UK supermarket chiefs call for online sales tax on firms like Amazon February 8, 2021 Some of the UK’s largest retailers, including Tesco and Asda, have called for Rishi Sunak to “rebalance the tax base” between online and bricks and mortar retail in an apparent push for a new digital sales levy on firms like Amazon. In a letter to Sunak, 18 chief executives and union bosses said “online retailers [...]
Labour calls for UK tax cut extensions before 3 March Budget February 7, 2021 Labour is calling for an extension to tax cuts for some of the UK sectors worst affected by the Covid pandemic. Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds today urged Rishi Sunak to extend the current VAT cut, from 20 per cent to five per cent, for retail and hospitality for another six months past March or or [...]
UK exports via sea to EU down 68 per cent since end of Brexit transition February 7, 2021 UK exports through sea freight to the EU in January plummeted by 68 per cent compared to last year, according to new data from the UK’s lorry lobby. Figures from the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which have been shown to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, also revealed that up to 75 per cent of lorries [...]
UK will not issue vaccine passports, says Nadhim Zahawi February 7, 2021 The UK will not be issuing vaccine passports to allow people who have had Covid jabs to travel, according to vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi. The Times reported on Friday that the government would implement Covid vaccine passports in time for summer, however Zahawi categorically denied the report today. Speak to Sky News, he said: “One, [...]
Government ‘in denial’ about post-Brexit fishing problems, say industry leaders February 4, 2021 The government is “in denial” about the size of disruption to the UK’s fishing industry post-Brexit, according to Scottish industry leaders. Scottish Seafood Association chief Jimmy Buchan told MPs today that disruption to fish exports were not just “teething problems” as said by Boris Johnson and that companies were losing an estimated £1m a day. [...]
DNA testing firm 23andMe goes public through Branson’s ‘blank cheque’ SPAC February 4, 2021 DNA testing firm 23andMe has announced it will go public through merging with Sir Richard Branson’s SPAC, after the firm was valued at $3.5bn. The deal will see Branson and 23andMe chief executive Anne Wojcicki each put in $25m into a $250m private investment in public equity offering. Other investors include Fidelity Management & Research Company [...]
UK MPs call for Wimbledon to cut ties with HSBC and Standard Chartered February 4, 2021 A group of UK MPs and peers have demanded asset management giant BlackRock and the Wimbledon tennis tournament to cut ties with HSBC and Standard Chartered over their support for Beijing’s freedom of speech crackdown in Hong Kong. The nine parliamentarians also called on the World Rugby Sevens and the British Open tournaments to refuse further [...]
EU unhappy with ‘tone’ of Michael Gove letter over NI-GB border issues February 4, 2021 The EU has rankled at UK suggestions there should be no extra checks on goods at the Northern Ireland-Great Britain border, with Brussels reportedly not happy with the tone of a letter from Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove. Irish broadcaster RTE reports that the EU saw Gove’s letter as an ultimatum and that officials believe [...]
Almost half of UK exporters hurt by Brexit, says new survey February 4, 2021 Almost half of Britain’s exporters have been negatively affected by the end of the Brexit transition period on 1 January, according to a new survey. The YouGov/HSBC poll found that 42 per cent of exporters said the UK’s exit from the EU’s single market and customs union on 31 December had a “negative impact” on [...]
Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer butt heads in post-PMQs spat February 3, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have reportedly been involved in a heated confrontation after today’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Starmer confronted the Prime Minister just outside the House of Commons, after a back-and-forth during PMQs over whether the Labour leader had in the past called for the UK to stay [...]