Plan B for Italian banks is like Fight Club: You don’t talk about it (except in Italy) December 8, 2016 Back in 2010, as the Greek crisis began, I was up in the mountains of Davos interviewing Joaquin Almunia, the then EU economics commissioner. Eight times I asked him: does the EU have a Plan B if Greece’s banks fail? After fudging an answer on the first four attempts, saying Plan A was surely going [...]
As the Prime Minister vows to publish her plan for Brexit before invoking Article 50, will this affect the final deal? December 8, 2016 Rachel Cunliffe, deputy editor at Reaction, says Yes. There are two sides to any negotiation, and as you might have noticed, the EU is the larger and more powerful player in the Brexit battle. But the UK still has cards to play, most notably with its contributions to the EU budget, its position as the [...]
Scots are not claiming a Brexit veto, court hears December 7, 2016 The Scottish government is not claiming a veto over the UK leaving the European Union, the Supreme Court heard today. James Wolfe QC, the lord advocate for the Scottish government, told justices that Scotland’s consent still matters however because of the effect of withdrawal from the EU on its citizens. This evening MPs overwhelmingly backed a motion [...]
MPs have overwhelmingly backed a motion calling demanding the government publish Brexit plans December 7, 2016 MPs have overwhelmingly backed a motion calling on the government to publish its Brexit plans, while also making clear support for triggering Article 50 early next year. In a vote in the House of Commons, MPs voted by 448 to 75 in favour of Labour's motion calling on the government to reveal information before triggering Article [...]
Some CBI members would be tempted by customs union exit, says Fairbairn December 7, 2016 CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn has told MPs that leaving the customs union would have “pros and cons” for many of her business group's members, with many tempted by a free hand in trade negotiations. Addressing Parliament's, Brexit select committee, Fairbairn said that while the CBI had not yet taken a view on leaving the [...]
David Davis says it is “inconcievable” that MPs won’t get a vote on the final Brexit deal December 7, 2016 Brexit secretary David Davis has said MPs will get a vote on the final terms of a new relationship with the European Union. Speaking in the House of Commons today, Davis made clear the government's support for "the spirit" of a Labour motion demanding it publishes a plan for its talks with the EU, "with [...]
Italian senate signs off on 2017 budget, clearing the way for PM Renzi to resign December 7, 2016 Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will hand in his resignation today at 6pm London time, it has been reported, after the country's parliament approved Italy's 2017 budget. Renzi was earlier in the week asked to stay on until after the budget was passed by Italy's president Sergio Mattarella. The 41-year-old Italian premier promised to quit [...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plan must include Single Market objectives, say Labour December 7, 2016 Labour is laying out the characteristics of a Brexit plan in the House of Commons, calling on the government to reveal its hopes for Single Market status. MPs are debating a motion in parliament today calling on the government to reveal its plans for negotiations with the EU, and the government has lent its support [...]
Donald Trump has beaten Nigel Farage to be named Time magazine’s Person of the Year December 7, 2016 Donald Trump has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year -the person deemed to have "most influenced the year’s news, for better or worse". The US President-elect snatched the top spot ahead of his buddy from this side of the pond, Nigel Farage, who also made the shortlist this year, for having "[positioned] the referendum [...]
The SNP and the Lib Dems won’t back Theresa May’s Brexit amendment today December 7, 2016 More than 60 MPs are set to fight an amended motion backing the government's timetable for Brexit later today. The Lib Dems and the Scottish National Party have both said they will reject the motion in the House of Commons, which calls on the government to publish a Brexit plan ahead of the triggering of [...]