Theresa May wants a red, white and blue Brexit, but her opponents say that’s “jingoistic claptrap” December 6, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to deliver a "red, white and blue" Brexit for the UK, refusing to comment on whether that will include continued contributions to EU budgets, but her opponents say the comments are "jingoistic claptrap". Speaking from Bahrain, May was asked about comments from some of her ministers, which has suggested the [...]
EU negotiator Michel Barnier has given Britain 18 months to reach a Brexit deal December 6, 2016 One of the EU's top officials has warned the the British government it must reach a deal on Brexit within 18 months of activating Article 50. Michel Barnier, who will lead talks with the UK on behalf of the European Commission, said today it was "the sooner the better" for Prime Minister Theresa May to [...]
The Article 50 court case could have been avoided December 6, 2016 To some, the government’s Supreme Court Brexit appeal is an exercise in throwing good money after bad and taxpayers’ funds are being wasted fighting the wrong battle. The government appears to have overlooked that litigation is about identifying all the options available and picking your fights carefully to achieve the best possible outcome. This litigation [...]
English students are trumping their OECD peers in science classes, according to new figures December 6, 2016 New international tests show English students are outperforming many of their peers overseas in science classes. Figures published in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 report this morning revealed that England is trumping averages scores for science. School children in England remain at average levels for mathematics, and marginally above average in reading when [...]
Nigel Farage is on the shortlist for Time magazine’s person of the year. No, seriously December 6, 2016 It's not often Beyonce, gymnast Simone Biles, Vladimir Putin and Nigel Farage are all mentioned in the same breath – but last night it was revealed they are among the 11-strong shortlist for Time magazine's person of the year. Yes, in the past it's been won by the likes of Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy and, [...]
Jeremy Hunt tries to calm China’s fear of a bad Brexit deal December 6, 2016 Jeremy Hunt told worried Chinese investors today Britain's doors are still open to global business after Brexit. For Chinese investors looking to break into the larger European Union market, Britain is seen as an entry point. With uncertainty surrounding what kind of deal Britain will get with the EU, investors are worried about what this means for China, Reuters reported. [...]
No-go zone: With Matteo Renzi set to resign following his defeat in the Italian referendum, should investors stay away from the Eurozone? December 6, 2016 Italy’s referendum will not weaken the European project as much as critics hope, and Trump could help equities, says Will Railton "The vote looks to me to be more about the euro than constitutional change”, tweeted Nigel Farage shortly after the Italian polls closed on Sunday night. Eurosceptics are heralding the resounding result (a 59.1 [...]
Italy’s referendum has started the clock ticking on the collapse of Europe December 6, 2016 There are real advantages to playing the dumb American. As much of the world thinks no one born on my continent could ever know anything about their country, I am at a perpetual advantage. Just over a week ago I found myself in Milan, explaining to investors the reasons for the Trump phenomenon. Late in [...]
The government’s stampede to placate big business post-Brexit risks overlooking growth firms December 6, 2016 When Theresa May struck a grand bargain to secure Nissan’s commitment to manufacturing in the North East, she helped to save 7,000 jobs. She also triggered a debate about the level of support the government should provide for businesses in a post-Brexit world. After all, what is fair for Nissan should probably also be fair [...]
Those who benefit from new infrastructure should pay for it December 6, 2016 To many people’s relief, there were not many big ideas in Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement last month. In so far as there was anything new, it was the widely-trailed extra investment in innovation, infrastructure and housing. The justification for spending money on these things is that it will raise productivity and growth. There is no question [...]