UK looks to slash tariffs on Scotch whisky exports in Australia trade deal June 2, 2021 The UK is looking to slash tariffs on Scotch whisky exports in a potential Australia trade deal, according to the Department for International Trade. International trade secretary Liz Truss has made it a priority to slash the five per cent tariffs on Scotch whisky in the deal to increase opportunities for domestic distillers. Australia is [...]
Boris Johnson: England still on track to shed Covid restrictions on 21 June June 2, 2021 Boris Johnson has today maintained England is on track to further ease Covid-19 restrictions on 21 June, despite recent warnings from several government scientific advisers. However, the Prime Minister also warned it was too early to make a call as it was not clear if the country’s vaccination rollout was thorough enough to protect people [...]
Government urged to avoid ‘stigma’ on public transport over face masks after 21 June June 2, 2021 Any relaxation of face mask rules by the government on 21 June must include public transport to avoid the sector facing long-term stigma, according to a transport business body. Tom Bartosak-Harlow, from the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), told PA that “we need to see public transport moving at the same pace as the rest [...]
CPTPP trading bloc nations agree to allow UK to start joining process June 2, 2021 Member nations of the 11-country Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have agreed to allow the UK to begin the process of joining the trading bloc, a Japanese minister has announced. Japanese economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told local reporters today that he welcomed the start of the ascension process, after a meeting of governments [...]
Starmer says end of restrictions will let him ‘open up’ to the public in Piers Morgan interview June 1, 2021 Sir Keir Starmer has claimed that the end of Covid restrictions will allow him to “open up” and show his true self to the electorate, after claims he is too stiff and robotic in public. When answering questions on his low personal popularity ratings, the Labour leader told ITV in an hour-long interview tonight to [...]
Number 10 indicates England still on track for 21 June shedding of Covid restrictions June 1, 2021 Downing Street has today suggested England is still on track to shed its Covid-19 restrictions on 21 June, despite warnings from scientific advisers that rising case numbers should lead to a delay. A Number 10 spokesperson said that Boris Johnson’s comments last Thursday, that there is nothing “currently in the data” to suggest a delay to the [...]
UK missed out on £110bn of services exports after Brexit referendum, say wonks June 1, 2021 The UK has lost out on more than £110bn of services exports as a result of the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to a new study from Birmingham’s Aston University. Academics said services exports were £113bn lower between 2016 and 2019 than they would have been if the UK had not voted to leave the EU. [...]
Boris Johnson urges Canada to buy more British cheese in new agreement May 31, 2021 Boris Johnson has called on Canada to strike a new commerce deal to import more British cheese in a bid to boost the UK’s dairy industry. The Prime Minister said yesterday that Justin Trudeau’s government has been unwilling to open the country up to more British dairy imports in a bid to protect its own [...]
Rishi Sunak calls on Biden to strike deal for global tech tax May 31, 2021 Rishi Sunak has called on Joe Biden to strike a deal on taxing the US’ tech giants as a part of a larger reform on international business taxes. Sunak is set to hold a G7 meeting of finance ministers later this week in the lead up to the G7 summit in Cornwall next week, which [...]
Domestic UK Covid vaccine passports set to be scrapped May 31, 2021 The government is set to drop plans to introduce mandatory Covid vaccine passports for live events. People working on a Michael Gove-led review of mandatory vaccine certification for things like sporting events and festivals increasingly believe they will not happen, after serious backlash from Tory MPs. A source close to the vaccine passports review told [...]
