More data points to UK economy avoiding recession but experts urge Hunt to prevent investment cliff edge at March budget March 1, 2023 The prospect of the UK avoiding a recession after a batch of better than expected recent data has propelled business confidence higher, a closely watched survey out today shows. Optimism among company leaders jumped 11 points to minus 17 this month, shifting it back to levels seen when the government launched Plan B measures to [...]
The Notebook: Neil Bennett on the Bank’s lost credibility, corporation tax, and Scotland the timid March 1, 2023 The Notebook is a place where interesting people note interesting things. Today it’s our fortnightly columnist Neil Bennett, the global co-CEO of communications and strategic advisory group H/Advisors, on the Bank of England’s forecasting record, corporation tax plans, and a new must-see play Cast your mind back to last November, when Huw Pill, Chief Economist [...]
Brexit-backer Arron Banks wins appeal in Carole Cadwalladr libel case February 28, 2023 Brexit-backer Arron Banks has won an appeal in his libel lawsuit against investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr. The UK’s Court of Appeal today said Cadwalladr should pay libel damages to Banks over claims she made in a 2019 Ted Talk concerning the Brexit campaigner’s purported links to Russia. Today’s decision saw the Court of Appeal overturn [...]
FTSE 100 close: Ocado drags London premier index into red as pound strengthens after Sunak clinches Brexit deal February 28, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 lost ground again today, held lower by middle class favourite and online supermarket Ocado tumbling after it said losses have widened. The capital’s premier index fell 0.74 per cent to 7,876.29 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, was broadly [...]
Brexit deal: Sunak says Northern Ireland in ‘unbelievably special position’ with access to both UK AND EU markets February 28, 2023 Rishi Sunak insisted that his new Brexit deal for Northern Ireland addressed the concerns of unionists despite the “small and limited” role for European Union law and its court – while giving Belfast an “unbelievably special position”. The Prime Minister, who was visiting Northern Ireland to sell the deal secured with the European Union, said [...]
Sunak Brexit deal: King Charles meeting with EU’s von der Leyen ‘not unusual’ – Cleverly February 28, 2023 Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has rejected claims that the King was being drawn into political controversy over his meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Cleverly denied ministers were politicising the monarchy following the meeting between the King and the Brussels official at Windsor Castle, which coincided with the agreement of a new [...]
The Notebook: Andy Silvester on the City’s ecosystem, a cricket charity and ‘no bullsh*t’ books February 28, 2023 As a child, I was fascinated by trains – not necessarily how diesel engines worked, but how the various moving parts of a train system worked together. Alas, the space limits of a terraced house in south London meant that my dream to build an entire train set across the top floor were thwarted. The [...]
Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal could be the making of the Prime Minister February 27, 2023 The Brexit deal signed by Rishi Sunak today may well be the moment that he is able to take charge of his party Rishi Sunak is a funny old Prime Minister. He was vaulted up the political ranks almost by accident; his accession to Chancellor coming years before he could reasonably have expected it as [...]
Explainer: What’s inside Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland deal? February 27, 2023 As you’re reading this, Rishi Sunak and Ursula von der Leyen are getting ready for their joint presser in Windsor after their lunch-time “final talks” on the new deal for the Northern Ireland protocol. Sunak will then bring the news to his MPs with a statement in the Commons. A senior government source has confirmed [...]
Brexit deal done: Rishi Sunak signs breakthrough agreement with EU over Northern Ireland protocol February 27, 2023 Rishi Sunak has signed a breakthrough deal with the European Union over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland and will now seek to win the backing of unionists and Tory Eurosceptics. The Prime Minister and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen finalised the long-awaited agreement to ease the trading issues created by the Northern Ireland [...]