Brexit day: Boris Johnson to hail ‘dawn of a new era’ January 31, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to hail the “dawn of a new era” in a speech to the country on Brexit day. At 11pm today, the UK will officially ends its 47-year membership with the European Union. Johnson will say the night marks “the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up [...]
Guru or Svengali? Dominic Cummings is at risk of becoming the story, not the adviser January 31, 2020 Civil service reform does not usually make headline news — unless, it seems, it is proposed by Dominic Cummings. The Prime Minister’s adviser is on a mission to shake up Whitehall. He’s determined to change how it makes decisions and bring in “weirdos and misfits” with expertise in data science and IT. Classic Dom. He [...]
Prime Minister to chair Cabinet in Sunderland ahead of Downing Street Brexit light show January 30, 2020 Britain will formally leave the European Union tonight at 11pm, more than three and a half years after the historic referendum vote. Boris Johnson will host a cabinet meeting in Sunderland today, visiting the city which first gave indications of the momentous result when its vote to leave was announced in the early hours of [...]
This marks the start of a brave new post-Brexit future January 30, 2020 Tonight at 11 o’clock, as the Brexit countdown clock ticks to zero, I will be toasting the moment with a bottle of Brexit Beer, produced by my friend and fellow Leave campaigner Jon Moynihan. My toast won’t be to winning the Referendum or Getting Brexit Done. Rather, it will be a toast to the future, [...]
Sadiq Khan interview: The London mayor talks tech tax, Brexit, Labour and Uber January 30, 2020 There can be no doubt that last year’s General Election redrew Britain’s political landscape. But for an example of just how different things have become, consider that next week a Labour mayor of London will warn a Tory chancellor against imposing new taxes on multinational tech giants. Sadiq Khan tells me he enjoys a good [...]
Javid confirms National Insurance cut from April January 30, 2020 Chancellor Sajid Javid has today confirmed the government will raise the threshold for National Insurance contributions (NICs) from April, saving the average worker more than £100. The threshold at which people start paying NICs will be raised by more than 10 per cent to £9,500, according to new legislation laid in parliament today. It was [...]
Mike Pompeo: US will put UK at ‘front of the line’ in trade talks January 30, 2020 The US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has pledged to put the UK “at the front of the line” in future trade talks, during a talk in London this morning. Speaking at a Policy Exchange event, Pompeo said he wanted to be in the UK on the date that the UK leaves the EU as [...]
Sajid Javid to back HS2 scheme despite rising costs January 30, 2020 Sajid Javid is poised to throw his weight behind the controversial HS2 project at a key meeting of ministers today, ahead of a decision expected in early February. The chancellor, who has long backed the idea of making the most of low interest rates to support big infrastructure projects, is expected to tell Prime Minister [...]
HS2 is not just another transport project — it’s about the very bones of our economy. January 30, 2020 Over the coming weeks, the government will publish at last the Oakervee report into HS2. The review looks likely to give the green light to this massive investment in the infrastructure of the north and the Midlands — and it’s certain that there will be an almighty row about it. As always with any infrastructure [...]
Leadsom tells business ‘we need you by our side’ as Britain leaves EU January 29, 2020 Andrea Leadsom tonight told leaders of some of the biggest firms in the UK that government “absolutely need business by our side”, as Downing Street gears up for life after Brexit. Cracks in the relationship have been emerging between industry and Boris Johnson’s team in Number 10, which has drawn heavily from the successful Vote [...]