Brexit: Fresh setback for UK plan to ditch all EU legislation by end of 2023 November 8, 2022 The UK government’s post-Brexit plan to ditch all EU laws by the end of next year have fallen further into jeopardy, after civil servants discovered 1,400 more pieces of retained legislation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is reviewing his pledge to review or replace all 2,400 pieces of retained EU legislation by the end of 2023 [...]
All eyes on Biden vs Trump today: US midterms to usher in two years of gridlock November 8, 2022 The sharp decline in the US dollar markets saw on Friday continued yesterday as the greenback lost ground across the board, with the pound benefiting the most, pushing above the 1.1500 area, as markets looked ahead to this week’s Q3 GDP number, and next week’s autumn budget. The weakness in the US dollar came despite [...]
‘Slit your throat’: Things looking increasingly ugly for Gavin Williamson as shock allegations pile up November 8, 2022 Pressure is mounting on both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as well as former Education Secretary Gavin as new allegations about the behaviour of the latter have come to light. Williamson allegedly told a senior civil servant to “slit your throat” in what they claimed was a bullying campaign while he was defence secretary. As a [...]
Hunt looks at business rates ‘cliff edge’ ahead of fiscal statement November 8, 2022 Jeremy Hunt will make a tough decision on planned business rates hikes next week as business groups warn of “an existential threat” coming in April. British firms are facing a near £3bn annual hike in business rates next year if inflation stays above 10 per cent, according to Altus Group. Commercial properties will have their [...]
Sunak: We must ‘go faster’ on climate change after Putin’s Ukraine invasion November 7, 2022 Rishi Sunak told world leaders today that Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was “a reason to go faster” on switching to renewable energy. The Prime Minister told the Cop27 climate summit that green energy is a “fantastic source of new jobs and growth”, while vowing to stick to the UK’s climate promises from last years’ [...]
Rishi Sunak torpedoes Boris Johnson’s Britannia ship as £250m plans sink to the bottom of the Brexit pond November 7, 2022 As part of government efforts to cut spending, a £250m plan to build a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia has been scrapped, the Ministry of Defence confirmed this afternoon. The national flagship plan was sunk by Rishi Sunak’s administration as Whitehall braced for cuts in the November 17 autumn statement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. [...]
Boris Johnson tells leaders at Cop27 to not ‘to go weak on net zero’ November 7, 2022 Boris Johnson has today told world leaders that now is “not the moment to go weak on net-zero” at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt. Referencing the global energy crisis, the former Prime Minister said “much damage has been done in just one year to our common purpose of tackling man-made climate change” but that [...]
Nervous markets scratch their heads over lockdown pain due to confusing China Covid policy November 7, 2022 Despite a big relief rally at the back end of last week, US markets still couldn’t reverse the losses of the previous three days, closing lower for the first time in three weeks, although for European markets it was a somewhat different story. The DAX finished higher for the fifth week in succession, posting its [...]
UK minister travels to Taiwan in move that may inflame China tensions November 7, 2022 A UK minister will hold trade talks in Taiwan today in a move that may inflame fresh tensions with Beijing. Trade minister Greg Hands will meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen during the two-day trip to Taipei as the UK tries to close a post-Brexit deal with the island nation. The UK does not recognise Taiwan’s [...]
Hunt faces potential Tory backlash as he draws up plans to raise £50bn November 6, 2022 There are growing government fears about a potential Tory backlash against Jeremy Hunt’s fiscal statement as he looks to find ways to raise £50bn. Hunt will raise taxes and cut future real-terms spending in his 17 November autumn statement, with the chancellor looking at proposals to freeze Income Tax thresholds as a part of a [...]