President Barack Obama’s best comments at the Democratic National Convention July 28, 2016 President Barack Obama is to leave the White House later this year, his successor yet to be elected. It's going to be a tense run-off between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump. Polling and bookies puts Clinton out in front ahead of the election in November, but Trump has already defied greater odds just [...]
Advanced economies stuck in trap of low growth and rising populism July 28, 2016 The cycle of weak growth and political instability affecting the developed world was laid bare in a new report into the state of the world's largest economies, published this morning. Economies are trapped in a spiral of weak growth and growing debt while politicians fail to grasp the problems, leading to a political backlash and a clamour [...]
Should Philip Hammond cut VAT to support post-referendum economy? July 28, 2016 Theresa May and Philip Hammond have promised to "reset" the government's spending plans in the wake of the EU referendum. George Osborne's goal to run a budget surplus has been abandoned while rumours about a massive injection of government spending are gathering pace. In 2008, as the Labour government scrambled to deal with the start of the slowdown, [...]
Foreign secretary Boris Johnson to meet French counterpart Marc Ayrault who called former mayor a liar during EU referendum July 28, 2016 Foreign secretary Boris Johnson will meet his French counterpart later today, a man who branded him a liar during the EU referendum. The French foreign ministry said: “This first trip to France by the British foreign secretary will offer an opportunity to discuss the most important international issues of the day on which we work closely with [...]
Court could be about to throw a spanner in the works for Corbyn’s Labour dreams July 28, 2016 The fate of Jeremy Corbyn's somewhat controversial battle to stay leader of the Labour party rests on a knife edge, as the high court is due to hand down judgment in a case on the matter later on today. If the case does not go in Corbyn's favour, the Labour party may have to backtrack [...]
City Airport expansion is a boost for London July 28, 2016 Recent political events have thrown any decision on UK airport expansion further into doubt. Even before the referendum and subsequent resignation of David Cameron, it was tough to pin down exactly what the government was minded to do about the pressing need to expand capacity in the south east. Throughout the debate (which looks set [...]
After pledging a wealth tax and an end to austerity, would Owen Smith be just as bad as Jeremy Corbyn? July 28, 2016 Brendan O’Neill, editor of Spiked, says Yes. Corbyn versus Smith is the least inspiring leadership spat in living memory. On one side, a man who looks like he wandered out of the 1970s, a beardy, lefty version of Austin Powers, always saying stuff that’s decades out of date. And on the other, an edge-free technocrat whose [...]
Investment banks have taken a wait and see approach to Brexit July 28, 2016 London's investment banks are continuing to take a wait and see approach to the UK’s decision to quit the European Union more than one month after the vote. Of the 20 biggest investment banks in the UK, 40 per cent have so far expressed a view on the vote. Half of those institutions that have [...]
Take off! London lifted by green light for City Airport expansion as markets touch post-Brexit highs July 28, 2016 The City received a double boost yesterday as London City Airport was given the go-ahead for a major expansion while the latest GDP data beat expectations and lifted the FTSE 100 to a 12-month high. Chancellor Philip Hammond, transport secretary Chris Grayling and communities secretary Sajid Javid gave the green light to the multi-million pound [...]
Should the City be worried about the EU’s new Brexit negotiator? July 27, 2016 The politician once dubbed “the most dangerous man in Europe” is set to lead the European Commission’s negotiations with the UK over the terms of Brexit. Frenchman Michel Barnier, a “friend” of Jean-Claude Juncker, scooped the newly-created chief negotiator role yesterday and is expected to be one the the EU’s top representatives in discussions with [...]