Berry Bros lifted as Brits develop taste for fine wines during lockdown November 14, 2021 Berry Bros & Rudd, the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, has benefitted from Brits developing a taste for fine wines during lockdown. Established in the 17th century Berry Bros’ flagship store has been located on St James’s Street since 1689 and has supplied the royal family since the reign of King George III. Its not [...]
Supply chain crisis could last until 2023, UK ports warn November 14, 2021 The supply chain crisis could last up until 2023, Associated British Ports (ABP) – the UK’s biggest port operator – has warned. ABP’s chief executive Henrik Pedersen, told the Sunday Times: “When you have congested container ports around the world, it takes a very long time to turn it around. We have a shortage of [...]
Brexit: ‘Complete instability’ looms in Northern Ireland as ‘tough guy’ approach is not helping, warns Irish minister November 12, 2021 A “tough guy” approach when it comes to Northern Ireland will lead to “disaster”, Irish minister for European affairs Thomas Byrne warned this morning. Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme if there is a serious danger of a full-scale trade war, Byrne said: “There is a serious danger of complete instability in Northern Ireland [...]
Today in London: Latest attempt to find breakthrough in Brexit talks on Northern Ireland Protocol November 12, 2021 The latest round of talks with the EU to rehash the UK’s post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland are due to begin in London. The Government’s chief negotiator to the EU, Lord Frost, is to meet European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic on Friday, in the latest round of talks about the Northern Ireland Protocol. In [...]
‘Acute’ staff shortages and rising energy bills force most businesses to hike their prices November 12, 2021 Amid ‘acute’ staff shortages and the rising cost of fuel and energy, most businesses are increasing their prices. A survey of 1,000 firms showed that four out of five increased the price of their goods or services in the past year. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said its study indicated that nine out of [...]
UK to try and close trade deals with individual US states after White House talks stall November 11, 2021 The UK will now prioritise closing trade deals with individual US states like California and New York, after negotiations with the White House stalled earlier this year. Trade minister Penny Mordaunt said today that while “we want a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the UK and the US” that “much of my time will be [...]
Activist fund Gatemore buys stake in DFS and warns of buyout vulnerability November 10, 2021 Gatemore Capital management has bought a stake in DFS and told its fund investors that the sofa chain is undervalued by public markets and thus ripe for a private equity bid. Adding to its roster of listed British retailers, which includes Moss Bros, French Connection and Superdry, the activist fund told investors last month that [...]
The virtual metaverse requires very real-world regulation November 10, 2021 Regulators tend only to emerge in the spotlight of public scrutiny when something goes wrong. FCA bosses have spent the last couple of years being wheeled in front of Select Committees to explain the colossal cock-ups that led to the London Capital & Finance minibond scandal – including its former boss Andrew Bailey, who despite [...]
Ireland begins reactivating no-deal contingency plans as potential unravelling of Brexit accord looms November 10, 2021 The Irish Government has begun reactivating no-deal contingency planning in preparation for a potential unravelling of the Brexit deal. Talks between London and Brussels over the contentious protocol remain deadlocked and there is growing speculation that the UK is poised to trigger Article 16 in the coming days. Lord Hain, a former secretary of state [...]
If EU starts post-Brexit trade war it is a political strategy to weaken Northern Ireland’s place in UK, says Stormont minister November 10, 2021 A Stormont minister said this morning that if the EU triggers a trade war in the Irish Sea border dispute, it would be a political bid to weaken Northern Ireland’s place in the UK,. DUP Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots was responding to suggestions that the EU could axe the Brexit trade deal if the UK [...]