Reviving the post-study work visa will help the UK attract international talent September 12, 2019 It is hard to think of a more short-sighted and self-destructive policy than Theresa May’s decision in 2012 to close the post-study work visa route for those wanting to live and work in Britain. Boris Johnson is right to bring it back. Britain’s universities are truly world class, attracting the best and brightest from across [...]
Heathrow passengers ‘pay higher fares’ thanks to British Airways dominance September 12, 2019 Heathrow passengers could be paying as much as 10 per cent more on fares because they lack an alternative to flying with British Airways, a new study has found. British Airways’ parent company IAG currently operates over half of all take-off and landing slots at Heathrow. The next largest groups are Lufthansa, which controls eight [...]
Yellowhammer: Government’s no-deal Brexit documents revealed September 11, 2019 A no-deal Brexit will cause some disruption to cross-border financial services, while wider business preparedness remains low, according to the government’s own worst-case scenario planning. The Operation Yellowhammer document, which is dated one day later than the version which was previously leaked, warns of “significant” disruption at the borders, the worst of which will last [...]
South African drinkers get their whisky fix with post-Brexit trade deal September 11, 2019 The whisky will keep flowing in Cape Town’s bars and restaurants even after Brexit as the UK initialled a trade deal with South Africa and its neighbours. The economic partnership agreement, which has been agreed in principle, with the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique will give British business access to a major African market. [...]
Angela Merkel still thinks there’s ‘every chance’ of an orderly Brexit September 11, 2019 Angela Merkel has said she still believes there is “every chance” of striking a Brexit deal before Halloween. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now pinning his hopes on the European Council summit, which starts on 17 October, as a way to avoid having to ask for another extension, after parliament bound his hands earlier this [...]
Nigel Farage hits back as Prime Minister Boris Johnson rules out Brexit Party election pact September 11, 2019 The Prime Minister has ruled out a General Election pact with Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, saying the former Ukip leader was not a “fit and proper” person. According to the Sun, Farage had been in conversations with “people who are very close to Boris [Johnson]” about a possible agreement to help win what is expected [...]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces ERG rebellion as sources hint at shift on backstop September 11, 2019 Parliament has been shut down for the next five weeks – but Boris Johnson has just 50 days to get a deal and save his premiership. At the same time, rebels on both sides are threatening to thwart him. Read more: Parliament prorogued: Scenes of chaos play out in Commons Working for the man Despite [...]
Leadsom: Yellowhammer doc would ‘just serve to concern people’ on Brexit September 11, 2019 Business secretary Andrea Leadsom has said the government will not publish its Brexit assessment documents Yellowhammer, arguing it would “just serve to concern people”. Leadsom, who has been doing the broadcast rounds this morning on the back of Number 10’s announcement about relaxing post-studying visas, told BBC Breakfast the “reasonable worst-case scenario” was “not a [...]
Tom Watson pushes Labour to back second referendum before election September 11, 2019 Labour deputy Tom Watson is set to call on his party to adopt an anti-Brexit stance and focus on securing a fresh referendum before another UK general election. Watson will warn his party that a snap election sought by Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not resolve the current stalemate in parliament. Read more: Boris, Brexit [...]
UK electoral system vulnerable to foreign hacking, say officials September 11, 2019 On the brink of an election, The UK does not have time to bring forward measures to resist the sort of social media and misinformation campaigns carried out by hostile states that have affected some Western nations, officials say. Following the 2016 Brexit referendum, some defeated remain campaigners alleged that a misleading social meda campaign [...]