Sterling volatile ahead of no confidence vote on Theresa May December 12, 2018 The pound has been on a rollercoaster ride this morning as it reacts to a series of political shocks. Reports that the Conservative party were set to trigger a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May – confirmed this morning – sent the pound to a fresh 20-month low against the dollar yesterday. [...]
Theresa May vows to fight no confidence vote, warning leadership contest risks Brexit December 12, 2018 Theresa May has vowed to fight today’s no confidence vote “with everything I’ve got”, as she warned that a change of leadership would delay or even cancel Brexit. Addressing media outside Downing Street this morning after Sir Graham Brady of the 1922 Committee confirmed the 48-letter threshold for a no confidence vote has been reached, [...]
DEBATE: Can we stop worrying now that earnings are rising at their highest rate in a decade? December 12, 2018 Can we stop worrying now that earnings are rising at their highest rate in a decade? Michael Hayman MBE, co-founder of Seven Hills and co-author of Mission: How the Best in Business Break Through, says YES. May you live in interesting times – the old Chinese curse has found new life in Brexit Britain. Mired in [...]
Hyperbolic discounting explains why the French are revolting over Macron’s fuel tax December 12, 2018 Economists have long argued that an effective way of reducing carbon emissions is by increasing taxes on energy consumption. This year’s Nobel laureate, Bill Nordhaus, advocated a global carbon tax over 40 years ago. The scientific logic is impeccable. But the practical politics of it are fraught with difficulties. To say that energy taxes, and [...]
Fire May, or her zombie deal will come back to haunt us all December 12, 2018 The withdrawal agreement is dead. Like that famous Norwegian Blue parrot of Monty Python legend, it has simply ceased to be. Its death was not achieved by a humiliating massive vote against it, but, in that cack-handed way only Theresa May manages to finesse, by it never facing a vote at all. It died through lack [...]
Theresa May clinging on as Tory leader amid rumours a no confidence vote is imminent December 11, 2018 Theresa May's premiership is hanging by a thread as Tory MPs are expected to launch a formal leadership challenge, having reportedly secured enough letters of no confidence to trigger a ballot. It was reported on Tuesday night Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative committee that overseas leadership challenges, has requested a meeting with the [...]
The City is braced for a hard Brexit – why aren’t MPs? December 11, 2018 Had things worked out differently we could have woken up this morning to news that MPs voted last night in favour of Theresa May's withdrawal agreement. The transition period was secured, talks would move on to the future trade deal and businesses would breath a mighty sigh of relief. Instead, we rise to find another [...]
China reduces tariffs on US cars to 15 per cent amid signs trade war is softening December 11, 2018 China has agreed to reduce tariffs on US cars from 40 per cent to 15 per cent. Shares in US car firms jumped slightly on immediate reaction to the news. Shares in General Motors were up 2.8 per cent, while Tesla was up 0.7 per cent and Ford 0.65 per cent. Meanwhile, US markets were up slightly [...]
Businesses should entertain chance of ‘accidental’ no-deal Brexit, warns City of London Corporation December 11, 2018 Businesses need to entertain the possibility of a no-deal Brexit as it could "happen by accident", the City of London Corporation warned today. Policy head Catherine McGuinness yesterday told German businesses, which had gathered for a Brexit event organised by the London Chamber of Commerce, that although she was hopeful the UK would not leave [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond rules out relaxing regulations to boost finance after Brexit December 11, 2018 London will remain a global financial centre after Brexit, Chancellor Philip Hammond said today as he ruled out relaxing financial regulation. Hammond said Britain will have a safe, transparent and predictable regulation regime, which will be agile enough to cope with changes in business models, Reuters reported. “I reject the idea that laxer regulation makes a [...]