Britain will not foot the bill for Greek loan, says George Osborne: We’re “not in the euro” July 14, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne laid down the gauntlet to his Eurozone peers yesterday and said that the UK would refuse to put £1bn towards a short-term loan to Greece. If Brussels insists the UK foots part of the bill, it would threaten relations between British and EU leaders as Osborne gears up to renegotiate the country’s [...]
Businesses are scared to speak out against Brexit July 13, 2015 Even though two thirds of UK companies believe a so-called Brexit would be damaging for them, only seven per cent would speak out in favour of staying in the EU, new research has found. Read more: Sajid Javid questions CBI stance on European Union membership Close to two thirds of the FTSE 350 company secretaries surveyed [...]
#ThisIsACoup: Markets may be happy about the new Greek deal, but Twitter really isn’t July 13, 2015 The markets may be happy that at long last a deal has been agreed between Greece and its creditors, but on social media the environment is rather more frosty. As the details of the three-year bailout emerge – a deal that European Council president Donald Tusk said had "strict conditions" – the FTSE, Cac [...]
Brexit: German businesses based in the UK don’t want Britain to go July 9, 2015 German businesses based in the UK have called on David Cameron to avoid a British exit from the European Union (EU). In a letter to the Prime Minister, chancellor and business secretary, Bernd Atensttaedt, chairman of German Industry UK, which represents 100 chief executives of industrial companies in the UK with a German majority shareholding [...]
Ukip leader Nigel Farage gets tough on Brexit: “David Cameron’s attempts at renegotiation are embarrassing” July 3, 2015 “By all accounts, Cameron got to say something at the renegotiation summit when the coffee was served. And as soon as he started to speak, Hollande went out for a pee, which shows you how seriously it was taken,” scoffs Ukip leader Nigel Farage. The renegotiation summit to which Farage refers took place last week [...]
Richard Branson: UK would be better off in Eurozone June 28, 2015 Britain would be better off in the Eurozone, billionaire investor Sir Richard Branson has said. “I think that if we were part of the euro right now, our currency would be a lot cheaper,” the Virgin founder said in an interview with the BBC yesterday, adding: “Great Britain would be doing that much better in [...]
EU referendum: London Mayor Boris Johnson wants public to vote for an exit June 28, 2015 London Mayor Boris Johnson has hinted he is in favour of voting “no” in the EU membership referendum. Read more: London mayor Boris Johnson calls on Cameron to drive through EU reform Ultimately, he says he wants the UK to remain in the bloc, but hopes voting to leave will shock EU leaders into [...]
From Tesco and the Northern Powerhouse to self-control and politeness: Here’s what got us talking this week June 26, 2015 There was a shocking attack in France. In Brussels, deadlines came and went and came (again). And somewhere in social media land, Taylor Swift became the Queen of everything, including Apple. Here's what got us talking this week 1) When it comes to happiness, south London is best Yup, if you're among the [...]
How important is the EU to UK trade? June 26, 2015 The European Union is larger than any individual economy in the world, surpassing the USA, China and other Bric economies. Yet, the growth of non-EU economies has outpaced the growth of EU economies, largely driven by the growth of these Bric economies, meaning the EU’s share of global GDP has fallen from 30 per cent [...]
Italy and Greece are sending 40,000 migrants to other EU countries, but the UK has opted out June 26, 2015 EU leaders have agreed to send 40,000 migrants from Italy and Greece to other member states over the next two years, but the UK has opted out of taking them. Read more: London attracted a third of the UK’s half-a-million new migrants The number due to be sent to each country has not yet [...]