Hammersmith bridge: Repairs could cost £120m and take three years to finish September 3, 2019 Vital repair works to Hammersmith bridge are to cost £120m and will take three years to complete, it was revealed today. The suspension bridge over the Thames was closed by Hammersmith and Fulham council in April after it found “critical faults” it said would risk the safety of users. Read more: Hammersmith bridge costs will [...]
HS2 ‘still vital’ despite ballooning £88bn price tag, say businesses September 3, 2019 HS2 is at risk of costing the public £88bn and could be delivered seven years behind schedule, but businesses still believe the project is worth the time and money. Allan Cook, the chairman of HS2, today revealed his cost and timetable projections for the troubled high speed line, including that the project is could now [...]
International business groups urge UK to avoid ‘gravely concerning’ no-deal Brexit September 3, 2019 Eight business federations from around the world including the US Chamber of Commerce have joined together to express their concern about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, urging the UK and EU to reach an agreement over Britain’s exit from the bloc. The groups published a joint statement saying in the event of a no-deal [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson planned to prorogue parliament before denying it September 3, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson was planning to prorogue parliament at least two weeks before he denied he was looking at it, a series of emails and notes published in court documents have revealed. Johnson also rubbished the period in September when MPs were due to sit as a “rigmarole”. Read more: Brexit showdown: What to [...]
HS2 faces seven-year delay as costs set to balloon to £88bn September 3, 2019 The real cost of HS2 could spiral to £88bn as the project faces years of delays, according to an explosive report authored by the chair of the controversial UK infrastructure project. Allan Cook, who has carried out an internal review of the project, said he did not believe the scheme, which will link London to [...]
Goldman Sachs hikes no-deal Brexit probability ahead of crucial day in Westminster September 3, 2019 Goldman Sachs has raised its expectations of Britain leaving the European Union without an agreement, as today’s political tussling in Westminster fuels further speculation in the City of a no-deal Brexit. The global bank has said the prolonged suspension of parliament has led it to hike its forecasts of a no-deal Brexit from 20 per [...]
Brexit showdown: What to expect when you’re expecting (a General Election)… September 3, 2019 MPs return to parliament today for what is expected to be the start of a seismic couple of days in the Brexit debate. But what is actually going to happen? And will you have time to break away from the TV? Here’s everything you can expect to unfold in Westminster today… Read more: Putney MP [...]
TUC head warns MPs of ‘serious risk of civil unrest’ in event of no-deal Brexit September 3, 2019 Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has written to MPs asking them to do everything in their power to prevent a “catastrophic” no-deal Brexit. “A no-deal Brexit would be a disaster for working families,” she wrote. “The prime minister has no mandate to force a catastrophic no-deal Brexit on the country.” [...]
Brexit battle heats up as MPs question Boris Johnson’s ‘trick’ September 3, 2019 MPs are returning to parliament this morning for what is set to be an explosive first day after summer recess. Last night Prime Minister Boris Johnson threw the gauntlet down to his backbench rebels, telling the world he would not ask for any further extension to Brexit. Read more: Sterling falls to 34-year low as [...]
Defiant Hammond: Rebels can stop ‘disingenuous’ PM September 3, 2019 A defiant Philip Hammond has said he and the rebel alliance can stop the “disingenuous” government from forcing a no-deal Brexit. The former chancellor, who was last night reselected by his local constituency, told the BBC’s Today programme he was supporting “a very modest bill” that seeks to extend Article 50 by three months to [...]