Trust in the European Union has been in steep decline since the eurocrisis, and the 2014 European Parliament elections saw many MEPs sent to Brussels to represent parties opposed to the federalist agenda – and in some cases to the EU itself. Euroscepticism has gone from being a political position that was treated with contempt… [Read More]
Philip Morris International has threatened to sue Britain for an eye-watering sum over potential losses resulting from our proposed standardised brand-free cigarette packaging laws. The American multinational has a 15.6% share of the international tobacco market, total assets of $38.2bn, and sued Australia on similar grounds along with Imperial Tobacco, Japan Tobacco and British American… [Read More]
Five days ago I posted a piece here about Cameron’s gift of £2m of taxpayers’ money to Eastbourne to help rebuild the pier after the fire. In my comments I warned of “robbing Peter to pay Paul. Whenever one special interest group gets paid off, another loses out, and then starts demanding favours too. This… [Read More]
In the past week or so, the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems have all set out policies on immigration. After the European elections earlier this year saw the historic triumph of Ukip, whose tough anti-immigration stance helped gained them 24 MEPs, it seems Britain’s major political parties are out to try and neutralise the… [Read More]
After three days’ hype around London Mayor Boris Johnson’s speech at Bloomberg, in which he endorsed an EU report by his head economist Gerard Lyons, the reality is very disappointing. The EU discussion was an amuse-bouche to the main course: Johnson’s intended return to parliament. The report itself should offer new analysis and convincing arguments… [Read More]
Swiss monitors have recorded record numbers of Portuguese entering their country this year, adding to the record 66,200 EEA migrants from 2013. This adds urgency to Switzerland’s desire to renegotiate their EU relationship, and the decision they may face to cut all ties. This February the 8 million Swiss narrowly voted to use quotas to limit… [Read More]
Last Wednesday, a fire destroyed part of Eastbourne’s 150 year-old pier. Within two days, David Cameron arrived in the town and announced that the government would make £2 million available to help with rebuilding. Four years earlier, just 17 miles along the coast from Eastbourne, Hastings pier was similarly engulfed by fire. Built in 1872… [Read More]
Earlier this week the Bank of England announced new measures to claw back bankers’ bonuses, the latest in a series of plans to clamp down on misconduct in the banking industry. Bankers’ bonuses are currently paid out over three to five years and can be taken back during this time; the new rule means that… [Read More]
We live in a GDP-fixated age. If something promotes economic growth, it’s got to be a good thing, right? Well immigration is a case in point, and – as Robert Rowthorn’s report for Civitas today illustrates – it is one example of how limited a picture the latest GDP stats provide. Yes, a larger population… [Read More]
Any financial transaction tax needs only to be introduced with care. Enlisting Robin Hood to take from London and give to Brussels looks like a mistake.