Trump signs coronavirus relief and spending bill December 28, 2020 US President Donald Trump has signed into law a $2.3 trillion (£1.7 trillion) coronavirus aid and spending package, averting a partial government shutdown. The outgoing president plunged the government into chaos after refusing to sign the stimulus bill, which was approved by Congress last week. Trump criticised “wasteful spending” and called for payouts to struggling [...]
Brits warned of Brexit disruption despite trade deal December 28, 2020 Brits will face “some disruption” when the UK leaves the EU this week despite a last-minute trade deal, the government has warned. Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said businesses and citizens must prepare for “practical and procedural changes”, warning that time to adapt to the new rules was very tight. Gove hailed the UK’s post-Brexit [...]
Mayor bids for developer levy to fund replacement cladding work December 27, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called on Whitehall to introduce a £3bn levy on private housing developers to fund replacement cladding work. Thousands of Londoners, both in the private and social housing sector, are still awaiting replacement cladding work on their properties after the Grenfell Tower disaster exposed serious safety issues. Read more: Mayor warns of toughest [...]
Gove: Free ports and smart regulation the prize of Brexit deal December 26, 2020 Michael Gove has said that free ports, business-friendly regulation and ‘smart’ interventions to support entrepreneurs are the benefits of leaving the European Union. Writing today, the Cabinet Office minister also says that businesses have the “certainty and the ability to plan for growth and investment.” Read more: Opinion – forget Brexit, the EU is circling [...]
The tragedy of America’s foreign policy establishment December 25, 2020 Anthony Blinken was a cut above the rest personally. Well-educated, good-looking, quietly ironical (and quite funny), absorbed in the work at hand, and keenly intelligent, Tony seemed to be in it for the Republic, rather than himself — a rarity in a town built on often unearned self-promotion. Read more: Joe Biden could favour Ireland [...]
PM: Brexit deal will allow the City to thrive like ‘never before’ December 24, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the Brexit deal signed today will allow the City to thrive “like never before.” Asked about how much financial services figured in the deal, Johnson said there was “good language on equivalence.” He hinted that the European Union had pushed back on closer integration in the sector. “It [...]
New: Parliament to vote on Brexit deal on December 30 December 24, 2020 PM Boris Johnson has said he “hopes” Parliament will vote through his Brexit deal on December 30. The treaty will need to be ratified in Westminster in order for it come into force in time for our departure. The UK will leave the customs union and single market on December 31. Read more: Deal finally [...]
For cod’s hake: Last minute fishing hitch delays Brexit announcement; deal could still be hours away December 24, 2020 Talks to finalise the Brexit deal have dragged into the early afternoon, with reports suggesting it could still be “several hours” before negotiations finish. Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen spoke this morning to tie up a post-Brexit trade deal. The call marks the end of weeks of negotiations, with a deal held up [...]
Banks amongst winners on FTSE as City waits for trade deal confirmation December 24, 2020 Lloyds Bank and Natwest are amongst those enjoying a Brexit deal boost on the FTSE 100 today. Lloyds is up more than 4 per cent on the last day of trading before Christmas. Natwest is also up. The deal is expected to be announced by Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen within the next [...]
Brexit deal close as negotiators reach outline December 23, 2020 The outline to a UK-EU post-Brexit trade deal has been agreed, according to multiple reports. A statement is expected either late this evening or tomorrow morning. The framework of the deal is believed to have settled outstanding issues including fishing. The deal is expected to predominantly cover goods trade, with financial services regulators having already [...]