Xi Jinping and Donald Trump have fired the opening salvoes of the coming trade war January 23, 2017 It's only the first week of Donald Trump’s presidency, but the contrast between Trump’s “America First” protectionist rhetoric and other world leaders’ hopes of globalisation working for the many could not be starker. The Trump rally had already stalled before the 45th President began his inauguration speech, as investors sought more detail on his plans. Despite [...]
In full: GCHQ director Robert Hannigan’s resignation letter and foreign secretary Boris Johnson’s response January 23, 2017 Robert Hannigan has stepped down as director of GCHQ due to personal reasons, the spy agency confirmed today. Here's Hannigan's resignation letter in full: Dear Foreign Secretary, I have had the great privilege of leading the men and women of GCHQ since 2014. I am proud of what we have achieved in those years, not least setting [...]
GCHQ director Robert Hannigan has resigned for personal reasons January 23, 2017 GCHQ top boss Robert Hannigan has stepped down citing personal reasons, the surveillance agency has announced. Hannigan became GCHQ director in 2014. Prior to this, he was director general of defence and intelligence at the Foreign Office. In his resignation letter to foreign secretary Boris Johnson, he wrote that his public service roles "demanded a great deal of my ever patient [...]
Croydon MP launches bid to ban “unreasonable” Southern Rail strikes January 23, 2017 Southern Rail workers could be banned from launching strikes deemed to be "unreasonable" or "disproportionate" under new plans being introduced in parliament tomorrow by Croydon South MP Chris Philp. Philp will argue for restrictions on the ability for public sector workers to strike in the House of Commons tomorrow afternoon, in particular citing disruption caused by the ongoing dispute [...]
Why SMEs are so optimistic in the face of Brexit January 23, 2017 Now that Theresa May has set out her 12 priorities for Brexit, and with Article 50 set to be triggered within weeks, are the UK’s SMEs starting to feel any effects? We caught up with Peter Alderson, managing director of LDF, the UK’s largest independent finance provider to SMEs, to find out how his clients [...]
As Theresa May prepares to unveil her industrial strategy, is it doomed to fail? January 23, 2017 Len Shackleton, professor of economics at the University of Buckingham, says Yes. Following Mrs May’s flying visit to tell Davos businesspeople what she thinks other people think of them, she now returns to the theme of industrial strategy. Like many before her, today’s Prime Minister thinks government can shift the market in more “balanced” directions. [...]
Australian overtures are welcome – but post-Brexit trade deals will not be plain sailing January 23, 2017 Aussie diplomat Alexander Downer has become the latest foreign politician to propose a quick trade deal post-Brexit, insisting over the weekend the two countries could trigger a "significant intensification" of trade by tearing down barriers. His positive, liberal words are extremely welcome, and echo a sentiment already heard from the likes of New Zealand's Prime Minister [...]
Trump could be a great job creator, if he backs women in the workplace January 23, 2017 President Donald Trump could live up to his promise to be “the greatest jobs producer that God ever create”, according to an influential think tank, but he may need to promote female-friendly policies to do so. Trump's inauguration on Friday prompted more than 600 Women's March events globally with a focus on issues like equality [...]
British business groups welcome Theresa May’s wide-ranging industrial strategy January 23, 2017 Britain's top business groups have thrown their weight behind government plans for a sweeping new industrial strategy, seeking to boost productivity across every sector and in every corner of the country. Prime Minister Theresa May will launch a green paper in the north west today by calling on businesses and workers “to help us create [...]
Prime Minister’s talks with Donald Trump to build on special relationship January 22, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May will use her visit to see US President Donald Trump to build on the “special relationship” between the two countries, but won’t be afraid to speak out on anything “unacceptable”. On Friday, May will be the first foreign leader to visit to the White House and meet the new US president since [...]