UK AI sector funding hits record £1bn for 2018, almost the same as the rest of Europe combined February 20, 2019 Investment into the UK’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector from venture capital firms reached a record $1.3bn (£998m) last year, almost as much as the rest of Europe combined. The new figures from Dealroom represent a fourfold increase in five years, up from a total of $200m in 2014. In comparison, French AI startups raised $400m last [...]
Theresa May fails to win concessions on withdrawal agreement during meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker February 20, 2019 Theresa May and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker last night discussed possible "guarantees" and "legal assurances" that could be established in relation to the controversial Irish border backstop protocol that has dogged the PM's efforts to pass her Withdrawal Agreement. However, May failed to win concessions on her bid to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement in [...]
Anna Soubry urges Tories to put their country first and thwart a no-deal Brexit February 20, 2019 The Conservative party is being infiltrated by former Ukip members bent on ousting sitting MPs they view as traitors over Brexit, ex-Tory MP Anna Soubry warned today. Read more: Conservative split: Three Tory MPs quit party In a devastating attack on her former party, the Broxtowe MP said the Conservatives were now being controlled by [...]
The Dutch ‘Brexit Snatch’: Why Azimo is not quitting the UK February 20, 2019 Have you heard the news? Azimo is one of 250 companies moving to the Netherlands in an alleged ‘Brexit Snatch’ by the Dutch government. Read more: London fintech startups poised to expand in Europe They say never let the truth get in the way of a good story but as the chief executive of Azimo, [...]
Tory MPs Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston quit Conservative party February 20, 2019 The Conservatives were reeling this lunchtime as three MPs announced they have quit the party to join a group of ex-Labour MPs. South Cambridgeshire’s Heidi Allen MP, Anna Soubry MP and Sarah Wollaston MP revealed they are leaving the party in protest at Theresa May’s Brexit stance, and will sit with the eight MPs who resigned [...]
Ken Clarke warns ‘fed up’ Tory MPs could quit the Conservative party February 20, 2019 Tory veteran Ken Clarke has said MPs from his party are "very fed up" and could contemplate defecting to the newly formed Independent Group. Clarke, a pro-EU MPs, told the BBC this morning: "Certainly some members of parliament are getting very fed up. There are some, I think – not including me – who probably [...]
Microsoft opens up cyber security services in Europe in wake of fresh Russia attacks February 20, 2019 Microsoft has expanded the reach of its cyber security service for political organisations in Europe, after detecting a fresh wave of attacks from Russian hackers. The firm's vice president for customer security and trust Tom Burt said Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Centre (MSTIC) had discovered attacks on employees of the German Council of Foreign Relations, and European [...]
DEBATE: Should we charge clothing brands for the cost of recycling to combat the environmental impact of fast fashion? February 20, 2019 Should we charge clothing brands for the cost of recycling to combat the environmental impact of fast fashion? Mary Creagh, MP and chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, says YES. Fashion shouldn’t cost the earth. But our desire for fast fashion means that carbon emissions, water use, and chemical and plastic pollution are destroying our [...]
Why we should allow second-rate universities to go bankrupt February 20, 2019 The political spotlight remains focused on Brexit, but an important dogfight is developing in the area of higher education. The specific issue is whether universities in the UK should be allowed to go bankrupt. It is not merely a theoretical question. In the past year, a number of universities have announced deficits running well into [...]
Theresa May will travel to Brussels with the EU still not budging on the backstop February 19, 2019 Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Wednesday for a meeting with Jean Claude-Juncker after the EU once again ruled out fundamental changes to the Brexit deal. However, negotiators from both sides are currently working on a new legal text relating to the Irish backstop plan aimed at winning support from the UK parliament. Brexit [...]