Now the Tories give run around on immigration January 11, 2017 Making a mess of immigration policy isn't an endeavour restricted to the Labour party. As much as we enjoyed their festival of confusion yesterday regarding the free movement of workers, the Tories have now given us a clear reminder that politicians of all stripes are capable of getting tangled up in this sensitive area of policy. [...]
Trump vows “major” border taxes for businesses leaving the US and puts pharmaceuticals in crosshairs January 11, 2017 President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to install "major" taxes on US businesses relocating outside of the country, and fired a warning shot across the bows of the pharmaceuticals sector. Speaking at a press conference in New York, the President-elect laid out plans to punish businesses that opt to relocate outside of the country and attempt to sell [...]
Britain’s business groups attack “worrying” plans for a £1,000 charge on EU recruitment January 11, 2017 Business groups have hit out at proposals for a £1,000 charge to recruit European workers, warning the plan would Immigration minister Robert Goodwill told a House of Lords Committee earlier today that the Home Office was considering extending incoming charges for non-European recruits to all incoming migrants. From April, recruiting non-EEA skilled workers will see [...]
Businesses could be hit with £1,000 levy per EU worker after Brexit January 11, 2017 Employers could face a £1,000 charge for every EU worker they recruit under plans being considered by the Home Office. Immigration minister Robert Goodwill revealed the controversial plans earlier today in a House of Lords subcommittee looking at post-Brexit migration rules. Goodwill claimed the charge will "be helpful to British workers who feel they are overlooked". Read [...]
Corbyn’s Labour pains show no sign of easing January 11, 2017 One of the many problems with Jeremy Corbyn’s so-called “leadership” of the Labour party has been his complete failure to confront the biggest issue facing the country today – Brexit. At key moments, with the government’s approach to Article 50 attracting widespread criticism, Corbyn has been extraordinarily elusive. Even Iain Duncan Smith’s “quiet man” act [...]
Clint Eastwood’s lesson on economic forecasters’ Michael Fish moment January 11, 2017 Economic forecasters are in the dock. Last week, none other than the chief economist of the Bank of England, Andy Haldane, was confessing the crimes of the profession. The failure to predict the financial crisis was, Haldane said, economic forecasting’s “Michael Fish” moment. Thirty years ago, the BBC weatherman predicted that the UK would avoid the [...]
Thinking smaller: Why Tunisian olives hold the key to the UK’s post-Brexit trading success January 11, 2017 On reaching the Americas in 1519, Hernán Cortés burnt his ships. Pointing up the beach he told his astonished crew that, since retreating to Europe was no longer an option, the only way was forward to the possibilities he anticipated in the New World. Britain now stands on the brink of its Cortés moment. When Article [...]
Here are the top 10 excuses for firms to dodge paying staff the minimum wage January 11, 2017 Employers have refused to pay the minimum wage because staff only make tea, aren't good workers or think of themselves as self-employed, the government has revealed. A bizarre list of excuses from employers has been revealed by the government ahead of a £1.7m marketing blitz on the minimum wage. The top ten list also includes one employer [...]
Corbyn’s relaunch shambles plunges Labour into fresh chaos January 11, 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn plunged his party into fresh chaos yesterday with a series of U-turns on his newly-minted plans to tackle high pay and deal with freedom of movement after Brexit. In a media blitz designed to relaunch his leadership yesterday morning, Corbyn had suggested the party would implement a “maximum earnings limit”, and [...]
As he rows back on free movement and flirts with wage cap proposals, will Jeremy Corbyn last the year? January 10, 2017 Rupert Myers, barrister and writer, says Yes. Within the Westminster bubble, the Jeremy Corbyn relaunch went about as well as the tragic lift off of the space shuttle Challenger. Corbyn’s muddle on free movement and the Single Market is likely to have infuriated even his die-hard fans. Is he for free movement? Is he for [...]