Belgium told to sort out Wallonia rift over EU-Canada trade deal by Monday October 23, 2016 The European Union has given Belgium until Monday evening to sort out its dispute over whether to approve the EU-Canada trade deal or risk another disappointing setback for EU trade policy. The new deadline comes after talks between the Belgian government and representatives from the region of Wallonia broke down on Friday, raising fears the entire Comprehensive Economic [...]
Theresa May mulling plan to dramatically slash corporation tax to beat a “brutal Brexit” October 23, 2016 Theresa May is reportedly considering a dramatic reduction in corporation tax if she is faced with a “brutal Brexit” in talks with the EU. According to the Sunday Times, May could slash the tax rate from 20 per cent down to just 10 per cent if the UK can't secure passporting rights for financial services [...]
The government claims it has not decided on Heathrow or Gatwick yet October 23, 2016 The government has insisted that all options for airport expansion are still on the table, just two days before the cabinet will meet to make a long-awaited and much-delayed decision on whether to build at Heathrow or Gatwick. Despite reports that the government is poised to give Heathrow the green light, Transport secretary Chris Grayling said this [...]
Suzanne Evans to run in Ukip leadership race October 23, 2016 Suzanne Evans has announced she will stand for the leadership of Ukip, after front-runner Steven Woolfe resigned from the party last week. Evans, who was suspended from the party earlier this year and has fallen out with Nigel Farage, made the declaration on the Andrew Marr Show this morning, stating: "I think I am the right [...]
Hilary Benn wants his Brexit committee to figure out what the Prime Minister is up to October 23, 2016 Hilary Benn has doubled-down on his calls for a transitional Brexit arrangement and called on the UK government to come clean on what it wants to achieve from the upcoming negotiations. Benn, who was sacked as shadow foreign secretary by Jeremy Corbyn following the EU referendum, said this morning he would use his new position as chair of [...]
Top industry representative warns banks could start leaving London before Christmas October 23, 2016 London's biggest banks could start leaving the capital within the next few months, according to one of the Square Mile's most important figures. Anthony Browne, head of the British Bankers' Association (BBA), which represents the interests of UK-based lenders and investment banks, told The Guardian banks have already started contingency planning and the process of moving [...]
Devolved leadership committee meets for the first time in nearly two years October 23, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with the leaders of the devolved parliaments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Monday and spell out her vision for a "grown up" relationship between the administrations. Meeting for the first time since December 2014, May will ask the joint ministerial committee (JMC) to fully commit to working together to enhance [...]
Government ups the ante on “Plug-in Van Grant” by committing addition funds for businesses October 22, 2016 The government is offering UK firms subsidies of up to £20,000 for switching their large trucks to electric vehicles. Business and energy secretary Greg Clark made the announcement during a three day trip to Japan to meet top executives from Nissan, Honda and Toyota – all of which have considerable manufacturing operations in the UK. Read more: Apple's driverless car plans [...]
Labour going backwards in polls under Jeremy Corbyn while Theresa May extends lead October 21, 2016 Labour has fallen back under Jeremy Corbyn while the Tories are streaking into the distance – hard-hitting but unsurprising new research has revealed. Those pesky pollsters at Ipsos Mori have done what pollsters do best – ask people for their opinions – and discovered that despite the Conservatives having been torn apart during the Brexit [...]
SNP MP hits out at government attempts to make “Turing Bill” fail October 21, 2016 The SNP MP behind the so-called "Turing Bill", aiming to overturn 50,000 gay sex convictions, has hit out at government attempts to stop it being passed today. The government said it would not support SNP MP John Nicolson's Sexual Offences (Pardons etc.) bill, which was debated in parliament today. The government put forward an amendment to the Policing and [...]