Juncker signals optimism for agreement on Brexit deal October 6, 2018 European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker has expressed optimism that a Brexit deal could be reached by November, as talks between the UK and the EU gained pace over the last few days. Speaking to reporters in Austria this morning, Juncker signalled that while there remains some stumbling blocks, such as the Irish border issue, a no-deal [...]
M&S, Tesco and Primark bosses to face MPs over fast fashion ‘waste’ October 5, 2018 Parliament's environmental audit committee has asked the bosses of 10 UK clothing retailers to reveal their environmental records, amid concerns about serial clothes dumping. High street staples Marks & Spencer, Primark, Next, Tesco, Asda and Sports Direct – among others – will also be summoned to parliament to face questions from the committee in November. Fast fashion is shorthand [...]
EU negotiators predict Brexit deal to be ‘very close’ October 5, 2018 Brussels negotiators for the UK's exit from the European Union told diplomats late last night that a deal between the two sides is "very close" to being finalised. Two sources present at yesterday's meeting suggested to Reuters good progress had been made as the EU began to engage with new British proposals on how to [...]
Everyone’s a loser in today’s fabricated generation wars October 5, 2018 According to doomsayers in policy and media circles, the young have never had it so bad, and the fault lies with their greedy elders. The allegedly enormous, voracious baby boomer generation, living it up on the golf course with the ill-gotten gains from gold-plated pensions and over-valued houses, is in the firing line for causing [...]
The Tories talk the talk on free markets, but the policies don’t match the rhetoric October 5, 2018 Last year’s Conservative party conference marked a change in tone for the Prime Minister and her relationship with the free market. Perhaps it was the 2017 snap election upset that made her roll back her language around “untrammeled free markets”, or maybe there was increased understanding that after Brexit a commitment to competition would be vital [...]
Editor’s Notes: A subversive Brexit comedy? It’s about bloody time; art’s in the right place and Conservative party conference diary October 5, 2018 Whenever Brexit is introduced as a subject for comedy, it is invariably the Remainers laughing at the Leavers. I don't say this to make a populist point, it is simply an observation. Think of Radio 4 comedy, BBC panel shows and the stand-up circuit. It’s risk-free to be a Remainer – and laughing at the Leavers, [...]
HMRC chief slammed by MPs for not telling 100,000 firms how to prepare for ‘no deal’ Brexit October 4, 2018 The UK's chief taxman has been slated by MPs for failing to tell 100,000 small businesses how to prepare for a 'no deal' Brexit. Jon Thompson, chief executive of HMRC, was given a dressing down in a letter from parliament's Public Accounts Committee, which was made public today. Committee chair Meg Hillier said she was [...]
US indicts seven Russian agents accused in doping scandal cyber attack October 4, 2018 The FBI today said it has indicted seven Russian military intelligence (GRU) agents on allegations of conspiring to hack into computer equipment and steal information from a range of global sporting agencies, after Russia was condemned over a state-sponsored doping scheme. The charges, which include wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud and money laundering, [...]
Plan to keep all of UK in EU customs union after Brexit welcomed by Dublin in Irish backstop row October 4, 2018 A radical plan to keep the whole of the UK in a customs union with the EU after Brexit has been welcomed by Dublin, it has been reported. The proposal, seen as a way of stopping a hard border being created on the island of Ireland, would be the 'backstop' arrangement if no other deal [...]
Donald Tusk offers UK a Canada-style trade deal in blow for Theresa May’s Brexit plan October 4, 2018 Donald Tusk has delighted the 'chuck Chequers' group of Tories by offering the UK a Canada-style free trade deal. Speaking just days after Boris Johnson urged Theresa May to shelve her Brexit plan, the European Council president backed striking a looser arrangement with the UK. The comments were welcomed by leading Brexiteers, with one claiming [...]