The chancellor’s economic programme contains much the City should welcome November 28, 2016 The chancellor stepped up to the despatch box last week to make his most important speech since taking office in July. Where previously the Autumn Statement was an important political date on the calendar for UK media, it had gone largely unnoticed by the European press. This year, however, was different. Philip Hammond’s address was [...]
Forget the crushing consensus of trigger warnings and safe spaces: Our world needs more contrarians November 28, 2016 The news that the London nightclub Fabric is to potentially reopen is welcome. The progressive house music played there provided an antidote to the chart-toppers heard in the more salubrious salons of the West End. Similarly, those who speak out and stand up for what they believe in provide a contrarian view to mainstream thinking. This [...]
Is the uncompromising stance of the other EU leaders pushing the UK towards a hard Brexit? November 28, 2016 Rachel Cunliffe, deputy editor of Reaction, says Yes. First the European President decided to lecture Britain that it was “hard Brexit” or “no Brexit". Then the Prime Minister of Malta (that European powerhouse) felt the need to reiterate that the EU is “not bluffing” about barring the UK from the Single Market. Such posturing only [...]
£60bn is a bargain for Brexit says former BCC boss John Longworth November 28, 2016 A forecast £60bn hit to the UK's finances would still represent a good deal for Brexit, according to former British Chambers of Commerce boss John Longworth. The Office for Budget Responsibility predicted the Brexit blow in figures published as part of the Autumn Statement, warning the UK would have to borrow £60bn over five years [...]
May to lead “historic” summit with Polish government November 28, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May will today welcome her Polish opposite number to London at the start of what Downing Street is branding a “historic” cross-government summit. May will host Prime Minister Beata Szydlo for talks on Brexit and defence co-operation, while senior ministers from both sides will also meet at Lancaster House. British ministers expected to [...]
A £60bn bill for Brexit is outweighed heavily by economic gains November 28, 2016 The Autumn Statement provides the building blocks for Britain to be the best enterprise economy in the world. So why then has the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) been so pessimistic about growth prospects saying that we will be £60billion worse off? Well first of all, the growth forecasts outstrip all of our EU competitors, [...]
President-elect Donald Trump now claims to have won the popular vote, citing no evidence November 27, 2016 There are plenty of sore losers in the world, but it takes a special type of person to be a sore winner. President-elect Donald Trump has claimed to have won the popular vote in the US presidential election, citing no evidence. Trump won the 8 November presidential election based on the Electoral College. Read more: Trump risks damaging [...]
François Fillon defeats Alain Juppe in the French conservative primary November 27, 2016 François Fillon was voted the presidential candidate of the French centre-right party and will likely be the main challenger to far-right leader Marine Le Pen in next year's election. Votes from over a third of 10,228 polling stations were counted showing Fillon winning with 68.6 per cent of the vote compared with 31.4 per cent for Alain Juppe, [...]
Tata could commit to the future of the embattled Port Talbot steelworks within weeks November 27, 2016 Tata is expected to commit to the future of embattled steelworks in Port Talbot within weeks, with hopes rising of a flush of investment for the site. The Indian conglomerate has been considering the future of the British steel operation for most of 2016, with a mooted joint-venture with ThyssenKrupp under exploration since July. But [...]
The Bank of England’s Brexit strains have been laid bare November 27, 2016 Minutes from a meeting of Bank of England bosses have revealed that the UK's decision to quit the EU has piled on the work for central bankers. The Court of Directors, which oversees the Bank's work, met in September to discuss Brexit, among other issues, with directors asking about funding for extra research. Read More: Mark Carney has [...]