Businesses must put more cash into commercialising top tech R&D from universities, say MPs March 13, 2017 Businesses have been told to increase their investment in the world-class research and development which goes on in UK universities by MPs, to bring innovations to market and bring it in line with other countries. Members of the science and technology committee have called for a greater focus on the demands of business rather than the supply of [...]
Sadiq Khan calls on Theresa May to prioritise a Brexit interim deal March 13, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has warned Prime Minister Theresa May to make an interim Brexit deal one of her top priorities upon opening talks with the EU. The government's determination to close Brexit negotiations within two years risks unnecessary harm to both businesses and the wider economy, Khan said. In a formal response to the [...]
A second Scottish independence vote was inevitable – and it will be tougher to win than the first March 13, 2017 Since the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU, it has been a question of “when” rather than “if” we would see a second Scottish independence referendum. Those who declared that a second poll was not inevitable have not been listening to politics north of the border for years. The EU referendum result [...]
Theresa May won’t trigger Article 50 this week March 13, 2017 MPs and peers might approve the Article 50 Bill tonight, but Downing Street sources have revealed that Prime Minister Theresa May has no plans to launch negotiations this week. Officials have long maintained that May would begin the process by the end of March, and speculation has been rife that May could seek to trigger Article 50 [...]
Second Scottish referendum: Bookies already have betting odds on the date and result – as well as the next region to vote for independence March 13, 2017 The second Scottish referendum is odds-on to take place after 2020, bookies said today, after first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced she will seek permission to hold another independence vote. Paddy Power said it was 5/6 the vote will be held in 2020 or later, putting the chances of it happening this year at 50/1. Although [...]
Scottish referendum plans heighten the need for a Welsh vote, according to Plaid Cymru March 13, 2017 Nationalists in Wales are doubling-down on demands for their own referendum in the aftermath of Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon's call for a fresh Scottish independence vote. Earlier today Sturgeon revealed she will ask the Scottish parliament to support a new vote, to be held between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019. And now Plaid Cymru [...]
Why markets are so calm about the coming triggering of Article 50 March 13, 2017 Brexit is back and this time it looks for real. The UK government’s decision to trigger Article 50 imminently means the start of official negotiations with the European Union on the exit plan. But while financial markets remain cautious, the tension seems to be less as compared to the 23 June referendum vote. There are [...]
Second Scottish independence referendum: How five City analysts reacted to Nicola Sturgeon’s speech March 13, 2017 So there we have it: after months of fevered speculation, Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will begin the process of seeking a second Scottish independence referendum. Although it fell last week, when the rumours started in earnest, the pound barely shrugged at Sturgeon's announcement today. Here's what analysts had to say. 1. "Cocktail of uncertainty" [...]
Downing Street says a new Scottish referendum would create uncertainty “at the worst possible time” March 13, 2017 Downing Street has hit out at Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon after the Holyrood politician revealed she would next week kick off her bid for a second independence referendum. Sturgeon today said she had hit a "brick wall of intransigence" in seeking to present Scotland's Brexit fears to Westminster, and promised to seek a vote between Autumn [...]
Nicola Sturgeon announces she will seek second referendum on Scottish independence March 13, 2017 Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will seek a second referendum for Scottish independence. Sturgeon will go to MSPs next week to seek approval for a referendum between the autumn of 2018 and spring of 2019, although she said the exact timing of the referendum would be left to the Scottish parliament. The [...]