UK unemployment rate falls close to 45-year low, but wage growth slows December 17, 2019 The UK’s unemployment rate fell back close to a 45-year low between August and October, according to official data today, but economists warned the new government must solve the “puzzle” of flagging wage growth. The unemployment rate fell to 3.8 per cent to register just 1.28m people who are unemployed, a fall of 93,000 or [...]
First-time buyer mortgage approvals increase in October December 17, 2019 The number of first time buyers securing mortgages jumped in October, according to the latest data. There were 32,260 new first-time buyer mortgages completed, 2.8 per cent more than in October last year. Read more: UK mortgage lending dips as buyers hesitate in Brexit uncertainty The number of homemover mortgages completed in the month grew [...]
Sterling sinks as PM vows not to extend Brexit transition period December 17, 2019 Sterling sank in early trading today to hit the GBP/USD exchange rate as Boris Johnson revealed he wants to leave the EU completely with or without a deal by December 2020. The Prime Minister’s plan to bring his Brexit deal back to parliament with none of the concessions he made before winning his 80-seat majority [...]
How Boris Johnson became the heir to Blair December 17, 2019 Politics is the art of winning and keeping power. New Labour understood this. They were the greatest election-winning machine of modern times. But to the Corbynistas (Old Bennite Labour revived), New Labour are the enemy of true socialism. Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour want nothing to do with New Labour’s people, policies, or campaigning techniques. Unfortunately for [...]
This is a political renaissance — but can British business adapt? December 17, 2019 “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse.” As history buffs will know, the Battle of Bosworth Field didn’t work out well for Richard III, and with it the last of the titanic struggles of the War of the Roses. Described by Shakespeare as “the one big battle”, this event was to finally settle [...]
Get Brexit done, yes — but now onto the urgent domestic agenda December 17, 2019 It may have seemed like a lifetime, but the six-week election campaign period has finally drawn to a close. And at the end of January, the UK is set to leave the EU — at the fourth attempt. With a thumping majority, the Prime Minister should face little challenge in getting his withdrawal agreement through [...]
Boris Johnson to amend Brexit bill to rip out no-deal concessions December 17, 2019 Boris Johnson will bring his Brexit bill before a new intake of MPs this week without the concessions he made before the election, City A.M. understands. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill – the key legislation that will pave the way for the UK to leave the European Union on 31 January – is expected to come [...]
FTSE 100 surges after UK election result and trade deal ease uncertainty December 16, 2019 The FTSE 100 has soared after the Conservatives’ election victory and a phase one US-China trade deal helped ease long term uncertainties that have consistently weighed on markets. UK stocks rallied again today after making substantial gains on Friday, with the benchmark FTSE 100 rising as much as 2.57 per cent by mid-afternoon to 7,542.46 [...]
PM signs off report on Russian interference in UK politics December 16, 2019 A parliamentary report looking at Russia’s involvement in UK politics is ready to be published, having finally been signed off by the Prime Minister. The report, carried out earlier this year by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), is believed to have considered the Kremlin’s influence through social media, donations and political ties. Read more: [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan slams Jeremy Corbyn and tells him to go ‘quickly’ December 16, 2019 Sadiq Khan has savaged Jeremy Corbyn in the aftermath of Labour’s historic election defeat, saying he needs to “quickly” step down as leader. The Labour mayor of London criticised Corbyn for his role in the party’s landslide defeat, saying much of it had to do with him not being “credible”. Read more: ‘You can’t make [...]