With a leaked memo suggesting the government has no Brexit plan, should it delay invoking Article 50? November 15, 2016 Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat by-election candidate for Richmond Park, says Yes. Yesterday’s leaked Brexit memo made it clear why Theresa May won’t tell us her plan for Brexit; because she doesn’t have one. Her government is failing to come up with clear answers on the most important issues, including Britain’s membership of the Single Market. [...]
Donald Trump’s top pick for Treasury is Goldman Sachs veteran Steven Mnuchin November 15, 2016 It looks as though President-elect Donald Trump has got an eye on an ex-Goldman Sachs banker for his Treasury secretary. Former Goldman partner Steven Mnuchin has been recommended by Trump's transition team to serve as Treasury secretary, according to several reports. He has long been the Republican's favoured pick for the position and had been [...]
Facebook and Google have finally taken some action on fake news November 15, 2016 Facebook and Google have both responded to a firestorm around the proliferation of fake news during the US Presidential race by promising to crackdown on advertising against such content. Google has said it will restrict advertising on pages "that misrepresent, misstate or conceal information about the publisher, the publisher's content, or the primary purpose of the [...]
“No plan” Brexit memo: Companies will “point a gun at the government’s head” November 15, 2016 A leaked memo, claiming the government has no plan on Brexit, warned that companies can be expected to “point a gun at the government’s head”, with the actions of Nissan a “prime example”. The memo, prepared for the Cabinet Office, also noted that the business world has come to two “unpleasant realisations”: First, that the government’s [...]
Mapped: This is the route HS2 will take north of Birmingham November 15, 2016 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed the majority of the preferred HS2 route from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds. It is expected that Phase Two will begin operating trains around 2033 as part of the HS2 network, with part of the route (between West Midlands and Crewe) to open in 2027 [...]
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin want to “normalise US-Russia ties” November 15, 2016 The election of Donald Trump can help “normalise US-Russia ties”, the Kremlin has said. President-elect Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shared their first phone conversation on Monday night after last week’s election. Read more: Global leaders react to Trump victory: Putin offers his congratulations The Kremlin said the pair had agreed that the current [...]
Britain needs a culture shift if it’s going to lead the world on free trade November 15, 2016 In her most pro-business speech since she came to power, Theresa May last night made a grown-up argument for Britain to promote free trade. This is excellent. But as the Prime Minister knows, it will take a lot more than pro-trade rhetoric to make things happen. Britain will have to take concrete steps at home and [...]
Downing Street wants to spend £1 in every £3 on small businesses by 2020 November 15, 2016 Downing Street has recruited 24 bosses from across the UK to help boost public spending with the UK's small businesses. A new small firm panel will help drive the government's new target of 33 per cent of public spending going on businesses with fewer than 250 staff. Last year, small businesses took 27 per cent, [...]
Optimism on the future of the UK economy has plummeted among bosses according to a new survey November 15, 2016 Business leaders are pleading with the government to restore faith in the wider economy next week after a survey showed confidence amongst bosses plummeting through October. While optimism had been growing in the aftermath the summer referendum, new figures from the Institute of Directors show expectations fell dramatically last month. An IoD survey of over [...]
Bosses are demanding a radical shake-up of tax laws to prevent firms facing avoidance charges November 15, 2016 Some of the country's top bosses are demanding a radical shake-up of the UK's tax rules to prevent businesses from being hauled up on charges of avoidance. In a submission to the Treasury ahead of next week's Autumn Statement, the Institute of Directors is calling on the government to create a "white list" for authentic [...]