The UK’s competition policy must be fit for a world of tech giants and hidden cartels March 11, 2019 Competition is the oxygen of the capitalist system. From Adam Smith on, there have been warnings of the threats to economic health if competition is restricted by would-be monopolists or cartels. In the UK, the system is policed by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It rarely hits the headlines except for occasional controversial cases like [...]
If London is to continue to thrive, MPs must take a no-deal Brexit off the table March 11, 2019 There is no denying that trying to sell London to international investors this week of all weeks presents a challenge. Inevitably, uncertainty caused by Brexit has made some businesses more hesitant to commit further to operations in London than they would have been otherwise. Looking beyond the imminent drama in Westminster, however, I have reason [...]
Brexiters slap down reports they could swing behind Theresa May’s deal if she quits by June March 10, 2019 The Tory party opened up a new front in its ongoing civil war tonight after senior Brexiters slapped down reports that they could get behind Theresa May’s Brexit deal if she offers her resignation by June. Brexiters told City A.M. the reports were part of a disinformation campaign by Downing Street to swing MPs behind [...]
Whatever happens with Brexit, the battle for Britain’s future requires some ideological firepower March 10, 2019 Margaret Thatcher, together with her great intellectual ally, Keith Joseph, founded the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) in 1974 to promote the principles of a free society and free-market economics. The rather dry and unassuming name of the organisation is at odds with the enduring influence it has had – and continues to have – [...]
Theresa May faces ‘inevitable’ defeat in parliament unless her deal changes, Brexiters warn March 10, 2019 Two leading Brexiters have warned Theresa May that she faces an "inevitable" defeat in the parliament unless she wins significant changes to the withdrawal agreement. Nigel Dodds, the Westminster leader of the DUP which props up Theresa May's minority government, and Tory MP Steve Baker also warned that a delay to UK's departure from the EU [...]
Billions of pounds available by backing Theresa May’s deal, says Philip Hammond March 9, 2019 Chancellor of the exchequer Philip Hammond has said getting behind Theresa May's Brexit deal would free up billions of pounds in extra public spending or tax cuts. Hammond also dismissed the importance being placed on the Irish backstop, which could force the UK into an EU customs union in order to avoid a hard Irish border, claiming they are "not [...]
EU negotiator Michel Barnier offers UK unilateral customs union exit March 8, 2019 The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK will have the option to withdraw unilaterally from the customs union element of the backstop agreement. Barnier today briefed EU ambassadors on the ongoing talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and outlined the proposals it will offer. Read more: Barnier rules out time limit on Irish [...]
European M&A value hits six-year low driven by fall in UK deals March 8, 2019 European merger and acquisition values have hit a six-year low in 2019 so far driven by Brexit-related uncertainty among foreign investors. M&A deals in Europe have reached $81.1bn in the year to date, down 60 per cent on the previous year to levels not seen since 2013, according to analysis from Refinitiv. Read more: M&A [...]
Tories would win snap election if called tomorrow, according to latest polling data March 8, 2019 The Conservative party would win a snap general election if it were called tomorrow, according to the latest Yougov poll. Yougov’s latest voter intention survey found 40 per cent of people would vote for the Conservatives, while just 31 per cent would vote for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party. Read more: May presses EU to commit [...]
May calls on EU for ‘one last push’ to get a Brexit deal through parliament March 8, 2019 Theresa May today called on the EU to make “one more push” to reach agreement on a Brexit deal before time runs out. Read more: Theresa May is a home secretary dressed up as Prime Minister Addressing workers at a Grimsby energy company, the Prime Minister repeatedly said “Let’s get it done” in an appeal [...]