The Notebook: Sir Rocco Forte on the hated tourist tax, counteracting climate hysteria and Boris Johnson’s legacy June 26, 2023 The Notebook is a column where interesting people say interesting things. Today, it’s hotel industry giant Sir Rocco Forte, chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels My hotels in Italy, Germany and Belgium are booming. But occupancy in London is not what it was last year nor what we saw pre-pandemic. Official statistics bear this out, showing [...]
Brexit Day: Sadiq Khan ‘effectively banned’ from flying EU flag at City Hall June 23, 2023 London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been been “effectively banned” from flying the EU flag at City Hall on the seventh anniversary of the Brexit referendum. The European Union flag, which features 12 gold stars on a blue background, was removed from a list of exemptions which do not require planning permission before being flown. A [...]
Brexit: Most people think UK was wrong to leave EU, according to Tony Blair Institute June 23, 2023 More than 50 per cent of people believe that the UK was wrong to leave the EU seven years on from the referendum, according to a new poll. Based on a survey of 1,525 adults and carried out at the start of June, the poll found that 34 per cent still believe that Brexit was [...]
Tour operator Skiworld wipes out in Austria amid post-Brexit dip in UK chalet hosts June 22, 2023 Skiworld – the UK’s largest independent ski tour operator – has pulled out of much of its operation in Austria as a result of post-Brexit red tape, City A.M. has learnt. The London-based firm – which runs chalets across the Alps – told City A.M. that a dip in the number of UK staff it [...]
Badenoch slammed for ignoring Brexit realities and telling UK firms global trade ‘isn’t too tough’ June 20, 2023 Kemi Badenoch has been criticised by business groups for trying to “shift the blame” after she told British businesses that international trade “isn’t too tough”. The business and international trade secretary said today that the UK has “too many negative tropes about how difficult it all is”. Speaking at the launch of the first e-commerce [...]
Everybody wins: Post Brexit trade deal with 65 nations will cut import costs and save Brits millions June 19, 2023 Developing nations are set to benefit from reduced tariffs under a new post-Brexit trading scheme launched by the UK. The Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) scheme will cut import costs for 65 countries, including 37 African nations and 26 states in Asia, Oceania and the Middle East. It will save UK firms and consumers £770m [...]
UK staff in EU holiday jobs plummets 70 per cent as British tourism pleads for post Brexit help June 14, 2023 The UK travel sector has called on the government to address difficulties employing British staff in EU holiday destinations, due to post-Brexit red tape and rising hiring costs. Trade association ABTA’s report found that the number of UK workers in holiday roles in the European Union has dipped by 69 per cent from 11,970 to [...]
Brexit cited as a major concern as US business confidence in Britain drops June 12, 2023 US business confidence in the UK has fallen for the third consecutive year, with the fallout from Brexit being cited as one of the main reasons for the collapse in confidence. The Transatlantic Confidence Index, published by BritishAmerican Business (BAB) and Bain & Company, today found that the US average business confidence rating for the UK dropped [...]
Government price tag for making tax digital has ballooned, report warns June 12, 2023 The credibility of the government’s plans to allow people to file their tax bills digitally has been undermined by repeated delays and a bill that has increased about sixfold, the National Audit Office (NAO) has said. The official auditors said that the final bill is currently expected to be £1.3bn, an increase of more than [...]
Ex-Autoglass boss to donate £5m to Labour in bid to smash Tories at election June 5, 2023 The former Autoglass chief Gary Lubner is set to donate £5m to Labour to bolster its coffers ahead of the next election battle. The South African-born businessman told the Financial Times he had wanted to help Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer get the party into power “for a long time”. He said: “This is the [...]