Theresa May slams Brexit trade deal for not including financial services December 30, 2020 Former Prime Minister Theresa May has slammed Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal for not including provisions on financial services. May told MPs today that her failed deal was “a better deal” than the Prime Minister’s and said she was “disappointed” his trade agreement does not have a wide-ranging services agreement. MPs will vote at around [...]
Wonks expect retail to see a brighter 2021 December 30, 2020 Retailers can expect to see sales growth of as much as 3 per cent in 2021, according to a new expert report. Pent-up savings and demand, more confident consumers and a successful vaccine rollout will all bring a boost, says the KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank. Read more: Where did it all go wrong for Topshop? [...]
Boris must find the bandwidth to take on Sturgeon – and keep the UK united December 30, 2020 Being prime minister is not an easy job. Whether you adopt the approach of Thatcher’s four-hours-a-night, or Macmillan’s retreating to Trollope novels at moments of extreme stress, it is a position which occupies your every waking (and probably many a sleeping) moment; the situation is not helped by the fact that the vast majority of [...]
Boris Johnson: UK to begin ‘new chapter in our national story’ on Friday December 29, 2020 Boris Johnson will say tomorrow that the UK will “open a new chapter in our national story” before MPs vote on his post-Brexit trade deal. Johnson is expected to tell MPs that the trade deal shows how the UK can be “at once European and sovereign” and that “we have nothing to fear if we [...]
The Tories’ ERG backbenchers will vote for Brexit deal tomorrow December 29, 2020 The Tories’ group of hardline Brexiteers will vote for Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal tomorrow in the House of Commons. The European Research Group’s (ERG) “star chamber”, which is its legal committee, met today and decided that the deal is “consistent with the restoration of UK sovereignty”. The meeting was led by Eurosceptic Conservative MP [...]
UK and Turkey sign post-Brexit free trade deal December 29, 2020 The UK and Turkey have signed a free trade deal that will secure tariff-free trading arrangements between the two countries after Britain leaves the EU. The continuity deal, signed today by trade secretary Liz Truss, means the existing trade relationship will be maintained after the Brexit transition period ends this week. The two countries also [...]
Wall Street and FTSE surge as US stimulus and Brexit deal lift sentiment December 29, 2020 Wall Street hit fresh highs and the FTSE 100 posted strong gains today as investor confidence mounts in the final days of the year. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones were up 0.49 per cent and 0.57 per cent respectively as markets opened this afternoon. The Nasdaq also gained 0.42 per cent. Read more: Wall [...]
Brexit: Top law firm says City of London won’t get a quick EU financial services deal December 29, 2020 One of the world’s largest law firms has heaped doubt on claims by the UK that it can negotiate a post-Brexit financial services settlement with the EU within the next three months. US firm Baker McKenzie – the fourth largest law firm in the world by revenue and the top firm for multinational mergers and [...]
A booming Britain will need a broadband boost, too December 29, 2020 The best possible platform from which to launch the UK into its post-Brexit future outside the European Union is world class digital infrastructure. Only underpinned by the fastest Full Fibre networks will the UK be able to establish itself as a leading digital economy. Full Fibre will enable us to compete with countries and companies [...]
Mobile roaming: Will I be charged for using my phone in the EU after Brexit? December 29, 2020 Since 2017, Brits travelling in the EU have been able to enjoy using their mobile phone without racking up any additional roaming charges. The UK has now secured a post-Brexit trade deal with the bloc, ensuring a smoother transition after the transition period ends on 31 December. But Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove this week [...]