Blair says UK must prepare for a second Brexit referendum December 14, 2018 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is to say that the UK and EU should prepare for a second referendum because parliament is unlikely to be able to agree on a Brexit deal. Blair will say it is perverse that the UK and the EU are preparing for a potentially economically damaging Brexit without any deal, [...]
US Senate passes resolution blaming Saudi Crown Prince for Khashoggi death December 14, 2018 The US Senate has passed a resolution on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, putting the blame firmly at the feet of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In a rare move against the wishes of US President Donald Trump, who has maintained the Crown Prince's innocence to date, seven Republicans joined Democrat lawmakers [...]
Editor’s Notes: Wherever Brexit takes us, let’s hope it’s not Norway December 14, 2018 Theresa May remains in office, and all her difficulties remain with her. By surviving Wednesday night’s vote, she has secured a grace period of 12 months during which time she cannot be challenged again. However, Labour MPs are determined to call a parliamentary vote of no confidence in the government, which could destroy the Tory-DUP [...]
Mark Kleinman: Come in Houston, just as UK audit reforms bite December 14, 2018 Talk about a hospital pass. Richard Houston, Deloitte’s consulting chief, might be forgiven for feeling a bit like Theresa May this week. Houston’s is the solitary name on a ballot open to partners at the Big Four accountancy firm’s UK operation as it seeks to elect a successor to David Sproul, its chief executive for [...]
Theresa May delays crunch Brexit vote until January December 13, 2018 MPs won’t get a vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal until January, Downing Street have confirmed. The withdrawal agreement was set to be put before Parliament on Tuesday, but was pulled the day before as May faced a growing rebellion within her own party. The Prime Minister has been in conversations with EU leaders since [...]
Sports Direct takes profit hit from ‘challenging’ House of Fraser acquisition December 13, 2018 Sports Direct has posted a 27 per cent drop in half-year profits today, as costs from the acquisition of beleaguered department store chain House of Fraser weighed on the group’s balance books. Shares in Sports Direct slumped 12.7 per cent this afternoon, with the retailer rushing out an urgent clarification this afternoon after Mike Ashley said [...]
Mike Ashley’s high street gamble raises more questions than it answers December 13, 2018 Ten years ago in a Mayfair casino Mike Ashley made £1.3m on a single spin of the roulette wheel. His betting exploits, like those of fellow retail mogul Sir Philip Green, have highlighted the brash billionaire’s propensity to take risks. But over the course of 2018 Ashley has been making another type of gamble, not [...]
Theresa May warns not to expect a quick Brexit breakthrough as she arrives in Brussels December 13, 2018 Theresa May played down the chances of a Brexit breakthrough as she arrived in Brussels for the latest EU summit. Speaking the day after surviving a vote of no confidence from disgruntled Tory MPs, the Prime Minister said she heard “loud and clear” why the 117 who voted against her are unhappy with her leadership. [...]
Trump denies asking former lawyer Michael Cohen to break the law December 13, 2018 Donald Trump has denied directing his former lawyer Michael Cohen to break the law following Cohen’s sentencing for making hush-money payments to aid Trump’s election campaign. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to the violation of campaign law and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in [...]
Mike Ashley slams Debenhams for rejecting his £40m loan December 13, 2018 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has launched a scathing attack on Debenhams today, claiming that the beleaguered department store giant has rejected a £40m interest-free emergency loan. In a letter addressed to Debenhams boss Sergio Bucher, the billionaire Sports Direct owner suggests that without the money the company "has zero chance of survival". Ashley, who controls [...]