to children… “Children must be taught how to make a profit if the country is to generate a new generation of entrepreneurs, David Cameron has said. The Prime Minister said schools should do more to develop the future Richard Bransons and Karren Bradys, adding that he wanted […]
Hague urges protection of defence spending “William Hague has urged Britain to protect its military spending commitments in the face of a ‘systemically less stable world’ as the former foreign secretary wades into the debate on defence funding. Mr Hague, who is quitting politics after a 40-year career that has included leading the Conservative party, […]
Deploy Boris, urge nervous ‘senior Tories’ ‘David Cameron is facing calls to place Boris Johnson centre-stage in the election campaign amid mounting concerns among senior Tory figures that the party needs a more positive message…“We need to appeal to people’s hearts as well,” said one minister. “That is the bit that is missing at the moment.” Mr […]
Cameron and Cooper defeat ban on sex-selective abortions… “The proposed ban was tabled by Tory MP Fiona Bruce but was dealt a major blow when shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper wrote to Labour MPs urging them to vote against it. Miss Cooper said that to support the change would make ‘vulnerable women’ less likely to […]
Cameron’s £7.5bn promise to grey voters… “David Cameron today pledges to protect a raft of pensioner benefits to ensure ‘dignity and security in retirement’. In a major pitch to grey voters, the Prime Minister will vow to continue paying for the winter fuel allowance, free bus passes, TV licences, prescriptions and eye tests for as […]
Quietly and slowly, the election debates are stifled “The April dates are unacceptable to Cameron, who has repeatedly said he wants the debates to take place before the “short campaign” begins on March 30. He also wants the Democratic Unionist party, which has launched legal action because it has so far been excluded, to be […]
May plans “British values” test for visa applicants “Overseas visitors seeking to work, study or attend business meetings in the UK would have to demonstrate they respected ‘British values’, under Conservative proposals to make this commitment an integral part of any visa application. The plan — put forward by Theresa May, the home secretary — […]
Jobs and wages on the rise ‘More people found work in the UK last year than in any year since 1988, a boon for the coalition government ahead of May’s general election. Official data published on Wednesday by the Office for National Statistics suggest the UK’s jobs-rich economic recovery remains on track, with employment rising, unemployment […]
Bishops warn politicians of democratic failings “The Church of England has launched a strongly worded attack on Britain’s political culture, criticising politicians of all parties for offering only “sterile arguments” that are likely to make voters more apathetic and cynical in the runup to the general election. In an unprecedented intervention, the church’s bishops have […]
Cameron 1) Pledge that teens will work for benefits “Jobless youngsters will be forced to pick up litter or carry out other community work if they want to receive benefits, David Cameron will say today. In a major speech on Tory welfare plans, the Prime Minister will claim it is wrong for them to be […]
Europe 1) Clarke warns that Britain must prepare for Grexit “Britain must start to prepare for the impact of Greece’s inevitable exit from the euro, Kenneth Clarke warned yesterday. The former Tory Chancellor branded the new government in Athens ‘latter-day Trotskyites’, and said there was no way their demands could be met. Prime Minister Alexis […]
IDS: My anger at those who will take money but not help ‘In an exclusive interview, he declared: “It makes me furious. I can feel my blood boil when I read about people refusing help, support or treatment to make themselves fit for work. “What infuriates your readers — including me — is when somebody isn’t […]
Cameron orders review of sickness benefit “Obese people without jobs will be forced to diet or lose their benefits under plans to be set out by David Cameron today. Alcoholics and drug addicts will also face being stripped of their benefits, worth about £100 a week, if they refuse to accept a recommended treatment plan. […]
Cameron talks tough on Russia… “David Cameron warned there will be ‘more consequences’ and further sanctions for Russia if the ceasefire does not hold. He rejected the assessment of a parliamentary committee that the UK found itself ‘sleep-walking’ into the crisis over Ukraine, insisting the blame for the situation lay ‘squarely’ with Russia and its […]