New car sales sunk in November, but more UK drivers buying electric and hybrid vehicles December 4, 2020 New car sales sunk in November, but more UK drivers choosing electric and hybrid vehicles
Berkeley Group’s belief in London is ‘resolute’ despite pandemic hit December 4, 2020 Berkeley Group has reaffirmed its commitment to London even as its profits took a hit from pandemic uncertainty. Chief executive Rob Perrins said the company’s “belief in London and our developmetn approach is resolute” as it reported its interim results. The company has acquired three sites in London this year – Borough Triangle in Southwark, [...]
ALL 27 EU member states must still approve any UK trade deal, warns Council president December 4, 2020 European Council President Charles Michel warned today that any agreement between UK and EU negotiators must still be approved by all 27 member states. Michel said the 27 leaders – meeting remotely on 10 and 11 December – will take a position on the latest developments, as a deal on future relations between the EU [...]
Switzerland to sign deal with UK allowing free travel for professional workers December 4, 2020 Switzerland is set to sign off on a deal with the UK this afternoon allowing professional workers to travel freely between the two countries after Britain leaves the EU. The agreement will mean around 383,000 Brits who regularly make business trips to the country will not need work permits to keep doing so post-Brexit. Switzerland [...]
Leyton-grown basil to green up Pizza Pilgrims December 4, 2020 A tie-up between a vertical farming start-up and cult favourite Pizza Pilgrims will see basil grown in east London livening up slices across the capital. Pizza Pilgrims will now source their basil from Harvest, who operate two eco-friendly ‘farms’ in Leyton. Harvest have created a bespoke basil-growing unit within their facility which will provide Pizza [...]
O Come, Emmanuel: Hopes of Brexit trade deal run thin as Macron toughens stance December 4, 2020 The latest Brexit talks between the UK and EU “did not go well”, according to reports, as British officials accused French President Emmanuel Macron of making fresh demands at the eleventh hour. Macron is understood to have remained unwavering in his demand that France preserves a substantial portion of existing fishing rights in British waters [...]
FTSE 100 opens higher despite deadlock in Brexit talks December 4, 2020 The FTSE 100 opened higher this morning outperforming its European peers as Brexit remains in focus. London’s blue chip index climbed 0.7 per cent on the open to 6,535 poins, while the FTSE 250 of midcap companies rose 0.17 per cent. Brexit talks have stalled somewhat despite promising signs at the start of the week. [...]
Swift vaccine approval is a British success story December 4, 2020 It was wonderful to wake up on Wednesday to some good news. Yes, the UK Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19. The first doses of the vaccine could be delivered as early as next week. The MHRA’s swift approval makes it the first agency in a western [...]
Sterling hits highest level in a year as dollar selloff continues December 3, 2020 Sterling climbed to a one-year high this afternoon, nearing $1.35, as the dollar selloff continued and Brexit talks dragged. The pound advanced beyond $1.3490, its best in a year after the “Boris bounce” which saw Conservatives won an 80-seat majority. Sterling rose 0.4 per cent against the euro to 90.22 pence. “The moves are probably [...]
Exclusive: Government offshoring customs jobs to prep UK firms for Brexit December 3, 2020 A government grant programme is paying for overseas workers to help British logistics firms prepare for Brexit. A loophole in the HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) £50m grant programme means taxpayer funds can be given to train overseas workers as long as their company has a UK base. The Customs Grants Scheme, which is being [...]