Sadiq Khan urged to end ‘culture of cronyism’ February 6, 2020 Sadiq Khan has been accused of presiding over a ‘culture of cronyism’ in City Hall after his night czar was paid an extra £1,000 for taking part in a drag act to mark the 2019 borough of culture celebration. The mayor gives £1.3m to the winner of London’s borough of culture which in 2019 was [...]
Varadkar teeters on the brink amid Sinn Fein surge February 6, 2020 Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is teetering on the edge of defeat in Saturday’s election, with his Fine Gael party looking likely to lose out as a result of a resurgent Sinn Fein. Most recent polling puts Varadkar’s party third with 17 per cent of the vote, while Sinn Fein has support from around a quarter [...]
EU markets watchdog clashes with City regulator over post-Brexit trading rules February 6, 2020 The EU’s markets watchdog has asked its British counterpart to ensure that the London Metal Exchange (LME) and ICE Futures Europe fully comply with the bloc’s rules on market transparency for commodity derivatives. In the latest in a series of spats over the future relationship between EU and UK markets post-Brexit, the European Securities and [...]
Brits became less happy amid Brexit deadlock, figures show February 6, 2020 Brits became significantly less satisfied with their lives in the third quarter of 2019 for the first time since official records began, figures showed today, as people became gloomy about their future job prospects. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has measured personal and economic well-being in the UK since 2011 in an effort not [...]
Government launches consultation on post-Brexit tariff regime February 6, 2020 The government has called on businesses to consult on the shape of the UK’s new independent global tariff policy, as the country gears up to strike out on its own next year. The Department for International Trade has launched a month-long consultation over its new most favoured nation tariff schedule, which it says will mark [...]
Derek Mackay: Scots finance secretary resigns amid teen messages claims February 6, 2020 Scotland’s finance secretary Derek Mackay has resigned just hours before he was due to give the budget amid claims he sent hundreds of messages to a 16-year-old boy. The 42-year-old Cabinet secretary for finance, economy and fair work contacted the boy on Facebook and Instagram. Reports suggest the pair exchanged 270 messages for around six [...]
Prime Minister gives Hammond and Clarke the nod for Lords February 6, 2020 Boris Johnson has nominated two of his most vocal critics – who he punished by removing the whip last year – for peerages. Former chancellors Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond were both sacked by the Prime Minister for blocking his plan to press on with a no deal Brexit in October. Although some of the [...]
DEBATE: Is 2035 too soon to ban petrol and diesel new car sales? February 6, 2020 Is 2035 too soon to ban petrol and diesel new car sales? Alex Buttle, director of car selling comparison website Motorway.co.uk, says YES. The government already had its work cut out to meet its previous 2040 deadline, and endless confusion over Brexit and the car industry’s future haven’t helped consumer confidence to make the switch [...]
EU ‘could weaken’ the City after Brexit with Mifid II changes February 5, 2020 Eyebrows were raised in the City this afternoon following reports that European authorities are launching an offensive in a bid to weaken the City of London following the UK’s departure from the European Union. Officials in Brussels, Berlin and Paris are looking to amend the bloc’s Mifid II financial regulations by walking away from concessions [...]
Mike Lynch arrest: Autonomy CEO submits himself for arrest in US extradition case February 5, 2020 Autonomy founder Mike Lynch has this morning submitted himself for arrest in what his legal team said is a formality triggered by a US extradition request. Lynch – who is facing charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy in the US related to the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett Packard (HP) – has [...]