Boris Johnson reveals immigration overhaul to attract ‘brightest and best’ after Brexit August 8, 2019 Boris Johnson has announced immigration shakeup that would see the cap on the number exceptional talent visas scrapped to attract the “brightest and best” to the UK. The Prime Minister said a new fast-track visa route would allow Britain to attract world-class specialists in science, technology and engineering after it leaves the European Union. Read [...]
Fall in super-rich ‘non-doms’ sees tax receipts fall August 8, 2019 The number of super-wealthy UK residents who pay no tax on foreign earnings in Britain has fallen to a record low, causing tax receipts to suffer, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) revealed today. Read more: Freeports: Government plans tax-free hubs There were 78,000 non-domiciled taxpayers in Britain last year, down from 98,500 the year earlier, [...]
Boris bounce continues as poll finds PM Johnson twice as popular as Corbyn August 8, 2019 Boris Johnson is twice as popular as Jeremy Corbyn among UK voters, the latest YouGov polls show – even in Labour’s traditional heartlands. The Prime Minister, who was mayor of London from 2008 to 2016, came ahead of the Islington North MP in every region including the capital (30 per cent versus 24), the South [...]
NHS to receive £250m funding boost for AI development lab August 8, 2019 The NHS is set to receive £250m in funding to boost research into artificial intelligence that could help develop treatments for cancer, dementia and heart disease. The money will be funnelled into a new National Artificial Intelligence Lab, health secretary Matt Hancock said today. Read more: Government to announce emergency £2bn NHS funding injection AI [...]
Labour government would cause sterling to plunge 10 per cent: report August 8, 2019 A Labour government would cause an “immediate” 10 per cent drop in sterling, or more if it followed a no-deal Brexit, a report has today warned. Amid growing reports that an autumn general election could be on the cards, Oxford Economics claims a Labour government would cause significant damage to the UK’s economy. It argues [...]
MPs to probe UK-China trade following Huawei saga August 8, 2019 A group of MPs is to scrutinise the UK’s trading relationship with China, in the wake of the Huawei debacle. The International Trade Committee has launched an inquiry looking at the “opportunities, challenges and risks” in trading with China both now and any that may emerge in the future. Read more: Huawei shrugs off US [...]
Dominic Cummings is behind Number 10’s new startup-mindset August 8, 2019 “What we want to hear is their conquer the world strategy,” said Scott Kupor, managing partner of American venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Kupor was talking about wannabe entrepreneurs knocking on the company’s Sand Hill Road door in California and looking to become the next Twitter, Lyft, or Airbnb. If Boris Johnson’s right-hand man Dominic [...]
The Conservative case for foreign aid August 8, 2019 Now that the Conservative party leadership contest is over, a raft of new ideas have entered the mainstream policy agenda. Many of these are liberal, exciting, and exactly what is needed to boost the British economy ahead of Brexit – but the very concept of international aid has taken something of a beating. Contenders for [...]
Why Britain needs a minister for AI August 8, 2019 With the nation in a state of economic and political uncertainty, Britain’s newly appointed Prime Minister looks to technology to rejuvenate and refocus the country. He announces “a major national effort to bring advanced technology and new processes into industry”, launching the government’s first ministry of technology. Tech experts across the country rejoice as policymakers [...]
Is it irresponsible for parliament to be on recess at such a crucial time? August 8, 2019 Is it irresponsible for parliament to be on recess at such a crucial time? Dr Stuart Thomson, head of public affairs at BDB Pitmans, says YES. With a hard no-deal Brexit looming, now is not the time for a parliamentary break. There is too much to do, but only if the government allows it. Allowing [...]