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 [...]
Philip Hammond grilled by Labour MPs Wes Streeting and John Mann over Lycamobile in explosive Treasury committee hearing April 25, 2018 The UK is “in the foothills of discussions” about financial services being included in the final Brexit deal – but the chancellor did not commit to it being included in October’s agreement. Speaking at the Treasury Select Committee this afternoon, Philip Hammond said he was “ambitious to make progress” – but he declined to comment [...]
UK housing market continues to slump as number of homes sold in March drops April 24, 2018 The number of residential property transactions in the UK has dropped 7.2 per cent between February and March, according to the latest figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The HMRC UK Property Transaction Statistics report showed that this month’s seasonally adjusted figures were 11.8 per cent lower compared with the same month last year. [...]
Steve Webb slams taxman as HM Revenue & Customs forced to remove relief calculator from its website April 18, 2018 Pension experts have slammed HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for failing to take down a flawed tax relief calculator, despite knowing it was providing incorrect advice. Top-rate taxpayers could have lost out on thousands of pounds of tax relief when planning their financial affairs for the coming year by using an online tool to help [...]
The AA thinks pumped-up petrol prices may have diverted £1bn away from high street spending last year March 24, 2018 Higher petrol prices in 2017 cost drivers £1bn in money that may otherwise have been spent on the high street, according to new research from breakdown cover provider The AA. A rise of nearly 9p per litre in the average price of petrol last year siphoned off a huge chunk of consumers’ spending capacity, The [...]