David Cameron has insisted he can “do business” with Jean-Claude Juncker just days after denouncing the arch-federalist’s nomination for the top job in Brussels as a “bad day for Europe”.
In what will have been a difficult telephone call to make, the Prime Minister congratulated the former Luxembourg premier on securing the support needed to become the next president of the European Commission.
Mr Juncker said he was “fully committed” to finding a solution to British concerns about the European Union during the call and they discussed “how they would work together” to boost competitiveness, according to No 10.
Labour unveils fairer tax system
Tax reforms to encourage long-term business investment are being unveiled as part of a Labour plan to create a “fairer” system.
The party is looking at a number of measures to halt short-termism in the corporate world, including introducing a lower rate of capital gains tax for investors who stay the course and a system of tax reliefs to encourage companies to rely on equity rather than debt.
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls will confirm he intends to push ahead with proposals to overturn a planned cut in corporation tax if Labour takes power next year to fund a reduction in businesses rates - a move aimed at smaller companies.
Fears as GP patients turn to A&E
Strained A&E departments are having to deal with millions of additional patients because people are struggling to get a timely GP appointment, new research suggests.
Estimates suggest that nearly six million attendances at English A&E departments could be due to patients being unable to get a convenient appointment with their family doctor, the study found.
For every 100 patients who try to get an appointment at their local GP surgery, 1.7 will resort to attending the emergency department, the authors said.
Poor families hit by costs gap
Poor families are finding it even tougher to make ends meet because the gap between the cost of essentials and real wages is widening, according to a report.
The bill for what the public considers basic necessities has soared 28% since 2008 while average earnings have increased by 9%, research has found.
Single people need to earn £16,300 a year before tax to afford a minimum acceptable standard of living while a couple with two children needs to bring in a total of £40,600 before tax, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) analysis revealed.
Coulson set for hacking sentence
Disgraced No 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson will be reunited with former workmates from the News of the World this week as they face up to two years jail for their part in the phone-hacking plot.
Coulson, 46, was found guilty last Tuesday of being involved in the conspiracy to snoop on the voicemails of a host of celebrities, royals, politicians and ordinary members of the public in the hunt for stories at the now-defunct Sunday tabloid.
His former lover and colleague Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges on the 138th day of the marathon trial at the Old Bailey in which four more defendants were also found not guilty.
Unite to back Labour at the election
The leader of the biggest trade union in the country will today offer support to Labour in next year’s election as the best way to win back rights for workers.
Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite will tell the union’s national conference in Liverpool that Labour offers the chance to improve jobs, pay and conditions as well as reversing the privatisation of the health service.
Unite was one of a number of unions unhappy with reforms to the historic link with Labour, which led to work cut in funds to the party.
England fans face Algarve charges
Three England fans deported from Portugal during the Euro 2004 football championships have been told to return to face charges of rioting, it was reported today.
Portuguese authorities have named them as arguidos - or suspects - and ordered them to stand trial, with possible jail sentences of five years if convicted, according to Sky News.
The charges are said to date back to June that year when hundreds of England fans clashed with police in Albufeira on the Algarve.
Murray fans queue to see their hero
The second week of Wimbledon fortnight begins today and Andy Murray fans have been forced to queue for over 26 hours to get a ticket for his latest match.
The Scot takes on South African Kevin Anderson on Centre Court and Murray is the bookmakers’ overwhelming favourite to win.
Just 500 Centre Court tickets are available for fans in the famous SW19 queue, and those turning up after the early hours of yesterday morning were left disappointed.
Glastonbury clean-up begins
For the past five days it has been home to some 175,000 people, but today the clean-up operation of Glastonbury Festival 2014 begins.
Highlights of the musical extravaganza have included Dolly Parton, Metallica and Arcade Fire, while Kasabian made sure the festival went out with a bang last night as they headlined the Pyramid Stage.
With the party officially over, campers have until 6pm to leave the site of the festival at Worthy Farm, Somerset, while crew and stall holders are given a week to clear their property.
Foreign Office reception for film stars
A glittering host of celebrities will rub shoulders with members of the Cabinet tonight at a reception in the stunning surroundings of the Foreign Office.
Actors Harrison Ford, Helena Bonham Carter and Benedict Cumberbatch are among the stellar cast list that have been invited to the A-list gathering celebrating the achievements of Britain’s creative industries.
Ford, 71, is recovering from an accident at Pinewood Studios during filming of the new Star Wars movie which left him with a broken leg.
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