September 2010
New financial regulations will harm households and small businesses
The financial sector breathed a sigh of relief this week as the Basel Committee’s recommendations for new rules on banking regulations were announced; stock markets around the world rallied. Rules on the amount of capital banks must hold to cover risk – and the extent to which reserves must be liquid – are less stringent than expected.
Poll reveals huge public support for investment in higher education
90 per cent of the public think that "it was important for the Government to invest in UK universities". 4-in-5 believe that investment should rise or stay the same.
Four Cheers for the Government’s failure to stop Illegal Timber!!!
This week the Government are holding a drinks party to congratulate themselves on the new European Union directive on illegal timber. The directive is five years late. It is toothless and it fails to achieve the objective of putting an end to this trade that costs developing countries up to $15 billion each year.
Recycling is a win-win for the environment and the economy
Recycling is a success story – and one which Friends of the Earth and our supporters have been at the heart of since our first campaign to persuade Schweppes to take back used bottles in 1971.
Dissidents hid cameras at MI5 base
The army have uncovered a sophisticated spying operation on the secret service by the dissident republican group, Oglaigh na Heireann. According to the Belfast Telegraph, members of the organisation planted digital cameras in woodland bordering MI5’s base in Northern Ireland, Palace Barracks.
Brogan wrong to credit Osborne with lowering interest rates
Ben Brogan, reporting comments by Conservative MP and former George Osborne advisor Matthew Hancock, has argued that the Coalition’s fiscal policies have lowered interest rates; here we show he is wrong.