Hong Kong security law: UK confirms visa offer to 3m Hong Kong residents July 1, 2020 The UK has confirmed it will offer visas to 2.9m Hong Kong residents with a route to citizenship, after the imposition of new security laws by Beijing. Hong Kong residents with British National Overseas status and their dependents will be able to access five-year work or study visas, with a chance to apply for settled [...]
Dominic Raab says new Hong Kong security laws are ‘clear and serious’ violation of UK-China treaty July 1, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said newly implemented security laws in Hong Kong are a “clear and serious violation” of the handover treaty between China and the UK. China implemented the new legislation in Hong Kong today, which amounts to a widespread clampdown on freedom of speech and democracy. Under the new laws, criticism of [...]
Work still ‘ongoing’ on air bridges, says Alok Sharma July 1, 2020 Business secretary Alok Sharma has said the UK’s plans to create air bridges with other countries is still “ongoing”, potentially indicating further delays to any announcement. The UK’s plan to have quarantine-free with some low coronavirus risk countries, also known as air bridges or travel corridors, was expected to be announced last Friday. Media reports [...]
UK to negotiate financial services trade deal with Switzerland July 1, 2020 The UK and Switzerland have pledged to negotiate a financial services trade agreement to enable cross-border market access after the Brexit transition period ends. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and his Swiss counterpart Ueli Maurer last night said they wanted to reach an agreement that would enable cross-border market access for wholesale financial services relating to insurance, [...]
We should mourn the immeasurable social and economic damage lockdown has inflicted on this country July 1, 2020 I knew it was coming. The torrent of media coverage looking back on 100 days of lockdown like a grossly nostalgic showreel. Carefully crafted articles painting a picture of British resilience and togetherness, celebrating the nation’s bravery and enjoyment of the simple things. I regret to inform you that I will not be spending my [...]
British public ‘increasingly concerned’ about lockdown lift this weekend June 30, 2020 The British public are increasingly concerned that Boris Johnson’s plans to reopen pubs, restaurants, cinemas, galleries and hairdressers this weekend are premature, according to new research, after scenes of crowded beaches sparked fears that the infection rate in the UK could rise. The Prime Minister’s announcement last week that hospitality businesses in England are set [...]
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey calls for government to scrap IR35 tax reforms June 30, 2020 Acting Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has tabled an amendment to parliament in a bid to quash the government’s planned IR35 tax reforms. Davey has attached an amendment to the government’s finance bill, set to come before the House of Commons tomorrow, asking for the mooted taxation changes to be scrapped in order to protect [...]
Truss claims there is ‘no set timetable’ for UK-US trade deal June 30, 2020 International trade minister Liz Truss has assured that there is “no set deadline” for a trade agreement between the UK and US, after backlash yesterday over US animal welfare standards cast doubt on the government’s ability to secure a quick deal. In a statement, Truss said the government had made it clear that there is [...]
DEBATE: Did Boris Johnson’s ‘Build, build, build’ speech succeed in rebooting his premiership? June 30, 2020 Did Boris Johnson’s speech succeed in rebooting his premiership? John Oxley, a Conservative commentator, says YES. Boris is back in business. He has mastered his own recovery from coronavirus and is now ready to tackle the nation’s. It is a challenge he would have never expected when he entered Downing Street, and an important evolution [...]
Barnier confirms UK has missed Brexit equivalence assessment deadline June 30, 2020 EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has confirmed claims that the UK has not completed necessary equivalence assessments by today’s deadline, marking a blow to the UK’s efforts to determine the City’s access to EU markets after Brexit. Valdis Dombrovskis, a European Commission executive vice-president, yesterday said the UK had so far answered only four of [...]