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 [...]
Exclusive: Tories to challenge Liberal Democrats on overspend in St Albans January 29, 2020 Local Conservative party associations are preparing to challenge the Liberal Democrats on the party’s local spending during December’s General Election, with the hope of overturning at least one result. A case is being readied to challenge St Albans, where pro-Leave Conservative Ann Main lost to Daisy Cooper, according to sources close to the matter. A [...]
Javid and Johnson order Cabinet to cut back departments January 29, 2020 Sajid Javid and Boris Johnson have ordered all Cabinet ministers to draw up cuts to their budgets of up to 5 per cent. Despite promising to end austerity, the chancellor has called on departments to come up with options to deliver more cash. Each Cabinet minister has been asked to come up with “radical” options, [...]
British nationals face two week ‘isolation’ from first Wuhan airlift January 29, 2020 The first flight carrying British nationals out of the coronavirus-affected city of Wuhan will depart tomorrow morning UK time, Downing Street confirmed today. Around 200 individuals will be airlifted out of the country with the UK government using a charter civilian aircraft and crew, following BA’s decision to suspend all flights in and out of [...]