The 'priority investors' who made a mint out of the Royal Mail

Government forced to publish list of ‘priority investors’ given lion’s share of Royal Mail shares - Chuka Umunna

Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on the list of priority investors in Royal Mail published by the government, said:
“Following repeated calls from Labour, and Ed Miliband’s questioning of the Prime Minister today, the government has been forced to publish the list of the ‘priority investors’ given the lion’s share of Royal Mail shares in its botched fire sale. This comes after ministers have dragged their feet for months.

“Vince Cable’s claims to have prioritised long-term investors now lie in tatters, and the City has made a fast buck at taxpayers’ expense. This list includes both Lazard Asset Management, and a hedge fund with links to the Conservative Party.

“The full scale of the mishandling of the sale of Royal Mail by David Cameron’s government is now becoming clear and serious questions for ministers are mounting. Taxpayers have been left hugely short changed at a time when families are being hit by a cost-of-living crisis.”

The list of priority investors released by BIS in a letter to Chuka Umunna is as follows:

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
BlackRock
Capital Research
Fidelity Worldwide
GIC
Henderson
JP Morgan
Kuwait Investment Office
Lansdowne Partners
Lazard Asset Management
Och Ziff
Schroders
Soros
Standard Life
Third Point
Threadneedle

Labour pledge to reform zero-hour contracts

One of the ways the Coalition massage unemployment figures is by encouraging zero-hour contracts, which by definition offer no guarantee of work or income. 

There may be some advantages to these contracts - for example seasonal work or where it suits the worker - but the lack of regulation leaves the door wide open to abuse.

The next Labour Government will give new rights to people with zero-hour contracts:

• to demand a fixed hours contract when they have worked regular hours over six months with the same employer
• to receive a fixed hours contract automatically when they have worked regular hours over a year (unless they choose to opt out)
• to be protected from employers forcing them to be available at all hours, insisting they cannot work for anyone else, or cancelling shifts at short notice without compensation

This announcement underlines Labour's commitment to improve living standards and help businesses build a more productive, successful economy across the UK.

How much does Europe cost me?

It doesn't.  According to the CBI, every UK household is £3000 better off (that's £1,225 for those of us who aren't households) each year thanks to Britain's membership of the EU.

The UK pays money into the EU Budget just like every other EU country, but we also get money back through EU funding programmes and the British economy gets a massive boost from the EU single market.

So, in a nutshell, Euro sceptics are after taking money from us and UKIP are talking made-up nonsense.

Ed Miliband on the cost of living crisis

When ministers claim the cost-of-living crisis is over, it serves only to demonstrate they understand neither the reality faced by millions of hard-working people nor the scale of the generational challenge.

Ed Miliband writing in The Independent today.  He continues:

Millions of families are caught in the crosshairs of a cost-of-living crisis: a few people at the top scoop more and more of the rewards; markets  such as energy have become uncompetitive, allowing huge prices to be imposed on consumers; and many of the new jobs being created require fewer skills, pay lower wages and offer less security. 

This Government cannot deal with these problems because lying beneath its claims of being converted to full employment is an economic ideology built on low pay, low skills, low prospects and  low productivity.

A Labour government will make the big changes needed in our economy to  tackle this cost-of-living crisis. 

Read the entire article here.

It really is this simple

Why do Labour MEPs believe the UK is better off in the EU?

Labour MEPs believe Britain must grow its economy and earn its way to higher living standards.  To achieve this, British businesses need to export more.  The EU is vital.

As part of the EU, British businesses have access to the world's largest single market and can also benefit from EU trade deals with some of the world's largest economies.  With free access to the EU market, the UK is much more attractive to foreign investors too.

Already, 3.5 million UK jobs depend on our relationship with the EU.

With Britain deep in a cost of living crisis, we must not put at risk our access to the world's largest single market.
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The European Elections are on Thursday May 22 2014.  It is not too late to claim your right to a postal vote.  Harborough District Council doesn't make it easy - they haven't even put the election date up yet - but we can cut through that sort of thing.  If you want to claim your postal (or proxy) click here and scroll down the page.  Don't be put off by the bit about "are you unable to attend your polling station?"  It's rubbish.  Anybody can have a postal vote, for one election or forever.  No reason is required.  Any problems, email us at lutterworth4labour@outlook.com.