Clarkson Row: BBC Boss 'Sent Death Threats'

Sturgeon Denies Secretly Backing Cameron For PM

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 04 April 2015 | 14.59

Nicola Sturgeon has "categorically" denied telling a foreign ambassador she would rather see David Cameron than Ed Miliband as PM after the election.

The SNP leader faced calls to explain a diplomatic memo, which recorded her saying privately that the Labour leader was not "prime minister material".

The claims appeared on the front page of the Daily Telegraph, and were followed swiftly by an angry denial from Ms Sturgeon.

In a direct tweet to the journalists who wrote the story she said: "Your story is categorically, 100%, untrue ... which I'd have told you if you'd asked me at any point today."

:: For full coverage of General Election 2015 click here

A spokeswoman for the First Minister added: "It must be a belated April Fool.

"As Nicola has said on numerous occasions, she wants to see the back of a Tory government which is decisively rejected by the people of Scotland and unlike Labour, the SNP is the only party that has promised to lock David Cameron out of Downing Street."

However the Telegraph published a leaked UK Government memorandum apparently written after Scotland's First Minister met French ambassador Sylvie Bermann.

The memo of the meeting in February detailed her apparent preference for Mr Cameron remaining in Downing Street.

The note was written by a British civil servant after a conversation with the French consul-general.

It said: "Discussion appears to have focused mainly on the political situation, with the FM stating that she wouldn't want a formal coalition with Labour; that the SNP would almost certainly have a large number of seats ... that she'd rather see David Cameron remain as PM."

A French embassy source told Sky News that Ms Bermann did meet Ms Sturgeon, but the pair did not discuss their political preferences.

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said it was a "devastating revelation" that exposes the uncomfortable truth behind the SNP's General Election campaign.

"For months Nicola Sturgeon has been telling Scots she wants rid of David Cameron yet behind closed doors with foreign governments she admits she wants a Tory government.

"If Scotland votes SNP in May then Nicola Sturgeon will get her wish - the Tories will be the largest party across the UK and David Cameron will return to Downing Street.

"Only a vote for Labour will deliver a Labour government."

Ms Sturgeon's performance in the televised debate has focused attention on her party's potentially pivotal role in forming the next UK government.

Tories described the prospect of a Labour government propped up by the votes of the Scottish nationalists as a "lethal cocktail".

The party said such an alliance would destabilise the country and undermine the economic recovery.

She was branded "the most dangerous woman in Britain" by the Daily Mail. Polls suggest the anti-austerity SNP could snatch dozens of Labour seats north of the border.

Meanwhile, campaigning continues into Easter with Labour unveiling a plan to build 125,000 homes by creating a £5bn housebuilding fund.

The Tories, meanwhile, are unveiling a pledge to force pornography websites to use effective age-verification tools to keep out under-18s.

Ms Sturgeon is due to join the annual Scrap Trident group march in Glasgow, only a short distance from the Faslane home of nuclear-armed submarines.

"Never before have the establishment Westminster parties been so unpopular - and never has there been a greater opportunity to build a progressive alliance across these islands to chart a different course," she is due tell the rally.

The latest Survation/Mirror poll puts Mr Miliband ahead of Mr Cameron, with 33% and 31% of the vote respectively.

UKIP polled at 18%, the Liberal Democrats 9%, the SNP 5% and Greens 3%.

These results are markedly different from a YouGov/The Sun poll which was published on Thursday night.

It suggested that the Conservative Party had hit a three-year high - with 37% of those questioned stating they would vote Tory if the General Election was tomorrow.

Labour was on 35%, the Lib Dems on 7%, UKIP on 12% and the Greens on 5%.

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Kenya University Massacre: Five Arrested

Five people have been arrested in connection with the massacre of 148 people at Kenya's Garissa University, as the al Shabaab terror group threatened more bloodshed.

The arrests were reported by CNN, citing Kenyan Interior Minister Joseph Nkaissery.

They come after a reward of £148,370 was offered for the capture of alleged mastermind, former teacher Mohammed Mohamud.

At least 148 people were killed and 79 hurt as Somalia's al Shabaab extremists targeted Christians, some praying at a lecture hall.

The hall was one of the first sites the gunmen targeted.

That suggested the masked attackers, who were strapped with bombs and armed with AK-47s, planned their operation extensively, said students.

They claimed many victims were forced to phone their parents and urge them to call for Kenyan troops to leave Somalia - before they were shot.

Others appeared to have been killed by knives in the attack in eastern Kenya, near the Somali border.

But some students were freed, apparently because they were Muslim.

The 12-hour siege ended with four gunmen killed and one suspect arrested.

The militant group has struck Kenya several times in recent years including at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013 where 67 people were killed.

Al Shabaab said the attack was in retaliation for Kenya sending troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the militants and stabilise the Mogadishu government.

