Post-Brexit customs union would be ‘worst of all worlds’, warns Liam Fox April 9, 2019 Signing up to a customs union post-Brexit would be "the worst of all worlds" and would stop Britain forming its own independent trade policy, Liam Fox has warned. In a letter to Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the backbench 1922 committee, the trade secretary said entering into a customs union with the EU would [...]
Lloyds Bank stars as FTSE 100 rockets in Q1 April 9, 2019 | City Talk By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. After a great first quarter for stock markets, we assess the best and worst blue-chips of 2019 so far. It’s been a storming start to 2019 for the FTSE 100 index, with popular interactive investor stocks including Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY), Next (LSE:NXT) and Tesco (LSE:TSCO) among those on [...]
After Brexit, will Britain remain a land of opportunity? Apprentice star Mark Wright shares his views on startups and the economy April 9, 2019 Winning a reality TV show isn’t normally considered a recipe for success. The stars of such programmes usually end up plastered across the tabloids, followed by performing in a Christmas pantomime somewhere in rural England. But the BBC’s The Apprentice is an altogether different beast. With the backing of business mogul Lord Alan Sugar, the [...]
EU ministers say Britain needs ‘clear plan’ to be granted Brexit delay April 9, 2019 EU ministers arrived in Luxembourg this morning to try and thrash out a united stance on whether it should give the UK a Brexit extension ahead of tomorrow's summit. Read more: Brexit delay on the cards as Tories gear up for European elections Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said the EU should give Britain “more [...]
Conservative MP quits Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Eurosceptic ERG for putting Brexit ‘at risk’ April 9, 2019 A Tory MP has resigned from Jacob Rees-Mogg’s European Research Group (ERG), claiming “hardcore” Brexiters are endangering their own goal of leaving the EU. Read more: Brexit delay on the cards as Tories gear up for European elections Shropshire MP Daniel Kawczynski accused an ERG “hardcore elment of ‘Unicorn’ dreamers” of “now actually endangering Brexit”. [...]
Brexit hoped to heal the UK, but instead it leaves wounds that will not easily be closed April 9, 2019 The other day, my three-year-old son gave me a geography lesson. Him: “This is Battersea Park.” Me: “That’s right.” Him: “And Battersea Park is in London?” Me: “Yes, and we’re also in England and in Britain.” At which point he shook his head. “No,” he insisted. “Just London.” Political analysis obviously runs in the family. [...]
Government should choose outsourcing contracts based on the quality, not cost April 9, 2019 If and when the Brexit debate ever ends, politicians will return to the challenge of improving domestic politics. And one of the main questions will be the role of private companies in delivering public services. Overall, the government spends almost £300bn per year – or around a third of its total budget – on partnerships [...]
The Tories face a struggle with young voters, but hope is not lost April 8, 2019 Where do Tories look these days to cheer themselves up? Until recently they could console themselves with their party’s relative popularity compared to Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, but those polls are tightening and when voters are asked for their views on specific areas of policy from housing to crime and the NHS, it’s the Labour party [...]
Brexit delay on the cards amid anger as Conservatives gear up for European elections April 8, 2019 A long delay to Brexit is looking increasingly likely as the Conservative and Labour leaderships are struggling to agree a compromise deal ahead of Wednesday’s EU summit. Brussels has given the UK until 10 April to set out a credible alternative negotiating plan after the repeated failure by Theresa May to get her deal through Parliament. [...]
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 [...]