Brexit: Tory rebellion against withdrawal agreement breach grows September 14, 2020 Boris Johnson’s former attorney general Geoffrey Cox has vowed to not support the government’s plan to breach its Brexit withdrawal treaty. The Torridge and West Devon MP said he would not vote for the Internal Market Bill, when it comes before parliament in a series of votes this week, as it would ruin “the standing [...]
Coronavirus: Rule of six comes into effect as UK tightens lockdown September 14, 2020 New laws banning social gatherings of more than six people came into effect this morning as the government tightens lockdown measures amid a rise in coronavirus cases. The regulations — dubbed the rule of six — apply to indoors and outdoors gatherings in England and Scotland, but only indoors in Wales. In England the restrictions [...]
Plan for flexible UK rail tickets now facing a delay September 13, 2020 Plans by train operators to provide flexible season tickets to cater for people returning to the office part-time have been reportedly been stifled by government inactivity. Rail companies last month submitted plans to the Department for Transport to offer Carnet-style ticketing, which would allow commuters to use up their rail trips over a certain period [...]
Rishi Sunak eyes fresh tax breaks for UK businesses September 13, 2020 Rishi Sunak is mulling over multi-billion pound tax cuts for UK businesses that invest in property, plant and equipment in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. The plans involve giving companies tax breaks on capital investments, such as machinery, in an attempt to stimulate economic activity and boost the government’s “levelling up” agenda. Companies receive [...]
Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey closes gap to Sadiq Khan September 13, 2020 Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey is just seven points behind mayor of London Sadiq Khan in shock internal Conservative party polling. The private polling reportedly shows Khan is leading Bailey by 42 per cent to 35 per cent on first preference voting, according to the Sunday Telegraph. The internal Tory polling has Khan winning on [...]
Brexit: UK’s justice secretary will not quit over international law breach September 13, 2020 Justice secretary Robert Buckland has said he will not resign his post after the government introduced controversial Brexit legislation this week that breaks international law. Buckland said the legislation – which could amount to a breach of the Brexit withdrawal agreement – is only an “insurance policy” and that he believed it would not come [...]
Tony Blair and Sir John Major urge government to drop plans to breach Brexit deal September 13, 2020 Former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Sir John Major have warned that the government will ruin the UK’s international reputation if it goes ahead with its plan to breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement and break international law. The former adversaries said Boris Johnson’s plan “is shaming itself and embarrassing our nation”, and that his actions [...]
No-deal Brexit would hurt UK more than EU, says German finance minister September 12, 2020 A no-deal Brexit would do more damage to the UK economy than the European Union’s, according to the German finance minister. Speaking on Saturday following a meeting of 27 EU finance ministers in Berlin, Olaf Scholz said there would be “significant consequences” for Britain. “My assessment is that an unregulated situation would have very significant [...]
Brexit: Prime Minister urges Tory MPs to back him over bill September 12, 2020 Boris Johnson pleaded for Conservative MPs to support his plans to override part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement in a Zoom call late on Friday. The Prime Minister told around 250 Tory MPs on the video call that the party must not return to “miserable squabbling” over Europe. He is hoping to pass an Internal [...]
Sajid Javid backs plan to end furlough scheme in October September 11, 2020 Former chancellor Sajid Javid today offered his support for ending the furlough scheme next month, claiming any extension would be “unfair” on taxpayers. Speaking at the Centre for Policy Studies think tank talk about the post-pandemic economic recovery ahead, Javid said he agreed with chancellor Rishi Sunak that the furlough scheme must end. “Even if [...]