UK draws up plans for £6bn science programme if EU blocks entry to Horizon February 6, 2022 The UK will spend £6bn over the next three years on a new science fund if the EU continues to shut out Britain from the Horizon Europe research programme. Brussels agreed to let the UK join the seven-year €95bn (£80.4bn) Horizon programme post-Brexit, however its entry has been blocked in the wake of a row [...]
Exclusive: As ‘hawkish’ Liz Truss threatens Putin with sanctions, questions emerge about UK’s enforcement agency February 6, 2022 As the West, led by President Biden, threatens Russia with far-reaching sanctions in case Putin does order an invasion of Ukraine, questions are raised about the UK’s sanctions enforcement agency. As it turns out, it has only handed out six fines in the last six years. In fact, the six fines by the agency, OFSI, [...]
Scandal-hit Johnson remains ‘very positive’ despite nine votes of no confidence February 5, 2022 Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has suggested those who are against the prime minister are ‘Remainers’ and that scandal-hit Johnson remains “very positive”. It comes as a ninth Tory MP, Nick Gibb, handed in a letter of no confidence in the prime minister to the 19922 Committee last night, after MP Aaron Bell confirmed he had [...]
Yet another Tory MP submits a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson February 4, 2022 Yet another Tory MP has handed in a letter of no confidence in prime minister Boris Johnson, confirming reports late last month. The latest submittal brings the total number of letters from within Johnson’s own party to eight. Aaron Bell, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme cited the so-called partygate allegations and Johnson’s handling of the debacle as [...]
Court attempts to end Brexit chaos in Northern Ireland by ordering immediate end to end of food checks February 4, 2022 The High Court intervened in the ongoing Brexit chaos in Northern Ireland this afternoon after a judge issued an interim order suspending a decision by Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots to direct a stop to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports. Mr Justice Colton said he was making the temporary direction until a judicial review [...]
The ship’s taking on water, but Bitcoin could be the lifeboat we all need February 4, 2022 Jason Deane rounds up the crypto week, but has stark warnings over what lies ahead for UK wages.
Nine-in-ten Brits don’t want financial services regulations to promote ‘global competitiveness’ February 4, 2022 Nine-in-ten Brits do not think the government should change financial services regulations to promote “international competitiveness” post-Brexit, according to a new survey. An Opinium survey – commissioned by an alliance of 37 charities and public interest groups – found 91 per cent of Brits would prefer the government to “focus on the future stability of [...]
Disbelief and outrage across EU as UK says it won’t do anything to stop end to Brexit food checks February 3, 2022 European media responded with shock and disbelief this morning after a minister in Northern Ireland ordered to end checks on food in his country and the UK declared it won’t do anything about it. Moreover, Northern Ireland First Minister Paul Givan is expected to announce his resignation by the end of the week, potentially later [...]
Northern Ireland first minister Paul Givan resigns February 3, 2022 Northern Ireland first minister Paul Givan has resigned in opposition to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol. Givan’s departure will also mean that Sinn Féin leader Michelle O’Neill will lose her position as deputy first minister as a part of the rules surrounding Northern Ireland’s power sharing agreement. It comes after environment minister Edwin Poots told [...]
Pubs face inflationary costs of over 10 per cent as bosses call for tax relief February 3, 2022 Pubs are facing inflationary business costs of more than 10 per cent as publicans battle spiralling energy and labour costs. More than two in three pubs told an industry survey they were facing such substantial cost increases. Venues are facing skyrocketing energy bills while a labour crunch has seen wages of bartenders and chefs leap [...]