A land levy would be far fairer than our punitive business rates September 6, 2018 We have by now all heard about the crisis facing our high streets, and the burden of business rates in particular. But while high-profile retail struggles like that of House of Fraser and Maplin have brought this issue into the headlines, the problems with this badly designed tax run far deeper. Contrary to what any economist [...]
Sterling jumps on report Germany and UK could offer key Brexit concessions September 5, 2018 The pound jumped today on reports that Germany and the UK may be prepared to offer key concessions in the Brexit negotiations. Germany and the UK will accept a less detailed deal on the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU in order to secure a withdrawal agreement and avoid a no-deal Brexit, [...]
Brexit: New poll says UK would vote to remain in the EU September 5, 2018 Brits would vote 59-41 in favour of remaining in the EU if another Brexit referendum occurred today, according to a new poll. The six-point swing away from Leave saw Remain win its highest level of support since the 2016 referendum, and contrasts the actual result at the time, which saw 52 per cent people vote [...]
City of London dominates European financial activity ahead of Brexit September 5, 2018 The UK is the dominant international financial centre in Europe despite Brexit uncertainties, a new report has found. Rankings compiled by think tank New Financial said the City of London is the financial centre of Europe in terms of the value of financial activity, scoring 40 out of a possible 100 points, which is more than [...]
Irish sandwich king Patrick Coveney says Chequers ‘satisfactory’ way to avoid Brexit ‘abyss’ September 5, 2018 The boss of sandwich giant Greencore – and brother of the Irish deputy prime minister – has backed Theresa May's Chequers proposal as a "pretty satisfactory" solution to Brexit. Patrick Coveney, who runs Britain's third largest food firm, told a British Chambers of Commerce meeting in Dublin this morning that the UK's approach would be [...]
PM to make mystery statement to MPs today September 5, 2018 Update: The statement will be an update on the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury earlier this year, after British authorities revealed they have charged two suspects with multiple counts including conspiracy to murder and attempted murder. Theresa May is expected to make a mystery statement to members of parliament today, following her [...]
EU27 warned against direct dealings with UK on Brexit September 5, 2018 The European Commission has warned member states not to attend a series of Brexit mini-summits being held in London over fears they are another tactic to drive a wedge between Brussels and the EU27. According to Politico, officials were last week told not to attend the UK government-organised technical seminars in the belief they are [...]
Labour slammed over free speech caveat on IHRA antisemitism definition September 5, 2018 The Labour Party has accepted the international definition of antisemitism but it was slammed by members and Jewish groups for adding a freedom of speech "caveat" . The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) has agreed to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition, with an added clarification over freedom of expression on Israel and Palestine. Read more: Labour activist in [...]
Lord Mervyn King labels Brexit preparations ‘incompetent’ September 5, 2018 Former Bank of England governor Lord Mervyn King has condemned the government’s Brexit preparations, claiming they leave the UK in a weak negotiating position. Calling plans to stockpile food and medicine in the event of a hard Brexit “incompetent”, the Brexit voter told the BBC that “a government that cannot take action to prevent some [...]
Stop shutting the door in the face of international students September 5, 2018 As we leave the European Union, it is accepted across the political divide that the government should be doing all it can to promote our key export industries and help to support the vision of a truly global Britain. However, there is one area where we seem to have a blind spot: international students, a [...]