Politics

A huge leak of data from offshore service company Mossack Fonseca has exposed the super rich, celebrities and politicians. Iceland is considering a snap election over revelations which implicate Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson and his wife. He is among several leading politicians with links to Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm whose services include incorporating companies in offshore jurisdiction. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also been implicated in a $2 billion scheme which involves his best friend Sergei Roldugin. Other national leaders include Pakistan’s...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Ken Clarke, who was responsible for privatising the steel industry under Thatcher, showed how out of touch he his with the area his party is about to destroy. He said, during The BBC's The World at One Programme, that he knew South Wales well, and had "driven past Port Talbot many times." Jeremy Corbyn repeated his call for the Tata businesses to be nationalised. He said: "The Prime Minister has offered no solutions today to the threat...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor The Chancellor has come out fighting and has defended the Government’s handling of the steel crisis, but his special relationship with China is clouding his judgment, critics have claimed. He said the Tories were doing all that is "practicable and possible" to slap tougher tariffs on cheap steel. The steel crisis has been squarely blamed on China continually dumping cheap steel on European markets and making UK steel far too expensive. Instead on intervening, it...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Generous tax breaks have helped create a “shadow” welfare state for the 20 per cent wealthiest in the UK, research has revealed. The Fabian Society believe these high earners will take almost the same as the worst off fifth take in benefits. The Fabians’ general secretary, Andrew Harrop, indicated his research illustrates the latest Budget was another step in remodeling the welfare state as we know it. This shift has moved resources from the poorest...

By Gemma Joyce As the race for London Mayor accelerates, new data is suggesting a change in tide of online support for the front runners. Social data research on the candidates’ performance on social media could be good news for Richmond Park and North Kingston MP Zac Goldsmith. The analysis, conducted by Brandwatch, studied conversations surrounding London Mayor front runners Sadiq Khan and Zac Goldsmith on Twitter, finding that discussion related to the Conservative candidate was scoring a higher percentage of...

Redbridge's Indian communities have reacted to 'patronising' leaflets sent by mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith in the run-up to the election. A campaign leaflet sent by Goldsmith that was tailored to those from specific Indian groups stated he supported family-owned businesses and was against taxes on family jewellery. Cllr Varinder Singh Bola, who received a leaflet saying Goldsmith “campaigned for the Golden Temple to remain in the hands of the Sikh community," called the campaign "very distasteful" and "quite patronising to target ethnic communities"....

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Polls conducted via telephone calls that currently indicate a double-digit lead for the remain campaign are likely to accurately reflect the British Public’s voting intentions, a report claims. Analysis by one of the only major polling companies who correctly predicted the UK general election results says heavy reliance on internet polling overstates the support for the Brexit campaign. Matt Singh of Number Cruncher Politics, working alongside James Kanagasooriam of polling company Populus and they looked...

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor Tory Minister Anna Soubry made a shock admission as pressure grows to save the port Talbot steel plant. Business minister Soubry says 'temporary ownership' of Tata steel's assets could be an option. This comes as the company made the shock decision to put up for sale the loss making arms of its UK operation. The Tory minister said there is "huge sympathy" for the steel giant, but also added it is losing £1m a day....

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor It has been claimed that numerous stray cat shelters have been moved to clear up the area near the PMs luxurious getaway. The five-star hotel in Lanzarote, part of the Canary Islands, have decided to forcefully evict the moggies from their homes. Almost 130 cats there are looked after by car lover Freddy Leon, who oversees Freddy’s Cathouse on the sun-kissed Spanish paradise. However, officials decided to move the shelters so they can spruce the...