UK urges EU to extend grace period to 2023 in bid to soften Brexit impact February 3, 2021 Britain has asked the EU for a grace period extension until 2023 on checks made on trade moving between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has written to the European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic to ask for urgent political solutions on a number of issues at the [...]
Northern Ireland extends lockdown to 1 April February 19, 2021 The Stormont Executive has agreed to extend Northern Ireland’s lockdown to 1 April. Some restrictions will be lifted however, with a phased reopening of schools. Children in primary school will be allowed to go back to school on 8 March. They will then return to remote learning on 22 March to allow the return of [...]
Leaked text messages: Boris Johnson called Matt Hancock ‘totally f***** hopeless’ June 17, 2021 Boris Johnson described Matt Hancock’s performance when it came to mass testing in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic as “totally f****** hopeless”, Dominic Cummings has claimed. Treasury minister Jesse Norman said today that the Prime Minister’s is “firmly behind” the health secretary after the messages emerged. “I think this is some of the [...]
UK drawing up plans for Covid-19 certificates for office workers March 29, 2021 The UK is reportedly weighing up plans to launch Covid vaccine certificates for white collar workers, which could allow people to go back to the office in large numbers later this year. A review led by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on the future of office working is considering implementing the certificates, which would likely [...]
UK scraps post-Brexit Kent permit for lorries April 20, 2021 The UK has decided to scrap the post-Brexit Kent Access Permit required for lorry drivers to enter the county on their way to the EU. The government has said the permit is no longer necessary as lorry companies are now used to new customs rules and are coming prepared with the right paperwork for border [...]
Soaring inflation in construction could spell disaster for housing in England November 25, 2021 The construction industry has been hit badly by inflation. Material prices are up: in terms of year on year increase, structural steel is at 65 per cent, reinforcement steel is at 62 per cent and plywood is at 56 per cent. Familiar supply chain problems are causing delays, and the cost of both energy and [...]
UK agrees to EU extension of Brexit trade deal ratification February 23, 2021 The UK has agreed to a request by the EU to extend the date of its parliament’s ratification of the Brexit trade deal until 30 April. The trade deal was provisionally approved by the 27 EU ambassadors in December to ensure it came into place on 1 January when the UK left the single market [...]
Boris’ tax mania could push British business into Labour’s open arms November 3, 2021 An exec recently recalled a meeting between banking bosses and ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell when it looked like Labour may just seize power. As the suits traipsed into a room the Marxist quipped: “Don’t worry. We’re not sending you to a re-education centre in Doncaster … yet.” He also promised to whack corporation tax up [...]
Downing Street signals it is prepared to tear up Northern Ireland’s Brexit deal November 23, 2021 Downing Street said late last night the UK government is prepared to consider tearing up elements of Northern Ireland’s Brexit deal, despite a Cabinet minister insisting the option would not be used before Christmas. Number 10 said there was no timetable for whether or not it would unilaterally use the powers under Article 16 of [...]
David Cameron denies speaking to Lex Greensill about future job while Prime Minister May 13, 2021 David Cameron has denied he spoke with Lex Greensill about one day working for his supply chain finance firm while he was Prime Minister. Greensill, an Australian former investment banker, worked as an adviser in the Cabinet Office from 2011 while Cameron was Prime Minister. Cameron went on to work for now failed Greensill Capital [...]