Tory MPs vote against protecting the NHS from a post-Brexit trade deal July 21, 2020 Tory MPs last night voted down an amendment to the government’s Trade Bill intended to protect the NHS from any form of control from outside the UK, in a major blow to Britain’s health service as it grapples with the aftermath of the pandemic. Labour proposed an amendment to the Trade Bill which would have [...]
FTSE 100 climbs after EU strikes huge stimulus deal July 21, 2020 The FTSE 100 rose after European Union leaders struck a deal to create a huge €750bn (£680bn) recovery fund to try to rouse the continent’s economy from the coronavirus crisis. London’s blue-chip index climbed 0.5 per cent to 6,292 points. The slightly smaller FTSE 250 index rose 0.8 per cent. Read more: EU leaders reach [...]
Russia report: What were the key findings? July 21, 2020 A long-awited and long-delayed parliamentary report into Russia’s interference in UK politics was finally released today by Westminster’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC). The report was presented at a press conference by new committee chair, and now independent MP, Julian Lewis, Labour MP Kevan Jones and SNP MP Stewart Hosie. While the report did not [...]
Small companies slam plans for big Making Tax Digital extension July 21, 2020 Small businesses have slammed the government’s planned expansion of the Making Tax Digital programme, saying it means more cost and paperwork for companies at a time when they are under great pressure. The government today said it will extend its tax digitisation programme to 4.7m of the UK’s smallest companies and self-employed workers from April [...]
New Thames Estuary development plan could add £115bn to UK economy July 21, 2020 The Thames Estuary growth board has today launched a new development initiative that could add up to £115bn to the UK economy. Named the “Green Blue”, the scheme comprises 30 individual projects in the south-east, with the potential to create 1.5m jobs. These include infrastructure developments such as the Lower Thames Crossing, as well as [...]
Russia report: Russian influence in UK politics is ‘new normal’ July 21, 2020 Russian influence in UK politics has been described as the “new normal” in Westminster’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC)’s long-awaited Russia report. The report said that successive governments “welcomed the oligarchs and their money with open arms, providing them with a means of recycling illicit finance through the London ‘laundromat’” and “connections at the highest [...]
House sales begin to recover as lockdown measures ease July 21, 2020 UK property transactions grew almost a third in the month to June as lockdown measures began to lift around the country, but remain 35 per cent down since last year as market uncertainty and the Brexit deadline continue to weigh on buyer sentiment. Around 63,250 residential property transactions took place in June, up 31.7 per [...]
Russia ‘interfered with Scottish referendum’, report to say July 21, 2020 A forthcoming report into Russia’s influence on British politics is set to conclude the Kremlin attempted to influence the result of the Scottish independence referendum, it is reported. Russia tried to split the UK in the 2014 referendum, the Daily Telegraph reported ahead of the official publication later this morning. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin [...]
Lockdown blues: Breakups and divorces support UK house prices July 21, 2020 The property market is currently defying gravity, with asking prices hitting an all-time high in July and spirits buoyant after the chancellor slashed the stamp duty homes tax. But estate agents say a less-publicised factor has been helping the property sector ride out economic turbulence better than most had predicted: A surge in lockdown breakups [...]
Pompeo arrives in UK to discuss China, 5G and Brexit July 20, 2020 US secretary of state Mike Pompeo today arrived in the United Kingdom, with plans to discuss China, 5G and a Brexit free trade deal with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Pompeo, who did not speak to reporters on the plane, was due to be greeted by US ambassador Woody Johnson shortly after landing. “While in London, [...]