Starmer: ‘We’re not going to re-enter the EU – but the trade deal needs to be improved’ May 17, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer said the Brexit deal needed to be improved after the owner of Vauxhall said it will be unable to keep its commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the trade agreement with the European Union. The Labour leader made his comments after one of the world’s largest carmakers [...]
Brexit is ‘threat’ to UK car factories says parent firm of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat May 17, 2023 One of the world’s largest carmakers has said it will be unable to keep their commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the Brexit deal. Stellantis – the parent company of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat – which employs more than 5,000 people in the UK – told a Commons inquiry [...]
UK must solve labour issues and cut red tape to help ease food inflation, lobby group warns May 16, 2023 The UK government must address labour shortages and make sure regulations don’t weigh food producers down to help ease food price inflation, an industry lobby group has warned. Downing Street hosted a Farm to Fork event at No10 with retailers, traders and producers invited, as Rishi Sunak announced greater protections for farmers in future trade [...]
British farmers to be given greater protections in future trade deals May 16, 2023 Farmers are to be given greater protections in future trade deals as part of a package of measures unveiled ahead of a No 10 food summit. Downing Street said the government’s initiatives, as well as putting greater emphasis on farmers’ interests during international trade negotiations, include reviewing supply chains to ensure producers are getting a [...]
A CEO-style figure managing Whitehall would make achieving real reform possible May 16, 2023 Our ministers can't enact reform because they're often blocked by an outdated Whitehall system. We should improve it with a CEO-style figure who would manage departments effectively, writes Tim Knox
Jacob Rees-Mogg brands Sunak’s Brexit bonfire row back ‘pathetically under-ambitious’ May 15, 2023 Jacob Rees-Mogg has attacked the Government’s decision to scale back post-Brexit plans to scrap EU laws as “pathetically under-ambitious”. The former cabinet minister used a speech at the National Conservatism conference on Monday to criticise Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for breaking his promise to complete a “bonfire” of remaining EU-era laws by the end of [...]
Former ballroom dancers light a candle on international trade May 15, 2023 In 2001 the Danish-born couple set up Sebnini, which specialises in luxury fragranced candles and diffusers. It has crowned recent growth in overseas sales with a King’s Award for international trade. The inspiration began when they started bringing candles for their own enjoyment back from Denmark to the UK. Although candles and scent diffusers are [...]
Starmer defends plans to give EU citizens and 16-year-olds the vote despite election ‘rigging’ claims May 15, 2023 Sir Keir Starmer has indicated it is “common sense” to allow EU nationals who have worked for years in the UK to vote in a general election, as Labour considers extending the franchise. The Opposition leader said it “feels wrong” that people who have contributed to Britain’s economy and raised their children in the country [...]
Cost of card payments slammed as ‘startling’ after Mastercard exec defends fees May 15, 2023 A lobby group has today warned of the “startling rise in the cost of accepting cards” for small businesses after the European chief of Mastercard defended the fees it levies on merchants over the weekend. Interchange fees, which are charged to merchants and paid to the card issuing bank and payment network, have climbed sharply [...]
Productive relations with the EU are a win-win for the City and the UK as a whole May 15, 2023 The City can only benefit from improved relations between the UK and the EU. As the leading financial centre, the Square Mile should push for even stronger cooperation with EU partners, writes Chris Hayward