UK Politics

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne approaches a cash machine to withdraw money at a branch of LloydsTSB bank in central London

Britain to start sale of Lloyds soon, review RBS split

By Matt Scuffham and David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is ready to start selling its shares in Lloyds Banking Group a…

Cameron backs banking panel on criminal penalties

Cameron welcomes banking report, promises fast response

Osborne to unveil future of state-controlled banks David Milliken and Matt Scuffham - Reuters - Wed, Jun 19, 2013
By David Milliken and Matt Scuffham LONDON (Reuters) - The fate of Britain's two state-controlled banks will become clearer on Wednesday, when Chancellor George Osborne is likely to start the clock ticking for the sale of the government's stakes. But while Osborne will attempt to point to a healthier future for Britain's …
Russia's Putin torpedoes G8 efforts to oust Assad Andrew Osborn and Maria Golovnina - Reuters - Tue, Jun 18, 2013
By Andrew Osborn and Maria Golovnina ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - Russia's Vladimir Putin derailed Barack Obama's efforts to win backing for the downfall of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad at a G8 summit on Tuesday, warning the West that arms supplied to the rebels could be used for attacks on European soil. …
Cameron says U.S. is right to talk to Taliban Reuters - Tue, Jun 18, 2013
ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - The United States is right to decide to hold peace talks with the Taliban on Afghanistan, although the process will be difficult, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday. U.S. officials said earlier that the first formal meeting involving U.S. and Taliban representatives is …
G8: Cameron gets his Syria plan – but what did he sacrifice? Politics.co.uk - Tue, Jun 18, 2013
David Cameron claimed to have secured a substantial achievement on Syria today, after he emerged from the G8 summit with a seven point plan agreed by all the leaders present.
So much for expectations management: UK triumphant over G8 tax transparency deal Politics.co.uk - Tue, Jun 18, 2013
G8 leaders are set to agree a sweeping agreement to improve tax transparency, George Osborne has declared, as negotiations continue in Lough Erne.
Cameron wants Syria peace plan, with or without Russia Andrew Osborn - Reuters - Mon, Jun 17, 2013
By Andrew Osborn ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron wants Russian President Vladimir Putin to sign up to what he hopes will become an international peace plan to end the conflict in Syria but may have to press ahead without him, British officials said on Monday. Cameron was planning to …
EU tax chief urges Swiss to end bank secrecy Reuters - Mon, Jun 17, 2013
BERNE (Reuters) - The European Union official in charge of tax policy tried to persuade Switzerland on Monday to agree to surrender more information about clients of its big banking industry as part of a drive to combat tax evasion. Commissioner Algirdas Semeta's meeting with Swiss Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf …
UK says 'no progress' in Assange talks with Ecuador Reuters - Mon, Jun 17, 2013
LONDON (Reuters) - Talks between Britain and Ecuador ended with no breakthrough over Julian Assange, the British Foreign Office said on Monday, nearly a year after the WikiLeaks founder fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in London to avoid extradition to Sweden. But Foreign Secretary William Hague and his Ecuadorean counterpart, …
Britain urges Iran to negotiate nuclear settlement Reuters - Mon, Jun 17, 2013
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Monday it hoped the new Iranian government would make efforts to reach a negotiated settlement on its nuclear programme following the election of Hassan Rohani. British foreign secretary William Hague said efforts to reach a settlement would be met "in good faith" by Britain, adding that …
Big spender: Cameron leaves £50 tip for £45 meal Politics.co.uk - Mon, Jun 17, 2013
David Cameron reportedly left a £50 tip for a £45 meal in Pizza Express last night, in a move which might wipe away memories of his failure to tip an Italian waitress.
Britain blinks first in Syria showdown Politics.co.uk - Mon, Jun 17, 2013
David Cameron's ability to supply rebel forces in Syria with arms looked increasingly strained this morning, after Boris Johnson and other influential figures spoke out against the plan.
UK spied on G20 officials in London - report Reuters - Sun, Jun 16, 2013
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain intercepted phone calls and monitored computers used by officials taking part in two high-level international finance meetings in London in 2009, a British newspaper said on Sunday. The Guardian said some delegates from countries in the Group of 20 - which comprises top economies around the world …
Putin warns West not to arm organ-eating Syrian rebels Alexei Anishchuk - Reuters - Sun, Jun 16, 2013
By Alexei Anishchuk LONDON (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned on Sunday why the West would want to arm Syrian rebels who he said ate human organs, saying plans to give them weapons contradicted basic human values. Speaking after meeting Prime Minister David Cameron in London ahead of a G8 summit on …
Russia and Britain can bridge differences on Syria - Cameron Reuters - Sun, Jun 16, 2013
LONDON (Reuters) - Russia and Britain can overcome their differences on the conflict in Syria despite some disagreements, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Sunday after meeting President Vladimir Putin in London. "What I take from our conversation today is that we can overcome these differences if we recognise that we …
Factbox - Profiles of UK Banking Standards Commission members Reuters - Sun, Jun 16, 2013
LONDON (Reuters) - The Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, tasked with finding ways to reform Britain's banks, will this week publish its final recommendations following a near year-long inquiry. Following are profiles of the 10 members of the commission. ANDREW TYRIE, 56, CHAIRMAN (CONSERVATIVE PARTY POLITICIAN) …