Tusk rejects PM’s backstop plea as EU27 memo slams ‘misleading’ claim August 20, 2019 The President of the European Council has slapped down Boris Johnson’s suggestion that the Irish backstop be dealt with during transition. Last night the Prime Minister published a letter to Donald Tusk, in which he suggested removing the “anti-democratic” backstop from the withdrawal agreement, suggesting it could be dealt with as part of the future [...]
Manufacturers’ pains soften despite ‘Brexit millstone’ hampering firms August 20, 2019 Britain’s manufacturing headaches softened slightly over the last three months, with output stabilising despite “relentless Brexit uncertainty” continuing to weigh heavy on the industry. Manufacturers reported output fell less sharply over the three months to August, according to the CBI’s monthly industrial trends survey, meaning the industry is still in decline but the rate of [...]
Persimmon profit falls as it tries to tackle quality complaints August 20, 2019 Persimmon has reported a drop in profit for the first half of the year as it spent heavily on schemes to aimed to counter complaints over the quality and fire safety of its homes. The figures Britain’s second largest housebuilder reported a 1.4 per cent drop in pre-tax profit, which fell to £509.3m for the [...]
Bureaucratic boroughs risk holding London back in the 5G race August 20, 2019 Despite the hype around the latest handsets and a commitment from the new cabinet to prioritise connectivity, London risks losing out on the 5G opportunity. Much has been made of the country’s struggles to keep up with international competitors in the race to deliver world-class connectivity, while our imminent departure from the EU places greater [...]
DEBATE: Are the Operation Yellowhammer warnings about no-deal likely to be exaggerated? August 20, 2019 Are the Operation Yellowhammer warnings about no-deal likely to be exaggerated? Ruth Lea, economic adviser to the Arbuthnot Banking Group, says YES. The Yellowhammer warnings have a weary familiarity to them. As with Project Fear Mark 1, prior to the 2016 referendum, any possible negativities have been ramped up out of all proportion. In 2016, [...]
Give Corbyn some credit – he helped to deliver Brexit August 20, 2019 When the history books are written, Boris Johnson may well be remembered as the man who delivered Brexit. But there is someone else who would deserve almost as much credit for Britain’s departure from the EU: Jeremy Bernard Corbyn. Admittedly, Corbyn’s current role in enabling Brexit is mostly involuntary. It turns out that he is [...]
Has Priti Patel thought through the implications of abruptly ending free movement? August 20, 2019 Priti Patel, fresh from announcing that she wants criminals to feel “terror” at the thought of breaking the law and following last week’s Home Office brainwave to print anti-knife messages on the packaging of products from chicken restaurants, has a new plan. The home secretary has revealed her intention to end freedom of movement from [...]
Johnson sets out plan to break Brexit backstop deadlock August 19, 2019 The Prime Minister has made his first moves towards breaking the Brexit impasse, setting out his position in a letter to the head of the European Council ahead of this weekend’s G7 summit. In the four-page letter to European Council President Donald Tusk published tonight, Johnson insisted “the backstop cannot form part of an agreed [...]
Greene King shares surge 50 per cent on news of purchase by Hong Kong’s richest man August 19, 2019 Investors raised a glass to Greene King after the pub and brewery group agreed to be taken over by Hong Kong’s richest man in a £2.7bn deal. Shares shot up more than 50 per cent yesterday following the announcement that a subsidiary of CK Asset Holdings (CKA) will buy the entirety of Greene King’s shares [...]
Number 10 rejects move to recall parliament August 19, 2019 Number 10 has rejected any suggestion that parliament may be recalled before the end of recess, despite growing calls for action. More than 100 MPs from all parties except the DUP put their name to an open letter calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to end summer recess early. The letter claimed the country was [...]