Philip Hammond: Government is blocking Brexit to ‘create a narrative’ October 29, 2019 Philip Hammond has claimed the government is blocking Brexit in order to “create a narrative” about an obstructive parliament. The former chancellor, who was sacked last month after going against Boris Johnson on a vote which effectively blocked a no deal, was scathing of the Prime Minister’s tactics. He told the BBC’s Today programme: “It [...]
African Export-Import Bank postpones London IPO October 29, 2019 The African Export-Import Bank has put its plans to float on hold, delivering a fresh blow to London’s ailing initial public offering (IPO) market. Despite confirming just days ago that it was pressing ahead with plans to list in London, the African trade finance group has now put its IPO on ice, citing “unfavourable market [...]
UK house prices: Growth ‘subdued’ in wake of Brexit slowdown October 29, 2019 House price growth remained below one per cent for the 11th consecutive month in October, as hopeful homeowners sat tight amid Brexit uncertainty. House prices in the 12 months to October rose 0.4 per cent to £215,368, according to the new figures from Nationwide. Read more: House prices suffer slowest October rise in more than [...]
Budget must acknowledge regional growth and capital’s strength October 29, 2019 During the Tory leadership contest, a raft of regional papers launched a campaign calling on the various candidates to “power up the north”. The now-chancellor Sajid Javid promised to do just that. Now his former adviser Nick King, via the Centre for Policy Studies, has produced a plan for boosting regional growth not just across [...]
DEBATE: Has the People’s Vote campaign blown its chance of a second referendum? October 29, 2019 Has the People’s Vote campaign blown its chance of a second referendum? Olivia Utley, deputy editor at TheArticle, says YES. So, the People’s Vote campaign has imploded. Why? Infighting has a lot to do with it. Political activism only works when the public can’t see what’s going on behind the scenes – and yesterday, the [...]
Level up: Lessons from London for boosting the rest of the UK October 29, 2019 Britain’s economy has been distorted. London takes all the jobs, all the talent, all the investment, leaving crumbs for everyone else. For Britain to prosper, the capital needs to be cut down to size. In the wake of the financial crisis, and then of the Brexit vote, this is an argument that has become increasingly [...]
UK spending rules should focus on investments rather than debt, economists say October 29, 2019 The UK needs new rules on taxing and spending in order to adequately tackle the major economic challenges the country looks set to face over the next decade, a new report has said. Read more: Hey, big spender: IFS boss Paul Johnson on the end of economic orthodoxy Rather than simply focusing on public debt [...]
Ad spend growth continues thanks to streaming and cinema boom October 29, 2019 Advertising spend hit £6bn in the second quarter as booming demand for films and TV shows helped drive sharp growth in the video on-demand and cinema sectors. UK ad spend grew 5.8 per cent year on year in the three months to the end of July, although the £6bn figure remained flat on the first [...]
PM Boris Johnson goes fourth – with pre-Brexit date sewn into election October 28, 2019 The Prime Minister will today seek an election for the fourth time in two months – this time with a pre-Brexit date sewn in. Yesterday the EU finally granted a three-month extension to the Brexit process, pushing back the deadline until 31 January, or earlier if a deal is signed off by parliament in time. [...]
Labour to abstain on third election vote as govt poised to back SNP/Lib Dem route October 28, 2019 Labour is expected to abstain on tonight’s vote – the third time the government will have sought an election since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister. Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly said he will seek an election once a no deal Brexit is “off the table”. However it is thought Labour MPs are concerned about current polling, [...]