They warned of "another bloodbath" in a "long and gruesome war", saying in an emailed statement: "Not only are you condoning your government's oppressive policies by failing to speak out against them, but are reinforcing their policies by electing them.

"You will, therefore, pay the price with your blood."

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The Debate: Seven Leaders, Seven Key Moments

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 03 April 2015 | 14.59

After seven party leaders vied for attention from undecided voters in the studio audience and at home, Sky News looks at seven key clashes between the politicians.

Nigel Farage vs Leanne Wood: Health Tourism

Many leaders spoke out against the privatisation of the NHS during their opening statements. But Nigel Farage decided to grasp another nettle: health tourism.

In the free-flowing debate, he claimed that 7,000 people are diagnosed as HIV positive every year - but 60% of them are not British nationals.

"You can come into Britain, from anywhere in the world, get diagnosed with HIV and get the retro-viral drugs which cost up to £25,000 per year, per patient. We need to put the National Health Service there for British people and families," the UKIP leader said.

Leanne Wood, from Plaid Cymru, was the first to reply to Mr Farage's point – and battled through his interruptions to secure the first round of applause of the evening.

"This kind of scaremongering rhetoric is dangerous. It divides communities and creates a stigma to people who are ill. I think you should be ashamed of yourself," she replied.

Nick Clegg vs Ed Miliband: The Economic Crash

Another barbed exchange was between Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, after the Labour leader took the Deputy Prime Minister to task over his U-turn on tuition fees back in 2010.

"It was a broken promise, you betrayed the young people of our country," he said.

Mr Clegg described his rival's stance as "pious", shooting back: "This is the man who was part of a government that said 'no boom and bust in the economy' and crashed our economy - jeopardising the future generations and life chances of millions of people.

"I've apologised, I've taken responsibility for the mistakes I've made. Why don't you, in the front of the British people, say 'I'm sorry for crashing the British economy?'"

Mr Miliband ducked the question - but brought David Cameron into the row, replying: "The banks were under-regulated, but there was a global financial crisis. David, as leader of the opposition, you were saying banks were over-regulated, so I'm not going to take any lectures from you on the global financial crisis."

Both received applause.

Leanne Wood: "I Agree With Nicola"

One of the biggest buzz-phrases which emerged during the last general election in 2010 was "I agree with Nick", as Gordon Brown extended a friendly hand towards the Liberal Democrats - kingmakers during the first hung parliament in decades.

Five years on, and Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru had slightly adapted the phrase to "I agree with Nicola", as she aligned her party with the SNP on several major issues.

Nicola Sturgeon vs Cameron, Miliband and Clegg: The EU

The SNP leader certainly made things interesting when she launched a challenge to three parties at once - asking them to make a pledge to the four countries that comprise the United Kingdom ahead of any in-out referendum on the EU.

She said: "Nigel Farage wants to take the UK out of Europe - and David Cameron is taking us dangerously close to the exit door.

"They spent a lot of time talking about the UK family of nations during the Scottish referendum, but will they give a commitment that if there is an in-out referendum, no one part of that family of nations will be taken out of Europe against its will?

"Will the vote be counted separately in each of the four nations so none of us can be dragged out?"

David Cameron vs The Heckler: Homeless Veterans

The Prime Minister was praising the "brave and professional" armed services around the world when he was interrupted by a heckler from the audience.

Victoria Prosser made an intervention and shouted about how many homeless veterans were on the streets after completing their service.

Mr Cameron replied: "The lady makes an important point. There are people coming out of the armed services who have difficulties, and we should put money into armed forces charities helping homeless people."

After the debates, Ms Prosser explained: "He is using their name to garner votes because it might be a vote winner."

Nick Clegg vs Nigel Farage: Foreigners

During the segment on immigration, UKIP's leader claimed that, at 300,000, net migration now is 10 times higher than it was during World War II.

Mr Clegg decided to take Mr Farage to task, saying: "I'm married to a foreigner, you're married to a foreigner. Let's be open-hearted and generous-spirited."

Earlier, Nicola Sturgeon had said: "There isn't anything Nigel Farage won't blame on foreigners."

David Cameron vs Ed Miliband: Jobs

Towards the end of the debate, Ed Miliband returned to one of his pet subjects: zero-hours contracts, and claimed the Conservatives' "trickle down" economic experiment had failed.

Mr Cameron simply said: "Never mind zero-hours; with Ed there'd be zero jobs."

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No Winner: Debate Polls Point To Coalition

After two hours of debating on the NHS, immigration and the economy, no clear winner emerged from the televised showdown between seven of Britain's party leaders.

The first poll for YouGov gave the win to the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, with UKIP leader Nigel Farage second.

A ComRes poll for ITV had Ed Miliband, David Cameron and Mr Farage level-pegging on 21% and an ICM/Guardian poll had the Labour leader in top spot with a 1% lead over Mr Cameron. Survation put both leaders on 25%.

The high-stakes debate was the only chance for the two men who could become prime minister on 7 May to challenge each other face to face before the election.

