Almost all of southern England plunged into Tier 4 on Boxing Day December 23, 2020 The vast majority of the South of England will be plunged into Tier 4 on Boxing Day, leaving half of England facing the strictest coronavirus restrictions. On Sunday morning London and southeast England were put into new ‘Tier 4’ restrictions. The restrictions are akin to that of lockdown, with all non-essential businesses closed and residents [...]
Reports: EU putting in place ‘procedures’ for post-Brexit trade deal December 23, 2020 EU member states are beginning to put in place procedures for post-Brexit trade deal, reports have emerged in the last few minutes. Three diplomatic sources told Reuters that preparations have been stepped up. Reuters reports that national diplomats have been told to prepare for a meeting as early as Thursday should a deal be struck [...]
When it comes to China, Europe is no longer America’s sidekick December 23, 2020 The largely unnoticed downgrading of US-EU ties is so important. Taken entirely for granted by a Trump administration uninterested in the high art of alliance management, when the US sheriff sets out to corral new rival China, it will do so without Europe unambiguously coming along as part of the posse. A recent series of [...]
Brexit: Barnier says progress made but fisheries still holding up deal December 22, 2020 Michel Barnier has told EU Ambassadors that progress has been made towards a Brexit deal, according to multiple reports. However, fisheries remains the key stumbling block and as a result there is now doubt that a deal will be ready in time for the December 31 deadline. Barnier is reported to have said that his [...]
New: Barnier: “Final push” in negotiations but no plan for extension December 22, 2020 EU negotiator Michel Barnier has said that negotiations are at a “crucial moment” as he effectively ruled out any extension to the transition period. He told media that “we are giving it a final push” but warned that the UK “will leave the single market” in 10 days’ time. Some, including Mayor of London Sadiq [...]
City grandee Cruddas made Tory peer despite Lords’ gatekeepers objections December 22, 2020 City grandee Peter Cruddas has been appointed as a Tory Peer after the Prime Minister stepped in to overrule the House of Lords Appointment Commission. The appointment of Cruddas, a banker and philanthropist who has given millions to good causes over the years, was questioned by the Commission over newspaper allegations around ‘cash for access’ [...]
OBR: April furlough extension will cost further £3bn December 22, 2020 The Chancellor’s decision to extend the furlough scheme an extra month will cost an extra £3bn, according to new official figures. Rishi Sunak has extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until the end of April, one month later than had been originally planned. Sunak also announced that the Government’s three loan schemes would be extended [...]
Patel refuses to rule out further Tier 4 restrictions as mutant virus spreads December 22, 2020 Home Secretary Priti Patel has refused to rule out a new year lockdown, as a new, more infectious variant of coronavirus spreads across the country. This morning Patel said the government was willing to take stronger measures if the virus continued to spread in the UK. Speaking on Sky News, she said: “If new strains [...]
UK monthly borrowing hits third-highest figure on record December 22, 2020 The UK Government borrowed £31.6bn in November, the third-highest figure on record. A combination of the furlough scheme, ongoing business loan programmes, and spending on Covid-related operations such as Test and Trace and the vaccine rollout has seen borrowing spike. The Office for National Statistics began monitoring borrowing figures in 1993. Read more: US passes [...]
Will 2021 herald the end of the trade wars? December 22, 2020 2020 began with hope of a fragile truce in the US-China trade war. The Phase 1 trade deal between Washington and Beijing was signed in January. However, this talked only about product purchases; it did not cover the most contentious issues around security and intellectual property theft. As a result, the deal effectively handed the [...]