MPs attack chancellor’s plan to wind down furlough scheme September 11, 2020 The powerful Treasury Committee of MPs has criticised the chancellor’s new job retention bonus scheme as inefficient, and called for him to “carefully consider” more targeted support for parts of the economy when the furlough scheme ends. In a wide-ranging report, the Committee also said the Treasury must quickly come up with a scheme to [...]
City of London Corporation hits out at China for breaching its UK treaty September 10, 2020 The City of London Corporation has accused China of breaching the Sino-British treaty, after imposing draconian national security laws on Hong Kong. The local authority’s Court of Common Council – which comprises all of its elected officials – voted in favour of the motion, which accused Beijing of denying Hong Kongers the right to enjoy [...]
Tory grandee calls on justice secretary to quit amid division over Brexit bill September 10, 2020 Sir Roger Gale has called for justice secretary Robert Buckland to resign over the internal market bill, escalating Tory division over whether the government is breaking international law. The Tory grandee said he “would expect the justice secretary under these terms to fall on his sword”. It comes as the Brexit bill is due to [...]
Brexit: EU threatens legal action against UK after ‘seriously damaging trust’ September 10, 2020 Brussels has threatened the UK with legal action for Boris Johnson’s attempts to breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement, claiming that his actions have “seriously damaged trust between the EU and the UK”. The European Commission’s vice president Maroš Šefčovič warned Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove today that the withdrawal agreement was a “legal obligation”, and that [...]
Mairead McGuinness: Meet the EU’s future finance boss September 10, 2020 Mairead McGuinness was this week nominated as the new EU financial services commissioner following the recent resignation of her Irish counterpart and EU trade chief Phil Hogan. Mr Hogan departs having found himself in the centre of a “golfgate” scandal, breaking lockdown rules by attending a dinner in County Galway, Ireland, with more than 80 [...]
Jacob Rees-Mogg self-isolates after child shows Covid symptoms September 10, 2020 Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg has gone into self-isolation after one of his children displayed symptoms of Covid-19. Deputy chief whip Stuart Andrew stood in for Rees-Mogg, making the business statement in the chamber this morning. In a tweet the Commons leader wrote: “Many thanks to Stuart Andrew for standing in for me at Business Questions. [...]
Brexit: UK and EU to hold emergency talks amid flaring tensions September 10, 2020 The UK and the EU are set for a heated emergency meeting today over Boris Johnson’s decision to breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement by adding a number of “clarifications”. An “extraordinary” meeting of the UK-EU Joint Committee is scheduled for this afternoon, along with a one-on-one meeting between Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and the [...]
Hammersmith Bridge: Government thinks TfL inflated £140m repair estimate September 9, 2020 The government is refusing to fund repairs for the closed Hammersmith Bridge because it believes the £140m price tag has been inflated by the local council and Transport for London (TfL), City A.M. can reveal. A source close to transport secretary Grant Shapps said the government wants to fund the restoration of the 133-year-old West [...]
Boris Johnson unveils new England coronavirus restrictions September 9, 2020 Boris Johnson has unveiled a string of new coronavirus restrictions on social gatherings in England as a response to rising rates of infection across the country. Gatherings of more than six people in public or in private will be banned from Monday, with several exemptions such as schools. Venues like places of worship, gyms, restaurants [...]
Hammersmith Bridge: Sadiq Khan in fierce row with government over closure September 9, 2020 City Hall and the government have today locked horns over who is responsible for the closed Hammersmith Bridge in what is becoming a heated row. The government announced today it was creating a Hammersmith Bridge taskforce that will be responsible for getting the West London river crossing open again. The group, which will be led [...]