No Brexit karma in Delhi: Whisky and visas increasingly complicate £27bn trade deal between UK and India October 18, 2022 The 24 October deadline set by Boris Johnson for finalising the UK–India trade deal will be missed after both parties have hit a roadblock in discussions. Although a detailed reason hasn’t been given by both sides, sticking points include a steep import duty on British whisky for sale in India, and demands for more visas for [...]
Eurostar cancels Paris-London services as strikes hit France October 18, 2022 Eurostar has cancelled trains between Paris and London as nation-wide strikes hit France. The train operator was forced to axe today’s 11.13am and 4.13pm services to London as well as the 1.31pm and 7.01pm trains to Paris, as thousands of French transport workers walked out in a dispute over pay. “Travellers booked on a cancelled [...]
Uncertainty over timing of UK announcement of Big Bang 2.0 financial services reforms October 17, 2022 There is now uncertainty over when the UK will unveil its post-Brexit changes to EU financial services regulations amid the current government turmoil. The Treasury said last month that former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng would announce the long-awaited reforms, which will include changing the EU’s Solvency II directive on insurance firms, in October. This target may [...]
From new duties to volatile pricing: Brexit is making life in Europe impossible for UK firms October 17, 2022 The volatile pricing and availability of materials, accompanied by widespread disruption to global supply chains are just a few of the challenges faced by many UK businesses post-Brexit. Those trading within the European Union have suffered a massive upheaval due to the loss of access to the EU’s present free trade agreements. Following the end [...]
Uncertainty is a tax in itself which is damaging Britain on the world stage October 17, 2022 Every now and then the normally dry subject of taxation makes it onto the front pages. It’s a short-lived chance for professionals like me to air our long-held views on the oddities, distortions and iniquities of the system: its head-scratching complexity and the patches of unfairness – between social classes, regions and age groups – [...]
Biden says Truss tax cuts were ‘a mistake’ and U-turn was ‘predictable’ October 16, 2022 US President Joe Biden has criticised Liz Truss’ tax plans as “a mistake” and said he “wasn’t the only one” who thought so. The President said the Prime Minister’s embarrassing U-turns were “predictable” when he was asked about it during a visit to an ice cream shop in Portland, Oregon. Biden said earlier this year [...]
Titanic Technology, where the fun never Ends October 14, 2022 It was Benjamin Franklin who said: “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. In addition to that I can add another certainty – the lack of quality IT developers in the Financial Technology landscape. Blessed is the geek, for they shall inherit if not the earth, then a hefty salary, possible [...]
A global London campaign just the tonic for Mayor-PM relations October 13, 2022 In the run-up to Liz Truss’ election by the Conservative party as Prime Minister, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wrote in these pages that it was time to turn a new leaf in the capital’s relationship with Downing Street. It is no secret that he and Johnson didn’t see eye to eye – clashing [...]
UK risks exodus of science firms with hard-line immigration stance October 13, 2022 Science and technology businesses are bailing out of the UK amid strict limitations on visas for oversees talent. One in six firms have plans to relocate abroad over the next three years, according to research by consultancy Ridge and Partners, with nearly a third of businesses polled being hit by the government’s visa limits. Liz [...]
Truss has picked the wrong fight: the problem is inflation, not lack of growth October 13, 2022 In her speech to what was left of Tory party conference, Liz Truss promised that her priority was “growth, growth, growth”. The events of the past week have underlined why that is the wrong priority, at the wrong time, by the wrong prime minister. Much has been made about the prime minister’s ideological convictions but [...]