HMRC accused of breaching data protection laws for taking ‘voice IDs’ of 5m taxpayers June 25, 2018 HMRC has been accused of breaching data protection laws by taking the "voice IDs" of over 5m people without their consent. When users call HMRC, they are asked to repeat the phrase "my voice is my password" on an automated line as a security precaution before they can access services. But data watchdog Big Brother [...]
Leaked recording of Boris Johnson: Minister admits Brexit red lines may be crossed, slams Remainers in the Treasury and rubbishes Irish border issue June 8, 2018 Boris Johnson has ridiculed fears over the border in Ireland, warned that a final Brexit deal will violate Leavers’ red lines and acknowledged “there may be a meltdown” during negotiations during an explosive private conversation earlier this week. Speaking to a select group of party activists during a private dinner with pressure group Conservative Way [...]
Brexit latest: No deal as expensive as max fac to business, claims HMRC boss Jon Thompson June 5, 2018 A Brexit no deal would cost businesses around £20bn a year, HMRC boss Jon Thompson has claimed, as he doubled down on the estimates that max fac would do likewise. Speaking to the Treasury Select Committee this morning, Thompson told MPs he was confident in his statements from a fortnight ago that suggested the max [...]
Exclusive: Cabinet ministers poised to back max fac customs option as Irish border solution breaks Brexit deadlock June 1, 2018 Ministers charged with determining the UK’s position on post-Brexit customs are poised to argue for a modified version of the “max fac” option, after making a breakthrough on the Irish border issue, City A.M. understands. For nearly a month, Cabinet ministers have been analysing the two options – the new customs partnership, or NCP, initially [...]
Brexit breakthrough: Cabinet ministers poised to back modified max fac customs option as Irish border solution breaks Brexit deadlock June 1, 2018 Ministers charged with determining the UK’s position on post-Brexit customs are poised to argue for a modified version of the “max fac” option, after making a breakthrough on the Irish border issue, City A.M. understands. For nearly a month, Cabinet ministers have been analysing the two options – the new customs partnership, or NCP, initially [...]
Exclusive: Cabinet ministers poised to back max fac customs option as Irish border solution breaks Brexit deadlock May 31, 2018 Ministers charged with determining the UK’s position on post-Brexit customs are poised to argue for a modified version of the “max fac” option, after making a breakthrough on the Irish border issue, City A.M. understands. For nearly a month, Cabinet ministers have been analysing the two options – the new customs partnership, or NCP, initially [...]
Manufacturers’ association says max fac customs proposal is a ‘non-starter’ to the UK’s Brexit problems May 29, 2018 The government should not waste any more time or money exploring the so-called “maximum facilitation” option for future UK and EU customs, the manufacturers’ association has said. The max fac proposal – which would use technology to allow so-called “trusted traders” to cross the Northern Ireland and other EU borders freely after Brexit – has [...]
Brexit: Senior EU official derides UK position as “fantasy” May 25, 2018 The UK has been described as living in a “fantasy” when it comes to Brexit, prompting an angry response from Whitehall. This week saw officials return to the negotiating table in Brussels for another round of Brexit talks in which withdrawal issues, Northern Ireland and the future relationship were up for discussion. But in a [...]
Brexiters’ favoured “max fac” customs proposal could cost businesses £20bn, warns HMRC boss Jon Thompson May 23, 2018 Brexiters’ favoured customs union proposal could cost businesses up to £20bn, the head of HM Revenues & Customs has warned. And while Theresa May’s preferred option would cost a fraction of that, it could take up to five years to implement. Jon Thompson, chief executive of HMRC, confirmed that the new customs partnership – in [...]
Drop in apprenticeships sparks calls for reform of levy-based system May 17, 2018 The 25 per cent drop in the number of apprenticeships in the space of a year has sparked criticism that the introduction of a levy-based system has adversely affected the scheme. Data released by the Department for Education (DfE) reveals that the number of apprenticeships dropped from 309,000 in the six months to February last [...]