The chancellor’s fiscal reset is a golden opportunity to slash living costs through tax cuts and planning reform September 5, 2016 Philip Hammond recently said that he may use the Autumn Statement to “reset” fiscal policy. That is a welcome sentiment because it suggests the chancellor sees before him a golden opportunity to transform the tax system. With Parliament returning, we are likely to see the government start to formulate and publicise more detailed economic policy [...]
Is Nicola Sturgeon deluded over her chances of getting Scottish independence? September 5, 2016 Alex Deane, managing director at FTI Consulting and City of London common councilman, says Yes. The SNP thrives on the perpetual prominence of the independence question. But their raison d’etre would disappear with another vote – either because they won, when they would become irrelevant, or because they lost, when their cause would wither for a [...]
Sadiq Khan will tonight vow to push Theresa May for “creative” solutions to secure Single Market access September 5, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan will tonight vow to push Theresa May's government for “creative” solutions to secure Single Market access for the UK's financial services sector. Speaking to an audience of City bigwigs at the annual Lloyd's of London City dinner, Khan is expected to name protecting the financial services sector as the number one priority in [...]
Businesses losing EU workers as May refuses to guarantee residency status September 5, 2016 Prime minister Theresa May has again refused to guarantee the long-term status of EU citizens living in the UK, provoking ire from MPs, as a new poll shows that a sizeable proportion of EU staff have already quit their jobs, or intend to, because of Brexit uncertainty. A survey of 800 firms that employ EU [...]
Everything you need to know about tomorrow’s EU referendum rules debate September 4, 2016 The online petition questioning the EU referendum rules – or the so-called second referendum petition – reaches parliament tomorrow, with a debate scheduled in Westminster Hall for the afternoon. The petition, which was started by Leave supporter William Oliver Healey roughly a month before the vote even took place and has received more than 4m signatures, called on [...]
More than half of Corbyn backers say British spies are conspiring against the Labour leader September 4, 2016 More than half of Jeremy Corbyn supporters believe that British spies are working to undermine the Labour leader, according to new figures. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey suggested in late June that intelligence agencies could be using “dark arts” against the current Labour leadership. And now the latest polling figures show the idea has become [...]
Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull says he is “very committed” to a rapid free trade deal with the UK September 4, 2016 Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said Britain and Australia are both “very committed” to an early free trade deal in the aftermath of Brexit. Speaking at the G20 in China, Turnbull said both sides are keen to secure open markets. “They've got to put in place free trade agreements and we are enthusiastic and [...]
Japan’s issued 18 demands for Brexit or businesses could leave for EU September 4, 2016 Japanese businesses have issued an astonishing list of demands it wants from the UK and Europe ahead of Brexit negotiations at the G20 Summit, where Prime Minister Theresa May is starting informal trade talks. The 18 requests covering trade ties between the countries were made in a 15 page report issued by the Japanese government on [...]
Prime Minister Theresa May has warned the UK’s economy faces “difficult times” in the aftermath of Brexit September 4, 2016 Britain's economy faces "difficult times" Prime Minister Theresa May has cautioned, despite signs of a rebound in the aftermath of the UK's Brexit vote. Last week saw a number of positive economic figures, including a substantial recovery in manufacturing after the June referendum. However, speaking to reporters in China, May predicted the vote would damage the economy, [...]
Keith Vaz stands down from influential committee following allegations September 4, 2016 MP Keith Vaz will temporarily stand down from his position as the head of the influential home affairs select committee following allegations that he paid for male escorts. The Labour MP has led the committee since 2007 and the group investigates areas such as crime, policing, drugs, immigration and extremism. According to the report in the Sunday Mirror, the 59-year-old MP [...]