Brexit: France reiterates veto threat over fishing rights December 8, 2020 France is still threatening to vote down a Brexit deal it considers to “sacrifice” its fishermen, in what is the latest barrier in trade talks. French European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune today said France would oppose any pact that “sacrifices” its fisherman. “On fisheries there is no reason to yield to Britain’s pressure. We can [...]
Brexit talks to continue today after Boris Johnson and von der Leyen call December 8, 2020 Brexit talks will continue this week in Brussels after Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to give negotiations a final shot. Johnson and von der Leyen are believed to have spoken for about an hour last night to discuss if a deal can be finally agreed before the 31 December deadline. They will [...]
The government must fix the broken procurement system before the next crisis hits December 8, 2020 The two caricatures of how the government has worked with the private sector during this pandemic do not add up. In one, championed by ministers in press conferences and interviews on a daily basis, the government has leveraged the best of British and international business to answer the biggest challenge this country has faced in [...]
Could Goldman Sachs teach the UK how to level up organically? December 8, 2020 Almost exactly one year ago, a freshly elected Conservative government made “levelling up” one of its core priorities. Facing a new parliament with a healthy majority and a dynamic Prime Minister (remember that?), the government promised to bring individual prosperity to regions of the UK which had been “left behind”: not just the big cities [...]
Brexit: UK and EU to resume talks after reported breakthrough on fishing December 7, 2020 The UK and EU will continue Brexit talks this week in Brussels after Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to give negotiations a final shot today. Johnson and von der Leyen are believed to have spoken for two hours this evening to discus if a deal can be finally agreed before the 31 [...]
Brexit: UK ‘prepared’ to axe controversial Internal Market Bill clauses that break international law December 7, 2020 The UK government is “prepared” to remove the controversial Northern Ireland clauses in Boris Johnson’s Internal Market Bill, that could breach international law, if a UK-EU post-Brexit trade deal is reached. A government statement released this afternoon said the UK was willing to take out all clauses in the Internal Market Bill and following Finance [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for Sunak to U-turn on scrapping VAT exemption for tourists December 7, 2020 Sadiq Khan has added his voice to the chorus of figures calling for Rishi Sunak to U-turn on his decision to scrap the UK’s VAT exemption for tourists. Khan today said the move would be “hugely counter-productive” as the UK economy recovers from the Covid crisis next year and that revenue lost from the change [...]
Tory mayoral candidate calls for Night Tube and Waterloo & City line to open December 7, 2020 Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey is urging Sadiq Khan to reopen the entire London Underground network, including the Night Tube and City & Waterloo line. Bailey also called for all Transport for London (TfL) staff to be given a free flu jab this winter. TfL closed the City & Waterloo line – which is a [...]
No-deal Brexit could force the army to airlift Covid-19 vaccine to UK December 7, 2020 A government minister has suggested that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Armed Forces may be required to airlift the Covid-19 vaccine from Belgium. Tory minister James Cleverly confirmed that the government is looking at the possibility of using ”non-commercial flights” to make sure the Pfizer vaccine can still be delivered to the [...]
Brexit: Michel Barnier tells MEPs that Wednesday is final deadline for deal December 7, 2020 Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier has reportedly told MEPs that Wednesday is the final deadline to salvage to a UK-EU trade deal and escape a no-deal Brexit. Barnier spoke to MEPs and to EU ambassadors this morning, after in-person negotiations with his UK counterpart Lord David Frost in Brusels yesterday. Talks continue in Brussels today. [...]