House of Lords warned: Behave over Brexit, or see your power restricted November 17, 2016 The government has warned the House of Lords to toe the line on Brexit, or face revived plans to limit the powers of peers. A minister today revealed it would instead ask peers undertake “self-regulation”, but warned them over rebelling against Brexit in particular. Former prime minister David Cameron launched plans to limit peers after the House of [...]
Why the taxman’s latest weapon against evasion might not hit its target January 8, 2017 The New Year has brought with it HM Revenue & Custom's (HMRC) latest weapon in the battle against tax evasion: civil penalties for the 'enablers' of offshore tax evasion. Under the new regime, accountants, bankers, lawyers and other advisers who take deliberate action to help others to engage in offshore tax evasion, will face civil [...]
Tobacco giants have lost their legal battle over plain packaging November 30, 2016 Tobacco giants have lost a legal battle against the government's new plain-packaging rules. British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) appealed against the High Court's decision in May to enforce standardised plain packaging laws on cigarette boxes. Read more: Big tobacco firms aim to stub out new plain packaging laws via appeal Daniel [...]
The UK will get a US free trade deal post-Brexit – but Donald Trump will drive a hard bargain March 13, 2017 Back in 1783, when Britain signed a trade deal with the fledgling United States as part of the Treaty of Paris which concluded the revolutionary war, the world-class British delegation was infinitely more experienced and better prepared than their novice American counterparts. Sadly, this is not the case today. Fast forward 234 years and Britain’s [...]
No Delays! Downing Street is confident it can activate Article 50 by March, despite today’s high court ruling November 3, 2016 Downing Street is sticking to plans to activate Article 50 early next year despite this morning's high court ruling. Today a high court judge ruled that Prime Minister Theresa May needed the approval of parliament to begin the process of quitting the European Union. Despite the setback, Theresa May remains confident there will be no delays. [...]
Government to consider widening the list of crimes companies could be held criminally responsible for December 8, 2016 Government could broaden the types of crimes companies can be held responsible for, the attorney general told MPs today. Answering questions on government's policy on corporate criminal liability, Jeremy Wright said government would soon be calling for evidence to look into further reform, and potentially whether it should widen the crimes companies could be found [...]
Wife of jailed Libor trader vows they will move on with their lives after his request for appeal is rejected November 27, 2016 The wife of an ex-Barclays trader jailed for Libor-rigging offences has promised they will move forward with their lives after his request to appeal was turned down. Alex Pabon, along with fellow former Barclays bankers Jay Merchant and Jonathan Mathew, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud in July. City A.M. revealed in August the trio had applied to appeal their [...]
Ministers plan for an early election November 5, 2016 Conservative ministers are preparing for an early general election after a court verdict on Article 50 derailed Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit timetable. The idea of an early election is now being "openly discussed" by the government, according to the Daily Telegraph. The news comes after three High Court judges ruled that the question of [...]
13 events that will change the world in 2017: Article 50, Snapchat’s IPO, more Libor trials and a vote on Heathrow January 3, 2017 2017 looks like it's going to be a busy one: we're looking ahead to some of the key business and political events already pencilled in for this year's calendar. 1. Supreme court to rule on Article 50 The Supreme Court is due to deliver its ruling on Gina Miller's case this month (Source: Getty) The Supreme [...]
One more step along the road to Brexit December 7, 2016 The Great Brexit dance continues. Yesterday, the Labour party rediscovered its opposition role and bounced the government into accepting demands that it set out its Brexit plans to parliament. Fearing that dozens of Remain-backing Tory MPs would support the Labour motion, No 10 agreed to go along with it. The shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer [...]