New immigration system to start next January, PM tells Cabinet January 21, 2020 The government’s new points-based immigration system will come into force from January next year as part of Boris Johnson’s commitment to voters, Cabinet ministers were told today. The Prime Minister this morning told his senior colleagues that he was pressing ahead with plans for a shake-up of the system, which will reduce the overall number [...]
Jeremy Corbyn has busted the myth of Labour’s moral superiority January 21, 2020 Let’s play a game. Imagine that a Tory-supporting business leader had delivered her company’s worst financial results for more than three decades. Let’s further imagine that the company had then, because of significant overspending, had raised the prospect of firing dozens of ordinary workers — while rewarding said senior executive with a bumper new contract [...]
DEBATE: Should the government move the House of Lords to York? January 21, 2020 Should the government move the House of Lords to York? Alastair Benn, news editor of Reaction, says YES. The British state is now more centralised than it has been for many decades. In large part, we owe that to Margaret Thatcher, who tended to treat the UK’s constituent parts as regions, rather than as distinct [...]
Move over, ‘Davos Man’, climate is the big issue this year January 21, 2020 It’s that time of the year again: policymakers, politicians, bankers, activists, journalists, and a swathe of cameras are descending upon the snowy peaks of Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF). Once branded the playground for the elite, epitomised by the stereotypical champagne swashing “Davos Man”, this year the gathering ostensibly seems to be morphing [...]
The Harry & Meghan saga shows why your business needs a succession plan January 21, 2020 The drama taking place in the Royal House of Windsor is not only gripping material for a future episode of The Crown, but also a wake-up call to all businesses to have a plan for when important personnel step down or leadership responsibilities change. From the mom-and-pop store to publicly-listed giants, succession planning needs to [...]
Business leaders call on government to lay out trade talks position January 21, 2020 UK business leaders have called on the government to lay out its objectives for trade talks with the European Union, saying they can only make investment decisions once they have a clear sense of Number 10’s position. The intervention by the Institute of Directors (IoD), which represents British company bosses, came after chancellor Sajid Javid [...]
Liz Truss sparks row over private talks with Australian minister January 20, 2020 International trade secretary Liz Truss has come under fire following a potential breach of the ministerial code of conduct. Truss met Australian trade minister Simon Birmingham at the end of December. Birmingham was visiting the UK in a personal capacity and the two politicians arranged to meet for a meal, along with their families. Over dinner, the pair discussed a potential UK-Australia trade deal. [...]
Frictionless trade ‘just not possible’ says former minister Liam Fox January 20, 2020 Any automatic alignment to EU regulations as they change over time would be “completely incompatible with the concept of Brexit,” former trade minister Liam Fox will tell Swiss business leaders tomorrow. With just 10 days before the UK leaves the EU, Fox will stress that frictionless trade between the two sides is “simply not possible” [...]
UK pledges £620m for African infrastructure projects January 20, 2020 More than £600m of government funding will be given to help build vital infrastructure in Ghana, Zambia, Gabon and Uganda today. International trade secretary Liz Truss will today set out the spending plans at the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London, announcing that the UK Export Finance (UKEF) will fund the initiative. The £620m will go [...]
Boris Johnson suffers first defeat since election as Lords amend Brexit bill January 20, 2020 The Prime Minister has suffered his first parliamentary defeat since winning an 80-seat majority last month, as the Lords voted to amend his key Brexit bill. Peers backed the Oates amendment, ensuring EU nationals living in the UK have a physical document showing they have a right to live in the country, by 270 votes [...]