Conservative leadership race must speak to the City July 1, 2016 As Michael Gove’s former head of communications, James Frayne, argued in City A.M. on Tuesday, nobody should be surprised that politicians lacked a ready-made vision of what Brexit will look like immediately after last week’s shock vote. UK politicians have abdicated responsibility over issues like trade policy to EU fonctionnaires for over 40 years, so [...]
Airport expansion: This is politics for grown-ups – a decision must be made soon July 1, 2016 Amid all the schoolyard bickering which took place yesterday between those in the running (and those deciding not to be in the running) for both Tory and Labour leadership came a rather sombre statement by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin. During parliamentary questions, he confessed that a decision over increasing London’s airport capacity will not take [...]
London tech heavyweights call for European talent to remain in the capital following Brexit vote June 30, 2016 The London tech community has called for non-UK Europeans working in the sector to stay following the country’s vote to quit the European Union. Russ Shaw, founder of lobby group Tech London Advocates (TLA), has gathered around 150 signatures, including the Mayor of London and the likes of entrepreneur and angel investor Sherry Coutu and co-chief executive of digital literacy [...]
Brexit and Donald Trump expected to hit already falling M&A activity levels June 30, 2016 Deal values fell significantly in the UK and, to a lesser extent, globally in the first half of 2016. And mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is expected to fall further in the next six months, with Brexit and the prospect of Donald Trump causing uncertainty. Read more: What Brexit means for UK M&A: Experts expect further [...]
Conservative peer Lord Heseltine has launched a blistering attack on former London mayor Boris Johnson, accusing the MP of “ripping the party apart” June 30, 2016 Boris Johnson's decision not to stand for the leadership of the Conservative Party has been savaged by Tory grandee Lord Heseltine. In a blistering attack, the avidly pro-Europe Heseltine accused Johnson of “ripping the [Conservative] party apart”, and slammed the former London mayor's refusal to run for Tory leader, and therefore prime minister, as both “contemptible” [...]
Number 10 hosts business leaders for post-Brexit trade talks June 30, 2016 Number 10 held discussions with a host of business leaders this morning to discuss trade after Brexit. The UK is reportedly planning to launch trade missions to the US, China, India and Commonwealth nations as it prepares to leave the EU after last week’s vote. BP’s Bob Dudley, easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall and others from [...]
Yvette Cooper is leading a group of Labour backbenchers in talks with the government over the newly established Brexit Unit June 30, 2016 Yvette Cooper will lead a committee of senior Labour backbenchers across party lines this afternoon for a meeting with Oliver Letwin to discuss the newly established civil service Brexit Unit. Earlier this week, Downing Street launched the unit working on Brexit planning under Letwin in his role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Labour [...]
More than 2,000 people have already cashed in their Help to Buy Isa just four months after launch – getting a bonus of just £421 June 30, 2016 Perplexing news from the Treasury, which has reported more than 2,000 people have so far cashed in their Help to Buy Isas – meaning they've made an average of just £421. The figures, published this morning, showed 1,490 properties were bought in the four months to the end of March through the scheme, which gives savers a £50 [...]
A Labour MP has warned the party is not a safe space for British Jews after she was abused at the launch of an event into anti-Semitism June 30, 2016 A Jewish Labour MP abused at the launch of the Chakrabarti report into anti-Semitism has slammed leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying the party “cannot be a safe space for British Jews” under his leadership. Ruth Smeeth was accused of collaborating with a Daily Telegraph journalist to smear the party at an event this morning which saw [...]
Lord Stern warns UK emissions targets must be strengthened after Fifth Carbon Budget June 30, 2016 One of the world's most formidable climate change economists applauded the government's adoption of its fifth carbon budget, but he warned that the UK must strengthen its emissions targets. The budget — which is a step in the right direction — will cut carbon emissions 57 per cent by 2032 compared to 1990 levels. But targets must be more [...]