Brexit: Tory MP Phillip Lee defects to Lib Dems to kill Boris Johnson’s majority September 3, 2019 Boris Johnson has lost his working majority of one in parliament, it appears, as former justice minister Phillip Lee abandoned his seat in the Commons to join the Liberal Democrats today. The MP, an erstwhile critic of Brexit, is set to vote against a no-deal Brexit in today’s crunch parliament vote. Read more: Brexit showdown: [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson urges MPs to vote down ‘Corbyn’s Surrender Bill’ September 3, 2019 MPs have been sent a briefing from Number 10, instructing them to stand with the government instead of what it dubs “Corbyn’s Surrender Bill”. Read more: Everything you need to know: Your guide to today’s Brexit showdown The email, which has been seen by City A.M., says voting with the opposition over the next two [...]
Donald Trump says China talks going well and turns fire on EU September 3, 2019 US President Donald Trump has said his country is “doing very well” in its negotiations with China and urged Beijing to reach a deal before the 2020 presidential elections. Read more: US-China trade war escalates with fresh tariffs He said that if a trade deal was still under discussion and he won the election, he [...]
International business groups urge UK to avoid ‘gravely concerning’ no-deal Brexit September 3, 2019 Eight business federations from around the world including the US Chamber of Commerce have joined together to express their concern about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, urging the UK and EU to reach an agreement over Britain’s exit from the bloc. The groups published a joint statement saying in the event of a no-deal [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson planned to prorogue parliament before denying it September 3, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson was planning to prorogue parliament at least two weeks before he denied he was looking at it, a series of emails and notes published in court documents have revealed. Johnson also rubbished the period in September when MPs were due to sit as a “rigmarole”. Read more: Brexit showdown: What to [...]
Downing Street denies plot to trick MPs over election date September 3, 2019 Downing Street has denied there is a plot afoot to trick MPs into voting for a pre-Brexit General Election, only to later postpone it until after Halloween. A government source today said it was “tin foil hat stuff” to suggest that Boris Johnson would shift the date of the election, which is likely to be [...]
UK’s top law firms boost average partner pay to £750,000 September 3, 2019 Average partner profits at the UK’s top 50 law firms hit £750,000 last year as the sector continued to expand despite an uncertain economic and political backdrop. Nine firms posted average profit per equity partner (pep) of over £1m, according to new research published today by website Legal Week. Partners at Magic Circle firm Slaughter [...]
Brexit bargains: Foreign buyers snap up UK companies in M&A frenzy September 3, 2019 The value of foreign takeover deals in the UK have jumped over the last quarter, nearly doubling on the previous three-month period after several notable mergers were inked in the City. Read more: UK M&A deal values more than halve amid global tensions Inward mergers and acquisitions, whereby an overseas company acquires a UK firm, [...]
Goldman Sachs hikes no-deal Brexit probability ahead of crucial day in Westminster September 3, 2019 Goldman Sachs has raised its expectations of Britain leaving the European Union without an agreement, as today’s political tussling in Westminster fuels further speculation in the City of a no-deal Brexit. The global bank has said the prolonged suspension of parliament has led it to hike its forecasts of a no-deal Brexit from 20 per [...]
Brexit showdown: What to expect when you’re expecting (a General Election)… September 3, 2019 MPs return to parliament today for what is expected to be the start of a seismic couple of days in the Brexit debate. But what is actually going to happen? And will you have time to break away from the TV? Here’s everything you can expect to unfold in Westminster today… Read more: Putney MP [...]