Confidence among UK business leaders highest since Brexit vote June 24, 2021 UK bosses’ confidence in the economy was buoyed by vaccine optimism to its highest level since just after the Brexit referendum, a new survey has shown. The confidence tracker from the Institute of Directors (IoD), a body for business leaders, has been in positive territory for around 12 months. A positive score means more company [...]
EU citizens told to apply to post-Brexit scheme within 28 days to stay in UK June 23, 2021 EU citizens who have not already applied to the EU Settlement Scheme will be given a 28-day period to apply to remain. While the scheme closes in a week, the Home Office has said it will allow EU citizens indefinite time to complete their application if they have a reasonable excuse. The government was previously [...]
Never Gonna Give EU Up: Radiohead and Bob Geldof plead for support to continue Euro tours June 23, 2021 Over 200 artists have backed a campaign pushing the government to act on Brexit-related red tape around touring in the EU. The #LetTheMusicMove campaign, launched today, was set up by the Featured Artists’ Coalition (FAC). It is calling for a “transitional support package” to cover new costs placed on UK artists and music businesses after [...]
Brexit anniversary: UK still divided but lean towards Remain, poll says June 23, 2021 Despite the Brexit vote being five years ago today, people are equally divided on the issue but now lean towards remaining inside the European Union, according to a new poll. The survey, by public policy consultancy Savanta ComRes, found that while people’s opinions were largely the same, the votes swung towards a slim win for [...]
No Brexit hit: London remains world’s most important fintech hub outside the US June 23, 2021 A newly-published report has shown that London remains the second most active city in the world for fintech, behind San Francisco, but that the fintech space in the rest of the UK is expanding rapidly. London’s fintech space is primarily powered by its thriving ‘challenger bank’ sector, with Brexit and the pandemic having little impact [...]
Gove: PM will not grant fresh Scottish independence referendum before next election June 23, 2021 Boris Johnson will not grant a second Scottish independence referendum before the next General Election in 2024, according to Michael Gove. Gove said today that there were no circumstances in which the Prime Minister would allow a vote to happen, putting him on a collision course with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Sturgeon has vowed [...]
Brexit: Northern Ireland Protocol ‘must be rectified’, says minister June 23, 2021 The post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol is “not sustainable” and must be “rectified”, says Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis. Lewis told MPs today that the post-Brexit treaty is “causing issues for businesses and consumers and citizens in Northern Ireland” due to the stringent nature of checks from goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Northern [...]
Haulier shortage putting construction work ‘under enormous pressure’ June 23, 2021 A shortage of hauliers due to the UK’s departure from the EU and Covid testing rules is becoming a “critical nationwide problem” for the construction industry, which is already battling disrupted supply chains. Government advisory body the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) today said that a lack of drivers was now causing construction delays and pushing [...]
‘London will flourish again’ says Berkeley Group as it lands £500m profit June 23, 2021 London received a vote of confidence from Berkeley Group this morning as the housebuilder’s boss said he believed the capital is set for a post-pandemic boom. The Group made a profit before tax of more than half a billion pounds in its last financial year, much of which was driven by the sale of properties [...]
‘Are you crazy?’: London restaurateur on opening two eateries during the pandemic June 23, 2021 When the pandemic hit, London-based restauranteur Sanjay Anand, owner of catering and restaurant business Madhu’s, found himself feeling restless, with more time on his hands than he had had in decades. Pre-pandemic Madhu’s, which specialises in luxury Indian food, was predominantly a catering business, and when Covid restrictions were put in place last March around [...]