Brexit latest: City hits back against EU’s “improved equivalence” offer for financial services March 20, 2018 The City has hit back at suggestions that the EU is considering offering the UK "improved equivalence" as the basis of the future financial services relationship after Brexit. Until now the EU has insisted that financial services would not be included in any free trade deal, with both Donald Tusk and Michel Barnier making it [...]
UK will be able to negotiate and strike trade deals during transition March 15, 2018 The EU is poised to back down over whether the UK can begin to negotiate and sign new trade deals during the transition period. According to The Times, the UK will be able to act under its own steam from March 2019 without seeking permission for the European Union. Although the formal negotiating guidelines still [...]
UK, US, Germany and France issue joint statement condemning Russia for ‘assault on UK sovereignty’ in nerve agent attack row March 15, 2018 The UK has issued a joint statement with France, Germany and the US condemning the Salisbury attack on an ex-Russian spy, calling it "an assault on UK sovereignty" and threatening "the security of us all". They agreed that Russia being behind the attack was the only plausible explanation. In a statement, the leaders said: This [...]
Russia hits back over UK ‘provocation’… and blames Brexit March 15, 2018 Russia has hit back against the UK's claims it was behind the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal, claiming the measures announced by Theresa May are "signs of a provocation against our country". The UK Prime Minister yesterday revealed a series of retaliatory measures against the Russian state, including the expulsion of 23 diplomats whom she [...]
Intelligence breakdown: Corbyn refuses to blame Moscow for chemical weapons attack as May slings out 23 Russian ‘spies’ out of the country March 15, 2018 Jeremy Corbyn has sparked a furious row in the Labour party after he pointedly refused to condemn Russia for the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal. Theresa May had informed MPs there had been no credible explanation for the attack in Salisbury and reiterated the government’s position that Russia was responsible. She described Moscow’s response [...]
PM reveals Russia World Cup boycott, diplomats to be thrown out of the UK, assets to be frozen, and a new law after Sergei Skripal “attempted murder” March 14, 2018 The UK will expel 23 Russian diplomats as part of a series of measures following the "attempted murder" of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, with Theresa May laying the blame for the attack at Russian President Putin's feet. According to the Prime Minister, the diplomats have been identified as "undeclared intelligence agents." The expulsion [...]
Tech friend or foe? Sadiq on why going up against Uber isn’t bad for London’s business March 12, 2018 Sadiq Khan pledged to be the most “business-friendly” mayor to lead London when he was elected almost two years ago. But in September last year, he shocked the business community by backing Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to revoke Uber’s licence. Uber is not known for its good corporate governance, but Khan was criticised for [...]
Sir Nick Clegg has become chairman at on-demand social care startup Cera March 10, 2018 Sir Nick Clegg has been appointed chairman of the advisory board of a homecare startup founded by a former NHS doctor. Clegg joins the board of Cera, which was started by Mahiben Maruthappu in an effort to help tackle the social care crisis. Read more: Nick Clegg admits "soft Brexit" hopes are dead The startup, [...]
IEA poaches Legatum’s top Brexit adviser Shanker Singham and team March 9, 2018 Free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has poached Shanker Singham and three of his team from rival firm Legatum. Singham, who is widely seen as one of the top Brexit policy advisers and has played a key role in guiding the government's thinking on the issue, will head up the IEA's [...]
The EU’s Italy calamity is the UK’s big Brexit opportunity March 8, 2018 One problem with Britain’s domestic focus on Brexit is that we tend not to consider, never mind discuss in any depth, what issues and conflicts currently beset the EU that could encourage its leadership to settle for a new relationship of the type the UK is proposing. The EU faces serious problems in managing its [...]