We deserve a Prime Minister who isn’t blind to the case for cannabis June 21, 2018 No one could follow the story of Billy Caldwell, the 12-year-old boy who suffers from debilitating, potentially fatal seizures, and fail to be outraged by a bureaucratic system that denies him the cannabis treatment he needs. No one, that is, except Theresa May. The latest this week is that the government is finally going to [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond uses Mansion House speech to accuse EU of ‘land grab’ of the City June 21, 2018 Chancellor Philip Hammond tonight slammed the European Union for attempting a land-grab of the Square Mile, and promised to stand firm on the UK’s post-Brexit demands for the financial services sector. Hammond used his annual Mansion House address to rubbish the so-called enhanced equivalence regime proposed by Brussels. “These proposals have nothing to do with [...]
Brexiters slam Single Market for goods proposal June 21, 2018 Brexiters have slammed suggestions that Number 10 could be poised to push for a Single Market for goods, claiming it would bind the UK's hands on future trade deals. Reports this morning suggested the idea – put forward by think tanks including Open Europe and the Centre for European Reform – was gaining traction in [...]
EU Withdrawal Bill: Government secures narrow victory after Dominic Grieve backs down – for now June 20, 2018 A last minute addition to the government's Brexit bill secured a narrow victory for Theresa May this afternoon, after arch rebel Dominic Grieve backed down. Just minutes before the debate began, Brexit secretary David Davis published a written ministerial statement allowing the Speaker to have the final say on whether a motion can be amended [...]
Chancellor’s Mansion House speech: City to strike new partnerships with global financial hubs June 20, 2018 The chancellor is to tell the City of his plans to forge relationships with major financial centres around the world as he looks beyond Europe to cement the UK’s position as “the undisputed gateway to global markets”. Philip Hammond will use his Mansion House speech tomorrow night to set out plans for “ground-breaking financial partnerships” [...]
The City’s Brexit plans are “impossible” for the EU says former political head of the City of London Corporation June 20, 2018 The City of London’s Brexit plans are “impossible” and should be abandoned in favour of continued membership of the EU’s Single Market, according to the man who led the Square Mile’s top lobbying body in the run-up to the EU referendum. Mark Boleat, the policy director of the City of London Corporation until May last [...]
Single Market for goods, not services is only way to solve Brexit headaches, argues CER boss Charles Grant June 20, 2018 The only way to resolve the Irish border problem and prevent disruption of manufacturers' supply chains is for the UK to remain in the Single Market for goods, the head of a leading think tank has claimed. Writing for the Financial Times, Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform, claimed that "it is a [...]
Spend more on defence to tackle rising Russia threat, MPs say June 18, 2018 The government should increase its spending on defence in order to deal with rising threats from rogue states such as Russia, a group of MPs have said. A report, published by the Defence Select Committee this morning, has called for spending to rise from two per cent – the target recommended by Nato – to [...]
Tesco boss and CBI president John Allan calls for ‘orderly’ Brexit June 17, 2018 The chairman of Tesco and Barratt Developments, John Allan, has hit out at the government and called for an “orderly” Brexit that is best for business. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Allan said that leaving the EU is “going to have an impact on the economy” and said the UK needs to the [...]
Sajid Javid’s plan to drop doctors and nurses from skilled worker ‘tier 2’ visa cap will boost business – but it’s only ‘a good first move’, says CBI June 14, 2018 Government plans to relax immigration rules by stripping out doctors and nurses from the visa cap have been welcomed by businesses – but the Home Office is still being urged to do more. The cap – introduced by Theresa May when she was home secretary – sets a limit for all non-EU skilled workers at [...]