But the inconclusive result and the strong performance by the outsiders pointed to another coalition for Britain.

Mr Farage emerged as the "Marmite figure" of the contest with the highest number of people thinking he performed both best and worst.

His remark that 60% of the 7,000 people diagnosed with HIV were "not British nationals" and that they were taking a toll on the NHS drew the most comments on Twitter.

They also drew angry responses from Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Ms Sturgeon.

Ms Wood told the UKIP leader: "This kind of scaremongering rhetoric is dangerous. It divides communities and it creates stigma to people who are ill. I think you should be ashamed of yourself."

And Ms Sturgeon added: "When someone is diagnosed with a dreadful illness, my instinct is to view them as a human being - not consider what country they come from."

Ms Sturgeon's success is likely to be claimed as a body blow for Mr Miliband in Scotland where Labour is predicted to be virtually wiped out by her nationalist party.

She challenged Mr Miliband on a number of points, taking him to task for signing up to the £30bn of austerity cuts proposed by the coalition.

Ms Wood stuck the knife in by telling Mr Miliband that the biggest threat the NHS faced in Wales was cuts and Labour.

However, Ms Sturgeon said she supported Mr Miliband's plan to increase the top rate of tax - although she would not agree on continued investment in Britain's nuclear deterrent.

The SNP leader teamed up with Ms Wood on a number of occasions. Both demanded if there was a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union it should be held separately in each of the four countries.

There were a number of significant clashes, not least between Mr Clegg and Mr Cameron who exchanged angry words on coalition differences over the past five years, with Mr Clegg savaging the Prime Minister on education cuts.

The Tory leader accused his Lib Dem counterpart of taking a "pick and mix" attitude to the coalition and told him: "We sat in the Cabinet Room together, we took decisions together."

But, ultimately, both of them appealed to voters in their closing arguments to let them "finish the job".

Another heated encounter saw Mr Clegg demanding an apology from Mr Miliband for "crashing the economy" after the Labour leader criticised his U-turn on tuition fees.

Mr Clegg said: "This is the man who was part of the government who said no boom and bust in the economy and crashed our economy, jeopardising the future generations and life chances of millions of people.

"I have prioritised, taken responsibility for the mistakes I made. Why doesn't Ed Miliband apologise for crashing the economy? You got it wrong on banking regulation."

There was little deviation from the script from any party, the only unexpected intervention was a heckler who asked how many homeless people on the streets were once in the Armed Forces. She was eventually removed from the audience.

There was tough talk on immigration from all three main parties, with Mr Miliband promising no immigrants would get benefits before two years, and Mr Cameron promising four. Mr Farage said as long as Britain was a member of the EU immigration could not be controlled.

The UKIP leader attempted to set himself apart from the other leaders consistently describing them as "all the same" and in his closing speech told voters they didn't understand "ordinary people" and his party was the only one to offer "plain spoken patriotism".

However, as the debates closed it was the smaller parties that promised to offer an alternative - and the coalition parties offered to "finish the job".

In the end Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband finished the debate much as they started: "it's a choice between the two of us".

And the polls simply proved that, come 7 May, it will indeed be the closest of close contests.

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Seven Party Leaders Set For Debate Showdown

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 02 April 2015 | 14.59

The leaders of Britain's seven main political parties will do battle in a high-stakes TV showdown tonight, marking the only time David Cameron and Ed Miliband will debate each other in the General Election campaign.

The two-hour event sees the Prime Minister, the Labour leader and Nick Clegg joined by the leaders of UKIP, the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru for a live debate before a 200-strong studio audience in Salford.

The event is the first and only debate featuring all the leaders to be held before voters go to the polls on 7 May and has the potential to shape the course of the remaining five weeks of campaigning.

:: For full coverage of the General Election 2015 click here

During the debate - which is hosted by ITV - the leaders will give an uninterrupted one-minute answer to each question posed by the audience.

There will then be up to 18 minutes of debate for each question. ITV said "four substantial election questions" will be addressed in all.

Leaders will not be given advance notice of the questions, which have been selected by an "experienced editorial panel".

Sky News will broadcast the debate live from 8pm until 10pm, with coverage also available online and via Sky News apps.

Greens leader Natalie Bennett will make the first opening statement, while Mr Cameron is scheduled to speak last.

Campaigning is expected to be largely placed on hold today as the party leaders make their final preparations for the event.

Key issues in the first three days of the campaign have included the battle between the Conservatives and Labour over economic policies and support for business.

Labour has been campaigning heavily on the use of zero-hours contracts, saying it will outlaw "exploitative" contracts if it wins power.

The Liberal Democrats have sought to highlight mental illness as a major issue.

Speaking at Bishopbriggs in East Dunbartonshire on Wednesday, Mr Clegg insisted he would not be losing any sleep ahead of tonight's event.

