Downing Street backs fracking regulations slammed for strangling the industry April 29, 2019 Downing Street has defended the government’s tight fracking regulations after the UK’s shale gas tsar claimed they amounted to a “de facto ban” on the practice. Former Labour MP Natascha Engel dramatically quit as fracking commissioner last weekend after just six months in the role, saying the restrictions around shale gas extraction made her role [...]
The white paper’s strict salary threshold on EU migrants would only exacerbate inequality April 29, 2019 Britain is on course to leave the European Union by 31 October. However, Theresa May has expressed her wish that the UK should quit well before, provided her withdrawal agreement is passed. Nonetheless, whether we leave with a deal or without one, the government has been clear that ending free movement and bringing down immigration [...]
A pro-business mayor? Khan is less so than Livingstone April 29, 2019 Before he was elected, Sadiq Khan promised – in this newspaper and elsewhere – to be the “most pro-business mayor yet”. In a literal sense, that pledge was already a bit limited, because Khan has only had two predecessors: Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson. The first one was an apologist for assorted Communist regimes. In [...]
Brits snub EU countries for summer holidays amid prolonged Brexit uncertainty, Thomas Cook reveals April 29, 2019 Fewer Brits are travelling to EU countries for their summer holidays as the UK’s prolonged Brexit process has encouraged holidaymakers to expand their horizons, according to Thomas Cook. Read more: Tory party chairman hints at another Brexit vote Both Turkey and Tunisia have benefited from dwindling interest in the EU, the travel agent said today [...]
The left is upping its campaign against the free market – and the City in particular April 28, 2019 John McDonnell and the Labour party have long talked of the need to “democratise” our economy. Their plans for sweeping nationalisations, a state-run investment bank and the forced reallocation of shares to the workers are all couched in the language of taking power from the fat cats and making finance a servant of the public, [...]
Ministers mull new laws to crack down on foreign spies working in UK banks and businesses April 28, 2019 A new law to crack down on foreign spies working for banks and businesses is reportedly being drawn up by the government to curb the influence of "red money" in the UK. The legislation is part of a raft of measures designed to get a grip on money flowing into the UK from Russia and China, following [...]
Labour could bypass second referendum if it agrees Brexit deal with government, shadow cabinet minister suggests April 28, 2019 Labour could be prepared to bypass a second referendum and sign up to a Brexit deal it agrees with government, the party's shadow business secretary has hinted. Rebecca Long-Bailey, who is taking part in cross-party talks between the two parties to try and find a compromise, refused to say whether Labour would demand a confirmatory referendum on [...]
Theresa May should be included in inquiry into Huawei leak, say cabinet ministers April 28, 2019 Cabinet ministers are calling for Theresa May to be included in a government inquiry into a high-profile leak about Huawei's role in the future of the UK's 5G network. Those making the calls say the Prime Minister should have her phone searched to see if she was behind the leak, which emerged after a meeting [...]
Tory party chairman hints at another Brexit vote to thwart next month’s EU elections April 28, 2019 Theresa May could try to bring her beleaguered Brexit deal before parliament in a last-ditch attempt to thwart next month's European elections. Tory party chairman Brandon Lewis has said it is "still possible" for parliament to approve the Prime Minister's deal, which has been heavily defeated three times, to avoid the need for the contentious EU [...]
Brexit drives support for Scottish independence to 49 percent April 27, 2019 Brexit has driven support for Scottish independence to 49 per cent, the highest point in the last few years, according to the latest poll. A poll by Yougov showed that support for Scotland breaking away from the United Kingdom has increased from 45 per cent in June last year, Reuters reported. Read more: Prolonged Brexit [...]