CBI urges government to extend business loans scheme June 25, 2020 The CBI has urged the government to extend the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) until November, as part of a wave of proposals to keep businesses alive as the UK faces its worst recession on record. The business body, which represents around 190,000 UK companies, today called on the government to extend the deadline [...]
Barnier: Brexit deal ahead if Britain stops backtracking June 24, 2020 Britain can still achieve a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union as long as the UK stops “backtracking” on its commitments, the EU’s chief negotiator said today. In a virtual think-tank event this afternoon, Michel Barnier called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give “clear signals” that the UK is ready to work towards [...]
New lockdown guidance gets widespread approval in Westminster June 23, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement today that the two metre social distancing will be scrapped in favour of new “one metre-plus” guidance from 4 July was met with widespread approval from Westminster, as the public prepares to revitalise the British economy after months of lockdown. Business Ministers welcomed the new guidance as providing a lifeline [...]
Is entrepreneurship set to boom post-pandemic? June 23, 2020 Ronel Lehmann backs the next generation to find their own way in an increasingly confusing world When we’re growing up, we plan for a world that has changed by the time we arrive in it. This has always been a problem: how do you look ahead when the world is moving so fast? It’s never [...]
Financial regulator to get greater powers to phase out Libor June 23, 2020 Britain’s financial watchdog is to be given greater powers by the government to ensure that Libor is scrapped by 2021, after efforts to retire the scandal-hit interest rate benchmark faltered due to the coronavirus crisis. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will be allowed to compel changes to benchmarks such as the London Interbank Offered Rate [...]
Khan calls for London furlough extension as he warns of ‘looming unemployment crisis’ June 23, 2020 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has urged the chancellor to extend the furlough scheme in London’s most deprived areas, as he warned of a “looming unemployment crisis” in the UK. Khan today called on Rishi Sunak to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme beyond the end of the lockdown to avoid a sudden surge in [...]
Sajid Javid: Slash taxes and ramp up spending to fuel UK recovery June 23, 2020 Britain should reduce the National Insurance tax and pour money into infrastructure and the poorest regions of the country to boost the UK’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis, according to former chancellor Sajid Javid. Javid, who left the Treasury as part of Boris Johnson’s February cabinet reshuffle, warned against a return to the austerity [...]
London Stock Exchange boss appointed as new FCA chief June 22, 2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has today appointed Nikhil Rathi, the current chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, as the permanent boss of the Financial Conduct Authority. Rathi will replace Christopher Woolard, who was serving as the FCA’s interim chief executive following former boss Andrew Bailey’s move to become governor of the Bank of England. The [...]
Former chancellor backs government plans to slash VAT June 22, 2020 Former chancellor Ken Clarke has said cutting VAT would be the “sensible thing to do” as the government prepares to implement new measures to revitalise the British economy. Speaking to the BBC today, the Tory MP said: “I think coming out of the lockdown, sorting out the mess — including the recession after the coronavirus [...]
Government to unveil new bill to help businesses adjust to social distancing measures June 22, 2020 The government is set to bring forward fresh legislation to help businesses adjust to new social distancing requirements, as the UK begins to emerge from months of lockdown. The Business and Planning Bill is set to be introduced this week and will be led by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis), the [...]