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Gordon Brown has pledged tough action to clamp down on excessive remuneration for bankers as part of an international effort to rectify the systemic weakness that led to the global financial crisis. Read the interview on ft.com
Is the City of London too big?
From the FT’s Arena blog:
Lord Turner, chairman of the UK’s Financial Services Authority, casts a sceptical light on the role of the City of London in the UK economy in an interview with Prospect Magazine. During the last boom, the financial sector grew as a share of gross domestic product, and ballooned as a share of profits and taxes. Should the government have as a goal to protect the City as a pre-eminent financial centre? Or has the City grown too big for Britain’s good? Lord Turner says the City watchdog should be “very, very wary of seeing the competitiveness of London as a major aim”. Which British industries - if any - have the potential to replace the City? Does the UK have any choice other than to nourish the financial services industry? Join the debate: click on comment. Continue reading "Is the City of London too big?"
Would you rather be sick in the US or in the UK?
The fractious debate over President Barack Obama’s efforts to reform US healthcare has provoked a transatlantic split, as some of his critics from the American right ridicule the UK’s National Health Service, which some people view as a possible model for the US.
David Cameron, leader of the UK’s opposition Conservative party, on Friday added his voice to that of Gordon Brown, the Labour prime minister, in defending the NHS from US criticism, saying Britons were proud of the service. Mr Brown’s intervention on the Twitter social networking site came as some Republicans used the NHS as an example of the potential pitfalls facing Mr Obama as the US president tries to push through a healthcare reform bill. What do you think about US healthcare reform? Would you rather be sick in the US or in the UK? Click on the “comments” button to join the debate. Continue reading "Would you rather be sick in the US or in the UK?"
Gordon Brown at the PLP
June 8th, 2009 6:35pm
- It’s packed in the Lloyd George room, where Gordon Brown has gone to face backbench MPs; so crowded, in fact, that even a host of big names couldn’t get in.
- Estelle Morris was turned away, as were Donald Anderson, David Lammy and Baroness Scotland. Liam Byrne managed to get in.
- Loyalists started the meeting by thumping the tables as Brown came in.
- Four police officers are at the committee room door, (very unusual) and the corridor is packed with about 100 journalists…
Further reading: Michael Martin to resign
May 19th, 2009 11:53am
The details:
Martin to resign as speaker FT
Martin drags out battle to stay on - his statement on Monday FT
From other blogs:
Speaker to resign this afternoon Iain Dale
Speaker to resign this afternoon Guido Fawkes
Speaker to resign: buried bodies to be exhumed? Dizzy Thinks
Further reading: the Speaker
May 18th, 2009 12:03pm
Sacked media advisor: I told you so, Mr Speaker Guido Fawkes
How second-rate politicians brought Westminster low Matthew Engel, FT
Labour whips row in behind the speaker Ian Dale
The future of the speaker is up to Gordon Brown Ben Brogan
Dragging the speaker from the chair The Spectator
Commons Speaker battles to keep job George Parker, FT
Expenses: further reading
May 8th, 2009 4:35pm
Has Miliband sacrificed his chances for a pushchair? Political Betting
Crooks Call Cops Guido Fawkes
MPs’ expenses: MPs will face a hurricane of public anger Telegraph
Budget live blog
April 22nd, 2009 11:48am
Follow FT.com’s live blog on the Budget today at 12.30pm BST
Jim Pickard and Alex Barker, FT Westminster correspondents, share the latest news and gossip from the UK's political scene.
Alex Barker
Jim Pickard