"I have been in politics long enough now to know that you shouldn't over-think these things or over-rehearse them," he said.

"I will try and answer the questions as best as I can and make sure that the Liberal Democrat voice is heard loud and clear in the cacophony of other political voices that will be represented on that stage."

Mr Cameron is also apparently relaxed about the debate, according to his wife Samantha who spoke as she made a solo appearance on the campaign trail in the Rochester and Strood constituency.

Asked how her husband was feeling, Mrs Cameron said: "He doesn't seem too nervous, but I have to say I'm very glad it's him and not me."

The three-way debates in 2010 saw a boost in the polls for Mr Clegg, although this year's debate is more likely to present an opportunity for one of the smaller party leaders such as Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP or Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood.

While campaigning at a factory in Huddersfield on Wednesday, Mr Miliband said the debate was a good opportunity to speak directly to Britons.

"The way I'm going to prepare for this debate is by coming to talk to good people here and keep campaigning," he said.

"The thing I value about the debate is the chance to talk directly to the British people, as I am doing today, about the things that matter to me and how I want to change the country," he added.

UKIP's campaign chief Patrick O'Flynn said Nigel Farage is preparing "rigorously" for the event.

"Obviously this will be the only chance he gets to be on the same stage as David Cameron and that's David Cameron's doing, not Nigel Farage's, so that again means that there will be key arguments to put there," Mr O'Flynn said.

Ms Sturgeon described the debate as "historic" and added: "Tonight's debate will hear a real progressive alternative to Westminster cuts.

"The SNP will be a positive and constructive voice, willing and ready to join forces with others in a progressive alliance to end austerity and to protect vital public services like the NHS."

In a video posted on Twitter by the Green Party, Ms Bennett said she was "really looking forward to the debate".

She added: "Finally, the debate about the debates has finished and we can now start talking about the issues."

Ms Wood, who believes her party could hold the balance of power after the election, wrote a message on her Facebook page this morning which said: "Big day for Plaid Cymru today. A big thanks to all for your kind messages."

:: Watch the seven-way leaders' debate live and in full from 8pm on Sky News, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132, Freesat channel 202, and on the Sky News website.

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What's At Stake For The Seven Party Leaders?

By Jon Craig, Chief Political Correspondent

Tonight's TV debate is the big one, in terms of the number of party leaders taking part.

Seven leaders, including an initially-reluctant David Cameron, will clash for two hours in a debate chaired by ITV's Julie Etchingham, formerly of Sky News.

After Mr Cameron and Ed Miliband endured bruising interrogations by Jeremy Paxman in the Sky News/Channel 4 showdown, this time it's different: a real debate between the seven.

Still to come is a debate involving the leaders of the five smaller parties and then a Question Time-style event with Mr Cameron, Mr Miliband and Nick Clegg.

:: For full coverage of the General Election 2015 click here

But tonight is the only opportunity for the PM, Leader of the Opposition and DPM to challenge each other in debate, and perhaps also to be embarrassed by the leaders of the smaller parties.

So what do the seven stand to gain or lose?

:: David Cameron (Conservative)

Gain: The PM surely can't be as ill-prepared and exposed as he was by Jeremy Paxman's blistering opening questions on food banks and zero-hours contracts.

He is likely to be better-briefed on the sort of questions that could leave him open to the charge that he's out of touch with ordinary voters.

Lose: After notoriously shouting "Calm down, dear!" across the despatch box at Labour's Angela Eagle in PMQs, he needs to be careful how he deals with his three female opponents, particularly the formidable Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP.

Any "Bullingdon Club" or "Flashman" temper would be disastrous on TV.

:: Ed Miliband (Labour)

Gain: He needs to build on his "Hell yes!" toughness that began to emerge towards the end of his Paxman clash.

At the same time, if he can appear more statesmanlike and more measured than the leaders of the smaller parties he may convince the many doubters among voters that he could be PM material after all.

Lose: If he's poor on the economy he'll be in big trouble.

He will be attacked as a spendthrift socialist by Cameron and Clegg, but denounced for backing Tory cuts by Sturgeon and the Greens' Natalie Bennett.

A member of the audience is bound to ask about his brother again. He was wobbly on that, too, first time.

:: Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats)

Gain: This is his big chance, after being shut out of the Paxman interviews.

He has a chance to claim the credit for coalition successes like raising income tax thresholds.

He can also sound moderate on the economy by attacking Tory cuts and Labour spending.

He will have allies in the debate, too, for his pro-EU stance.

Lose: The same pro-EU stance will leave him vulnerable to attacks from UKIP's Nigel Farage, who roughed him up in last year's Euro-election debates.

He also risks looking like an also-ran by being lumped together with the leaders of the minor parties.

He will be accused of betrayal over his tuition fees U-turn too.

:: Nigel Farage (United Kingdom Independence Party)

Gain: A great opportunity to display his man-of-the-people common touch and kick lumps out of the established parties and portray them as "the Westminster elite".

