John McDonnell: Labour will nationalise railways within five years September 22, 2018 Britain's railways could be taken back into public hands within five years if Labour wins the next general election, according to shadow chancellor John McDonnell. Ahead of Labour’s party conference which starts tomorrow, John McDonnell told the BBC he was looking at the possibility of breaking clauses in contracts to allow rail franchises to be [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Africa deserves more optimism and attention from City investors September 21, 2018 In Johannesburg last month, the Prime Minister set a new ambition for the UK to be the largest G7 foreign direct investor in Africa by 2022. Achieving that ambition won’t be easy, but for UK investors who are prepared to change their attitudes and look beyond the easy choices, there are great opportunities. I was privileged [...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plan ‘will not work’ says EU in devastating blow to PM September 20, 2018 Theresa May was dealt a humiliating blow on Thursday as EU leaders dismissed her flagship Chequers proposal and sent her back to the drawing board. In a dramatic day in Salzburg, European Commission President Donald Tusk plunged the knife into the UK's Brexit offer, saying bluntly: "It will not work". The EU leaders gathered in Austria [...]
David Davis: ‘Antagonistic’ Germans want to punish UK for Brexit September 20, 2018 David Davis today branded Germany an "antagonist" as he accused the European powerhouse of wanting to punish the UK for Brexit. In a speech in Munich, the former Brexit secretary launched a scathing attack on the UK's "continental friends", singling out German politicians for wanting to see Britain fail after it leaves the EU. Read more: [...]
Don’t let Brexit or political differences create a hostile office environment September 20, 2018 Facebook is “a political monoculture that’s intolerant of different views”, according to a post from Brian Amerige on an internal online group at the social media company called “FBers for Political Diversity”. Amerige claims that although the US company presents itself as welcoming all political perspectives, in reality anyone with a view that opposed left-leaning [...]
Who could be against a war on plastic? Lots of people, actually September 20, 2018 The Conservative party conference is just around the corner, and with the news so often dominated by Brexit, it’s a good moment to consider some of the more domestic policy ideas we’re sure to hear about. On plastic, for example. Earlier this year, Theresa May used a big speech on environmental issues to launch a [...]