Hammond: Chancellor to step back from apprenticeship levy in conference speech October 1, 2018 The government will back down on its controversial apprenticeship levy today with a raft of reforms and a review into the scheme. Philip Hammond will announce the reforms to introduce greater flexibility for businesses and expand apprenticeship courses in science and other STEM subjects, in his speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham today. Read [...]
Labour’s plans to hand staff company shares could deter foreign investment in UK, warns law firm October 1, 2018 Labour's plan to force companies to give 10 per cent of shares to workers could deter foreign businesses from investing in the UK and spark legal challenges from across the globe, a top law firm has warned. Clifford Chance warned the proposal would “change the landscape” for foreign businesses planning to invest in the UK – [...]
Pressure mounts on the CMA to break up accountancy’s Big Four October 1, 2018 The UK’s competition body has been told to “bare its teeth” and investigate breaking up the Big Four accountancy firms, as it prepares to announce a decision on whether it will investigate the sector. Three senior politicians from across the main parties have called on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to find ways to [...]
Raising stamp duty for foreigners won’t fix Britain’s housing crisis September 30, 2018 It can't be easy, being Theresa May. The Prime Minister faces constant battles on several fronts – grappling with negotiators in Brussels, rebutting opposition parties in Westminster, and fending off leadership plotters within her own ranks. Little surprise the domestic policy agenda can sometimes seem like an afterthought. Ahead of this week's Tory party conference [...]
Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt sparks row after comparing EU to Soviet Union ‘prison’ September 30, 2018 The foreign secretary sparked a diplomatic row last night after comparing the European Union to a Soviet Union “prison”. Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Jeremy Hunt scolded Brussels for its treatment of Prime Minister Theresa May, saying the “arrogance” of the EU meant he would vote Leave if the referendum were now, [...]
Boris Johnson is ‘irrelevant and offensive’ says top business guru Digby Jones September 30, 2018 Boris Johnson was dismissed as "irrelevant and offensive" today by one of the UK's top businessman today. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, Lord Digby Jones attacked the former foreign secretary over reports he said "fuck business" when told of concerns from the sector over Brexit. Johnson refused to deny the claims when [...]
Tory civil war deepens as Boris Johnson lays into ‘deranged’ Chequers plan September 30, 2018 Boris Johnson poured salt on the wounds of Tory Party divisions this morning, branding Theresa May’s Brexit blueprint as “entirely preposterous” and “deranged”. In comments that are likely to fuel further speculation about his leadership ambitions, Johnson widened the rift between himself and the Prime Minister by saying: “Unlike the Prime Minister, I campaigned for [...]
Theresa May unable to guarantee no hard Irish border in case of ‘no deal’ Brexit September 30, 2018 Theresa May today was unable to promise there would be no hard border with Ireland if the Brexit talks break down, instead repeating the UK would do “everything it can” to avoid customs checks. Speaking just hours before the Conservative Party conference is due to start in Birmingham, the Prime Minister launched a defence of [...]
Conservative Party conference app flaw exposes phone numbers of MPs September 29, 2018 Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid's mobile phone numbers were among those revealed online yesterday due to major a security flaw in the Conservative party's conference app which allowed people to log into the accounts of MPs and journalists attending the event. Dawn Foster, a journalist, revealed an issue with the app on Twitter which lets attendees easily get into [...]
Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier puts himself out of contention for EU presidency September 28, 2018 The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has put himself out of the running to become the centre-right's candidate to replace departing Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission. Barnier's announcement ends a protracted period of speculation suggesting that he would throw his hat into the ring for the role of Spitzenkandidat in the [...]