Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell takes a swipe at the City over passporting rights October 17, 2016 John McDonnell has criticised speculation that the government is considering continuing to pay some contributions to the EU, to maintain “passporting rights” for City firms and other sectors. These would allow the companies to continue trading across the continent. Britain has voted to leave the EU, it has not voted for paying huge fees for [...]
Former leadership hopeful Steven Woolfe quits ‘ungovernable’ Ukip October 17, 2016 Ukip's Steven Woolfe has announced he is quitting the party, deeming it "ungovernable". Woolfe said the party "lacks direction, it lacks a purpose and it lacks any semblance of professional organisation". He said he will now sit as an independent MEP in the European Parliament. [infographic id="922"] Earlier today, party chairman Paul Oakden said Ukip may [...]
Theresa May-backed Women’s Business Council says more needed to unlock contribution of female workers to the economy October 17, 2016 A high-profile government advisory group has hailed progress on roles for women in business, but says there is still more to do. Theresa May established the Women Business Council while home secretary, and four years after its creation WBC chair Cilla Snowball has warned that despite significant victories, more progress must be made. Household names [...]
Outgoing Institute of Directors boss Simon Walker sounded out for role on trade department board October 17, 2016 The outgoing director general of the Institute of Directors (IoD) could soon be joining the board of the new International Trade ministry. According to Sky News, Walker was approached about becoming a non-executive director for the department for international trade, a new Whitehall department established by the Prime Minister, with Liam Fox at the helm. Read more: IoD [...]
Donald Trump is actually persuading people that the US election could be rigged October 17, 2016 Donald Trump's mad warnings that the US election could be rigged are having a drastic effect on the electorate. A new poll out from POLITICO/Morning Consult found that 73 per cent of Republicans think the US election could be swiped from him. Across the voter spectrum, 41 per cent think November's election could be "stolen" from [...]
Sterling steady as rift opens between Philip Hammond and hard Brexiters October 17, 2016 The weekend may have brought some welcome respite for currency traders after a frantic few weeks of selling and shorting, but the break still hasn't done sterling any good. It's as-you-were on the money markets today with the pound falling shy of $1.22 against the US dollar and €1.11 against the single currency. At lunchtime one pound [...]
Editor of Russia’s state broadcaster says UK bank account frozen October 17, 2016 Russia’s state-run broadcaster has had its NatWest bank account frozen, according to its editor-in-chief. Margarita Simonyan tweeted today: “Our accounts in Britain have been blocked. All of them. ‘Decision not to be discussed’. Hail to freedom of speech!” Read more: US ends Syria ceasefire talks with Russia RT, formerly known as Russia Today, reported that NatWest [...]
Cat votes in French presidential primary October 17, 2016 Paws for thought. A cat has cast its vote in the Green Party's primary election in France. Gaston Lecat was added to the party's voter list for the presidential primaries by its owner, journalist Raphaëlle Besse Desmoulières. She said she paid €5 (£4.52) to register her cat to vote in the primary election earlier this month, and [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: Could higher borrowing costs upset Philip Hammond’s plans for an infrastructure spending spree? October 17, 2016 Interest rates for the UK government are rising at one of their fastest rates in nearly two decades as chancellor Philip Hammond prepares to unleash a multi-billion pound spending spree in his first Autumn Statement in five weeks' time. Borrowing costs for Hammond, as measured by the yield on the benchmark 10-year government bond, have surged in [...]
Downing Street has offered a vote of confidence to embattled chancellor Philip Hammond October 17, 2016 Philip Hammond has been backed by the Prime Minister amid reports suggesting a growing rift between the chancellor and other members of cabinet. Hammond has previously expressed coded concerns over a so-called “Hard Brexit”, which would see the UK resort to World Trade Organisation rules and face tariffs on trade with both European and Non-European [...]