Peers push back on Brexit bill in largely symbolic move October 20, 2020 The House of Lords has voted against Boris Johnson's Internal Market Bill, which seeks to breach the Brexit withdrawal treaty if the UK does not get a trade deal with the EU.
Brexit: EU not serious about restarting trade talks, says minister October 20, 2020 The EU’s offer to restart broken down Brexit trade talks amounted only to “lip service”, according to a UK business minister. Nadhim Zahawi said today that the UK still wanted a Brexit trade deal, despite Boris Johnson refusing to come back to the negotiating table, but that talks would not continue until Brussels treats Britain [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for 10pm Covid curfew to be scrapped October 20, 2020 Sadiq Khan has called for England’s 10pm curfew to be scrapped in a bid to save London’s ailing hospitality industry. The mayor of London said the curfew made no sense now that household mixing was banned indoors as a part of the latest Tier 2 restrictions placed on the capital last week. “Immediately scrapping the [...]
Rishi Sunak: Circuit breaker would be ‘enormously damaging’ to economy October 20, 2020 A new circuit breaker lockdown would be “enormously damaging” for the economy and the government will continue to pursue a localised Covid approach, according to chancellor Rishi Sunak. Sunak told MPs this morning that a two to three week lockdown, which Labour is recommending, would cause “unnecessary pain and suffering on those in parts of [...]
Brexit: EU vows to ‘intensify’ trade talks to get UK back to negotiating table October 19, 2020 EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said he is available to “intensify” trade talks, in a bid to get the UK back to the negotiating table, just moments before Michael Gove told MPs that Brussels needed to “fundamentally change” if a deal is to be done. Barnier also said the EU would also prepare [...]
Number 10: Manchester hospitals will be soon overrun without Tier 3 restrictions October 19, 2020 Downing Street has said Manchester’s hospitals are weeks away from using up all their available intensive care beds if Covid infections continue at their current rate in a bid to ramp up pressure on Andy Burnham to accept Tier 3 restrictions. The Prime Minister’s spokesman told a group of journalists today that Covid cases in [...]
Brexit: EU needs to show ‘maturity’ in trade talks, says minister October 19, 2020 The EU has been immature and inflexible in trade negotiations but the door is “still ajar” for a Brexit trade deal, according to a cabinet minister. Boris Johnson said on Friday that the UK was finished negotiating with the EU unless it is willing to intensify talks and make key concessions. His words were seen [...]
London’s new cycle lanes are causing traffic chaos, says transport secretary October 19, 2020 An influx of new cycle lanes in London and across the country has led to increased traffic congestion, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps has written to local council leaders, warning them that badly designed road closures and new cycle lanes were causing havoc for communities and that he “would not be prepared to [...]
Retail giants urge Sunak to U-turn on abolishing VAT refund for tourists October 19, 2020 A group of 16 UK retail giants has urged Rishi Sunak to U-turn on his plan to abolish the VAT refund for international visitors from next year. The group – which includes the heads of Paul Smith, Ted Baker, The White Company, Fortnum and Mason and Charles Tyrwhitt – said abolishing the VAT refund would [...]
Boris Johnson urges businesses to speed up Brexit preparations October 18, 2020 Boris Johnson will speak to business leaders this week to urge them to ramp up preparations for the UK’s exit from the EU single market and customs union next year as the prospect of a no-deal Brexit begins to look more likely. HM Revenue and Customs will contact 200,00 traders who deal with the EU [...]
