Theresa May has vowed silence on the government’s position on Single Market membership September 7, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed silence on the UK's Brexit negotiations, despite pressure from MPs to clarify the government's stance on Single Market membership. Addressing the House of Commons today, May said she would not provide commentary on talks with the EU. “We will not take decisions until we are ready. We will not [...]
Australian trade minister hits the brakes on quick-fire trade deal September 7, 2016 Just hours after announcing the UK and Australia have opened talks on a free trade deal, the Australian trade minister has dismissed the idea of a deal being signed straight after the UK leaves the EU. Steven Ciobo, counterpart to UK trade secretary Liam Fox, told the BBC Today programme this morning: "The UK is [...]
City lobby group kicks off talks with chancellor over Brexit plans September 7, 2016 City heavyweights will meet with chancellor Philip Hammond today to discuss Brexit, the first in a series of industry roundtables due to take place over the coming months. It will involve several members of the newly-created trade body European Financial Services Chairman’s Advisory Committee, including Baroness Vadera, the chairwoman of Santander UK and a former Treasury minister. Read [...]
Think tank hits back at businesses trying to neuter Osborne’s living wage September 7, 2016 A leading think tank has urged Theresa May to ignore the complaints of businesses and push ahead with raising the national living wage (NLW) over the coming years. The Resolution Foundation has today called on the prime minister to “stick to her guns”, warning watering down the policy could result in low-paid workers losing out [...]
City passporting rights must be at the top of the government agenda on Brexit talks, according to an influential think tank September 7, 2016 City passporting rights must become the government's first priority following Brexit, according to an influential think tank, which also argues that London can remain Europe's leading financial services centre. A paper from the Margaret Thatcher founded Centre for Policy Studies today argues that while Brexit will bring challenges for the UK's financial services industry, it [...]
UK and Australia to start planning free trade deal September 6, 2016 The UK and Australia will start to lay the groundwork for a sweeping free trade deal ahead of the UK's formal exit from the EU. At an event in London this evening, trade secretary Liam Fox and his Australian counterpart Steven Ciobo announced the creation of a "bilateral trade working group" to shape out the details [...]
Multinationals could be forced to declare country-by-country revenues and taxes thanks to an amendment tabled in parliament by a Labour MP September 6, 2016 New UK legislation could force multinational corporations to reveal the taxes they have paid in every country in which they operate, after MPs voted in favour of landmark new tax proposals this evening. The new rules would introduce a country-by-country reporting system, allowing tax information published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to include details on where a company's revenues [...]
Sadiq Khan approved a new 10,000 home development in Barking, but it will only include 35 per cent affordable properties at the outset September 6, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan has handed approval to a new development of 10,000 new homes on the northern banks of the River Thames. Khan offcially backed the plans for Barking Riverside, a 180-hectare brownfield site, the largest single regeneration project in London, previously home to three power stations and landfill. The site will be owned [...]
Does the government think Single Market membership is “highly improbable”? It depends who you ask… September 6, 2016 Confusion has broken out over the government's stance on Single Market membership after Downing Street refused to back the Brexit minister's views on Europe. Brexit minister David Davis made his first ministerial statement since being appointed May's secretary of state for exiting the European Union yesterday. And responding to a question from former small business [...]
Keith Vaz resigns as head of the home affairs select committee over male escorts and drug-taking allegations September 6, 2016 Keith Vaz has resigned as head of the home affairs select committee over allegations he paid for male escorts. The Labour MP had led the committee since 2007 and the group investigates areas such as crime, policing, drugs, immigration and extremism. According to a report in the Sunday Mirror last weekend, the 59-year-old MP for Leicester [...]