The government must resist micro-managing our EU exit December 10, 2018 Unlike many commentators, I believe that a no-deal Brexit still very possible. It is the default as the clock ticks, and parliament must vote for government-backed legislation to change path. For all the threats about a second referendum, the Conservatives would implode if they rowed back on delivering Brexit. And as regrettable as a no-deal [...]
Theresa May to reopen Brexit negotiations amid backstop row December 10, 2018 Theresa May’s authority has suffered yet another blow as the government scrapped the planned vote on her controversial Brexit deal. In a chaotic day in Westminster, the Prime Minister pulled the vote planned for Tuesday evening after realising she was in line for a huge defeat at the hands of her own party. May is set to [...]
Mayday: PM delays crucial parliament vote on her Brexit deal December 10, 2018 Theresa May has confirmed a highly-anticipated vote on her Brexit deal will be delayed, following threats of a huge rebellion from within the Conservative Party. The Prime Minister confirmed the delay in the House of Commons this afternoon, saying she believed she could still win a vote after winning further reassurance on the Irish backstop. [...]
Here’s how politicians and markets are reacting to parliament’s Brexit vote being pulled December 10, 2018 Reports that Prime Minister Theresa May has pulled a highly-anticipated parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal have sent shockwaves through Westminster and into wider business world. Sources told City A.M. tomorrow’s so-called meaningful vote, in which May faced almost-certain defeat, has been dropped after over 100 Conservative MPs vowed to vote against the government. The [...]
With our North American friends, we are proving that trade is not a zero-sum game December 10, 2018 All eyes will be on Westminster tomorrow as parliament prepares for a crunch vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal. We must remember, however, that the world is not stopping for Brexit, even if it continues to dominate the headlines back at home. That is why I am today starting my first overseas visit since taking [...]
ITV pulls the plug on Brexit debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn December 7, 2018 ITV has joined the BBC in pulling out of hosting this weekend’s proposed Brexit debate, with the Conservatives and Labour again unable to agree on how to structure the televised debate. ITV said it “invited the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition to appear in an ITV programme this Sunday evening, and we have been [...]
AJ Bell shares rocket by more than a third on stock market debut December 7, 2018 Investment platform AJ Bell saw its share price rise dramatically on its first day of trading, having initially been valued at £651m. The company announced last month that they would debut on the stock market today and earlier this week set its offer price at 160p per share. But investors sent the share price up by [...]
‘Big Short’ investor Steve Eisman bets against UK banks December 7, 2018 Investor Steve Eisman who is known for his prediction of the 2008 financial crisis has said he is betting against three UK banks. Eisman, who was played by actor Steve Carell in the film The Big Short, said he thinks the British market will go down because of Brexit. He said that he bet against [...]
The NHS faces another winter crisis, but politicians continue to fail to learn the lessons of public sector failures December 7, 2018 On Thursday, the British Medical Association warned that NHS England is likely to be 10,000 beds short over the coming winter. The next few months are possibly going to be the “the worst on record”, as projections for A&E admissions are looking to increase by 100,000 this year alone. It’s remarkable that the healthcare season [...]
Editor’s Notes: The Bank of England must protect its independence December 7, 2018 Former chair of the US Federal Reserve Janet Yellen once said “the principle that a central bank should be independent from the government is unassailable.” Donald Trump probably thinks unassailable means you can’t sell it, but even if he understood Yellan’s point he seems determined to ignore it. His broadsides against Fed policy are quite [...]