The tech industry still needs clarity on Theresa May’s Brexit aims January 18, 2017 Theresa May’s speech yesterday was packed with soundbites that would give the casual listener reason to be optimistic. She intends to make Britain into a “great global trading nation” while investing in infrastructure, and said that the referendum result was a decision to go “truly global”. She used the word global 17 times in fact, [...]
May’s plan for Brexit is bold and ambitious January 18, 2017 Critics of the Prime Minister (and of the whole notion of Brexit) had clung for months to the charge that she didn't have a plan and that the government was in chaos. Yesterday, the PM shot their fox. It is, of course, still possible to oppose Brexit, but no longer possible to claim the government doesn't [...]
The nightmarish state of the public finances makes NHS reform even more urgent January 18, 2017 While Westminster was awaiting the first lines of Theresa May’s Brexit speech yesterday morning, the government’s fiscal watchdog issued a devastating judgement on the long-term health of the country’s finances. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the accelerating cost of the NHS will double the national debt relative to GDP by the middle [...]
Is giving Parliament a vote on the final Brexit deal a disaster waiting to happen? January 18, 2017 Denis MacShane, the former minister of Europe, author of Brexit: How Britain Left Europe, and senior adviser at Avisa Partners in Brussels, says Yes. The Prime Minister’s speech is just the first shot in what will be a very long two years. Right now it’s about politics. But over the next 24 months it will [...]
It’s May way or the Highway: Prime Minister Theresa May confirms UK will seek bespoke Brexit deal January 18, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May laid out her plan for life outside the Single Market yesterday, warning Brussels that she will walk away from negotiations if the EU seeks to damage the UK by blocking a free trade deal. While May’s threat sent jitters through the City, business groups were heartened to hear the PM promise [...]
“No deal is better than a bad deal” – Six things we learned from Theresa May’s big Brexit speech January 17, 2017 Theresa May said her plan to quit the EU would involve 12 key objectives, and while some of those may be broader than others, there were still plenty of interesting developments. Speaking at Lancaster House today, the Prime Minister gave an outline of her hopes for Brexit for the first time – so what did we [...]
Theresa May must be even bolder to make Global Britain a free-trading success January 17, 2017 “Fear not, we are of the nature of the lion.” – Queen Elizabeth I There was just enough in Theresa May’s speech today to reassure those who campaigned to leave the EU. Crucially, she made clear that we are definitely leaving the Single Market and taking control of our borders. She suggested only a great [...]
Theresa May is guaranteeing businesses a “phased” move into Brexit January 17, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to avoid a "cliff-edge" transition to Brexit, while stressing she hopes to have reached a deal within the two year Article 50 process. May has said she will begin Brexit talks by the end of March, and speaking at Lancaster house today, she reiterated that the government does not [...]
Theresa May guarantees parliament a vote on the final Brexit deal January 17, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May has promised that both the House of Commons and the House of Lords will be granted a vote on a final Brexit deal. Speaking at Lancaster House today, May said Parliament would be asked to approve the final terms of her negotiations with the European Union. Branding the move an effort to provide "certainty", [...]
Theresa May: The UK “cannot” remain a Single Market member January 17, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May and chancellor Philip Hammond have both said the UK will terminate its membership of the Single Market. Hammond revealed the UK would look for a "quick and simple" and "ambitious agenda for a comprehensive free-trade agreement" in the House of Commons, while May's landmark address at Lancaster House said the UK "cannot" remain a [...]