Irish minister says the UK’s Brexit plan is “encouraging”, despite admitting desire for details March 16, 2017 Ireland's education minister has backed the UK's approach to Brexit as "encouraging" and stressed commitment to an open border with Northern Ireland, regardless of the outcome of trade negotiations. Fine Gael minister Richard Bruton said he supported a February white paper from Prime Minister Theresa May's ministers, despite admitting that European governments would like to see more detail [...]
Theresa May: “Now is not the time” for a new Scottish independence vote March 16, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May has given her clearest indication yet that she will block plans for a new Scottish independence referendum in the next two years. May has said that "now is not the time" for a second vote, despite Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon's call for a ballot to take place between Autumn 2018 and Spring [...]
More than 150,000 people have signed a petition to block a second Scottish independence vote March 16, 2017 MPs are to consider a debate on a second Scottish independence referendum after 150,000 people signed a petition calling for the vote to be stopped. All petitions gaining more than 100,000 signatures have to be considered for a debate, and parliament's petitions committee will on Tuesday afternoon decide whether to schedule a debate. Holding a debate [...]
A trio of challenger energy firms have come out in favour of a new price cap March 16, 2017 A trio of challengers to the Big Six energy firms have come out in favour of new pricing restrictions as parliament debates market reform. The House of Commons will spend six hours debating the energy market today, with a former Tory minister leading the calls for an intervention. Ex-cabinet office minister John Penrose is calling on [...]
The UK’s former EU commissioner says businesses should be able to contribute more to Brexit plans March 16, 2017 The UK’s former European Commissioner has called on employers to do more to support the development of Brexit plans ahead of the formal launch of negotiations. Lord Hill, who resigned after the referendum, is hosting a London conference for firms next month alongside Sir Paul Marshall, chairman of City hedge fund Marshall Wace. Speaking to City [...]
MPs are demanding an investigation of trading patterns around ONS data March 16, 2017 MPs are demanding the City watchdog probes suspicious market movements around the release of official government statistics. Reports this week have highlighted unusual fluctuations in both foreign exchange and bond markets around the release of economic data, such as that relating to retail sales. One analysis found eight occasions over the last year in which the [...]
International trade secretary Liam Fox: The cabinet is still divided over migration figures March 15, 2017 International trade secretary Liam Fox has revealed the continuing divides at the heart of Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet over migration numbers. Foreign secretary Boris Johnson has previously rejected government policy on migration statistics, arguing student numbers should be excluded. But Downing Street has rejected any change to the way the numbers are compiled. Today, Fox [...]
Philip Hammond has axed his Budget plan to hike National Insurance contributions March 15, 2017 Exactly a week after it was first announced, chancellor Philip Hammond has said he will scrap a Budget plan to increase National Insurance contributions for the self-employed. Hammond only announced the plan last Wednesday, but has been forced into a U-turn by widespread criticism of the decision. Tory MPs have complained of the added burden on small businesses, while others have pointed to a [...]
Donald Tusk accuses UK of making threats over “no deal” Brexit March 15, 2017 European Council president Donald Tusk has hit out over "increasing threats" from the UK over the willingness to quit the EU without agreeing new trade terms. Prime Minister Theresa May has repeatedly stated that "no deal is better than a bad deal" in order to stress her willingness to walk away from Brexit talks. But speaking in [...]
The UK risks missing out on the benefits of driverless cars without government action March 15, 2017 The economic gains from driverless cars could bypass the UK entirely without rapid ministerial action, a House of Lords committee has warned. The UK has sought to be at the forefront of trials for autonomous vehicles, but peers have today said ministers must engage in a more cross-governmental approach. The House of Lords science and technology [...]
