Politics

English and Welsh households are paying £53 each a year to service the debts of private water companies that were accumulated after they doled out ridiculously high dividends to shareholders, a London School of Economics report has revealed. Payments on £1.2 billion worth of debt have landed directly on the laps of households according to a study by Karol Yearwood of the LSE. The main beneficiaries of the borrowing policy were shareholders, which received payouts far in excess of any...

As David Davis urges ministers to rebel against the Government's Brexit deal in a defining week of the negotiations with the EU, IW Capital reveals investor sentiment towards the leaving process with less than six months to go until the UK leaves the European Union. Key stats include: Three in ten - 8.7 million - said that securing a good deal with the EU was crucial to them continuing to invest into UK SMEs. 12.6 million – 43% - feel that...

Trail of South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, 51, to open tomorrow

A new piece of research, of 500 firms, has discovered that European businesses have already cut ties with existing British suppliers. The study was carried out by RSM (a professional services firm) in collaboration with the European Business Awards, who discovered almost ten per cent had moved away from British exports, citing issues over Brexit, reports the City AM. Jean Stephens, chief executive of RSM International, said: “Internationally-minded businesses are currently experiencing one of the most prolonged periods of global...

it will be many of the "just about managing" that May came to power promising to help that will suffer the most

Theresa May is being reminded of a speech she made to the Institute of Mechanical Engineers just months before the EU referendum in which she made a passionate case for Britain to remain in the EU. The PM, who largely stayed out of Brexit debate in the run-up to the referendum, told the conference in central London that “it is clearly in our national interest to remain a member of the European Union”. She said the judgement was made on...

A hilarious new advert has been rolled out in the US encouraging young people to vote by using reverse psychology. Although voter participation among the young has been going up in America just 50 per cent turned out in the last election, with those who did cast a vote overwhelmingly backing a Democratic candidate over the Republicans. Donald Trump only garnered the support of 37 percent of the millennial electorate in 2016. Comparatively, in 2012, young adults voted for Barack...

Only 4 per cent of UK voters want to have a poor relationship with the EU after leaving the European project. The YouGov survey, on behalf of the Fabian Society, indicates that the vast majority of people want a positive relationship with the remaining member states. 87 per cent want Theresa May to negotiate an agreement that ensures a future relationship with the EU that is either “close and warm” or “practical and neutral”. Andrew Harrop, general secretary of the...

A Times article reported that charities and companies working within the UC (Universal Credit) parameters have had to sign clauses to ensure they don’t ruin the reputation of Esther McVey, Work and Pensions Secretary. Around 22 organisations, covering around £1.8 billion, have signed these gagging clauses, which the Government denies. However a Government spokesman confirmed contracts did include references to ensure both parties "understand how to interact with each other and protect their best interests". The Times reported that the...