Brexit secretary: UK would consider paying EU for Single Market access December 1, 2016 Brexit secretary David Davis has revealed that the UK is prepared to consider paying to the European Union to secure terms on Single Market access. Speaking in the House of Commons this morning, Davis was asked by Labour Caerphilly MP Wayne David whether the government would consider making “any contribution in any shape or form” [...]
Donald Trump hands top job at commerce department to Bank of Cyprus vice-chairman December 1, 2016 President-elect Donald Trump has appointed the vice-chairman of soon-to-be London-listed Bank of Cyprus as his secretary of commerce. Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross was a key Trump ally during his bid for the White House. Similar to the President-elect, he has criticised the North American Free Trade Agreement and blamed China's entry into the World Trade Organisation in 2001 [...]
Chris Grayling has called TfL’s Heathrow expansion cost estimates “ludicrous” December 1, 2016 Chris Grayling has called Transport for London's (TfL) predicted costs for improving road and rail links for the Heathrow expansion "ludicrous". Giving evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee on Heathrow's third runway, the transport secretary discussed warnings from TfL that making such improvements could cost up to £20bn. The Airports Commission has estimated surface infrastructure changes [...]
Cherie Blair says there’s a “backlash” against women after Hillary Clinton loses US presidential election December 1, 2016 Cherie Blair has said there's a backlash against women in politics. Speaking on BBC's Newsnight, Blair was asked about the so-called "golden moment" where Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel and Theresa May looked as if they were going to make up three of the G7 leaders at the same time. But Hillary Clinton then lost the US [...]
Bizarre by-election enters final straight December 1, 2016 Richmond's by-election has become rather surreal in the last couple of days. On Wednesday night Zac Goldsmith turned up to a crucial hustings an hour late, blaming the delay on a close encounter with a car driven by one of his own supporters (the vehicle clipped his leg and tore his trousers, Goldsmith told a [...]
It’s time to face facts: Pandora’s Box is open and Europe is finished December 1, 2016 “Therefore, send not to know/For whom the bell tolls, /It tolls for thee.” – John Donne, 1624 Let me begin with a truism. My analytical career has not suffered from betting against Europe. For much as I love the lifestyle and all that comes with it, the continent’s complete, pathetic inability to solve any of [...]
Boris Johnson rubbishes claims that suggest he is “in favour” of free movement November 30, 2016 Boris Johnson has reportedly said that he is in favour of freedom of movement. The foreign secretary has told as many as four EU ambassadors that he supports the right of EU workers to move between nations, Sky News has reported. One ambassador told Sky News: "(Boris Johnson) told us he was personally in favour [...]
Michael Gove has questioned the efforts of the EEF to poll its membership ahead of the Brexit vote November 30, 2016 Michael Gove has questioned the efforts of a manufacturing trade body to survey its members over Brexit. In a Brexit select committee hearing, Gove took EEF director of EU affairs Fergus McReynolds to task over surveys of its membership. The EEF was one of several trade bodies to back a Remain vote, but Gove said [...]
The chairman of the OBR doesn’t think Hammond’s Autumn Statement stimulus will be a big boost to productivity November 30, 2016 Chancellor Philip Hammond’s planned productivity spending spree won’t have a big effect on the UK’s economy, according to an influential economist. Robert Chote, the chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has said Hammond’s plans to boost infrastructure spending did not not have an effect on forecasts. “This is not the near-term fiscal stimulus [...]