Carmakers warn losing single market access in Brexit deal will ramp up car prices November 30, 2016 The boss of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned leaving the single market could jack up car prices. Gareth Jones said the car industry will be hit with "billions" in tariffs should Britain not sign a deal keeping the sector within a tariff-free EU trading bloc. It will add at least £2.7bn [...]
The £5 fuss: Now even the vegans are gunning for Carney November 30, 2016 Mark Carney has had a pretty tumultuous year. His critics have lined up to attack him for politicising his office during the referendum campaign while his supporters credit him with being the only the grownup left standing in the wake of it. He has survived bruising encounters with eurosceptic MPs on the Treasury Select Committee. Jacob [...]
As the photograph of a Tory aide’s memo invites even more speculation, has the government’s silence on Brexit now become untenable? November 30, 2016 Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat by-election candidate for Richmond Park, says Yes. The British people have no cake and they certainly aren’t eating it. The scribbled notes spied in Downing Street – the public’s only way of learning what ministers’ plan is on the most important question facing the country in a generation – show that [...]
We should not be telling little girls that Americans hate women November 30, 2016 Donald Trump’s victory proves that America hates women”, declared a reputable news source shortly after the US election. America is big, and it does not think as one. Some men hate women and voted for Trump to preserve the patriarchy – but most fell for his promise of quick economic fixes. Some women did not [...]
UK universities need a bespoke Brexit deal with flexibility on freedom of movement for EU students November 30, 2016 The fate of British universities – their research, their European staff and their students – has become a major issue following the EU referendum. Under the home secretary’s proposals, they would be classed as employers with a large number of non-UK staff – 17 per cent of teaching and research posts are occupied by EU [...]
Four-year folly: The Office for Budget Responsibility shouldn’t be expected to forecast so far into the future November 30, 2016 Economic forecasts have become a political hot potato. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) predictions, presented as part of the chancellor’s Autumn Statement, have put the government under pressure. The OBR has revised down its forecast for GDP growth over the next four years by 1.4 percentage points. The real controversy is that their gloomy projections [...]
Sadiq Khan is vowing to take Downing Street to task over skilled workers November 30, 2016 Sadiq Khan will today accuse the government of failing to listen to fears that London's economy could be rocked if Brexit limits access to skilled workers from EU countries. London's mayor will tell the government to adopt a negotiating position that defends the interests of the city's businesses. If it does not, Khan says he will [...]
President-elect Donald Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May agree on defence target November 29, 2016 President-elect Donald Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May have agreed that more NATO members need to meet the alliance's defence target. The two spoke on the phone today, and emphasised the need for NATO members to commit to spending two per cent of GDP on defence. Read more: President-elect Trump now claims to have won [...]
Former David Cameron spin doctor joins Tulchan Communications November 29, 2016 David Cameron's former press secretary Graeme Wilson has taken a job at PR firm Tulchan Communications. Before moving into communications in 2013, Wilson was deputy political editor of The Sun, having worked at the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. He will start at Tulchan Communications on 1 December. Wilson said: "I am very pleased [...]
Italy expected to retain key “broker” role on Brexit if Renzi quits November 29, 2016 Italy is likely to retain a broking role in Brexit talks, despite uncertainty over Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Renzi could quit next week if he loses a referendum on political reform, but experts play down any change in how Italy views Brexit. “[Italy] does not seek to profit from the negotiations or to punish the [...]