Author Archives: Nicholas Watt
Cancer patients’ welfare cuts set for House of Lords challenge
Labour optimistic of ability to dilute contaminated welfare reforms including means-testing of cancer patientsA government plan to tighten the rules on welfare payments to cancer patients will be challenged by peers from across the House of Lords on We… Continue reading
George Osborne follows example of hero LBJ in calling Alex Salmond’s bluff
Chancellor’s decision to press for early referendum on Scottish independence reminiscent of bold move on inheritance taxGeorge Osborne regards his pledge in 2007 to scrap inheritance tax for properties worth less than £1m as one of his finest achievem… Continue reading
Scottish referendum: PM’s tough stance startles Lib Dems and Labour
David Cameron says legal clarity needed on independence vote as SNP accuses Downing Street of ‘blatant attempt’ to interfereBritain’s pro-union parties were struggling on Monday to present a united front on the proposed referendum on Scottish independ… Continue reading
Nick Clegg denies David Cameron vetoed Lisbon treaty changes
Lib Dem leader challenges prime minister to take on Eurosceptics by backing incorporation of new treatyNick Clegg has challenged David Cameron to face down Tory Eurosceptics by saying on Monday the new eurozone treaty should be “folded into” existing E… Continue reading
Scottish independence: George Osborne presses for quick referendum
Chancellor tells cabinet uncertainty over vote will hurt economy after business leaders warn of threat to foreign investmentGeorge Osborne has taken the lead in pressing for a quick referendum on Scottish independence after business leaders warned of a… Continue reading
Tories wrongly accuse Jim Murphy of failing to identify £5bn in defence cuts
Full list of defence cuts provided by shadow defence secretary to Guardian before publication shows £5bn in savingsThe famous advice of Deep Throat to Woodward and Bernstein in the dark underground car park during the Watergate investigation applies t… Continue reading
Labour told to accept spending cuts to be credible
Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy tells the Guardian the party must reject ‘shallow and temporary’ populismLabour needs to avoid a populist approach, in which it opposes all government spending cuts, and instead build up credibility by outlining whe… Continue reading
David Cameron takes aim at Britain’s ‘health and safety culture’
Prime minister says sea of red tape is a restrictive ‘monster’ that is strangling UK businesses and hampering growthBritain’s “health and safety culture” will be killed off for good by the government, David Cameron declared as he warned that a “monster… Continue reading
David Cameron pledges to tackle ‘health and safety monster’
Prime minister says cap on lawyers’ earnings in cases for claims of up to £25,000 will help businessesLawyers will face a cap on the fees they can earn from health and safety cases, David Cameron announced as he pledged to tackle the “health and safet… Continue reading