Labour leadership: Corbyn backs Long-Bailey as ‘our candidate’ January 27, 2020 Outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has appeared to back Rebecca Long-Bailey in the race to succeed him, describing the business secretary as “our candidate for leader”. Corbyn, who has so far avoided endorsing any candidate in the leadership contest, made the remark at a dinner to mark the retirement of former left-wing MP Ronnie Campbell, [...]
Downing Street unveils Taskforce Europe for EU trade talks January 27, 2020 The Prime Minister’s sherpa David Frost will head up trade talks with the EU following the UK’s exit this Friday, Downing Street has confirmed. Frost, who secured the 11th hour withdrawal agreement with Brussels that paved the way for Commons approval for a final deal, will head up a “small and agile” team of around [...]
Varadkar: The EU has the upper hand in Brexit trade talks January 27, 2020 Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar feels the EU will have an advantage in the upcoming trade deal talks between the UK and the bloc. Varadkar used a sports analogy to explain the EU has a “stronger team” than Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s UK, due to its larger population and market size. The Irish PM is [...]
The new Downing Street team can’t afford to ignore business January 27, 2020 Political wisdom has it that the first hundred days of any new government is its most vital opportunity to set its agenda. Not so with this government. Having just racked up its first 50 days, it risks accusations of being coy by its lack of public visibility and the paucity of new policy proclamations since [...]
DEBATE: Should Britain introduce taxes on meat and dairy to meet our climate goals? January 27, 2020 Should we consider introducing taxes on meat and dairy products to meet our climate goals? Leo Murray, director of innovation at the climate change charity Possible, says YES. “Nanny state!” That’s the shrill, familiar cry of the reactionary commentariat whenever a threat to “individual freedoms” is spotted on the horizon. But the climate crisis is [...]
Levelling up is possible — but the government has to listen to what people want January 27, 2020 Levelling up. This slightly odd turn of phrase is set to become one of the defining tests of the new Johnson government. Inequalities between the regions and nations of the United Kingdom are not a new problem, and nor are central government policy initiatives designed to tackle them. Business communities — particularly those outside the [...]
Unlimited visa offer to attract top scientists and researchers January 26, 2020 An unlimited fast-track visa scheme to attract the world’s top scientists and researchers will open in the UK next month. The “Global Talent” route will replace the Exceptional Talent visa. There will be no cap on the number of people able to come to the UK. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) body will join [...]
Priti Patel: British businesses too reliant on ‘cheap labour’ from the EU January 26, 2020 Home Secretary Priti Patel has accused British businesses of being too reliant on “low skilled” and “cheap” labour from the EU, calling on firms to “invest in the British public”. Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge programme this morning, Patel said the points-based immigration system the government plans to introduce after Brexit would “put a spotlight [...]
UK to set out EU free trade deal objectives next month, says Brexit secretary January 26, 2020 Britain will outline more details about its objectives for a free trade deal with the European Union next month after leaving the bloc on Friday, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said. “We are going to publish our objectives for the negotiation… in due course after the 31st,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr this morning. Barclay [...]
Happy hour: Government slashes business rates for smaller pubs January 25, 2020 Sajid Javid has announced plans to cut £1,000 in business rates for smaller pubs from April. The chancellor said as many as 18,000 pubs across the UK could benefit in new cuts aimed at supporting pubs in local communities. The tax relief comes following calls for the burden of business rates to be reduced on [...]