Businesses don’t think the UK will become more competitive in 2050 than it is now as infrastructure’s stalling November 4, 2016 Nearly two thirds of businesses don't think the UK will be any more internationally competitive by 2050 than it is now. That'll be because of infrastructure stalling over the coming years, according to the 2016 CBI and Aecom infrastructure survey. CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn said the results were "a concern", particularly in the wake of the Brexit vote, when the [...]
British farmers could be “sacrificial lambs” if the UK seeks a free trade deal with India November 4, 2016 British farmers could lose out if Theresa May pursues a free-trade deal with India in the aftermath of the European referendum. Analysis from the Westminster Policy Institute ranks India as one of the best prospects for a trade deal in the aftermath of Brexit. Comparing the total economic value for the UK economy of a [...]
Tory backbench Brexiters plan to steer government’s course through EU exit November 4, 2016 A group of backbench Tory Brexiteers want to steer the government’s agenda with regular Westminster meetings. The group, led by Leave campaigner Steve Baker, wants to push for free trade deals with countries around the world and cool fears of a post-EU trading exile. Baker is understood to be concerned that failure to coordinate Conservative [...]
Following the High Court’s ruling on Article 50, is an early general election now a distinct possibility? November 3, 2016 Alex Morton, director at Field Consulting, says Yes. Prime Minister Theresa May should call a general election in the spring, and the High Court ruling gives her even more of an excuse to do so. The UK economy is going to turn in the next few years, regardless of Brexit. By 2017, we will be eight [...]
Article 50 campaigners have raised £30,000 in less than four hours to fight the government in the Supreme Court November 3, 2016 A crowdfunding scheme set up to support a legal challenge on the government's right to activate Article 50 has raised more than £30,000 in just over four hours. Grahame Pigney, one of the interested parties behind a bid to block Theresa May from quitting the EU without parliamentary approval, created the funding page earlier today. [...]
Losing access to the single market and passporting would be “calamitous” for the financial services sector, say MPs November 3, 2016 Losing access to the single market and passporting would be "calamitous" for the financial services sector, MPs have said. In a backbench debate on the impact of Brexit on financial services, Conservative MP Stephen Hammond listed the risks of losing vital access in a deal with the EU. He called on the government to look at "cross [...]
MPs are set to draw up their own list of objectives for Theresa May’s talks with the EU November 3, 2016 Parliament's new Brexit watchdog has launched a probe into Theresa May's plans for negotiations with the EU. The Brexit select committee met for the first time yesterday, and its newly elected chair, Hilary Benn, has now revealed that MPs will investigate the objectives of the UK in quitting the EU. Benn's committee, which includes prominent [...]
Mark Carney predicts more uncertainty on economy following Article 50 ruling November 3, 2016 Bank of England governor Mark Carney has described today’s Article 50 ruling as another example of uncertainty around Brexit which is affecting the economy. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) today held interest rates at 0.25 per cent as it revealed ramped-up inflation and near-term growth forecasts. Read more: Bank holds interest rates as inflation and [...]
Parliament will now debate whether to invoke Article 50: So what? November 3, 2016 The government has taken one in the eye. This will please many observers, but I’m afraid, if you’re one of the many rejoicing on social media now, this result will be short-lived. I confess to thinking that the decision is an odd one. After all, two previous legal challenges brought by the McWhirter twins (yes, [...]
What does Brexit mean, anyway? Brexit, apparently… November 3, 2016 Brexit means Brexit. At least, that's what Theresa May wants you to think. Ever since the UK voted to leave the European Union in June, MPs have been begging the government to let them know what sort of Brexit deal they will fight for in the upcoming negotiations. "What does Brexit mean?" they cried. Now, [...]