UK declares China has broken joint treaty over expulsion of Hong Kong MPs November 12, 2020 The UK has declared that China has once again breached the Sino-British treaty over Beijing’s expulsion of pro-democracy Hong Kong MPs. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the move was a “clear breach of the legally binding Sino-British declaration” and that Beijing had “undermined Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy”. The Chinese parliament adopted a resolution [...]
City of London to be shut out of EU with no equivalence deal from January November 12, 2020 Brussels looks set to lock the City of London out of European markets from 1 January, with the EU not planning on granting regulatory equivalence for the whole bloc before the end of the Brexit transition period.
Rishi Sunak warns second lockdown will have ‘significant’ impact on UK economy November 12, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has warned that England’s second nationwide lockdown will have a “significant impact on the economy”, as today’s record GDP figures laid the ground for a steep slump over the winter. “Obviously restrictions of this nature do have a significant impact on the economy. We’ve already seen that when we’ve done this over [...]
What does the US election mean for healthcare investors? November 12, 2020 | City Talk Voting has already begun in the US presidential election with many polls predicting a win for Democrat candidate Joe Biden. A Biden victory has been perceived in many quarters as likely to be negative for the healthcare sector. However, as with everything to do with US healthcare, the reality is more complicated. The main focus [...]
UK must ‘knuckle down’ to get EU trade deal, says Irish PM November 12, 2020 The UK must “knuckle down” to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, the Irish prime minister has said. Taoiseach Michael Martin said failing to reach an agreement would be “very, very damaging all round”. The UK is running out of time to secure a trade deal with the bloc before the transition period [...]
Some 19,000 jobs for 16-24s created under government Kickstart Scheme November 12, 2020 More than 19,000 placements for unemployed young people have been created under the government’s £2 billion Kickstart Scheme so far. The Kickstart Scheme began last week and, according to HMRC, is expected to produce “tens of thousands” more placements in the coming months. The scheme provides funding to create new job placements for 16 to [...]
Begone Trumpist protectionism! How Biden will boost prospects for global trade November 12, 2020 We cannot be sure on the exact order in which European leaders were contacted by the US President-elect, but we do know that Boris Johnson was among them early on, silencing the hysteria that our Prime Minister might be snubbed. Fears have abounded during this US presidential race that a Joe Biden win would result [...]
Why are vulnerable working-age adults like me at the back of the vaccine queue? November 12, 2020 The last few days have been filled with the exciting news of one — at least — vaccine being made available in as little as a few weeks. After almost nine months in the grips of a pandemic, it is the news that the UK population has been desperately waiting to hear. Yet, while the [...]
Cain unable to carry on: Downing St director of comms resigns November 11, 2020 Lee Cain has resigned from his Downing Street role as director of communications under Boris Johnson. Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson James Slack will replace him, according to the BBC. A statement from Cain said: “After careful consideration I have this evening resigned as No.10 director of communications and will leave the post at the end [...]
Government advisory body tells Rishi Sunak to hike capital gains tax November 11, 2020 Rishi Sunak should double capital gains tax rates in order to reel in an extra £14bn, according to the government’s tax advisory body. The Office for Tax Simplification today released its findings on a review ordered by Sunak, telling the chancellor he should increase the rate of capital gains tax and slash exemptions to take [...]