Jean-Claude Juncker unveils five options for EU after divorce from UK, including suggesting the bloc might scale back to just the Single Market March 1, 2017 Jean-Claude Juncker has today suggested the EU might have scale back until it is essentially just the Single Market by 2025, as member states increasingly fail to find common ground on important policy issues. The suggestion was one of five possible scenarios put forward by the European Commission president for the future of the EU, published as [...]
Nigel Farage is escalating his war on Ukip’s only MP, but he claims it’s not about that knighthood March 1, 2017 Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage has escalated his war with the party's only MP, accusing Douglas Carswell of "damaging" Ukip, the Brexit campaign – and Farage himself. Carswell, who participated in the official Vote Leave campaign, has been at the centre of reports relating to Ukip's hopes of securing a knighthood for Farage. Carswell has denied moving to block the honour. However, [...]
Ministers cannot afford to echo Sir John Major’s nervousness over Brexit March 1, 2017 For someone so dull, John Major manages to provoke passionate reactions. Among those who welcomed his latest intervention in the great Brexit debate he is hailed as a wise and respected grandfather to the nation, speaking sense at a time when the UK is running towards to a cliff edge. In contrast, he is seen [...]
The pound is well below $1.24 after Trump’s speech to Congress March 1, 2017 The pound fell below $1.24 for the first time since January this morning after Donald Trump gave an unusually statesman-like speech to Congress last night. The pound fell as low as $1.2356 overnight after Trump's address, in which he repeated pledges to introduce a border tax on imports, but gave few details on how he will [...]
Lord Lawson says the UK should ditch corporation tax and replace it with a Trump-style border tax March 1, 2017 Former chancellor Lord Lawson has suggested the UK ditch corporation tax altogether, replacing it instead with a Donald Trump-style border tax. In an interview with Sky News today Lawson, a prominent Brexit campaigner who earned a reputation as an enthusiastic abolisher of taxes during his time as chancellor, said corporation tax should be replaced with [...]
The government’s tapping up Lloyds, Barclays and Google for digital skills March 1, 2017 The government is turning to private business, including Lloyds, Barclays and Google, to help the UK become skilled for the modern age with ambitious new plans. It has announced partnerships with the well known institutions to offer training in digital across the UK, to push forward the country's march towards a digital economy, putting these skills on a par with literacy [...]
President Trump promises “new chapter of American greatness” in first speech to Congress March 1, 2017 President Donald Trump promised a "new chapter of American greatness" in his first speech to Congress, though he's still yet to provide detail on his plans. The President said the US was witnessing a "renewal of the American spirit" and that "our allies will find that America is once again ready to lead". Read more: Migrants [...]
Higher oil prices alone won’t rescue failing petro-states like Venezuela March 1, 2017 At the annual International Petroleum Week at Grosvenor House on Park Lane last week, all eyes were on Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, the Qatari energy minister. The dignitary was honoured with a special award, “International Oil Diplomacy Man of the Year 2016”, as one of the masterminds behind the production cuts agreed to last November [...]
Should Ukip just dissolve itself? March 1, 2017 Rachel Cunliffe, deputy editor of Reaction, says Yes. Ukip had two things holding it together: a cast-iron raison d’être and Nigel Farage. Now both are gone. Demonise Farage all you want, but the sheer force of his personality got him not only on the political map but centre stage. His combination of controversy and charisma [...]
Brexit secretary David Davis says UK must prepare for chance of no deal with the EU February 28, 2017 Brexit secretary David Davis has told cabinet ministers to prepare for the possibility of the UK not reaching a deal with the EU after leaving the EU. Davis described the UK leaving the EU without a trade deal as an “unlikely scenario” but warned the UK must prepare for the failure to negotiate a deal, [...]