His humour and flamboyant style should come over well in a TV debate and if he's on form he could make his opponents look wooden and aloof from voters.

Lose: At the same time, his style alienates some voters, who regard him as "the pub bore" who's anti-everything and wants Britain to return to life as it was in the 1950s.

He's vulnerable, too, on accusations against some Kippers of expense-fiddling, racism and homophobia.

Needs to be careful debating against women opponents.

:: Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National Party)

Gain: Scotland's new First Minister has the potential to be the star of the show and inflict more misery on Labour.

She's more serious and business-like than the flamboyant Alex Salmond.

She will attack the two big parties on austerity and Trident and David Cameron would be foolish to under-estimate her.

Lose: If the SNP has a weakness, it's that it can be guilty of complacency, though that was a fault of Salmond rather than Sturgeon.

Mr Miliband will want to use the debate to fight back against the SNP.

Critics also claim that on the economy, oil prices and the future of sterling the SNP's sums don't add up.

:: Natalie Bennett (Green Party)

Gain: For the Greens, this is the sort of publicity the party could only have dreamed of, Mr Cameron - in his determination to damage Mr Miliband and Labour - insisted on them being invited to the party.

It's a great chance to spell out the Green Party's policies and pinch votes off the Lib Dems as well.

Lose: Ms Bennett will need to be better briefed than when she self-destructed in a radio interview with LBC's Nick Ferrari, blaming a cold.

She will be attacked by her opponents over the Greens' record in local government, particularly in Brighton.

And many viewers may wonder why she's leader and not Caroline Lucas.

:: Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru)

Gain: Just being included is already a gain for Plaid. Both they and the SNP currently have fewer MPs than the Democratic Unionist Party, who weren't invited.

It's great publicity for a party that doesn't get much media attention UK-wide and has had nothing like the success of the SNP in Scotland.

Lose: Short of a Bennett-style disaster, Plaid really has nothing to lose.

They're there at the table with the big boys and girls, sharing a platform with a PM, a DPM and a Leader of the Opposition and a First Minister whose poll ratings and popularity are to die for.

:: Watch the seven-way leaders' debate live and in full from 8pm on Sky News, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132, Freesat channel 202, and on the Sky News website.

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Labour To Crack Down On Zero-Hours Contracts

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 01 April 2015 | 14.59

By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent

Workers on zero-hours contracts will be able to demand a regular contract after 12 weeks under proposals set to be announced by Ed Miliband.

The Labour leader will promise to outlaw "exploitative" zero-hours contracts in a commitment to be included in Labour's election manifesto.

The proposal strengthens Labour's previous policy on the contracts, which sought to give workers the right to a regular contract after 12 months.

:: For full coverage of General Election 2015 click here

Mr Miliband first set out the 12-week proposal in 2013 at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) conference, but later backtracked.

A spokesman for the party leader said the change back to 12 weeks would incorporate 92% of people on the controversial employment terms.

The proposal is expected to include exemptions for employees such as so-called bank nurses, who request a zero-hours contract so they can work at another hospital as well as their usual job.

The Coalition Government sought to prohibit exclusivity clauses in zero-hours contracts, but the Labour Party argues this does not go far enough.

The announcement comes after Prime Minister David Cameron admitted that he could not live on a zero-hours contract during questioning from Jeremy Paxman on Sky News' Battle For Number 10 programme.

Mr Miliband is expected to say zero-hours contracts have become a symbol of a low-wage, low-skill economy.

In reference to Mr Paxman's interview with the Prime Minister, the Labour leader will say: "If Cameron can't live on it, nor should you - Labour will give workers a legal right to a regular contract, not a zero-hours contract.

"Today I can announce that in our first year of government after the election, Labour will legislate for a new principle: If you are working regularly, you have a legal right to a regular contract."

But a Conservative spokesperson has accused Labour of "presiding over zero-hours contracts" for 13 years.

"Zero-hours contracts account for just one in 50 jobs in our economy," the spokesperson said.

"This Government has already banned the abusive ones - and all the while Labour presided over zero-hours contracts with no safeguards for three terms and 13 years while they were in power.

"Tony Blair even promised to ban them entirely as far as back as 1995 and then did nothing.

"The fact is that three quarters of the new jobs since this Government came to office are full-time - these are families across the country getting into work with the security of a regular pay packet."

:: Watch the seven-way leaders' debate live and in full from 8pm on Thursday on Sky News, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132, Freesat channel 202, and on the Sky News website.

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More Than 100 Business Leaders Back Tories

A Labour government would threaten jobs, deter investment and put Britain's economic recovery at risk, according to a letter signed by more than 100 leading business figures.

Senior executives from some of Britain's best-known businesses hailed the Government's economic policies, which they claim show that "the UK is open for business", in a move orchestrated by the Tories campaign team.

