Is Nicola Sturgeon’s brinkmanship over a second Scottish independence referendum going to backfire? March 6, 2017 Alex Deane, a Canada common councilman, says Yes. Nicola Sturgeon’s referendum demands remind me of nothing so much as Homer Simpson, accustomed to getting his way by challenging anyone and everyone to a duel. The problem is that eventually someone may call your bluff. When the referendum demands come to a head, either [...]
Hammond vows to fight back against bad Brexit deal as he plots vision for Britain’s high-tech future March 6, 2017 Ahead of his first full Budget, chancellor Philip Hammond has vowed the government would fight back against a Brexit deal that doesn't deliver for Britain, insisting the country will not be left licking its wounds after negotiations. Hammond warned the European Union of the UK's "fighting spirit" and said the country will not "slink off as [...]
The real Brexit dividend will be fresh support for Britain’s enterprise economy March 6, 2017 Imagine the UK became the best place in which to do busines in the developed world. A truly enterprise economy, generating wealth and taxes, what could top that? Certainly not membership of the EU. Suddenly it has become an imperative to turn that into reality and to stop relying on the EU, a "crutch" reached [...]
Questions raised after Jeremy Corbyn’s tax return fails to include income as leader of the opposition March 6, 2017 Embattled Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn appeared to make another gaffe last night, publishing a tax return that does not include his salary as head of the opposition. "I have made it clear that I think it is right for party leaders to be open and transparent about their tax affairs," Corbyn said. However, the document does [...]
Former national intelligence director James Clapper says no order existed to tap Trump’s phones March 5, 2017 A former US national intelligence director has slammed Donald Trump's claims the Obama administration ordered a wiretap of phones at now-President's election campaign headquarters at Trump Tower in New York. James Clapper, who stood down from his role at the end of President Obama's tenure, told NBC: "There was no such wiretap activity mounted against the President-elect at the [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond expected to bank £12bn from borrowing outperformance in his first Budget March 5, 2017 Budget-day forecasts from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) are expected to give chancellor Philip Hammond a boost in his efforts to hit his new fiscal targets. Borrowing could undershoot previous targets by as much as £12bn during the 2016-17 tax year, according to the OBR’s analysis of government borrowing figures up to January. [...]
City lobbyists to launch a fresh bid for “mutual recognition” between UK and EU financial regulators March 5, 2017 A major City lobby group is set to launch a fresh bid to win support for mutual regulatory recognition for the UK and the EU's finance businesses within weeks. TheCityUK is to double-down on calls for a bespoke deal on financial services based on a principle of mutual market access for firms on both sides of the [...]
Leading Brexiteers Michael Gove and Dominic Raab have joined calls for Downing Street to protect EU nationals’ rights March 5, 2017 The pressure is growing on Prime Minister Theresa May to guarantee the rights of EU nationals after a cross-party group of MPs, including some heavy hitter Brexiteers, called on Downing Street to act. The House of Lords last week passed an amendment to the Article 50 Bill including a unilateral offer to protect Europeans resident [...]
Bullish Hammond warns the UK will “fight back” if unable to secure a Brexit deal March 5, 2017 Chancellor Philip Hammond has warned European member states the UK "has a fighting spirit" and will not "slink off as a wounded animal" if Brexit talks collapse. Prime Minister Theresa May will fire the starting gun on negotiations later this month, and Hammond today warned that Britain will do "whatever it takes" to remain competitive. [...]
Ed Balls is refusing to rule out a return to Westminster politics March 5, 2017 Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls is refusing to rule out a return to the world of Westminster politics, but the one-time Strictly Come Dancing contestant may not reappear for a little while. Speaking on Peston on Sunday, Balls said "never say never" when asked about whether he would seek to become an MP once again, [...]