EY Parthenon brings on former government advisor Mats Persson as partner July 22, 2021 EY has announced the appointment of Mats Persson, a former chief of staff to Sajid Javid, as a partner in its strategy and transactions business. Persson had already been acting as an independent advisor over the last year, designing strategies for transport and energy companies, the auditing giant said in a statement published last week. [...]
‘We cannot go on as we are’: UK outlines proposed changes to Northern Ireland Protocol July 21, 2021 The UK has today outlined proposed changes to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol, with a cabinet minister saying that “we cannot go on as we are”. The move is set to ignite a furious row with the EU, with one of its top officials saying there is no room for renegotiation of the protocol. Northern [...]
Editorial: Boris Johnson’s Government desperately needs a reset to avoid giving credence to Cummings’ claims July 21, 2021 Had you considered so doing before, it now seems unlikely Dominic Cummings would make the cut for a “dream dinner party” list. Your other guests wouldn’t get a word in edge-ways. In his hour-long interview aired on the BBC last night, the Prime Minister’s former adviser was half score-settling and half self-justification, delivering a vicious [...]
UK set for major EU row as Frost prepares to redraw Northern Ireland Protocol July 21, 2021 The UK is set to force another major post-Brexit row with the EU as it prepares to demand significant changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol today. Defacto Brexit minister Lord David Frost will reportedly call for almost all checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to be removed to avoid economic and civil disruption. The [...]
Post-Brexit: M&S chairman sounds alarm on higher prices in Northern Ireland July 21, 2021 The chairman of Marks & Spencer has warned that consumers in Northern Ireland will have to contend with higher prices and fewer products if current post-Brexit customs rules come into force this year. Greater bureaucracy involved in goods entering Northern and the Republic of Ireland is “threatening” Marks & Spencer, Archie Norman said in a [...]
Raab tells EU to ‘think again’ over Gibraltar negotiation plans July 20, 2021 The government has tonight rejected the EU’s plan for negotiations with the UK over the future of Gibraltar, saying that it would undermine the British sovereignty over the territory. Earlier today the bloc published its draft mandate for the upcoming negotiations, which it said “aims to have a positive impact for those living and working [...]
Dominic Cummings plotted to oust Boris Johnson days after 2019 election July 20, 2021 Dominic Cummings has today revealed he was plotting to oust Boris Johnson from Downing Street just days after his landslide 2019 General Election victory. Johnson’s former chief aide made the explosive revelation in an upcoming BBC 2 interview tonight, after months of attacks on the Prime Minister. Cummings said the influence of Johnson’s wife, then [...]
‘I told staff to delete the app’: Hospitality reacts to pingdemic crisis July 20, 2021 While the government was hailing the arrival of so-called “freedom day” yesterday, the threat of rising Covid cases and the “pingdemic” forcing staff to self isolate has left the beleaguered hospitality industry with little to celebrate. One restaurateur told City A.M: “Our ability to operate hangs in the balance by some fairly crude geolocation tech”, [...]
Government to ease lorry driver qualification requirements to tackle shortage July 20, 2021 Ministers have today proposed easing driver qualification requirements in order to ease the current shortage of lorry drivers, which has left supermarket shelves empty around the country. Retailers are battling an estimated shortfall of around 100,000 hauliers as a result of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to the logistics sector today, the [...]
£15bn worth of London homes sit empty, as Londoners squabble over supply July 20, 2021 The value of London’s homes sat empty has racked up to £15bn, according to new data, as a rung on the property ladders edges further away from Londoners. London has made a name for itself as a destination for ultra-wealthy buyers to snap up prime real estate as assets and holiday homes, while prospective homeowners [...]