Timeline – Thomas Cook’s humble beginnings to a billion-pound collapse September 23, 2019 Thomas Cook’s insolvency has left hundreds of thousands of people stranded abroad, and cost tens of thousands of jobs in the UK. But it has been a long time coming. With debts ballooning over the last 10 years and a near-miss in 2011, Britain’s oldest travel firm has endured a bumpy ride in recent years [...]
Boris Johnson: Don’t bank on Brexit breakthrough in New York September 23, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson played down hopes of a breakthrough in Brexit negotiations as he jetted off to New York this morning. Johnson, who is set to speak to the German and Irish leaders when in the US, cautioned reporters that the trip may not be “the moment.” Read more: Sadiq Khan fires warning shot [...]
Dominic Raab hints parliament could be suspended for a second time September 22, 2019 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has refused to rule out proroguing parliament for a second time. The Supreme Court, the UK’s highest court, is due to hand down its ruling on two cases lodged against Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament. Read more: Brexit negotiations are moving forward with momentum, says Stephen Barclay One is an [...]
Brexit negotiations ‘moving forward with momentum’, says Barclay September 21, 2019 Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay insists the UK and EU are “moving forward with momentum” toward a Brexit deal after meeting chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Friday. Barclay said the two sides shared a “common purpose” in trying to reach a new agreement and that he had held “serious, detailed discussion” with his counterpart. [...]
EU keen to secure Brexit deal, says Stephen Barclay after ‘detailed’ talks September 20, 2019 The EU and the UK have a “shared desire” to clinch an exit deal before 31 October, Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay said today, though Ireland sounded a negative note on today’s talks. Saying that “no-one” wants a no-deal Brexit, Barclay added that the two sides have held “serious detailed discussions” in a bid to reach [...]
FTSE 100: Stocks muted as investors keep eye on Brexit talks and US-China trade war September 20, 2019 European markets have remained muted this morning as traders keep an eye on US-China relations and Brexit trade talks. European stocks opened quietly this morning, with the FTSE 100 and Dax both starting slightly down. Rolls Royce led the blue-chip fallers as shareholders wobbled over the company’s longer-than-expected problems with its Trent 1000 engines. Read [...]
Pound falls back below $1.25 after earlier rising on Juncker’s Brexit comments September 20, 2019 The sterling has fallen back below the $1.25 barrier despite rising earlier today on hopes of a breakthrough in Brexit negotiations. The pound has fallen by 0.34 per cent to 1.248 on the back of a strong dollar, which in turn weakens the pound. The fall has undone some of the pound’s gains from yesterday [...]
Brexit: UK submits ‘non-papers’ to EU September 19, 2019 The UK has submitted “non-papers” to the EU as part of renewed efforts to break the deadlock over Brexit. Pressure has been growing for Downing Street to put forward written proposals of alternatives to the Irish backstop, while the government has been holding out until the last minute for fear any suggestion would be “trashed” [...]
Barclay urges compromise as he likens Brexit talks to Good Friday Agreement September 19, 2019 Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay has urged negotiators on both sides to compromise, comparing the situation to the background that led to the Good Friday Agreement. Speaking in Madrid today, Barclay called for “creativity and flexibility” to avoid a no deal Brexit by addressing the ongoing problems around the Irish backstop. He quoted Lord Trimble, one [...]
Brexit: UK ‘refusing to leave papers with EU negotiators’ September 17, 2019 Further details have emerged of the UK’s hardball tactics as an air of mutual mistrust continues to dominate Brexit talks while the clock runs down. Despite the European Union’s repeated calls for legally operable text to be presented by the UK before formal negotiations can resume, the UK has so far only shown the Northern [...]