UK is the second largest contributer to EU budget through VAT April 7, 2015 Close to a fifth of VAT contributions that go into the European Union (EU) budget comes from UK taxpayers. This is the second highest of any EU member, according to new research by Business for Britain. The lobby group, which wants the UK to get what it believes would be a fairer deal from the [...]
TV leaders’ debate: Rise of smaller parties “unnerving development for the markets” April 3, 2015 The strong showing from the smaller parties in last night's leaders' debate could add to market jitters over the unpredictable result of the General Election. Markets could become increasingly anxious as the polls continue to indicate there will be no clear winner come polling day. Nick Beecroft, senior market analyst at Saxo Bank, explaining the consequences of [...]
Ignore Brexit scaremongers: We will thrive outside the EU if Britain embraces free trade March 30, 2015 Forget the scaremongering that so often accompanies debate about Britain’s EU membership. Leaving the European Union could be a win-win for the UK. We could have more international influence, create more trade and jobs, and regain sovereign control over our own laws and borders. These are the advantages that would flow from the Global Britain [...]
Brexit would be “disastrous” for UK, says Standard Life chairman March 24, 2015 The chairman of insurer Standard Life has told the CityWeek conference it would be "disastrous for London and the UK" if Britain were to leave the single market. Sir Gerry Grimstone said: Why on earth would we not want to be part of one of the biggest markets in the world? Our whole energy should [...]
Beware the headline costs of Brexit: We’ll thrive if we’re open to the world March 23, 2015 You have to be careful with headlines. They are so often highly selective about the message they want to convey. Take an example from yesterday: The Guardian’s story on a report analysing the costs or benefits to the economy of the UK leaving the EU was headlined “Thinktank tells Ukip departing from EU would cost [...]
Brexit could cost UK 2.2 per cent of GDP without radical free market reform and liberal immigration policy March 23, 2015 Britain's economy could take a hit of up to 2.2 per cent of GDP – or £56bn – by 2030 if it leaves the EU, according to a new report from think tank Open Europe. The report argues that in the worst case scenario, the negative effects of Brexit would not wholly be offset by [...]
Dominic Grieve: Brexit would turn 2m Brits into illegal immigrants March 19, 2015 The former attorney general has launched a scathing attack on those who want Britain out of the EU. Dominic Grieve warned that with the international situation so precarious there were significant dangers to leaving a supranational organisation such as the EU. He added that the free movement of people within was clearly non-negotiable. "The requirements [...]
Brexit will damage the UK economy, say 54pc of small businesses March 18, 2015 The majority of Britain's small businesses think Brexit would damage the UK economy. The Zurich SME Risk Index showed on Wednesday that 54 per cent of small businesses believes British withdrawal from the EU would be bad for the country compared with 33 per cent who want to see Britain leave Europe. The polls continue [...]
Jean-Claude Juncker rules out major EU reform to prevent Brexit March 17, 2015 EU Commission President Jean-Claude Junker hopes to keep what he calls "down to earth Britain" in the EU but has dashed any hopes of major treaty change. Juncker ruled out a major reform of the European treaties to satisfy British demands for reform. Speaking at a conference he insisted he was "in favour of a [...]
Open Europe reveals 100 EU regulations that cost Britain £33bn March 16, 2015 The EU's 100 most draconian regulations are costing Britain over £33bn a year, according new analysis from the think-tank Open Europe. Adding insult to injury, the report reveals the accompanying impact assessment found the costs of a quarter of these regulations outweighed the estimated benefits, but were signed off by the British government all the [...]