Sinn Fein demands role in government after Irish General Election surge February 10, 2020 Sinn Fein has demanded a role in the next Irish government after it made unprecedented gains in the country’s general election. Incumbent Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has ruled out entering coalition with the nationalist party, which supports a referendum on Irish unity. Sinn Fein was leading the seat tally with almost two-thirds of seats [...]
Hola, Ola: Meet the latest app to fight for Uber’s London crown February 10, 2020 Transport for London’s (TfL) decision not to renew Uber’s operating licence late last year split commuters down the middle, but the controversial ride-hailing app’s rivals have seized the opportunity to stake their claim to the capital. Uber’s effective ban came over concerns it had not done enough to protect Londoners after TfL identified a “pattern [...]
Boris has a war to fight, and he’s going to need all the friends he can get February 10, 2020 “Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little.” Epigrammatic prose from the US patrician, Gore Vidal. The line serves as a cautionary note on how to lose friends and not influence people — one that another talented communicator of our time, the Prime Minister, might want to heed. Boris Johnson went to bat last [...]
Business confidence rises across manufacturing and services sectors February 10, 2020 Business confidence rose across the manufacturing and services sector for the first time in 18 months during January. Accountancy firm BDO’s optimism index increased for a third consecutive month in January. The index, which weights macroeconomic data from the UK’s main business surveys, now stands at 95.84, slightly above the 95 mark which indicates growth. [...]
UK tech firms suffer worst quarter in seven years as uncertainty weighs February 10, 2020 The UK’s thriving tech sector suffered its worst quarter since 2012 at the end of last year as political uncertainty took its toll on growth. Staff hiring declined and new business activity flatlined in the final three months of 2019, according to figures published today by KPMG. UK tech firms reported that overall business was [...]
Government set to announce new post-Brexit freeports February 9, 2020 The government will tomorrow announce a consultation on the creation of up to 10 freeports across the UK as the country prepares to leave the EU. The government said it aimed to announce the location of the new zones at the end of this year so they can be open for business in 2021. Chief [...]
London Metal Exchange under pressure to investigate nickel market February 9, 2020 The centre of metal trading in the City is under pressure to investigate the nickel market after it was hit by a supply shock late last year. Stockpiles of the commodity plunged late last year while prices hit a four-year high after Indonesia, the world’s largest nickel producer, brought forward a ban on exports. Organisations [...]
Mike Lynch extradition would ‘cripple’ City and damage national sovereignty, says David Davis February 9, 2020 The extradition of British entrepreneur Mike Lynch to the US would “cripple the City” and signal an erosion of national sovereignty, according to ex-Brexit secretary David Davis. Lynch, founder of software company Autonomy, submitted himself for arrest in London on Wednesday after US authorities requested his extradition to stand trial for securities fraud, wire fraud and [...]
Proposed post-Brexit wage requirement for new EU immigrants to be slashed February 9, 2020 The minimum wage requirement for incoming EU immigrants after Britain leaves the single market is expected to be slashed. Freedom of movement between the EU and the UK will continue to at least 1 January 2021 during the second-phase of Brexit negotiations. Under Theresa May, the plan was to limit EU migration at this point [...]
Boris Johnson and Sajid Javid weighing up a mansion tax February 9, 2020 Number 10 is considering plans to implement a mansion tax in next month’s budget to help pay for spending increases. Plans to hit wealthy homeowners with the tax have been discussed at the Treasury and Number 10 multiple times, according to the Sunday Telegraph. Read more: Sajid Javid weighing up tax raid on high earners [...]