Theresa May travels to Northern Ireland to warn of ‘concerning time’ over Brexit February 4, 2019 Theresa May will head to Northern Ireland on Tuesday in a bid to win support for her Brexit renegotiation strategy as the row over the Irish border backstop intensifies. The Prime Minister has vowed to seek “alternative arrangements” to stop a hard border on the island of Ireland if a UK/EU trade deal isn’t ready when [...]
Angela Merkel urges UK to explain how it will replace the Irish backstop February 4, 2019 Angela Merkel has urged the UK to set out exactly how it wants to avoid a hard border with Ireland in the absence of a trade deal as she called for “creative” conversations to solve the Brexit deadlock. Speaking on Monday morning, the German Chancellor tried to strike an upbeat tone as she insisted a [...]
EU countries recognise opposition leader Guaido as president of Venezuela February 4, 2019 The UK, France, Spain and Sweden have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela after a deadline for President Nicholas Maduro to call fresh presidential elections expired. British Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt wrote on twitter: Nicolas Maduro has not called Presidential elections within 8 day limit we have set. So UK [...]
Don’t let healthy scepticism about China become paranoia February 4, 2019 With Britain looking so intently at itself in the mirror of the Brexit debate, we are missing something important at the other side of the world. The China slowdown is the most important single factor in the bad news that keeps coming out of Jaguar Land Rover, and it is causing many other companies to reassess [...]
Starling Bank courts Irish banking licence as it launches euro accounts February 4, 2019 London digital challenger bank Starling is today kicking off preparations to apply for an Irish banking licence, as it launches support for euro currency accounts this week. Offered to its users based in the UK, the euro account will be available alongside Starling’s existing pound account in order for customers to hold, send and receive euros with [...]
There’s more to Nissan’s X-Trail move than Brexit, but there’s no denying the cost of uncertainty February 3, 2019 The UK may or may not leave the EU on 29 March, and if it does the departure may or may not be facilitated by a formal withdrawal agreement. Unfortunately that's about as precise as anyone can be at the moment. With politicians still wrangling over the kind of Brexit that may emerge, businesses from [...]
Labour MPs mull party breakaway to form centrist movement in wake of Brexit divisions February 3, 2019 A handful of Labour MPs are rumoured to be on the brink of leaving their party to create a new centrist movement in the wake of dissatisfaction over Brexit. Up to six Labour MPs are thought to be prepared to walk away from the Labour party because of its stance on Brexit, anti-semitism, immigration and other [...]
Sajid Javid shoots down speculation of a snap general election in June February 3, 2019 Home secretary Sajid Javid has shot down rumours of a general election in June, saying "the people would never forgive us" if one was called. Speaking to the BBC, Javid said "the last thing" people wanted was a general election. “They want politicians to get on with the job," added. "They have been given a very [...]
Hiscox chief executive Bronek Masojada elected as alderman in City of London election February 3, 2019 The chief executive of insurance provider Hiscox Bronek Masojada has been elected as a new City of London alderman. Masojada won Thursday's aldermanic election in Billingsgate with 52 votes with a turnout of 46 per cent. The runner up in the election was Andrew Heath-Richardson, director of development at the Canary Wharf Group, who secured 25 votes. Five [...]
Theresa May determined to deliver Brexit ‘on time’ ahead of crunch talks on Irish backstop February 3, 2019 Theresa May has said she remains "determined" to deliver Brexit on time as she prepares to reopen talks with the European Union on the issue of the Irish backstop. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, the Prime Minister said she would head to Brussels to with a "fresh mandate, new ideas and a renewed determination" to stick [...]