BP - SHUT THE FUCK UP, OBAMA!

BP SHARES RISE IN BACKLASH AGAINST ATTACKS BY OBAMA
    

BP SHARES bounced back yesterday amid growing anger over President Barack Obama’s attacks on the British oil giant.

The markets were buoyed by pressure on politicians here from business leaders to stick up for Britain over reports that BP faces a £4billion bill for cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The clean-up costs come after experts estimated in excess of 50,000 barrels of oil a day are spewing out – 10 times the figure given after the Deepwater Horizon rig sank on April 22. But the company was boosted by news that it had captured 15,400 barrels on Thursday and 88,700 barrels since a cap was installed over the leak a week ago. A “hard cap” system will be in place by mid-July, bringing oil-siphoning capacity up to 50,000 barrels per day, US Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said.

BP’s shares have declined more than 40 per cent since the disaster, wiping £50billion from its market value but yesterday its shares rose 7.2% erasing much of Thursday’s loss.

BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg briefed Chancellor George Osborne about the leak yesterday. Afterwards he said: “We have done everything we can… and we have said we would do everything expected in cleaning up.” Asked if the Prime Minister needed to back the company, he said: “No comment.”

David Cameron was criticised yesterday after refusing to back Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, who complained of “anti-British rhetoric”. He is due to talk to President Obama by telephone today. A source said: “He’s not going to be giving the President a dressing down.”  

But former trade minister Lord Jones said: “I would expect him to stand up more for a British company.”

FULL STORY IN THE DAILY EXPRESS 

BALLS, DAVE...... TRY GROWING A PAIR!
 

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU?

Boris blows Tory truce on Europe

Boris Johnson stirred up further trouble for David Cameron yesterday with a pitch for the leadership of the Tory eurosceptics.The controversial Mayor of London called for a referendum to take back powers from Brussels.

In a barnstorming speech, the London Mayor also flouted party policy by calling for the immediate scrapping of Labour's new 50 per cent tax rate for high earners and urged Mr Osborne not to over-regulate the financial sector.

It was a performance that wowed the party faithful and was seen by many as an attempt by Mr Johnson to position himself as leader in waiting.

An animated Boris launches his barnstorming performance

On Europe, Mr Johnson suggested that the Tories' promised referendum could take the form of a 'consultation' if the treaty is passed before they gain power. There could be a vote on 'key parts' of the treaty, rather than a referendum on the whole thing. But he said there should be 'a consultation as soon as possible.'

Later he added: 'I would much rather people had the option to vote in a referendum, but clearly that is going to be very difficult once the thing is signed off.'

The 'Boris problem' greatly complicated the day for Tory high command as Central Office launched a damage limitation exercise over Europe

In the hope of avoiding claims of a split with Mr Johnson, the Tory high command did not issue him with a public rebuke.

FULL STORY AT THE DAILY MAIL

Good for Boris, at least one man in the Conservative Party has his finger on the pulse of the British people after the sellout by Ireland at the weekend in their referendum which is increasingly beginning to appear like the ballot boxes may have been rigged in favour of the yes vote - strange, then, in light of this evidence that Karzai's stuffing of ballot boxes in Afghanistan was seen as corrupt, but if the EU does it, well that's just fine!

I didn't find much about many performances at the conference that kindled much of a fire, except for Boris and Hague. Andrew Lansley in his usual fine form walked out on stage and inserted both feet firmly in his mouth by mentioning the general election against strict orders from the top! When Boris breaks ranks, there is normally a good reason, but Lansley just comes across as complacent and inept.

Still, we can all hope that it's going to improve over the next few days.........