Downing Street looks to have snubbed a Boris Johnson-backed campaign to recommission the royal yacht for Brexit trade talks September 19, 2016 Downing Street has snubbed a fledgling campaign to recommission the Royal Yacht Britannia for trade talks in the aftermath of the UK's Brexit vote. This weekend the Telegraph reported that dozens of MPs were backing its call for the yacht to be brought out of retirement. In an editorial, the paper said the yacht had [...]
Labour leadership: Channel 4 Dispatches goes undercover in Jeremy Corbyn supporters group Momentum September 19, 2016 A documentary set to air tonight will provide an undercover look at Momentum, the grassroots group of supporters backing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Channel 4 said Dispatches has discovered "a number of hard left revolutionaries inside and influencing Momentum, one of whom advocated a “flood” into the Labour Party and others that want to oust anti-Corbyn MPs [...]
In quotes: Jeremy Corbyn’s quite sarcastic Today programme appearance September 19, 2016 Two days before the ballot closes in the Labour leadership contest, Jeremy Corbyn has given his first interview to the BBC's flagship Today programme since the contest started in July. The programme, widely seen as agenda-setting in Westminster, the City and beyond attracts an average weekly audience of 7.4 million listeners. That's only 1.9 million [...]
Junck(er) mail: The EU Digital Single Market copyright proposals could be bad news for advertisers September 19, 2016 The EU Commission’s Digital Single Market (DSM) strategy promises to “tear down regulatory walls” and “make the EU’s Single Market fit for the digital age”. But its current wording looks like a bum-deal for advertisers. Launched last week to coincide with Jean-Claude Juncker’s state of the union address, the latest raft of proposals aim to [...]
Dear Juncker, more integration is not the answer to EU woes. Focusing on cooperation between states might do the trick September 19, 2016 The EU’s head honcho, Jean-Claude Juncker, was in the news last week for the televisual highlight of all good Europeans: his annual State of the Union address. It was a sombre affair, unlikely to cheer up anyone’s Wednesday morning. It sounded like a eulogy, and Juncker should at least be commended for his honesty. Addressing members [...]
Head of Germany’s central bank warns EU against further integration after Brexit September 18, 2016 The head of Germany’s central bank has warned the EU against pushing for further integration after the UK’s Brexit vote. Jens Weidmann, the president of Deutsche Bundesbank, said this approach “no longer resonates with the public”. In a meeting with media organisations including the Guardian, Weidmann said: “For many of its citizens, Europe has indeed [...]
Britain reportedly faces multi-million pound fines if trade talks are opened before quitting the EU September 18, 2016 Britain reportedly faces multi-million pound fines if the government engages in trade talks before quitting the EU. According to the Sunday Times, Whitehall officials have been told there is a “high risk” the European Commission would take the UK to court if ministers open talks with any countries with which the EU is already negotiating. [...]
Terence Conran and Richard Rogers are demanding a post-Brexit boost for design industry September 18, 2016 Leading lights in the British design industry have demanded the government extend more support for the sector in the aftermath of Brexit. Retailer Sir Terence Conran and architect Richard Rogers are among the figures to have leant their support to the campaign, which is backed by almost 150 of the market's biggest figures, as well [...]
Senior Tory Eurosceptics have launched a new pressure group aimed at pulling Britain out of the Single Market September 18, 2016 Theresa May is facing questions from Eurosceptic MPs, who have banded together to launch a new campaign to push for a “hard Brexit”, the second group to have formed in just over a week. The group, Leave Means Leave, aims to end the UK's membership of the European Single Market, simultaneously scrapping free movement. The group [...]
This group of European leaders could veto a Brexit deal September 18, 2016 A group of central European leaders have said they could veto any deals agreed between Britain and Europe as a result of Brexit. Members of the Visegrad group, or V4, from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic said they would veto agreements if its citizens working and living in Britain were not treated fairly. Read more: Nigel [...]