Misnomers, uncertainty, and a need for compassion – how to get the UK’s future immigration system on the right path August 18, 2020 Priti Patel’s latest statement on immigration post Brexit quietly came and went last month. While it did not give anything new away, it was what was missing that was most interesting. The paper set out how the immigration system will work after Brexit, and it should do a decent job for larger businesses. The skilled [...]
Downing Street confident of striking UK-EU trade deal next month August 17, 2020 The UK is still on course to deliver an EU trade deal next month, according to Downing Street. Negotiations are set to enter their seventh round on Tuesday when UK negotiators travel to Brussels. The Prime Minister’s spokesman has said they would “continue to plug the gaps”. A number of issues remain unresolved, including those [...]
Wall Street nears record highs on retail optimism as mining stocks lift FTSE 100 August 17, 2020 Wall Street edged towards record highs this afternoon on optimism about better-than-expected retail earnings as the FTSE 100 pushed higher during a subdued start to the week’s trading. The Nasdaq rose 0.68 per cent while the S&P 500 resumed its ascent towards record highs with gains of 0.29 per cent. However, the Dow Jones slipped [...]
Liz Truss blasts ‘unacceptable’ US tariffs on Scotch whisky August 17, 2020 International trade secretary Liz Truss has slammed the “unacceptable and unfair” US tariffs on British products, while also vowing to negotiate their end when the UK leaves the post-Brexit transition period. The US levelled tariffs on several European countries last year – after permission from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) – as a part of [...]
Meat producer Cranswick boosts revenue 25 per cent on strong lockdown demand August 17, 2020 Sausage-and-pie producer Cranswick today said its revenue for the first quarter was nearly 25 per cent ahead of the same period last year thanks to strong retail demand during lockdown. The company said revenue in the 13 weeks to 27 June was 24.8 per cent ahead of the same point the previous year. Cranswick said [...]
UK housing market surges in busiest month in 10 years August 17, 2020 Brits have turned to home-buying to fill the summer holiday void post-lockdown as the UK housing market’s “mini-boom” accelerated in August. Rightmove’s latest house price index released today reveals the highest number of monthly sales in more than 10 years in August. It is up by 20 per cent on the previous high, and with [...]
UK tradespeople remain optimistic despite pandemic uncertainty August 17, 2020 Tradespeople in the UK continue to remain optimistic for near-term workloads despite the economic havoc triggered by the pandemic. A survey of over 1,300 tradespeople conducted by builders’ merchant Travis Perkins, found half of the respondents believe their workloads will increase and will have to buy new materials over the next two months. The first [...]
Trade groups threaten legal action over post-Brexit customs system August 16, 2020 The government’s new post-Brexit customs system may face a legal challenge, after trade bodies have complained it will distort competition. The Sunday Telegraph reports that trade bodies clashed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at a meeting of its customs experts panel. Trade bodies expressed their concern that the new Trader Support Service, which will [...]
Crispin Odey draws up emergency plan ahead of assault trial August 16, 2020 Crispin Odey’s hedge fund business is reportedly drawing up contingency plans which could be activated if he is convicted of indecent assault. Odey Asset Management is preparing an emergency scheme to deal with the hedge fund manager’s absence, according to the Sunday Times. Among contingency plans is the closure of his flagship European fund, with [...]
N26 staff to form works council after bank fails to break up meeting August 14, 2020 Staff at N26 have made a major breakthrough in their efforts to form a trade union after the digital bank failed to break up a meeting of employees during a dramatic day of confrontation. N26 workers today confirmed they had met and selected an electoral board, which will now begin the process of organising an [...]