Author: Sumon Admin

    Mr Thomas, who has been MP for Harrow West since 1997, told the capital’s Evening Standard newspaper that London was practically a “city state” and that it needed more powers to govern itself. “I’m keen to push more devolution of power to London and, crucially, to Londoners. We’re at a point now where the UK is no longer just a union of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, but actually a union with the city state of London,” he told the newspaper. He said London was the source of most of the UK’s wealth and that its citizens deserved more of the fruits of the city’s labour. Mr Thomas held a string of ministerial jobs under the last Labour government at the department for international development and the business department. He has served in the shadow cabinet th...

    Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna has withdrawn from the Labour party leadership contest. The 36-year-old, considered by many to be a front-runner in the race to succeed Ed Miliband, said he was not comfortable with the "added level of pressure that comes with being a leadership candidate". He said in a statement: "Shortly before the election campaign, I made the decision, in the event that Labour was defeated and a new Leader was to be elected, to stand for the leadership of the party if there was a desire in the party for me to do so. "I dearly hoped Labour would win the election and it was a decision I would not have to implement. "I also thought I understood the scrutiny and attention a leadership contest would bring. "As a member of the Shadow Cabinet, I am used...

    John Whittingdale, who has been chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee since 2005, has previously said that the licence fee is "worse than a poll tax" and ultimately "unsustainable". Downing Street sources said that Mr Whittingdale will "sort out the BBC" ahead of the corporation's royal charter review next year, which will set out the future of the £145.50-a-year licence fee.  Senior Conservatives said they were “furious at the BBC’s coverage” of the election campaign and accused the corporation of an “unforgivable pro-Labour bias”. There are now concerns that the corporation's coverage of the EU referendum in 2017 could betray a pro-EU bias. Friends of Mr Whittingdale said he is at the very least likely to freeze the licence fee and could imple...