The government is right to reject the EU’s plans for free movement by the backdoor August 29, 2024 The EU’s terms for reinstating a youth mobility scheme – from four-year visas to cut-price tuition fees – are utterly unreasonable, says Will Cooling Yesterday saw Sir Keir Starmer in Germany, where he tried to reinforce the positive impression he made on the global stage in the whirlwind days immediately after his election as Prime [...]
UK-Germany: No post-Brexit youth mobility scheme but defence deal at ‘heart’ of treaty August 28, 2024 A new UK-Germany treaty will have a fresh defence agreement “at its heart”, Sir Keir Starmer has said, as he insisted there are no “plans” for a youth mobility scheme. The Prime Minister spoke at the German chancellery in Berlin alongside Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a press conference to announce the launch of talks for [...]
UK economy still Europe’s ‘bright spot’ after latest PMI surveys August 23, 2024 The latest 'flash' purchasing managers' index (PMIs), released yesterday by S&P, showed that the UK maintained its advantage over rivals on the continent in August.
The Queen of Shops: Helen Dickinson on Brexit, Labour and the changing face of retail August 5, 2024 Ali Lyon sits down with the head of the British Retail Consortium to discuss Brexit, Labour and the changing face of retail
Crawling back to the EU after Brexit will only end badly for Britain July 31, 2024 The new government is seeking closer ties to the EU, but Brussels will not be kind to a prodigal son, writes Paul Ormerod Clear signals are being emitted by Keir Starmer’s government on the European Union (EU). A much closer relationship is being sought on a wide range of issues such as trade and defence. [...]
US confidence in UK business environment improves but concerns over tax grow July 24, 2024 US confidence in the UK's business environment increased for the first time in two years, according to a survey, but American firms were also increasingly nervous about the tax regime.
It’s not just Brexiteers who should worry about the European Political Community July 18, 2024 The new government views the European Political Community as a stalking horse for a bilateral deal with the EU that meaningfully deepens operational security. This is a mistake, argues Will Cooling One of the visible signs that the election caught everyone within the former government by surprise is how busy the international calendar has been. [...]
Sir Tim Martin: Wetherspoon boss on Brexit, his successor and how he lost £100m July 16, 2024 Wetherspoon boss Sir Tim Martin reveals the toll being a prominent Brexit campaigner had on him, succession plans and how he once lost £100m.
This infuriating new EU rule has everyone flipping their lid July 10, 2024 A new EU directive banning fully detachable lids on plastic bottles has angered soft drink consumers everywhere, says an orange-juice soaked Steve Allen I sit here furious, looking like I’m lactating Sunny Delight. My white shirt, clean on today, has a yellow stain down the front from a bottle of orange juice. EU Directive 2019/90 [...]
What’s to blame for Tory woes? Boris Johnson and Brexit July 9, 2024 If Boris Johnson hadn’t backed Brexit, the Tories could still be in power – and further pandering to the right will only push voters further into the pinstripe embrace of Nigel Farage, argues Alys Denby As an endorsement of Keir Starmer, this election result was equivocal. His thumping majority was won with a vote share [...]