Brexit: UK calls for more ‘realism’ as EU ramps up no-deal planning September 11, 2020 The UK has refused to renege on its plans to break international law over the Brexit withdrawal agreement as the EU steps up preparations for a no-deal exit. The government has come under pressure to drop its internal market bill, which it has admitted would breach international law. A number of Tory grandees have condemned [...]
Coronavirus: Fears of second wave mount as R rate rises above one September 11, 2020 Fears of a deadly second wave of coronavirus infections mounted today after official data showed the rate of transmission has risen above the critical level. The reproduction rate — known as R — is now between 1.0 and 1.2, according to the Government Office for Science. It marks an increase on last week, when the [...]
Brexit: Lords ready to block Johnson’s plan to override withdrawal deal September 11, 2020 The House of Lords may block Boris Johnson’s efforts to pass controversial legislation seeking to override the Brexit withdrawal agreement, peers have warned. Former Conservative Party leader, Lord Howard of Lympne, said he would be “very surprised” if the UK Internal Market Bill was passed through the House of Lords. The pro-Brexiteer has become the [...]
UK strikes free trade agreement with Japan September 11, 2020 The UK has secured a free trade agreement with Japan that is set to increase trade with the country by an estimated £15.2bn. The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement , which is the first trade deal to be signed since Britain left the EU earlier this year, was agreed in principle this morning. In a [...]
Boris Johnson faces Tory revolt over new lockdown restrictions September 11, 2020 A number of Tory backbenchers have declared their opposition to the reintroduction of lockdown measures. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that social gatherings would again have to be limited to six people from Monday following a spike in positive coronavirus cases. But the reintroduction of this restriction has reportedly divided current ministers [...]
MPs attack chancellor’s plan to wind down furlough scheme September 11, 2020 The powerful Treasury Committee of MPs has criticised the chancellor’s new job retention bonus scheme as inefficient, and called for him to “carefully consider” more targeted support for parts of the economy when the furlough scheme ends. In a wide-ranging report, the Committee also said the Treasury must quickly come up with a scheme to [...]
City of London Corporation hits out at China for breaching its UK treaty September 10, 2020 The City of London Corporation has accused China of breaching the Sino-British treaty, after imposing draconian national security laws on Hong Kong. The local authority’s Court of Common Council – which comprises all of its elected officials – voted in favour of the motion, which accused Beijing of denying Hong Kongers the right to enjoy [...]
Tory grandee calls on justice secretary to quit amid division over Brexit bill September 10, 2020 Sir Roger Gale has called for justice secretary Robert Buckland to resign over the internal market bill, escalating Tory division over whether the government is breaking international law. The Tory grandee said he “would expect the justice secretary under these terms to fall on his sword”. It comes as the Brexit bill is due to [...]
Brexit: EU threatens legal action against UK after ‘seriously damaging trust’ September 10, 2020 Brussels has threatened the UK with legal action for Boris Johnson’s attempts to breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement, claiming that his actions have “seriously damaged trust between the EU and the UK”. The European Commission’s vice president Maroš Šefčovič warned Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove today that the withdrawal agreement was a “legal obligation”, and that [...]
Mairead McGuinness: Meet the EU’s future finance boss September 10, 2020 Mairead McGuinness was this week nominated as the new EU financial services commissioner following the recent resignation of her Irish counterpart and EU trade chief Phil Hogan. Mr Hogan departs having found himself in the centre of a “golfgate” scandal, breaking lockdown rules by attending a dinner in County Galway, Ireland, with more than 80 [...]