Theresa May earns further £112,800 after quitting as PM February 12, 2020 Theresa May has earned another £112,800 in speaking fees and hospitality gifts since quitting as prime minister, on top of more than £380,000 previously declared. The MP for Maidenhead received £96,000 for giving a speech at an event hosted by PwC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, according to the latest House of Commons [...]
European Parliament sets up more Brexit drama as it backs ‘dynamic alignment’ February 12, 2020 London looks set for another head-on collision with Brussels as the two sides gear up for trade talks, after the European Parliament said any deal must be based on two areas already ruled out by Downing Street. This morning MEPs gave their backing for chief negotiator Michel Barnier to press the case for a post-Brexit [...]
UK and EU must avoid a ‘punch-up’ over financial services, says incoming BoE governor Bailey February 12, 2020 Britain and the European Union must find a way to settle disagreements over how the UK’s finance industry can do business with the bloc without it descending into a “metaphorical punch-up”, said incoming Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey. Bailey, who is currently head of the Financial Conduct Authority, also said it would be “hard [...]
PMQS: Corbyn raises Darius Guppy call as he grills Johnson over Jamaican deportees February 12, 2020 Jeremy Corbyn provoked gasps of disbelief in the Commons today, as he appeared to compare the Prime Minister to one of the criminals being deported to Jamaica. Speaking during his weekly clash with Boris Johnson, the outgoing Labour leader raised the case of a young black boy who came to the UK aged five and [...]
Starmer pledges to take on top earners as part of 10-point Labour leadership bid February 12, 2020 Labour leadership frontrunner Keir Starmer has pledged to take on the UK’s top earners, as part of a 10-point plan to win over the party membership. Starmer, who is shaking off accusations of centrism from some quarters within the party, this morning said an increase in income tax for people earning over £80,000 was one [...]
Varadkar signals defeat as Sinn Fein moves to form coalition February 12, 2020 Leo Varadkar has signalled his willingness to step down as Irish Taoiseach and go into opposition, as left-wing nationalists Sinn Féin move to form a coalition government following an inconclusive election result at the weekend. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, whose party won the most votes on Saturday, securing 37 seats, said on Monday [...]
Ofcom set for role as ‘online harms’ regulator February 12, 2020 A beefed-up Ofcom will be responsible for tackling social media firms over “online harms”, culture secretary Nicky Morgan will announce later today. The broadcasting regulator will become Britain’s first internet watchdog, the Financial Times reported, as the UK attempts to crack down on illegal material on sites such as Youtube and Facebook. Ofcom’s new role, [...]
Have the economic benefits of post-Brexit free ports been overhyped? February 12, 2020 Have the economic benefits of post-Brexit free ports been overhyped? Adrienne Buller, senior research fellow at think tank Common Wealth, says YES. Free ports are a white elephant — a symbolic gesture from the government in lieu of meaningful investment in “levelling up” regions outside London. There is little evidence to support the idea that [...]
‘Turf war’ threatens Treasury as No 10 prepares for reshuffle February 12, 2020 Last minute preparations for a government reshuffle were ongoing last night ahead of an expected announcement tomorrow, with speculation that the Treasury’s ministerial team could be set for a shake-up. Rishi Sunak, second-in-command, is widely tipped for a promotion to a Cabinet post elsewhere in government after impressing No. 10. Sources have, however, suggested that [...]
Boris Johnson to appoint minister to oversee HS2 as he gives rail link green light February 11, 2020 Boris Johnson has given the go-ahead for the controversial HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham, announcing he will appoint a minister to oversee the project, as he damned the current management. The Prime Minister this afternoon confirmed the government was backing HS2, which is now estimated to cost more than £100bn by completion. Read [...]