Backed. Sacked. Cracked? Boris Johnson threatens election as 21 Tories rebel September 4, 2019 Boris Johnson expelled more than 20 MPs from the Tory party last night after they rebelled against him in the battle to stop a no-deal Brexit. Parliament last night voted 328-to-301 in favour of a motion giving MPs control of the order paper today, allowing them to propose legislation aimed at forcing Johnson to seek [...]
UK private equity deal values double during strong first half September 4, 2019 UK companies led European private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) activity during the first half of 2019, with the value of PE buyouts more than doubling. Overall PE buyout and related deal values for UK firms climbed to €23.3bn (£21.2bn) during the first half, an increase of 124 per cent on the €10.4bn seen [...]
Chancellor announces extra £2bn Brexit funding during Westminster chaos September 3, 2019 Chancellor Sajid Javid will announce a further £2bn to be spent on Brexit when he lays out government funding for the next year tomorrow, taking the total spent on Brexit planning to £8bn. Read more: Rebel numbers creep up ahead of critical Brexit vote The new money is to be spent in the year after [...]
March of the moderates: PM loses key Brexit vote to rebels September 3, 2019 More than 20 Tory MPs have defied Boris Johnson and his threats of deselection to pave the way to block a no-deal Brexit. Parliamentarians this evening voted 328-to-301 in favour of a motion giving MPs control of the order paper tomorrow. That means they can debate, and potentially pass, a bill that will force Johnson [...]
Labour MPs attempt to reintroduce old Brexit deal September 3, 2019 A number of Labour MPs are seeking to reintroduce the old Brexit agreement, struck during Theresa May’s leadership, in the hope of blocking a no-deal. Stephen Kinnock and a team of 17 MPs including Gloria De Piero, John Mann, Caroline Flint and Sarah Champion, who argue that a further extension will “leave the most of [...]
Marks and Spencer set to be ejected from FTSE 100 for first time in 35 years September 3, 2019 Marks & Spencer is set to lose its place in the FTSE 100 list of the UK’s biggest companies tomorrow after 35 years, ending its long-held membership as one of 28 original firms. Read more: Marks and Spencer to shut seven stores for final time in restructuring The troubled retailer will drop down to the [...]
Live: Rebel numbers creep up ahead of critical Brexit vote September 3, 2019 The number of Conservative MPs willing to rebel and go against the government in tonight’s critical vote are creeping up, with a swathe of resignations, defections and rejections of the Prime Minister’s position. Sir Nicholas Soames has said he would “with a heavy heart” defy the whip and vote for the motion enabling backbenchers to [...]
Sterling rebounds as traders hope for block to no-deal Brexit September 3, 2019 The pound has rebounded this afternoon as traders hope for a no-deal Brexit to be avoided in a parliamentary showdown and weak US data drags on the dollar. Read more: Brexit: Tory MP Phillip Lee defects to Lib Dems during Boris Johnson speech Sterling this morning fell to lows not seen since the mid-1980s, if [...]
US manufacturing sector shrinks for first time in three years, survey shows September 3, 2019 The US manufacturing sector shrank for the first time in three years in August, according to a respected industry gauge, as trade tensions and a global economic slowdown weigh on factory output. Read more: Donald Trump says China talks going well and turns fire on EU The purchasing managers’ index (PMI) from the Institute for [...]
Sterling recovers from 34-year low amid Brexit showdown September 3, 2019 Sterling crashed below $1.20 this morning to a 34-year low as markets readied themselves for a tumultuous day in Westminster as political chaos hits the Brexit process. The pound (GBP) dropped as much as 0.83 per cent in early London trading to trade at $1.1961 against the dollar (USD). Read more: Brexit: PM to call [...]