It was, to say the least, somewhat bemusing to me to witness MP's this week, predominantly though not exclusively from the Tory benches, getting their knickers in a twist over the United Kingdom's membership of the European Community. This is an old hobby horse of the right of the Conservative Part... [More]

The UK’s economic competitiveness is being fundamentally undermined by the Government’s 50p tax rate. In an area like the North West this is a ‘toxic tax’ that hits us twice as hard. Business and civic leaders here are ploughing enormous effort into promoting entrepreneursh... [More]

Liverpool Football Club’s proclamation this week about them wanting to sell television rights for their games independently from the rest of the Premier League is a further blow to the English game. Liverpool chief Ian Ayre explained that because of Liverpool’s worldwide support, thei... [More]

BAE’s announcement of massive job cuts at its Lancashire factories last week was a huge blow not just to the workers who have lost their jobs and their families, but to the wider county economy. What we have just witnessed is the loss of high level, well paid, skilled posts. The type of emp... [More]

Well, the party conference season is over for another year and, aside from the rather bizarre booing of Tony Blair at the Labour jamboree in Liverpool and some equally odd, unnecessary mention of a cat by the Home Secretary at the Tory shindig in Manchester, it has all been rather dull. Nick Clegg ... [More]