Is the Home Office considering plans to hand new visa powers to an independent body after Brexit? February 26, 2017 The Home Office is reportedly considering handing new powers to an independent migration body to issue visas on a sector-by-sector basis. The Sunday Times reports that ministers are evaluating a plan to grant the Migration Advisory Committee powers to decide how many visas need to be issued for workers in key sectors after Brexit. The [...]
The MoD has been failing to pay suppliers on time, after installing new systems to do just that February 26, 2017 Ministry of Defence officials have been left red-faced after the implementation of a new system designed to make sure that suppliers are paid on time left some firms missing out for up to three months. The MoD launched the new system to make business with the department more efficient as part of a cross government bid to [...]
Labour has invited industry groups for an emergency summit on business rates tomorrow February 26, 2017 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has convened an emergency roundtable on business rates tomorrow in a bid to increase the pressure on the government to implement reforms. McDonnell will lead the summit alongside newly appointed shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, meeting with groups including the Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and the British Chamber of Commerce [...]
Almost 80 per cent of non-Labour voters say the party has the wrong leadership February 26, 2017 Almost 80 per cent of non-Labour voters do not believe the party has the right leader in Jeremy Corbyn, new polling figures show. Research published in the Sunday Mirror today shows an overwhelming 77 per cent of those who backed other parties in 2015 also dismissed Corbyn. A further 73 per cent said they do [...]
Philip Hammond enlists Mark Carney and Simon Kirby for first UK FinTech conference February 26, 2017 The government will host its first ever International FinTech conference as part of FinTech Week 2017, chancellor Philip Hammond announced today. City minister Simon Kirby and Bank of England governor Mark Carney will join the chancellor at the conference, which will feature panels and workshops as well as opportunities for UK FinTech firms to pitch [...]
Guess who’s coming to dinner? Nigel Farage joins Donald Trump for a meal after his Brexit speech February 26, 2017 Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage has been boasting of his close ties with US President Donald Trump again, posting a picture of the two sharing a meal last night. Farage was in the States to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, giving an address on the "global revolution" started by Brexit. After his speech, Farage sat down with The [...]
Michael Heseltine vows to fight the government on Brexit February 26, 2017 Conservative peer Lord Heseltine has vowed to fight Theresa May's government over Brexit, coming out in favour of opposition amendments to the Article 50 Bill. The Bill, which gives the government the power to begin Brexit talks, is being debated in the Lords, with next week set aside for discussions of amendments. Writing in the Mail on [...]
Home secretary Amber Rudd: This is the end of free movement as we know it February 26, 2017 Home secretary Amber Rudd has emphasised that the UK's immigration rules will radically change after Brexit, saying it will be the end "of Freedom of Movement as we know it". In an interview on Peston on Sunday, Rudd refused to be drawn on the options being looked at, saying it would be a "mistake" to go [...]
Ukip deputy Peter Whittle shrugs off threats from Arron Banks, saying there are “other” donors February 26, 2017 Ukip's deputy leader has brushed off a threat from one of its largest donors, saying "there are other people" to help bankroll the party. Appearing on The Andrew Marr show, Peter Whittle said if Arron Banks, whose fortune is estimated at £100m, withdraws his funding, it will not hurt the party. "If Arron were to take [...]
London mayor blasted for “spectacularly ill-judged” Scottish independence comments February 25, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan has left Scottish politicians flabbergasted after comparing nationalism north of the border with racism. Khan is today in Perth, speaking at the Scottish Labour Party conference, and is to deliver a speech that doesn't pull any punches, according to the Daily Record: There’s no difference between those who try to divide [...]