EU would move ‘extremely quickly’ to agree a post-Brexit customs union, says Michel Barnier April 8, 2019 The EU will move quickly to back a post-Brexit customs union with the UK if Theresa May shifts her red lines, Brussels chief negotiator has claimed. Speaking in Dublin, Michel Barnier said he hoped the cross-party talks taking place in London would produce a “positive outcome” with the prospect of a no deal Brexit now [...]
London remains most popular investment target for European venture capitalists April 8, 2019 London secured its reputation as a global fintech hub as it attracted almost double the amount of venture capital funding compared to its closest European rival last year. The capital received 39 per cent of European venture capital funding last year, almost double that of runner-up Berlin, which took in 21 per cent in 2018, despite [...]
British car manufacturing powers down to half capacity as planned factory shutdowns take effect April 8, 2019 British car makers including Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) have gone ahead with plans to shut their UK plants this week over Brexit, in a move which leaves at least half the country’s car production gridlocked. JLR’s Wolverhampton engine plant as well as its three assembly plants in Solihull, Halewood and Castle Bromwich were due to [...]
City watchdog FCA strengthens post-Brexit ties with Australian regulator April 8, 2019 The City watchdog has strengthened ties with its Australian counterpart to secure cooperation post-Brexit. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have agreed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) covering trade repositories and alternative investment funds, to ensure continuity after the UK leaves the EU. Read more: FCA tells Morgan [...]
Theresa May to travel to Paris and Berlin for critical Brexit talks April 8, 2019 Theresa May will head to Berlin and Paris on Tuesday in an eleventh hour bid to convince EU leaders to grant another delay to Brexit. The Prime Minister will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron just a day before a crunch Brexit summit in Brussels. The EU will use that [...]
As Brexit drags on, Brits want a rule-breaking leader to overhaul political system April 8, 2019 Brits want a strong leader who is willing to break rules to push through wide-reaching reforms to the political system, according to new data. Read more: Business optimism hits seven-year low as Brexit approaches Three years of Brexit turmoil since the EU referendum has left voters’ confidence in politics at a 15-year low, a poll [...]
Theresa May to head to Berlin to request short Brexit delay April 8, 2019 Theresa May will dash to Berlin tomorrow to persuade EU leaders to grant a short extension to Article 50 while the government still wrangles with how to progress with Brexit. The Prime Minister will meet German chancellor Angela Merkel tomorrow, a day before a crunch EU summit in which the bloc will consider whether to grant May's [...]
Anti-social media: Former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark on social media harm after the Christchurch terror attacks April 8, 2019 I Interrupt the former leader of my native New Zealand, Helen Clark, in the middle of a Twitter and Facebook purge. “Social media management” she says, dictating a response to one of the provocateurs or well-wishers. It’s all part of overseeing a social media following of more than 200,000, I’m sure, but especially fitting since [...]
Boris Johnson says customs union Brexit deal with Labour would make ‘a nonsense’ of Brexit vote April 8, 2019 Tory leadership hopeful Boris Johnson has attacked the Prime Minister over her Brexit negotiations with the Labour party, saying a customs union deal “cannot, must not and will not happen”. Read more: Government ready to compromise with Corbyn through 'gritted teeth' Writing in his weekly Daily Telegraph column, the former foreign secretary said cutting a [...]
If Brexit has taught us anything, it’s that we need to be bold when it comes to world trade April 8, 2019 A little over two years ago, the first direct rail freight service from China to the UK rolled into Barking’s 165-year old station to much fanfare. Of course, the completion of this mammoth 18-day, 7,500-mile trip from the Chinese city of Yiwu marked the moment that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached the UK. [...]