Blockchain, Brexit, and the Irish border – how technology can help to solve this delicate problem October 11, 2018 With less than six months to go until Brexit, one of the biggest sticking points in the negotiations between Britain and the European Union remains undoubtedly the issue of the Irish border. If the UK does decide to leave the EU’s single market and customs union, it will become necessary to control and monitor goods [...]
It’s a mistake to dismiss the Anglosphere as mere romance – it could be the future October 11, 2018 The Prime Minister’s strong point is not vision, particularly when it comes to post-Brexit Britain. But as the Chequers Agreement dies a slow death, she would do well to consider the possibilities for a much wider geopolitical shift with regard to the so-called Anglosphere. A Canada+++ agreement with the EU could lead to trade agreements [...]
Theresa May’s crude policy is the wrong way to manage immigration October 11, 2018 The government's announcement of a new immigration policy post-Brexit has at least the merit of providing a clearer sense of direction – assuming Brexit happens and does so in a reasonably orderly way (which are some big “ifs”). The news also provides an opportunity to think, from first principles, what a sensible immigration policy should [...]
Watchdog asked to look into hedge funds use of polling companies October 10, 2018 The financial conduct watchdog will be asked to investigate the relationship between polling companies and hedge funds by the chair of Parliament's influential Treasury Committee. Tory MP Nicky Morgan made the announcement after receiving a "disappointing" response from the British Polling Council (BPC) over concerns about the use of private survey data by financial institutions. [...]
Michel Barnier tells UK to abandon free trade plans to get Brexit deal October 10, 2018 Theresa May must abandon her plans for free trade deals with the rest of the world in order to get a Brexit deal, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said yesterday. Speaking in Brussels, Barnier said a full customs union between the UK and the EU would solve the controversial Irish backstop issue as no [...]
Business will pay a ‘heavy price’ for lack of Brexit communication from ministers, warns spending watchdog October 10, 2018 Businesses have paid a "heavy price" for ministers not speaking to them more about the government's Brexit plans, the head of Parliament's spending watchdog has told MPs. Sir Amyas Morse accused ministers of underestimating how well the business community would have coped with planning for different outcomes of the talks with Brussels, leaving many in [...]
DUP will vote down Budget if Theresa May compromises in Brexit talks October 10, 2018 DUP MPs are prepared to vote down this month's Budget if Theresa May breaks any of the party's red lines in the Brexit talks, it has been reported. The Northern Ireland party's 10 MPs keep May in power thanks a to a 'confidence and supply' deal agreed after the 2017 General Election. But as time [...]
The global vaping industry risks being choked in a regulatory cloud October 10, 2018 The World Health Organisation (WHO) is meeting in Geneva this week to shape tobacco and vaping regulation over the next five years. Geneva is a long way from London, and the other side of the world from New Zealand, but vapers worldwide would do well to keep a close eye on these proceedings. Five years is [...]
German industry lobby group warns of hard Brexit risks October 9, 2018 The head of an influential German business lobby group warned today that Europe could slip into a “huge crisis” in the event of a hard Brexit. Managing director of the BDI industry association Joachim Lang told a news conference in Berlin today that a breakthrough in Brexit negotiations was needed at the upcoming European Union [...]
Dominic Raab slams David Davis’ Brexit plan as a ‘shortcut to no deal’ October 9, 2018 Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has dubbed his predecessor's negotiating strategy "a shortcut to no deal" as the Tory war of words over Europe escalated. Raab made the comments after former Brexit secretary David Davis sent a letter to every Tory MP urging them to back a Canada-style free trade agreement with the EU, or face [...]