Combine points and salary threshold in new immigration system, MAC report suggests January 28, 2020 Downing Street should introduce a points-based system for skilled workers already with a job offer, when drawing up its post-Brexit immigration system, an influential new report has recommended. The Migration Advisory Committee’s long-awaited review, which the government is expected to lean heavily ahead of bringing forward its immigration bill in March, said the current Tier [...]
Business blocked from immigration discussions after MAC report, Downing Street suggests January 28, 2020 The government has signalled there will be no more formal consultation with business groups on immigration policy as it begins drawing up a new system for the post-Brexit regime. Instead, ministers will rely on a long-awaited report from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) which will be unveiled in Westminster this morning. It is understood [...]
Boris Johnson pledges ‘progress for UK’ as Huawei decision looms January 27, 2020 Boris Johnson has said he will not block “technological progress here in the UK”, in a further signal the government is poised to give Huawei a limited role in the country’s 5G rollout. The Prime Minister, shrugged off criticism from the former foreign affairs select committee chair Tom Tugendhat over the pending decision, insisting that [...]
Labour leadership: Corbyn backs Long-Bailey as ‘our candidate’ January 27, 2020 Outgoing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has appeared to back Rebecca Long-Bailey in the race to succeed him, describing the business secretary as “our candidate for leader”. Corbyn, who has so far avoided endorsing any candidate in the leadership contest, made the remark at a dinner to mark the retirement of former left-wing MP Ronnie Campbell, [...]
Downing Street unveils Taskforce Europe for EU trade talks January 27, 2020 The Prime Minister’s sherpa David Frost will head up trade talks with the EU following the UK’s exit this Friday, Downing Street has confirmed. Frost, who secured the 11th hour withdrawal agreement with Brussels that paved the way for Commons approval for a final deal, will head up a “small and agile” team of around [...]
Chancellor pledges shift on capitalism but promises not to ‘abandon ship’ January 23, 2020 Chancellor Sajid Javid has said a new “balance” between capitalism and people is needed in the UK, but promised that the government is not “abandoning ship”. Speaking at the CBI lunch in Davos today, Javid told business leaders there was a “new chapter” opening under Boris Johnson’s majority government, which yesterday finally passed the key [...]
Hua you gonna call? Why Britain’s 5G infrastructure decision has real implications January 23, 2020 Britain looks set to decide on Chinese titan Huawei’s role in 5G infrastructure next week. Political Editor Catherine Neilan looks at why it matters so much If campaigning is poetry, governing is prose – so goes one of the iron rules of politics. Tough, controversial decisions must be made, and one of Boris Johnson’s first [...]
Johnson’s reshuffle is about more than just jobs – the party is looking for the PM’s philosophy January 23, 2020 As Labour continues the post-election round of self-flagellation in search of a new leader and direction, most returning Tory MPs have only one thing on their mind: the impending reshuffle. Tipped to happen in the first two weeks of February, the only questions are who is likely to get the heave-ho, and whether Dom Cummings’ [...]
‘We’ve done it’ says Boris Johnson, as Brexit bill finally passes parliament January 22, 2020 Boris Johnson has urged the country to put “the rancour and division of the last three years” behind it and “move forwards as one”, following the passage of his Brexit bill. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which was blocked repeatedly by the Commons prior to December’s election, last night finally finished its parliamentary stages and will [...]
Exclusive: Downing Street plots for UK to ‘take up its flag’ at WTO months ahead of agreed time January 22, 2020 Downing Street wants the UK to “take up its flag” at the next WTO meeting months ahead of the time agreed with the EU, City A.M. has learned. Conversations are taking place at Number 10 over whether the UK should sit independently from the EU at the March WTO meeting, the first time it will [...]