The top executives - including BP's CEO Bob Dudley and vice-chairman of West Ham United, the Conservative Peer, Baroness Brady - argue that keeping the Conservatives in power is the best way to ensure continued growth.

In an open letter to The Daily Telegraph, the signatories, who had been approached by the party to add their names to the letter, said the Conservatives' economic policies have supported investment and the creation of jobs.

:: For full coverage of General Election 2015 click here

The letter has been signed by at least five former Labour backers including the chairman of Dixons Carphone and Talk Talk plc, Sir Charles Dunstone and former Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne.

The business figures write: "We believe this Conservative-led Government has been good for business and has pursued policies which have supported investment and job creation.

"David Cameron and George Osborne's flagship policy of progressively lowering Corporation Tax to 20% has been very important in showing the UK is open for business. It has been a key part of their economic plan.

"The result is that Britain grew faster than any other major economy last year and businesses like ours have created over 1.85m new jobs.

"We believe a change in course will threaten jobs and deter investment. This would send a negative message about Britain and put the recovery at risk."

Mr Cameron was quick to welcome the letter tweeting: "Today's #businessletter in the @Telegraph shows job creators support our long term economic plan. Labour's taxes will cost jobs."

Mr Osborne told Sky News: "This is an unprecedented intervention in a British General Election. A hundred business people, employing over half a million people and leading some of Britain's best-known companies, from Primark to the Prudential and from BP to Britvic and Mothercare have spoken out.

"Their message could not be clearer. We have a Conservative economic plan that is working and is creating jobs and if we change course those jobs will be threatened and the recovery will be put at risk."

Other business leaders to put their names to the letter were Prudential CEO Tidjane Thiam, former head of Marks & Spencer Lord Rose, chairman of the Arcadia Group Sir Philip Green, and chairman of Bloomberg Peter Grauer.

Bloomberg was the venue Labour used for its business manifesto launch on Monday, which was overshadowed by a backlash against an advert the party had place in the Financial Times, which used quotes from business leaders about the EU.

A number of the firms quoted were quick to distance themselves from political allegiance to the party.

Lord Rose told Sky News it was an "implicit warning: don't tamper with what is working well."

Labour's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna responded to the open letter, saying: "No one will be surprised that some business people are calling for low taxes for big businesses.

"We don't believe, as David Cameron does, in more tax cuts for the richest in society - the priority is tax cuts for small firms, working people and saving our NHS," he said.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said: "The letter to the Telegraph does not mention the Labour party at all and it's just about one policy: corporation tax.

"It does not mention membership of the EU, which is of course such a big deal to many large businesses or investment in infrastructure or skills but also it does not talk about the small businesses who are going to benefit from Labour's freeze, or cut, in business rates."

On Tuesday Labour pledged to reverse the Government's final cut in corporation tax to pay for a reduction in rates for 1.5 million small businesses.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls also promised smaller firms they would be the first to benefit from future tax cuts if Labour takes power.

Later today Mr Miliband is expected to announce plans to take a tougher stance on zero-hours contracts and improve employees' rights.

Under the proposal workers will be able to demand a regular contract after 12 weeks.

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Labour Promises To Reverse Corporation Tax Cut

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 31 Maret 2015 | 14.59

Labour will pledge to reverse the Government's final cut in corporation tax to pay for a reduction in rates for small businesses.

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls will also promise smaller firms they will be the first to benefit from future tax cuts if Labour takes power in the General Election.

Mr Balls is expected to say today that reversing the corporation tax cut would allow Labour to slash business rates on 1.5 million small business premises.

:: For full coverage of the General Election 2015 click here

Labour argues that 17 small firms would benefit from the cut for every large business helped by the reduction in corporation tax.

The party argues the coalition spent £7bn over the last parliament cutting the main rate of corporation tax to the benefit of larger firms, while revenues from business rates rose by £3bn.

Mr Balls will visit a small business later today where he is expected to say: "Unleashing the potential of smaller businesses to grow, create more good jobs and raise living standards is a vital part of Labour's better plan.

"This is part of our plan to deliver a simpler and fairer tax system for small businesses. This is the right priority when money is tight.

"And it will mean that the tax burden on small businesses will be lower with Labour than under the Tories."

The announcement comes a day after the launch of Ed Miliband's business manifesto was overshadowed by a row over Labour's use of business leaders' quotes in an advert for the party's stance on the EU.

Mr Miliband faced a backlash over the advertisement in the Financial Times, published as Mr Miliband warned voters that leaving the European Union was a "clear and present danger" to British business.

The Conservatives have argued that abandoning the cut in corporation tax would jeopardise economic security.

Treasury Minister David Gauke said: "This would be the first time corporation tax has risen in over 40 years and Labour's plans could cost 96,400 jobs - it would put people's economic security at risk.

"The Conservative Party is helping businesses small and large as part of our long-term economic plan - we don't divide them up for the sake of making a political point."

Labour's pledge comes as Prime Minister Cameron is promising a Conservative government will help business create two million new jobs over the course of the next parliament.

