Senior Tory MP Andrew Tyrie is demanding details in Theresa May’s Brexit plans January 9, 2017 Senior Tory Andrew Tyrie is demanding the government explains its hopes for the Single Market as part of a Brexit plan promised last year. Last year, Prime Minister Theresa May committed to revealing more on the UK goals ahead of triggering Article 50, and now Tyrie, who chairs parliament's influential Treasury Committee, is demanding that any [...]
Tories slam Khan over zero strikes vow and “woeful” understanding of London transport January 9, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has been slammed by London and home counties Tories over today's tube strike, with Khan accused of a “woeful” understanding of the capital's transport. Tube station workers have been on strike throughout the day, with many Londoners suffering extended commutes both to and from work. Although the strike formally finishes at [...]
Martin McGuinness resigns as Northern Ireland deputy first minister January 9, 2017 Northern Ireland's deputy first minister Martin McGuinness has resigned. McGuinness has helped to lead the assembly in Belfast since 2007, but is stepping down over first minister Arlene Foster's handling of a growing scandal involving incentives provided to businesses to use renewable heat systems, such as biomass boilers, on their premises. In his resignation letter, McGuinness said: [...]
Nuclear strike: Decommissioning workers to vote on industrial action over pensions January 9, 2017 The UK could be facing industrial disputes at nuclear power plants after unions agreed to ballot decommissioning workers over a potential strike. Workers at plants including Sellafield could launch industrial action after the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority kicked off a statutory consultation over changes to final salary schemes for staff at 19 sites across the UK. Read more: Engineering union Prospect swells to [...]
Theresa May calls for a “new partnership” with employers on mental health January 9, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May has called for a "new partnership" between government and industry on mental health as part of a speech laying out her broad agenda for the UK. Speaking at the Charity Commission today, May brought together housing, mental health, industrial strategy and Brexit as part of her programme to create a "shared society". [...]
Ireland hard border with UK could be inevitable after “pig in a poke” Brexit says top Irish diplomat January 9, 2017 A hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland could be inevitable if the UK leaves the EU’s Single Market, according to an influential Irish diplomat – while saying Leave voters in the EU referendum were “sold a pig in a poke”. Speaking in an interview with the Irish Independent newspaper, Phil Hogan, the EU commissioner [...]
Why unleashing competition would deliver lower fares and greater choice to rail passengers January 9, 2017 The UK’s rail passengers are suffering, and will no doubt continue to do so over the coming months. Union action is bringing the network to a standstill, with further strikes planned for this week. The level of sickness leave among train staff has also been mysteriously increasing, and has doubled compared to pre-strike levels, according [...]
The average price of leasing popular cars surges eight per cent in two months thanks to post-Brexit vote inflation January 9, 2017 While the process of Britain leaving the European Union hasn't yet started, the wheels are already in motion for a rise in the cost of cars to consumers. The monthly cost of leasing a basket of some of the more popular car models has risen by an average of eight per cent, from £245.70 to £264.70, [...]
The chess player and his needy friend: What Vladimir Putin really wants from Donald Trump January 9, 2017 Chess players are a particularly rare bird in the political risk ecosystem. The only major aim of such chess playing – and it is certainly an important one – is the acquisition and retention of political power over the long term. Chess players’ dogged, patient, rational, long-term pursuit of coherent strategic, political and geopolitical ends [...]
Sterling’s post-Brexit vote collapse failed to provoke a foreign takeover rush January 9, 2017 The dramatic reductions in the value of the pound since last summer's Brexit vote has failed to attract overseas bidders to UK businesses, according to new figures. The number of British firms acquired by foreign businesses actually dropped in the second half of 2016, research from accountancy Moore Stephens shows. There was a 30 per [...]