Speaker Bercow could block Boris Johnson’s bid for Brexit deal vote October 21, 2019 Speaker John Bercow could refuse to grant Boris Johnson a second bite at the cherry today as the Prime Minister attempts to push through a meaningful vote on his Brexit deal. The government has confirmed it will introduce the Withdrawal Agreement Bill – the legislation required to implement the Brexit deal – in today’s Commons [...]
Brexit latest: Minister hits out at customs union as DUP backs off October 21, 2019 Any attempt to tweak Boris Johnson’s deal to include remaining in the customs union would be “procedural tricks” aimed at blocking Brexit, a minister at the Treasury has said. Speaking to the Today programme this morning, Rishi Sunak said anyone wanting to “amend legislation are ultimately wanting to frustrate, delay or cancel Brexit altogether, and [...]
One in four UK households now predict the Bank of England to cut interest rates October 21, 2019 The number of households expecting the Bank of England (BoE) to cut interest rates has risen to its highest level since the Brexit referendum, survey data showed today, as Britons remain downbeat about their financial health over the coming months. Read more: Bank of England deputy suggests Brexit deal could see rates rise Households are [...]
Is oil’s relationship with energy stocks slipping? October 21, 2019 Our chart of the month shows that the link between energy stocks and oil appears to be on the slide. What’s happening? Typically, the US energy sector trades in tandem with oil prices. The sector is largely made up of household names like Exxon and Chevron, involved in exploration and production. They are known as [...]
Traders braced for busy week as pound opens flat and European markets edge up October 21, 2019 Traders are bracing themselves for a fresh week of market mayhem amid trade war negotiations and Brexit uncertainty. Optimism over an end to the US-China tariff battle has pushed European markets up slightly after the opening bell this morning, with both the German Dax and the FTSE 100 rising 0.4 per cent. Read more: Speaker [...]
Barclays UK chairman Sir Ian Cheshire: Get on with Brexit October 21, 2019 Barclays UK chairman Sir Ian Cheshire has urged the government to press ahead with Brexit, becoming the latest City figure to express his frustration at the continued uncertainty in Westminster. The pro-Remain businessman, who was previously the boss of Kingfisher, told the BBC this morning that Downing Street’s agreement with the EU is “an acceptable [...]
Anti-Brexit MPs keep moving the goalposts October 21, 2019 This was supposed to be the week in which the UK finally staggered out of the Brexit-related darkness and began to consider the future – having spent three and a half years arguing about the past. Boris Johnson, against the odds, renegotiated the Brexit withdrawal agreement and was on the cusp on winning parliamentary approval [...]
How Boris Johnson’s big day fell flat October 21, 2019 It was billed as a day of high drama. Not since the Falklands War had the Commons sat on a weekend. But as Super Saturday turned into Soggy Saturday, it was clear things were not going to pan out as the government had hoped. Having agreed an 11th-hour deal at the European Council, Saturday was [...]
Recover that Olympic spirit to give London back its mojo October 21, 2019 “Inspire a generation.” That was the slogan for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and a memory of a moment when the capital and the country felt confident about the future. Cast your mind back and recall the triumphs of elite athletes, the city at ease with itself, and the country bursting with the pride of [...]
It’s not just about avoiding another Carillion scandal, reforming public procurement can build a better Britain October 21, 2019 From the collapse of Carillion to the Brexit ferries fiasco, public procurement has had a rocky few years. But while the focus has rightly been on ensuring that such disasters don’t happen again, we must not forget that public procurement can actually be an enormous force for good. Public procurement is the act of the [...]