London can strengthen its relations with Scotland March 4, 2019 On a brisk evening in January, I had the honour of hosting a Burns Supper at the Mansion House with the first minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. The night was complete with bagpipes, haggis, and of course a “wee dram” of whisky. The event brought together leading business figures from both sides of the border, [...]
Attorney General looks to prevent Britain being ‘trapped’ in a customs union, says cabinet minister March 4, 2019 Britain’s attorney general is looking to make legally binding changes to the Irish border backstop to ensure Britain is not "trapped" in a customs union, according to communities secretary James Brokenshire. Brokenshire said Geoffrey Cox, the UK’s top government lawyer, is determined to secure a revision to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal that prevents [...]
UK ports propose 10-point plan to boost investment and trade March 3, 2019 A new 10-point plan to be revealed today will set out proposals aimed at boosting investment in the UK’s ports. The importance of the UK’s ports for business supply chains has been thrown into the spotlight by the potential for disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Read more: Government to pay Eurotunnel £33m over [...]
Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins takes home £4.9m in dividends March 3, 2019 Plumbing millionaire Charlie Mullins bagged £4.9m in dividends from his Pimlico Plumbers business last year, according to new accounts. The figure includes £1.6m in post year end dividends. In addition to dividends, Mullins and his son Scott, took home a combined £711,512 in pay for their work as directors of the company, taking their income [...]
Trade secretary Liam Fox admits the UK may have ‘no option’ but to delay Brexit March 3, 2019 Trade secretary Liam Fox has conceded that the UK may have "no option" but to extend the date on which it leaves the EU, as the government battles to avoid another parliamentary defeat over its Brexit deal. Fox, a Brexiter, said the while he wanted Britain to leave the EU on the scheduled departure date [...]
HS2 hit with legal claim from American engineering giant Bechtel over Old Oak Common contract March 3, 2019 HS2 has been hit with a legal claim by American engineering giant Bechtel after it failed to secure a £1bn contract to build Old Oak Common station. Last year Bechtel signed a £170m contract to deliver phase 2b of the railway, which will stretch from Crewe to Manchester, and the West Midlands to Leeds. The [...]
Liam Fox refuses to rule out chlorinated chicken as part of UK-US trade deal March 3, 2019 International trade secretary Liam Fox yesterday defended the outlines of the UK’s potential trade deal with the US, insisting that Britain would not accept anything that was against the interests of consumers. Fox played down the safety concerns over chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-induced beef. The EU currently limits US exports of both products but the [...]
Tory Brexiters draw up list of terms for backing Theresa May’s exit deal March 3, 2019 Tory Brexiters have drawn up a list of conditions that Theresa May needs to satisfy in order to receive their backing in a looming crunch Commons vote on her Brexit deal. Members of the European Research Group (ERG), chaired by Jacob Rees-Mogg, have drawn up “three tests” that May has to meet in order for [...]
President of Slovenia backs Brexit extension, adding ‘a lot’ more EU states would do the same March 2, 2019 The President of Slovenia has said his country and many others in the EU would be open to an extension of the Brexit leaving date. Prime Minister Theresa may this week said MPs would get a vote over whether to ask for an extension to Britain’s March 29 exit date for more negotiation if her [...]
EU ready to give UK more guarantees Irish backstop is temporary March 2, 2019 The European Union is prepared to offer more guarantees to the UK that the Irish border backstop is only intended to be temporary with less than two weeks until parliament vote on Prime Minister Theresa May's deal. The bloc's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has labelled the backstop as an "insurance" but has moved to [...]