Bumper rise in US takeovers of UK businesses as EU interest wanes September 24, 2018 The value of M&A deals in which US companies took over UK business has more than doubled in the past year, as takeovers by EU-based companies slipped. In total, the value of US takeovers in the year to the end of June this year skyrocketed from £36.8bn in 2016/17 to £79bn the past year, analysis [...]
Brexiters set to reveal an alternative to Chequers September 24, 2018 Pro-Brexit MPs will today throw their weight behind a detailed alternative to the Prime Minister’s ill-fated Chequers proposals. Earlier this month City A.M. revealed that former Brexit secretary David Davis was backing an alternative Brexit plan, which has been produced by trade expert Shanker Singham – head of the International Trade and Competition Unit at [...]
Labour opens new front in party’s war on business September 23, 2018 Labour's party conference is getting underway in Liverpool, and the various factions of the hard-left are already putting on a good show as they compete for control of the agenda. The trade unions used their voting power to block a bid by Momentum activists to force sitting MPs to face reselection challenges; members demanding [...]
Brexit secretary Dominic Raab rejects rumours of snap general election September 23, 2018 Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has ruled out general election in the autumn, saying rumours are "for the birds". The Sunday Times reported this morning that Theresa May's team was plotting a snap general election to shore up public support for her Chequers plan in the wake of her disastrous Salzburg summit in which EU leaders roundly [...]
Labour leadership to ‘back members’ on second Brexit vote September 23, 2018 Jeremy Corbyn and his deputy Tom Watson have said they will back another EU referendum if party members call for one. The Labour leader said he would "adhere to" any decision made at the party's annual conference today in Liverpool. But he told the Sunday Mirror he was not specifically calling for a new vote. “What [...]
Brexit: Sterling falls further as Theresa May says UK-EU negotiations are at an impasse September 21, 2018 Theresa May said Brexit negotiations are at an impasse today, in a speech where she called for “respect” following Brussels’ snub to her Chequers plan yesterday. Her speech accelerated sterling's losses, with the pound dropping from 1.33 against the US dollar at the start of the day to 1.31 following her talk, and from 1.13 to [...]
Sterling falls after EU pounds May’s Chequers deal September 21, 2018 Sterling took a further beating this morning after Theresa May's botched attempts to woo European officials ended in disaster. Following an abrupt rejection of the Prime Minister’s Chequers agreement at Salzburg yesterday, the pound fell 0.6 per cent lower against the dollar and the euro, hitting $1.318 and €1.12 respectively. Read more: May's Brexit plan 'will [...]
Don’t be afraid to finance your firm’s growth through equity or debt, there are options out there for British businesses September 21, 2018 Having successfully run and invested in many businesses myself, an aversion to seeking finance to fund business growth is difficult for me to understand. But according to research highlighted in the British Business Bank’s Small Business Finance Markets report earlier this year, 70 per cent of small and medium sized companies in the UK [...]
Chris Grayling urges the EU to soften its stance on the Irish border to reach a deal with the UK September 21, 2018 Transport secretary Chris Grayling has said there will be no deal with the EU unless it softens its stance on the Irish border. Grayling – who is feeling the pressure after refusing to take responsibility for the rail timetable chaos – came to the Prime Minister's defence after she met with EU leaders in Salzburg where [...]
One referendum fractured the UK – a second could shatter it September 21, 2018 Who wants a second Brexit referendum? Everyone, it would seem these days. The Czech and Maltese Prime Ministers called for one yesterday at the EU summit in Salzburg. According to Brussels gossip, the UK negotiators have been hampered by whispers that it is possible to get fickle Britain to change its mind. And, indeed, Vince Cable [...]