Editor’s Notes: Why we cannot take no-deal off the table February 1, 2019 There has been no shortage of ludicrous Brexiter outbursts lately as they see their project imperilled by political reality. One Tory backbencher railed against the CEO of Airbus (who had warned against a no-deal Brexit) on the grounds that he is German. He even invoked the Second World War to make a point about not [...]
Britain’s trade bodies must confront challenges of their own January 31, 2019 What does the future hold for Britain's trade bodies? We hear a great deal about the disruption that poses huge challenges to their members but what of the disruption facing membership groups themselves? Many are struggling with declining membership rates, or the competing interests of the members who do remain. Take the British Retail Consortium [...]
DEBATE: After Tuesday’s amendments, is a no-deal Brexit actually more likely now? January 31, 2019 After Tuesday’s amendments, is a no-deal Brexit actually more likely now? John Oxley, a Conservative commentator, says YES. The UK leaves the EU by operation of law at 11pm on 29 March. No deal is the default. The insipid amendment “rejecting” that outcome has no force. Only an agreement with the EU or the revocation or extension [...]
Britain has never understood the fervour for the EU project January 31, 2019 What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? It would appear that we are about to find out in the latest instalment of the Brexit soap opera that has been running since we announced our intention to leave in 2016. For no sooner had MPs voted on Tuesday night to back Sir Graham [...]
Let it be: London councils should allow offices and shops to be converted into homes January 31, 2019 Amid all the Brexit brouhaha in Westminster it is important that parliamentarians do not forget the many other issues that affect people's day-to-day lives. Bravo, therefore, to MP Chris Philp for reminding Theresa May during yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions that the dream of homeownership remains all too elusive for many young adults – particularly in [...]
UK car industry warns on no-deal Brexit as manufacturing and investment nosedive January 31, 2019 The UK car industry has warned of the “devastation” a no-deal Brexit would cause as new figures show manufacturing and investment plummeted in 2018. UK car production fell to a six-year low of 1.52m units last year, while investment was slashed almost in half to just £589m, according to the latest data from the Society [...]
Barclays gets go-ahead to shift £160bn of assets to Dublin amid Brexit uncertainty January 30, 2019 Barclays has been given the green light to transfer £160bn of assets to its Irish business as the bank “cannot wait any longer” to implement its no-deal Brexit strategy amid ongoing political uncertainty. A High Court judgement revealed that the bank is pushing forward with its Brexit contingency plan to transfer all of its European [...]
German inflation holds steady amid gloomy outlook for 2019 growth January 30, 2019 Inflation in Germany remained flat in January as the eurozone’s largest economy issued a gloomy forecast for 2019 growth. Consumer prices in Germany rose 1.7 per cent year-on-year, holding steady from the rate in December and in line with estimates from economists polled by Reuters. The figures came shortly after the German government cut its [...]
London listings in slowest start since 2010 as Brexit worries dampen market January 30, 2019 London’s IPO market has got off to its slowest start since the financial crisis this year as the looming Brexit date dents investor confidence. London Stock Exchange (LSE) data, shows that in the year to 29 January just £680,000 has been raised in London initial public offerings (IPOs). By 29 January 2018 £40m had been [...]
Cable stabilises above £1.30 support, but the Brexit storm is far from over January 30, 2019 | City Talk The UK parliament yesterday voted against officially blocking a no deal Brexit, but also forced Theresa May to return to the EU to renegotiate the controversial Irish Border backstop. Cable tumbled over 100 pips initially but support at £1.3060 held. But there’s plenty of pain on the horizon for GBP/USD. “Backstop”. It’s a word that [...]