Brexit: No breakthroughs expected in fresh round of UK-EU trade talks June 1, 2020 No major breakthroughs are expected in Brexit trade talks this week as UK and EU negotiators remain deadlocked on several major areas. Sources close to the UK negotiating team said they were not expecting much progress on the biggest flashpoints – such as EU access to UK fishing waters and business competition regulations – over [...]
Government under pressure to suspend non-essential construction work March 25, 2020 The government is facing growing pressure to halt non-essential construction work as it tries to grapple with the coronavirus outbreak. In a Downing Street briefing on Tuesday, health secretary Matt Hancock said construction workers could and should continue to work so long as they are two metres apart. “The judgment we have made is that [...]
Brexit trade talks: Michel Barnier cites ‘serious differences’ between EU and UK stances March 5, 2020 The EU’s chief negotiator has warned of “very serious divergence” between Britain and Brussels over the future relationship, following the first round of post-Brexit trade talks. Michel Barnier said he was confident a deal could be struck between the two sides, saying “an agreement is possible, even if it is difficult”. But he warned there [...]
Yes, you read that right: Croydon is named a London borough of culture February 11, 2020 The annual London Borough of Culture award is coming to the birthplace of grime superstar Stormzy in 2023. Croydon was named by mayor of London Sadiq Khan as the London Borough of Culture for 2023 today, while Lewisham got the nod for 2021. The South London boroughs will each receive £1.35m to organise year-long programmes [...]
EU rejects UK’s call for quick agreement on financial services equivalence March 16, 2020 The EU’s head of financial regulation has rejected the UK’s calls for the City’s future access to the bloc’s markets to be settled by the end of June, warning that Brussels’ decision will be based on the extent Britain wants to deviate from EU rules. UK chancellor Rishi Sunak last month called on the EU [...]
Covid Recovery Commission: FTSE 100 bosses unite to set UK economy back on track July 3, 2020 Some of the biggest names in UK business have teamed up to create a pressure group to ensure the economy emerges from coronavirus “stronger and fairer”, its members announced today. The group will be called the Covid Recovery Commission, and will involve the chairs of FTSE 100 powerhouses Tesco and Shell and the chief executives [...]
Brexit trade negotiations: UK increases preparations for no-deal May 17, 2020 The UK is gearing up preparations to walk away from Brexit trade negotiations with Brussels in June and to exit the EU transition period on 31 December without a deal. The third round of negotiations were completed on Friday, with both sides expressing frustration at the slow progress of talks. UK chief negotiator David Frost [...]
Don’t believe the Scottish independence hype — I’d bet on Johnson’s tortoise to beat Sturgeon’s hare July 24, 2020 For his first significant political event outside the Westminster bubble, timed for his one-year anniversary of becoming Prime Minister, Boris Johnson chose to go to Scotland. The significance of that choice cannot be overestimated. Politics is as unpredictable as ever, and despite chancellor Rishi Sunak hosing Scotland with the billions confected by the Bank of [...]
London coronavirus lockdown: Which Tubes and buses are still operating? March 24, 2020 Boris Johnson’s address to the nation last night confirmed what many had thought inevitable. From today, the UK is under a police-enforced coronavirus lockdown, with people only allowed to go outside for a limited set of reasons. Public meetings of more than two people have been banned, while all stores deemed non-essential have been forcibly [...]
Redrow scraps interim dividend as coronavirus restrictions tighten March 24, 2020 Housebuilder Redrow is cancelling its interim dividend, anticipating a sharp drop in sales as the government tightens restrictions amid the coronavirus outbreak. The FTSE 250 company said it is cancelling its 10.5p interim dividend, amounting to £37m, which was due to be paid next month. Shares in Redrow are up five per cent. Redrow said: [...]