Put-in the diary: Biden to meet Russian President in June May 25, 2021 Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will meet in Geneva for face-to-face talks next month. The meeting will be the first since Biden took the Presidency in January 2021. The White House said the conversation would touch on “the full range of pressing issues,” with relations between the two sour. Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had a [...]
Barristers warn Government on free speech clampdown in Policing Bill May 25, 2021 The UK’s barristers’ body has warned the Government it risks “criminalising annoying speech” in the Policing Bill currently making its way through Parliament. The Bar Council said that proposals for “harassment in a public place” would render irritating or annoying speech a criminal offence. The provisions go much further than current laws which only criminalise [...]
Boris Johnson comments on women in burqas made Tories seem ‘insensitive’ to Muslims, says probe May 25, 2021 Anti-Muslim sentiment within the Tory party “remains a problem” and Boris Johnson’s comments on women in burqas created a sense that the party is “insensitive” to the community, according to a report into Islamophobia in the party. The independent report, authored by professor Swaran Singh, also said there was a “recurrent concern” among community groups [...]
Andrew Bailey says there are some ‘hot spots for prices’ but plays down inflation fears May 24, 2021 Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has warned there are some “very hot spots in terms of prices”, but that he is confident inflation won’t run well above the UK’s two per cent target in the long-term. Annual CPI increased from 0.7 per cent to 1.5 per cent in April, creating fears among some that [...]
Bank of England felt no Treasury pressure to give Greensill preferential treatment, says Bailey May 24, 2021 The Bank of England did not face pressure from the Treasury or David Cameron to give Greensill Capital preferential treatment in evaluating the firm for a large-scale loan, according to bank governor Andrew Bailey. Bailey told MPs today that lobbying efforts from Cameron did not mean the failed supply chain finance firm had better treatment [...]
Shadow Trade Minister: The future of Britain’s steel industry is at risk if Liz Truss slashes tariffs May 24, 2021 In 1971, the UK’s steel manufacturing industry employed around 320,000 people. By 2016, just 24,000 worked in steel manufacturing – and that number is even lower today. The steel industry has been in decline ever since its peak in the 1970s. Despite its national strategic importance in supporting our nation’s defence and manufacturing sectors, not [...]
Truss: There will be ‘very long transition’ in any UK-Australia trade deal May 24, 2021 British farmers will be given a “very long transition” to prepare for new competition from any UK-Australia trade deal, according to international trade secretary Liz Truss. Truss suggested the deal will result in zero quotas and tariffs on Australian agricultural exports, but said she was “fully confident” British farmers would be able to compete. A cabinet [...]
UK considers scrapping Trump-era tariffs on US whiskey and motorcycles May 24, 2021 The UK will review its tariffs on US products like whiskey, tobacco and motorcycles in a bid to get Joe Biden to drop Trump-era tariffs on British steel. International trade secretary Liz Truss announced today that she would launch a six-week consultation with British businesses to consider “re-balancing measures” that could see some of the tariffs [...]
Ministers preparing to allow pubs to serve people at the bar from June May 24, 2021 Ministers are speaking with the hospitality sector about relaxing rules on ordering drinks at the bar in pubs across England from 21 June as the government looks set to stick with its roadmap timetable. Chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency Dr Jenny Harries said yesterday that the prospect of lifting most if not [...]
G7 closing in on deal for global corporate tax shake-up May 24, 2021 The G7 is said to be nearing an agreement over corporation tax for multinationals, paving the way for a new global tax regime cracking down on some of the world’s largest companies. A pact between the major economies could be inked as early as Friday following progress in talks among top officials in recent days, [...]