London mayor Sadiq Khan is making a “last-ditch attempt” to change the government’s mind on rail devolution December 8, 2016 It might've been a no from Chris Grayling, but Sadiq Khan isn't giving up his quest to move control of suburban rail services over to Transport for London (TfL). In fact, deputy mayor of London for transport Val Shawcross, has said he'll be making "a last-ditch attempt" at getting the government to have a rethink. [...]
Sadiq Khan’s TfL business plan will “leave the books resolutely unbalanced” December 8, 2016 The mayor's Transport for London (TfL) business plan has only just been announced, but it's already causing raised eyebrows. Step forward Keith Prince, Conservative London Assembly member, who has criticised the plan as "reckless" and warned that commuters will suffer. “Since May we’ve seen the mayor making wild spending promises with little real hint of [...]
Conservative MP Bob Neill wants Grayling to resign over “cynical, party political move” on suburban rail services December 8, 2016 A leaked letter from Chris Grayling to former mayor Boris Johnson saying he wanted to keep suburban rail services "out of the clutches" of any future Labour mayor has prompted a flurry of criticism. And at the forefront of it, Bob Neill, former Conservative Party vice chairman and MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, has called for [...]
The Gulf States see great opportunities in Britain’s bright post-Brexit future December 8, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May is in Bahrain, meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), spearheading the UK government’s plans to “turbo-charge” trade with this important trading bloc. In doing so Mrs May has gone into the history books as the first British Prime Minister to attend the annual GCC Summit, and also the [...]
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 [...]