Businesses have reacted horribly to Amber Rudd’s visa crackdown October 4, 2016 Businesses have hit out at the government’s new plans to tighten visa rules for workers who come to the UK from outside the EU. Home secretary Amber Rudd told the Conservative Party Conference earlier today she is considering making it harder for UK businesses to recruit from overseas by introducing a new rigorous test to [...]
IMF steps up attacks on Donald Trump and issues fresh Brexit warning October 4, 2016 Political risks are the greatest threat to the world economy, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today, in a thinly veiled attack on US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump. In its half-yearly economic outlook, the Fund downgraded its outlook for the world's largest economies over the next two years and warned a growing backlash against trade, [...]
Brexiteer MP Steve Baker expects the UK to retain almost all of its current trade arrangements with the EU October 4, 2016 The UK should be able to retain “virtually all” of its current trade arrangements with the EU, according to Treasury Select Committee member and Brexit campaigner Steve Baker. Speaking to City A.M. at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, Baker said the UK would be boosted by a raft of elections across Europe in the [...]
Man accused of Jo Cox murder refuses to enter pleas October 4, 2016 A not guilty plea has been recorded on behalf the man accused of the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox. Thomas Mair, 53, appeared in the court via a video link from Belmarsh prison and did not respond when asked for his plea on four charges relating to Cox's death in the Old Bailey this morning, [...]
Crispin Blunt says new cannabis and wider drugs legislation could be a task for a Royal Commission October 4, 2016 Former prisons minister and Tory MP Crispin Blunt has said the best way to move ahead with more progressive drugs legislation would be to initiate a Royal Commission on the matter. Blunt told a fringe event about cannabis legalisation at the Conservative party conference last night that doing so would take the debate about changing drugs policy, [...]
Better infrastructure and new houses: Here’s how to invest for a post-Brexit fiscal stimulus October 4, 2016 Chancellor Philip Hammond used his party conference speech yesterday to tell the public that the government is prepared to take “whatever steps are necessary to protect this economy from turbulence”. Though he gave a nod to his predecessor’s commitment to fiscal consolidation, new spending plans are widely expected when he delivers his first Autumn Statement in [...]
Philip Hammond is wrong to assume an infrastructure splurge will boost growth October 3, 2016 Mention the name Philip Hammond in Westminster, and invariably someone will describe him as “a safe pair of hands”. The man who has been chancellor for three months had been largely inconspicuous in his role prior to yesterday’s conference speech. But after almost two decades of a Treasury dominated by micro-managers and tinkerers, primarily in [...]
A top Citi banker has clashed with a Brexit-backing MP over the need for clarity on the future of passporting rights October 3, 2016 One of Citi’s most senior UK bankers has clashed with a Brexiteer MP over the need for clarity around passporting rights for financial services. Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, Leave campaigner Dominic Raab played down the importance of passporting, arguing that several alternative models would allow UK-based institutions to access the market, [...]
All EU rules should face a “sunset clause” according to former BCC chair John Longworth October 3, 2016 All European legislation should face a “sunset clause” according to the Brexiteer former director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce. Speaking at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, John Longworth said Theresa May should put an expiry date on the entirety of the EU’s rules as part of her Great Repeal Bill. May has promised to [...]
Britain could secure a temporary Single Market membership according to this Treasury Select Committee member October 3, 2016 Britain could retain a temporary Single Market membership in the aftermath of Brexit, according to a member of parliament’s Treasury Select Committee. Speaking at the Conservative party conference, Chris Philp noted that the US’ still unsigned trade deal with Europe has taken 10 years of negotiations. “These trade negotiations, even excluding financial services, take an [...]