Starmer accuses Johnson of ‘winging it’ over coronavirus crisis June 3, 2020 Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of “winging it” in his handling of the coronavirus crisis which he says risks triggering a second wave of infections. Starmer said Johnson needed to “get a grip” of the situation and said government mishandling of the crisis risked making a “difficult situation 10 times [...]
Brexit: Minister won’t rule out prospect of City losing EU access over fishing policy row May 19, 2020 A senior minister has refused to rule out the prospect of the UK’s financial services industry losing access to EU markets over a row with Brussels over fishing policy. Environment secretary George Eustice at today’s press briefing said the government would not “get into saying you have to sacrifice one industry in order to give [...]
Government creates coronavirus ‘taskforces’ to aid reopening May 14, 2020 The UK government has created five new “taskforces” to develop guidelines on how businesses across Britain can safely reopen. It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the weekend laid out the government’s “roadmap” for lifting coronavirus restrictions. Non-essential shops could be opened from 1 June, so long as it is safe and they can [...]
Exclusive: Growing divide in Boris Johnson’s Brexit unit over trade deal extension April 22, 2020 There is a growing divide in opinion within the government’s Brexit trade deal negotiating unit over whether to seek an extension to the 31 December deadline during the coronavirus crisis. Civil servants are increasingly frustrated that the government refuses to countenance the idea of an extension, while political appointees are keen to press home the [...]
Another UK-EU battle seems almost certain February 26, 2020 Remember the summer of 2018? The sun shining almost constantly, England’s footballers marching to the latter stages of a major international tournament, and interminable battles between Westminster and Brussels over the future relationship between the UK and the European Union. Alas, the first two can’t be guaranteed — though we deserve some vitamin D after [...]
The UK’s unrivalled regulatory framework is at the heart of our success as a finance hub February 4, 2020 Britain has officially progressed into the next chapter of growth, and can begin negotiations to achieve the trading partnerships and relationships that will secure our competitive future. Having spent several years in the City myself and now as MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, a constituency with thousands working in financial services, this sector remains one [...]
Forging closer ties with India is crucial, but let’s not lose sight of our neighbours February 3, 2020 Now that the UK has formally left the EU, our trading ties with partners across the world will be more in focus than ever before. This includes our relationship with India, a country I visited last week to promote ties in financial and professional services. The UK-India partnership is now worth some £20bn, with nearly [...]
Brexit Day celebrations: How the UK is marking 31 January January 31, 2020 After nearly four years since the EU referendum in June 2016, Brexit Day is upon us. Great Britain will finally cut its ties with the European Union on 31 January after that date was repeatedly delayed. The original Brexit date was 29 March 2019. But that was pushed back to 31 October and then 31 [...]
Brexit Day: What the biggest Leavers and Remainers had to say January 31, 2020 As the UK prepares to bring an end to its 47-year membership of the EU tonight at 11pm, here is how some of the major players reacted to Brexit Day today. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson: Johnson, who will release a video statement tonight, said: “Our job as the government – my job – is [...]
Brexit day: Boris Johnson to hail ‘dawn of a new era’ January 31, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to hail the “dawn of a new era” in a speech to the country on Brexit day. At 11pm today, the UK will officially ends its 47-year membership with the European Union. Johnson will say the night marks “the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up [...]