As Theresa May unveils a near unrecognisable cabinet, is this new government good news for the City? July 15, 2016 James Sproule, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, says Yes. It is often said that what business wants is certainty. Well, that is going to be in short supply for a while, so the next best thing is going to be a team of negotiators that both understands what financiers need and what price to [...]
Brexit: It’s early days, but UK business has been getting on with it July 15, 2016 It is less than three weeks since the British people voted to leave the EU. In that time, much of the media response has been verging on hysterical. The political establishment, City and even bookmakers simply did not see Leave coming. Figures who were top of their game a month ago have fallen on their swords: [...]
From an optimistic Remainer: It’s not impossible to see how we can make a go of Brexit. Here are two ideas July 15, 2016 As a staunch Remainer, I was hugely disappointed by the Brexit vote. But, what’s done can’t be changed. What is the best way to respond to it? It’s hugely tempting to accuse the Brexiteers of being racist or stupid. We share with glee how some admit that they were conned by Nigel Farage and would have voted [...]
Britain’s biggest trade union has voted for mandatory re-selection for Labour MPs July 14, 2016 Britain's biggest union has passed a motion declaring that Labour MPs should face mandatory re-selection votes at the end of each parliament. At the union's policy conference in Brighton, Unite members backed a motion which accused both “right-wing Labour MPs” and hostile media for attempts to remove Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. "MPs have not got 'jobs for [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan’s plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street by 2020 need more detail, say critics July 14, 2016 Plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street within four years have been given a mixed reception by campaigners, who say City Hall needs to release more details. London mayor Sadiq Khan plans to pedestrianise the stretch from Tottenham Court Road to Bond Street as part of his plans to tackle air quality. And this week, London deputy mayor [...]
May embarks on government restructure to create a new business, energy and industrial strategy department July 14, 2016 Prime Ministry Theresa May has made a major restructure of government, bringing together two substantial departments to create the single office for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The move means that the old departments of Business, Innovation and Skills and Energy and Climate Change have effectively been merged. The new office will be led by [...]
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan hosts London devolution summit July 14, 2016 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan today held a summit of political and business leaders as he pushes for support on further devolution for the capital. Meeting business representatives from the Corporation of London, London First and the London Chamber of Commerce, Khan looked to bolster support for more powers in the wake of the Brexit vote last [...]
Now arriving in Downing Street: Who has Theresa May appointed to her first cabinet? July 14, 2016 New Prime Minister Theresa May has continued to build her first government, with a raft of key appointments. With Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox among the key arrivals yesterday, and a brutal purge kicking off this morning, who has May appointed across her cabinet today? Greg Clark takes on the new BEIS, swapping [...]
Westminster bloodbath as Michael Gove, Nicky Morgan and John Whittingdale sacked by Theresa May July 14, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May is taking no prisoners as she makes a slew of high-profile sackings, marking a massive political shift in the new government. After a string of cabinet placements last night, May started the morning by sacking pro-Brexit campaigner and former justice secretary Michael Gove. Gove had campaigned alongside Boris Johnson to leave [...]
David Davis: The new Brexit minister’s plan for Britain July 14, 2016 David Davis, long-time eurosceptic, one-time leadership contender and EU treaty negotiator in 1996, has taken on the newly-created post of Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. Or as it's already more informally known, he is now Britain's Brexit minister. And having served as minister of state for Europe between 1994-97, with responsibility for negotiations with the continent, he's said to [...]