The Liberal Democrats will also promise an additional £3.5bn over the next parliament, with the aim of "revolutionising" adult and child mental health care.

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM Says Britain Needs To Take Cuts 'Medicine'

By Niall Paterson, Sky News Correspondent

The Conservative leader has refused to say where welfare cuts will fall but insisted that British families still needed to take "the medicine" to help put the country back on track.

In a round of interviews setting out a pledge to create two million extra jobs over the course of the next parliament, David Cameron admitted there were more cuts to be made but would not say where they would fall.

The Conservatives have said they will find £12bn of welfare cuts over the next parliament if they are returned to power on 7 May but have indicated they will not tell voters of the details before the vote.

:: For full coverage of the General Election 2015 click here

Tackled on where the cuts would fall on Sky News Mr Cameron said: "The medicine is that we need to - for two more years - do what we have done for the last five, which is find £1 out of every £100 the Government spends and save it.

"So the choice at this election, if you simplify it, really is: do you want to find that £1saving out of every £100, which families and businesses up and down the country have had to do or do you want to scrap that plan and put up taxes and borrow more."

Mr Cameron said that they had managed to find £20bn of welfare savings in the last five years.

Answering claims he would go down as the "biggest Scrooge prime minister", Mr Cameron said he didn't come into office to make cuts but when he came to power Britain had a budget deficit forecast to be bigger than that of Greece and he had to do the job.

He also dismissed criticism over using his outgoing address at Number 10, at which he officially announces the General Election, to attack his opponent Ed Miliband.

He was the first prime minister to use the platform to speak against the opposition leader but when asked if it was "not cricket", Mr Cameron told Sky's Eamonn Holmes: "In cricket there are two opposing teams".

And he denied he had been in "secret talks" over a coalition and intended to spend the next 37 days working for a majority.

He also said that his wife, Samantha, had not been behind his decision to announce he would only serve two terms as Prime Minister.

Mr Cameron believes the Tories can match the job creation of the past five years, during which the Coalition created an average of 1,000 new jobs every day.

As the second day of campaigning gets under way, the Prime Minister said: "We are the jobs party - and over the next month, we will be fighting for every man and woman who wants to work and earn a wage."

The pledge comes exactly a year after Chancellor George Osborne set a goal of full employment for Britain.

Mr Cameron argues an additional two million jobs is a feasible target thanks to government assistance for business, competitive tax rates, a parliament-long campaign against red tape, plus investment in infrastructure.

He said Labour's plans to reverse corporation tax cuts was a "crazy thing to do when the economy is growing".

The Prime Minister's first outing of the election campaign proper was to address a rally of supporters at a school in Chippenham - a marginal constituency they need to take if they are to stand any chance of winning a majority.

Speaking at the event, Mr Cameron admitted he is not the "perfect" Prime Minister - but insisted he has a record to be "proud" of.

"I don't claim that I have got every call right or that I am the perfect Prime Minister," he said.

"But I know this. I had a job to do in 2010 and it was about sorting out our economy, getting the deficit down and getting people back to work."

On the first day of Labour's campaign, Mr Miliband tried to win over business with the launch of the party's first "mini manifesto".

Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats today sought to distinguish themselves from the Conservatives, and other parties, by focusing on mental health with a pledge of extra funding.

The party promised an additional £3.5bn over the next parliament, with the aim of "revolutionising" adult and child mental health care.

Announcing the pledge, Mr Clegg said: "Equality for people with mental health issues is a liberal mission.

"In government again, we will continue to put mental health front and centre of the political debate.

"That's why I am so immensely proud that we are the first party to put equality for people with mental health problems on the front page of our full General Election manifesto.

"Only the Liberal Democrats can keep Britain on track and provide both a stronger economy and a fairer society with strong public services."

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Not Just Theatre: Queen To Dissolve Parliament

Written By Unknown on Senin, 30 Maret 2015 | 14.59

The Queen will today dissolve Parliament for a twelfth prime minister under her reign.

Winston Churchill was in power when Elizabeth II took to the throne at the age of 25 in February 1952.

Tradition has it that the prime minister asks the monarch to dissolve Parliament but David Cameron's royal visit is more a formality and a piece of theatre than a constitutional necessity.

Under the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, today's date has already been set for the dissolution of Parliament and the date of the next General Election is set as Thursday, 7 May.

However there is a bit more substance to it than a PR stunt for the PM.

The Fixed-Term Parliaments Act was introduced to ensure the survival of the coalition, however it mirrors the constitutional settlement that existed before.

Previously, had a prime minister served a full term, a monarch was authorised to end Parliament without the prime minister's permission. But even with the new act the prime minister is still required to seek the Queen's permission.

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Gallery: Then And Now: How They've Changed

How do the strains of leading your party, and working out how to spend the public finances begin to show? It would seem some wear those stresses well - and others less so. So how have the politicians fared? Ed Miliband in 2010 and then 2015.

