I would not be averse to being described as “centre-left, social democratic, liberal and moderate”, but I am unable to agree with Vince Cable (The centre-left parties must work together more closely, 17 December) that Labour’s manifesto was “advocating radical socialism”. Proposing to raise the level of public expenditure to …
Read More »Market ‘fanfare’ may be short-lived
Tories win general election After Boris Johnson’s Conservative party won a landslide majority the likes of which has not been since Margaret Thatcher, industry professionals have hailed the news as a tailwind for the UK economy and assets. The markets reacted positively to the win, with the domestically-facing FTSE 250 …
Read More »The FTSE 100 will hit 8,000
Investors now have certainty and they will cheer it by sending shares higher this morning. Even if the exit poll’s prediction of an 86-seat Tory majority is out by some way, a big Conservative win is now assured. Thanks to the pledges made by the party’s candidates to vote Boris …
Read More »Labour victory would wipe £367bn from UK shares and hit millions of pension savers
A Labour Government would wipe £367bn off the value of Britain’s listed companies and send the pound plunging, economists warned ahead of Thursday’s General Election as polls showed the race is too close to call. The party’s plan to hike business taxes to one of the highest rates in the western world …
Read More »Labour sought legal advice that Jeremy Corbyn can implement broadband policy if UK remains in EU
Labour has sought formal legal advice that Jeremy Corbyn will still be able to implement one of his flagship election pledges if he keeps the UK in the European Union. The Sunday Telegraph understands that a QC has provided the party with advice on the legality of creating a nationalised …
Read More »Would Labour really save families more than £6,700 a year? | Politics
Claim John McDonnell claims a Labour government would save families more than £6,700 a year. Background In a speech in Birmingham on Wednesday, the shadow chancellor will claim most households have been hit by the rising cost of living under the Tories. He will say households would save about £6,700 …
Read More »Private investors have fallen for Labour’s promises – and made a costly mistake
Political promises should be taken with a pinch of salt. Investors can make expensive mistakes if they change their plans around a pie-in-the-sky manifesto pledge. Take, for example, Labour’s promise to privatise a handful of companies. Many DIY investors took these seriously and sold out, avoiding the risk of any government meddling. On …
Read More »Labour set to smash own borrowing rules with £58bn pension spree
Labour has already blown apart its own spending rules with a £58bn pledge to compensate women hit by a rising pension age, a leading think tank warns today. The Conservatives also have the “thinnest of margins” as they seek to meet their own fiscal pledges unveiled less than a month ago, …
Read More »Jo Swinson wins court order against SNP over election leaflet | Politics
Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat leader, has won a court order forcing the Scottish National party to withdraw an election leaflet that accuses her of hypocrisy over fracking. Lord Pentland, a civil judge sitting in the court of session in Edinburgh, ruled the Royal Mail should no longer circulate the …
Read More »After years of excess in privatised utilities, of course Labour wants to renationalise | Business
We knew that Labour’s manifesto would be nationalisation-heavy but there were still late surprises. Openreach, BT’s broadband division, was added to the list in the final stages. And, more quietly, the big six household suppliers of gas and electricity were included within reforms for the energy sector; previously only the …
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