Customs chaos looms as ‘haulier’s handbook’ delayed for a month November 11, 2020 Hauliers will have just three weeks to familiarise themselves with the new regulations for transporting goods into the EU from 1 January, it was revealed today. The so-called “Hauliers’ handbook” had been due to be released at the beginning of November but will now be unveiled in full on 7 December. Speaking to the Parliamentary [...]
New foreign investment powers will create ‘considerable uncertainty’ for business November 11, 2020 A new law giving the government the power to block foreign takeovers will create “considerable uncertainty” for businesses, City firms have warned today. The National Security and Investment Bill, which was published today, has been labelled the “most significant” change to the UK’s investment regime in decades. But many are concerned that the new regime, [...]
All pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmakers resign as China moves to quash opposition November 11, 2020 Hong Kong’s pro-democracy opposition lawmakers have resigned en masse in protest against the ousting of four of their colleagues after Beijing gave local authorities fresh powers to quash dissent. The Chinese parliament adopted a resolution earlier on Wednesday allowing the city’s executive to expel legislators deemed to support Hong Kong independence bypassing the courts. Moments [...]
Boris Johnson says controversial PR spending needed to ‘fight anti-vaxxers’ November 11, 2020 Boris Johnson has claimed that money splurged by vaccine taskforce chief Kate Bingham on private PR companies was necessary to combat anti-vaccine conspiracy theories. Bingham, who is married to Tory minister Jesse Norman, was plunged into a scandal over the weekend when it was revealed she had spent £670,000 on private PR companies for the [...]
The government’s National Security and Investment Bill could close the door on Global Britain November 11, 2020 As the twin spectres of Brexit and Covid-19 continue to dominate the headlines, you could be forgiven for not having the government’s planned National Security and Investment Bill on your radar. But the Bill is set to radically overhaul the UK’s approach to foreign investment at a time of significant economic uncertainty. While its exact [...]
Raab condemns ousting of Hong Kong opposition lawmakers as assault on freedoms November 11, 2020 British foreign secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the expulsion of four opposition pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong as an assault on the city’s autonomy and freedoms. Hong Kong ousted four opposition politicians from the city’s legislature for “endangering security” after China passed a resolution allowing the city’s executive to expel legislators deemed dangerous to national [...]
Brexit: UK-EU trade talks unlikely to yield breakthrough by this week’s deadline November 11, 2020 The UK and EU are reportedly not on track to hit this week’s deadline to seal a post-Brexit trade deal. Sources close to the negotiations told Reuters that talks are set to drag into next week, despite both sides’ commitment to “redouble” efforts, as disagreements on fisheries and state aid policy continues to prevent serious [...]
Ministers to block foreign takeovers of UK firms under new law November 11, 2020 The government will today unveil legislation which will enable ministers to intervene and block firms in hostile states from taking over UK companies. Under the National Security and Investment Bill, it will be mandatory for deals involving firms in 17 sectors deemed of strategic importance to be notified to officials. In addition, the government will [...]
Former Vote Leave spokesperson tipped as Number 10’s new chief of staff November 11, 2020 Boris Johnson is poised to appoint his current head of communications and former Vote Leave spokesperson as Number 10’s chief of staff, according to reports. Lee Cain, who headed up the Vote Leave campaign alongside Johnson’s aide Dominic Cummings during the Brexit referendum is set to be promoted to one of Downing Street’s top jobs, [...]
Fifty rebel Tory MPs form anti-lockdown Covid Recovery Group November 11, 2020 Dozens of rebel Conservative MPs have formed a new backbench group to protest the imposition of new lockdown restrictions across the country. Former chief whip Mark Harper and ex-Brexit minister Steve Baker will head up the new Covid Recovery Group (CRG) as chairman and deputy chairman. Harper has also recruited prominent senior backbenchers including Sir [...]