Britain has never understood the fervour for the EU project January 31, 2019 What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? It would appear that we are about to find out in the latest instalment of the Brexit soap opera that has been running since we announced our intention to leave in 2016. For no sooner had MPs voted on Tuesday night to back Sir Graham [...]
The UK is trying to leave the European club – in Italy, the club is on fire January 31, 2019 After Tuesday’s parliamentary showdown, all eyes are on Westminster. Don’t be misled, though – the real existential threat to the EU lies in Rome. In the UK, we are debating how to leave the golf club. In Italy, the golf club is likely to be swamped by an approaching tsunami. There may not be a [...]
DEBATE: After Tuesday’s amendments, is a no-deal Brexit actually more likely now? January 31, 2019 After Tuesday’s amendments, is a no-deal Brexit actually more likely now? John Oxley, a Conservative commentator, says YES. The UK leaves the EU by operation of law at 11pm on 29 March. No deal is the default. The insipid amendment “rejecting” that outcome has no force. Only an agreement with the EU or the revocation or extension [...]
Let it be: London councils should allow offices and shops to be converted into homes January 31, 2019 Amid all the Brexit brouhaha in Westminster it is important that parliamentarians do not forget the many other issues that affect people's day-to-day lives. Bravo, therefore, to MP Chris Philp for reminding Theresa May during yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions that the dream of homeownership remains all too elusive for many young adults – particularly in [...]
Barclays gets go-ahead to shift £160bn of assets to Dublin amid Brexit uncertainty January 30, 2019 Barclays has been given the green light to transfer £160bn of assets to its Irish business as the bank “cannot wait any longer” to implement its no-deal Brexit strategy amid ongoing political uncertainty. A High Court judgement revealed that the bank is pushing forward with its Brexit contingency plan to transfer all of its European [...]
Cable stabilises above £1.30 support, but the Brexit storm is far from over January 30, 2019 | City Talk The UK parliament yesterday voted against officially blocking a no deal Brexit, but also forced Theresa May to return to the EU to renegotiate the controversial Irish Border backstop. Cable tumbled over 100 pips initially but support at £1.3060 held. But there’s plenty of pain on the horizon for GBP/USD. “Backstop”. It’s a word that [...]
Bill Browder attacks British establishment for allegedly accepting Russian money laundering bribes January 30, 2019 Financier and prominent Putin critic Bill Browder has launched an incendiary attack on "members of the British establishment" for allegedly accepting bribes linked to Russian money laundering. Browder, the chief executive of Hermitage Capital Management, alleged that an investigation into money laundering had uncovered evidence that members of the House of Lords have received bribes [...]
CBI: Businesses set to accelerate no-deal Brexit planning after parliament vote January 30, 2019 British firms are set to accelerate their no-deal Brexit plans as uncertainty reigns over the nature of the UK’s departure from the EU, a major business body said today. Last night’s decision to reopen negotiations with the bloc will not have reassures businesses, CBI boss Carolyn Fairbairn told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning. [...]
On climate change, good economics sadly does not make good politics January 30, 2019 Economists, of all people, should understand the power of specialisation. They are taught early that prosperity is founded on the division of labour: individuals becoming more productive in specific tasks. Yet when dispensing policy advice, they seem to ignore that lesson, presuming that they know better than politicians about good politics. Economists frequently claim that [...]
MPs send Brexit ball back into EU’s court…but will they play? January 29, 2019 By the standard of recent months, Theresa May enjoyed a good night in parliament on Tuesday. While there was no legislative victory to be had, there was a real risk that MPs would seize control of the Brexit process and render her deal defunct. In the event, MPs voted against extending the Article 50 withdrawal [...]