DEBATE: Is there any point to the annual WEF summit in Davos? January 22, 2019 Is there any point to the annual WEF summit in Davos? Bill Michael, chairman and senior partner of KPMG in the UK, says YES. Elements of the World Economic Forum (WEF) do raise an eyebrow. From the setting in the Swiss Alps to the A-listers in attendance, it can seem like the last bastion of global [...]
Think you know how Britain feels about Brexit? Think again January 22, 2019 Having seen her Brexit proposals rejected in the largest defeat for a sitting government in British parliamentary history, the Prime Minister returned to the House of Commons on Monday with a plan B that looks startling like plan A. Yes, there have been some tweaks around the edges, such as scrapping the fee for EU [...]
EU imposes sanctions on Russian military intelligence agents in wake of Salisbury chemical weapons attack January 21, 2019 The European Union has imposed sanctions on four Russian intelligence agents in connection with the chemical weapons attack in Salisbury on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The 4 March attack put both the Skripal’s in a coma and led to the death of British woman Dawn Sturgess who was exposed to [...]
Theresa May waives £65 registration fee for EU citizens living in the UK January 21, 2019 EU citizens will no longer be hit by a £65 charge to register to stay in the UK after Brexit, Theresa May has announced in a bid to win support from MPs. Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister announced the fee will be waived after lobbying by parliamentarians from across the Commons during talks [...]
Poland breaks ranks with EU to propose five-year time limit on Brexit backstop January 21, 2019 The EU’s chief negotiator today insisted the Brexit deal negotiated with Theresa May is set in stone, as Poland broke ranks to suggest a key change to the agreement. Michel Barnier told Irish broadcaster RTE that “the withdrawal agreement with all its dimensions, including the backstop, is the best deal possible” this afternoon. Read more: [...]
Leavers begin to sense it could be May’s Brexit or no Brexit at all January 21, 2019 The pre-decimal penny seems to have finally dropped for arch-Brexiteer and 'member for the 19th century' Jacob Rees-Mogg, who declared over the weekend that “Mrs May's deal would be better than not leaving at all.” While he insisted that he would still prefer a no-deal exit to the withdrawal deal negotiated by the Prime Minister, [...]
No Boris, springing aimless policy promises on the public is not the way to make change January 21, 2019 The tax burden in the UK is at a 50-year high, accounting for over 34.5 per cent of GDP. Nevertheless, MPs from across the political spectrum like to propose new and higher taxes – the implementation of which increase the burden on families, who are already struggling from Britain’s cost of living crisis and lackluster [...]
Ireland will not negotiate with UK over Brexit backstop, says minister January 21, 2019 Sterling dipped this morning as Ireland said it would not negotiate separately with the UK over Theresa May’s Brexit deal. The Prime Minister was hoping to sign a treaty with Ireland to remove the so-called Irish backstop from her unpopular withdrawal agreement, according to The Sunday Times. Read more: May must battle MPs trying to delay [...]
Petition to unseat Dominic Grieve reaches 10,000 signatures ahead of Plan B amendment January 21, 2019 A petition calling for the deselection of MP Dominic Grieve has reached 10,000 signatures amid claims he is trying to “overturn” Brexit through an amendment to May's Brexit deal. The online petition calling on the Tory party to unseat Grieve, launched seven months ago, has seen a surge in support amid a parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. [...]
City Corporation criticised for pressing ahead with Mansion House revamp while social housing suffers ‘neglect’ January 20, 2019 City of London councillors have criticised the Corporation for refurbishing the Mansion House while allowing tenants in social housing to suffer "freezing winters" in flats that they claim have fallen into disrepair. The official residence of the Lord Mayor is also used for hundreds of events each year including the annual Mansion House dinner. £1.45m has [...]