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14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM Heads To Palace As Election Battle Begins

By Jason Farrell, Senior Political Correspondent

David Cameron will make a short trip from Downing Street to Buckingham Palace today to ask the Queen to dissolve Parliament.

The final act of pomp and ceremony of his coalition government will be followed by a statement from the Prime Minister on the steps of Number 10 in which he will say the country faces "a stark choice" between the Conservatives and Labour.

Mr Cameron will say: "You can choose an economy that grows, that creates jobs, that generates the money to ensure a properly funded and improving NHS ... and a Government that will cut taxes for 30 million hardworking people …

"Or you can choose the economic chaos of Ed Miliband's Britain - over £3,000 in higher taxes for every working family to pay for more welfare and out-of-control spending. Debt will rise and jobs will be lost as a result."

Labour leader Mr Miliband is joining shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna and shadow chancellor Ed Balls for the launch of Labour's business manifesto at Bloomberg.

The Labour Party is expected to release a "dossier" on the EU, setting out how Mr Cameron has, in their view, caved in to the eurosceptics within his party.

Labour will also take out an advert in the Financial Times focusing on their campaign to stay in Europe.

Mr Miliband is expected to say: "There could be nothing worse for our country or for our great exporting businesses than playing political games with our membership in Europe.

"David Cameron used to understand that. But in the past five years our place in the European Union has become less and less secure.

"He used to say he would campaign to keep Britain in Europe. But now he won't rule out campaigning to leave.

"He used to say he would be able to negotiate treaty change in Europe. But now he prefers to keep quiet about that too."

The polls are fluctuating. A Sunday Times Poll put Labour ahead by 3 points but a ComRes Poll for ITV News and the Daily Mail shows the Conservatives 3 points in the lead at 36% to Labour's 32%.

With Parliament dissolved, MPs immediately lose their title and are asked to remove references to it, or place disclaimers on any email or social media account which names them as an MP.

They will also find their parliamentary pass for Westminster Palace ceases to work.

14.59 | 0 komentar | Read More

Clarkson Row: BBC Boss 'Sent Death Threats'

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 29 Maret 2015 | 14.59

Clarkson Row: BBC Boss 'Sent Death Threats'

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Police are investigating allegations of threats to kill BBC director general Tony Hall, reportedly linked to his decision to drop presenter Jeremy Clarkson from Top Gear.

Scotland Yard confirmed it was looking into the claims after the BBC decided not to renew Clarkson's contract because of his unprovoked attack on producer Oisin Tymon.

Mr Hall, 64, and his wife Cynthia have been under 24-hour guard at their Oxfordshire home since the threats were made on Wednesday, according to reports.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police in Westminster are investigating an allegation of threats to kill. The allegation was reported to police on Wednesday, March 25.

"Inquiries continue. No arrests have been made."

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Gallery: Who Could Replace Jeremy Clarkson?

Model and TV presenter Jodie Kidd is a well-known car expert and amateur racing driver. She currently presents The Classic Car Show on Channel 5

Actor and comedian Stephen Fry famously drives a black cab around London and would be a popular choice for many

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Chris Evans has repeatedly denied that he is interested in the job but bookies still seem to think he's a hot contender

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Comedian Steve Coogan has appeared on Top Gear several times, but since then has been critical of the show's brand of humour

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Former racing driver Eddie Irvine would certainly tick the boxes in terms of car knowledge, but his lack of TV experience could count against him

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A BBC spokeswoman said: "We wouldn't comment on security matters."

Mr Hall, former chief executive of the Royal Opera House, took over the £450,000 BBC post in April 2013 to replace George Entwistle, who left the corporation in the wake of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.

He announced on Wednesday that Clarkson would not be retained on the motoring show, saying "a line has been crossed" and that "there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another".

Mr Tymon had his lip split by Clarkson in a 30-second-long assault on 4 March and took himself to hospital with his injuries.

He was also shouted at by the former Top Gear presenter in a torrent of verbal abuse over food at a hotel in North Yorkshire.

Clarkson reported the incident to the BBC five days later and was suspended by the broadcaster on 10 March.

On Friday, Mr Tymon, who has himself received death threats and abuse from trolls on Twitter, said he did not want to press charges against his former colleague.

North Yorkshire Police said the force is still investigating the incident.

Police could yet bring a charge against 54-year-old Clarkson, although it appears any prosecution would be without the support of the victim himself.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear as to who will take over at Top Gear.

Chris Evans leads the betting as favourite to take over the show, even though he has ruled himself out on more than one occasion.

Top Gear co-hosts James May, 52, and Richard Hammond, 45, have not announced if they will stay at the show or not, but have heavily hinted that they will follow Clarkson out of the corporation.

Asked earlier in the week if he will continue on the BBC2 show, May said the trio came "as a package" and his future requires "a lot of careful thought".

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