Moving clearing from London to Europe is no piece of cake March 17, 2017 "Britain cannot have its cake and eat it over Brexit negotiations.” Comments such as this from the Prime Minister of Luxembourg at the height of political tensions following the EU referendum have, perhaps unsurprisingly, become synonymous with the Brexit debate since 23 June. But with the triggering of Article 50 just around the corner, it [...]
Forget independence: The SNP should fix Scotland’s failing public services March 17, 2017 Ideas are powerful things. Many of us choose to engage in the battle of ideas on a weekly, often daily basis – through our hobbies, political affiliations, and reading material. Some of us even do it for a living. It’s hard to deny that the prospect of change can be rather captivating. But every once [...]
A €50bn Brexit bill? Britain shouldn’t be quibbling over coughing up to the EU March 17, 2017 One of the more unfortunate aspects of the run-up to the UK-EU negotiations on a withdrawal treaty to allow a separation of Britain from Europe is the excessive focus on payment questions. Boris Johnson, in urging Theresa May to resist paying any substantial Brexit bill, made the fanciful analogy with Margaret Thatcher’s famous settlement at [...]
As Toyota says it’ll invest £240m in its UK plant, has the threat of Brexit to carmakers been overplayed? March 17, 2017 Daniel Mahoney, deputy director at the Centre for Policy Studies, says Yes. The prospect of a 10 per cent tariff on UK car exports to the EU is unnerving for the automotive industry. However, developments since the EU referendum are reason to remain positive. Both Nissan and now Toyota have announced major investments in the [...]
Government should do more to boost flagging company investment business group says March 17, 2017 An influential business group has called for government to do more to tackle falling capital spending as fears are rising about a slowdown in long-term business investment. The Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) forecasts businesses will invest 1.9 per cent less in 2017 as companies start a “period of restraint” during the Brexit process. Stephen [...]
Plans for £4bn restoration of parliament need further challenging and testing before green light is given, says Treasury Committee March 17, 2017 It would be "imprudent" for MPs to commit to the restoration of parliament that could cost up to £4bn, without more work being carried out into "the hugely expensive project", the Treasury Select Committee warned today. The Committee has launched an inquiry into the project which will cost between £3.5bn and £4bn, if carried out over [...]
The White House is now suggesting Britain’s GCHQ spied on Donald Trump March 16, 2017 The White House press secretary has now suggested British agents could have helped former President Barack Obama spy on Donald Trump. Sean Spicer echoed a claim originally made by an analyst on Fox News that GCHQ spied on Trump Tower during the US election. "He's able to get it and there's no American fingerprints on it," [...]
Theresa May vows to protect Britain’s “precious” union through Brexit talks March 16, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May will tomorrow vow to protect the UK's “precious” union as she hits back at plans for a second independence referendum in Scotland. Speaking in Cardiff, May will lay out an expanded “Plan for Britain”, vowing to put Britain first and issuing a warning to Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon. Expanding on the themes [...]
HSBC’s chief exec Stuart Gulliver fails to close probe into his taxes, as taxman requests a string of information March 16, 2017 The boss of HSBC may have hand to over more information to the taxman, after a bid by the businessman to close a probe into his affairs failed. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) opened an investigation into Stuart Gulliver's personal tax return for 2013-14 in December 2015. The tribunal decision notice stressed the enquiry was limited to factual [...]
Ineos is in talks to buy BP’s Forties pipeline system in the North Sea March 16, 2017 Chemicals giant Ineos is in talks to buy a significant North Sea pipeline from BP. The Forties pipeline system, which is one of the oldest and largest in the North Sea, is about 100 miles long and transports around 450,000 barrels of oil a day, which is about 40 per cent of UK production. Spokespeople [...]