Brexit: Controversial Internal Market Bill to come before parliament TODAY December 7, 2020 Boris Johnson’s controversial Internal Market Bill, that may breach international law, will come back to MPs today after the House of Lords rejected it. Clauses pertaining to Northern Ireland that will breach the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, and therefore international law, if there is no post-Brexit UK-EU trade deal were taken out of the bill by [...]
Sazka backs move to increase age to play UK lottery, in battle with Camelot to run gambling December 7, 2020 Sazka backs move to increase age to play UK lottery, in battle with Camelot to run gambling
Tech body calls on government to commit to digital levelling up December 7, 2020 A leading industry body has called on the government to commit to a digital levelling up after the pandemic highlighted stark regional differences. Tech UK, a trade association for the industry, has today launched a report into how to strengthen the UK’s “Local Digital Capital”. Scrutiny on tech and the availability of it has come [...]
An assassination in Tehran — that’s all about Joe Biden December 7, 2020 To outside weary eyes, the unending conflicts that go on in the Middle East amount to everyday background noise, a part of the paper to ignore amid the deluge of vaccine stories. But to disregard a recent assassination in Tehran would be a mistake. In a plot worthy of the best spy thriller, Dr Mohsen [...]
Pride and produce: Why it’s time to stand up for British farming December 7, 2020 Covid-19 has affected all our lives in some way or other, bringing large parts of our economy to a standstill and giving the government no option but to invest billions to support the NHS, businesses and workers. The farming sector too has been challenged. Huge surges in demand at the peak of the pandemic for [...]
Are supermarkets right to return their business rates relief to the Treasury? December 7, 2020 Are the big supermarkets right to return their business rates relief to the Treasury? Josh Williams, speechwriter and managing director at The Draft, says YES. Doing well in a crisis is a risky business. There is a thin line between those who turn a profit and those who profiteer. The supermarkets have had a good [...]
A new chapter of UK-EU collaboration — and the City stands ready to help December 7, 2020 After long and tortuous negotiations, the UK and European Union are finally reaching the endgame of the transition period. Whatever the outcome, the current global crisis caused by the pandemic has shone a light on how, even post-Brexit, there will be many areas which will require collaboration on both sides of the Channel. The pandemic has [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group eyes last minute rescue of Debenhams December 6, 2020 Billionaire retail tycoon Mike Ashley is reportedly trying to rescue Debenhams in a bid that could save 12,000 jobs. Ashley, who founded retail giant Frasers Group and was previously a major Debenhams shareholder, is reportedly trying to thrash out a deal that would see the retailer valued at more than £200m. The retailer went into [...]
Covid vaccine: UK’s medicines regulator ‘ready’ for no-deal Brexit December 6, 2020 The UK’s medicines regulator is prepared for the prospect of a no-deal Brexit and is determined it will not affect Covid vaccine distribution, according to its chief. Dr June Raine, chief executive at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said the regulator was “prepared forany possible outcome”. Fears that the UK will leave [...]
Scotland’s public spending lead over England and Wales increases December 6, 2020 Scotland’s public spending advantage over England and Wales has extended to record levels, after a raft of new spending announcements by Nicola Sturgeon. Sturgeon recently announced an extension of free school meals and a pay rise for health workers, meaning Scotland now spends £2,000 per person more on public services than England and Wales. This [...]
