Brexit: Minister dares May to sack him for calling no deal a ‘disaster’ January 24, 2019 A business minister has dared Theresa May to sack him as he publicly agreed with claims a ‘no deal’ Brexit would be a “disaster” for industry. Richard Harrington, minister for industry and energy, said he was “delighted” to read comments from Airbus chief Tom Enders on Thursday laying into the government’s handling of Brexit. Enders claimed [...]
Second referendum plan pulled by MPs as they blame Jeremy Corbyn for a lack of support January 24, 2019 MPs campaigning for another EU referendum have dropped plans to push for a Commons vote on the plan, blaming Jeremy Corbyn’s lack of support. A cross-party group, led by Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, used a press conference outside Parliament to announce a proposed amendment to Theresa May’s Brexit motion had been abandon. The amendment, which [...]
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier rules out time-limited Irish backstop in radio interview January 24, 2019 Michel Barnier has ruled out putting a time limit on the so-called Irish backstop as part of Britain’s revised withdrawal deal from the EU. The bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator said a time-limited backstop would defeat its purpose as a guarantee against a hard border in Ireland. “We have to maintain the credibility of this reassurance,” [...]
Big tech firms like Google, Amazon and Facebook spent a record amount on political lobbying last year January 24, 2019 Google, Amazon and Facebook's bill for lobbying the US government hit record highs last year, as life under the Trump administration put big tech firms in the spotlight. Google parent firm Alphabet said it spent $21.2m (£16.3m) on political lobbying costs in the US last year, topping its previous all-time high of $18.2m achieved in 2012. It [...]
DEBATE: Following reports of the Dyson relocation, is Singapore the new go-to place for tech? January 24, 2019 Following reports of the Dyson relocation, is Singapore the new go-to place for tech? Elsa Hu, director of Asia at GP Bullhound, says YES. Singapore has long been the headquarters of choice for Southeast Asian tech startups, due to its mature business ecosystem, proximity to two of the world’s booming economies, huge talent pool, and attitude [...]
The Franco-German push for EU integration may backfire January 24, 2019 Amid the turmoil of the Brexit process, it is perhaps understandable that British eyes have not been focused much on recent developments within the European Union. After all, nobody is particularly interested in changes in a club when their membership is about to lapse. But just as we are preparing to set the seal on our [...]
The US government shutdown drags on, but London never closes for business January 24, 2019 As the longest government shutdown in US history rumbles on – sparked by Donald Trump’s insistence to build a border wall that Democrats in Congress have refused to grant funding for – Wall Street and Silicon Valley have been left in serious IPO limbo. Staff at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have not worked [...]
Davos: Philip Hammond declares Britain ‘great place to do business’ after Brexit January 24, 2019 Chancellor Philip Hammond is to make a pitch for the UK’s post-Brexit business credentials in Davos today, as he announces £100m investment for British innovation. Hammond will tell business leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum: “Britain is a great place to do business. And we are determined, as we leave the EU, to make [...]
Airbus chief blasts Brexit ‘disgrace,’ issues dire warning on no-deal scenario January 24, 2019 Airbus chief executive Tom Enders has issued yet another stark warning about the effect a no-deal Brexit would have on the aviation giant’s UK business. In a video message, Enders urged Britain’s politicians not to listen to “the Brexiteers’ madness which asserts that, because we have huge plants here, we will not move and we [...]
Sterling rises as traders buy into soft Brexit noises January 23, 2019 Traders banked on the likelihood of a ‘no deal’ Brexit diminishing as sterling leapt to a two month high against the dollar on Wednesday The pound peaked at 1.3079 against the US currency as noises from both Westminster and Davos suggested a softer Brexit was likely. In London, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held a meeting with [...]