Rebel, rebel: Boris Johnson faces day two of Brexit defiance September 4, 2019 Westminster is still reeling from the events of last night, which saw more than 20 Tory MPs, including two ex-chancellors, were sacked after rebelling against Prime Minister Boris Johnson. But today promises to be just as dramatic – with the creeping possibility that the country will be going to the polls once again. Read more: [...]
Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament is legal, Scottish court rules September 4, 2019 Boris Johnson’s move to prorogue parliament in the run up to the Halloween Brexit deadline is legal, a court has ruled. A Scottish court today rejected a legal challenge to stop the shutdown of parliament for almost five weeks until 14 October. Read more: Rebel, rebel: Boris Johnson faces day two of defiance MPs have [...]
UK economy close to recession after stagnant service sector data September 4, 2019 Growth in the services industry lost momentum in August, indicating an overall contraction in the economy across all sectors and a drop in GDP, leaving the UK one step away from a recession. The service sector’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) dropped to 50.6 in August, down from 51.4 in July. Any figure under 50 indicates [...]
British pound soars after Boris Johnson suffers Brexit blow September 4, 2019 The pound soared against the dollar in early trading today after MPs left Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy in tatters last night. Sterling climbed 0.62 per cent against the USD dollar to hit $1.2163 after 21 Tory MPs rebelled against the Prime Minister in a vote that could force him to seek a Brexit extension. Read [...]
The 21 Tory MPs Boris Johnson has sacked from the party after Brexit defeat September 4, 2019 Boris Johnson’s historic showdown with MPs ended last night with 21 Tory rebels being expelled from the party. The Prime Minister, who lost a crucial vote yesterday that gives the Commons control of the order paper, swiftly sacked 21 MPs who rebelled against him in the battle to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Among the MPs [...]
Housebuilder Barratt Developments defies Brexit jitters as profits climb September 4, 2019 Barratt Developments shrugged off concerns of a housing market slowdown today after reporting a rise in pre-tax profits for the year to June 2019. The figures Britain’s largest housebuilder, which has been reducing its exposure to Central London’s subdued property market, posted profits before tax of £910m in the 12 months to 30 June, rising [...]
Halfords’ sales pedal down amid political uncertainty hitting consumers September 4, 2019 Halfords has warned that its summer sales were weaker than hoped after the bicycle and car maintenance retailer suffered from poor weather and a lack of consumer confidence. The company said it expects “political and economic uncertainty” to hit customers’ spending habits for the rest of the year. Shares fell 2.6 per cent in morning [...]
Brace yourself, this is going to get ugly September 4, 2019 Jacob Rees-Mogg described last night’s successful attempt by MPs to seize control of today’s parliamentary activity as “constitutionally improper” – which is as close as he gets to a foul-mouthed outburst. As leader of the House of Commons it is his job to navigate legislation through parliament, but he has been temporarily sidelined in favour [...]
MPs have only themselves to blame for the Brexit mess we’re in September 4, 2019 On 23 June 2016, the British people voted narrowly, but with a clear margin nonetheless, to leave the European Union. The precise form that this leaving would take – with a deal, and if so what type, or without – was not clarified at the time, but the intention was firmly stated and unequivocal. This [...]
DEBATE: Should the Conservative party deselect MPs who rebel this week? September 4, 2019 Should the Conservative party deselect MPs who rebel this week? Alex Deane, a Conservative commentator, says YES. Everyone, subject to exceptions not applicable here, has a right to stand for parliament. But nobody has a right to be the adopted candidate of a specific party. That party’s members, activists and leaders must be willing to [...]