Exclusive: City of London Corporation chief says ‘not our place’ to criticise China human rights abuses January 19, 2021 The City of London Corporation’s policy chief has said it is not the powerful local authority’s role to hold China to account for human rights abuses. Catherine McGuinness told City A.M. that she was “really not clear it’s our place” to publicly criticise the Chinese government for human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims and that [...]
Rishi Sunak mulls over a UK corporation tax hike in March Budget January 18, 2021 Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering raising corporation tax in the upcoming March Budget in a bid to pay off some of the UK government’s Covid spending bill. The chancellor is also now expected to increase business support in the 3 March Budget by extending the furlough scheme and Covid business loan programme. Senior government sources [...]
More than £115m of public money spent on Crossrail 2 consultants January 18, 2021 More than £115m of taxpayer money has been spent on Crossrail 2, before the project has even been green lit. The £33bn project, which would see a new north-south Tube line through London, was put on hold earlier this year as Transport for London (TfL) were forced to seek a government bailout. Delays and budget [...]
UK announces inquiry into alleged corruption in British Virgin Islands January 18, 2021 The UK has launched an inquiry into claims of widespread corruption and misuse of taxpayer money on the British Virgin Islands. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab announced today that British Virgin Islands governor Augustus Jaspert had called for a federal investigation into a range of claims, including “political interference and coercion in relation to appointments in [...]
Brussels to extend deadline for Brexit deal ratification by EU Parliament January 18, 2021 Brussels is set to extend the deadline the European Parliament has to ratify the UK-EU Brexit trade deal. The deadline is reportedly set to be extended from February to April to give MEPs more time to scrutinise the 1200-page text. The deal has already been ratified by the EU’s 27 ambassadors, which ensured it came [...]
UK firms urged to increase preparations for post-Brexit trading conditions January 18, 2021 British firms who have links to EU countries are being urged to complete a six-point checklist to ensure they will not face post-Brexit disruption. Business minister Paul Scully has told British companies that trade with the EU to get an EORI number and to complete customs declarations, while telling lorry companies that cross the channel [...]
Alexei Navalny detained after returning to Russia January 17, 2021 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been arrested at the Moscow airport, after flying back to Russia five months after being poisoned with the deadly nerve agent Novichok . Local media has reported that Navalny was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport “for multiple violations of his suspended sentence”. Navalny, who almost died from the poisoning and [...]
Joe Biden planning to visit UK in first trip outside North America January 17, 2021 Joe Biden is reportedly planning on visiting the UK as his first trip outside North America as US president. Biden will come to Cornwall in June for the G7 summit, however he is also now planning on visiting Boris Johnson before this date to set the foundations for a renewed Transatlantic special relationship. There had [...]
All over 18s in the UK could have Covid vaccine by June January 17, 2021 Senior government figures are hoping for every adult in the UK to have received their first Covid vaccine jab by the end of June in what would be a significant acceleration of the country’s rollout. Downing Street is now reportedly working toward this target, with the aim of soon getting up to 5m people vaccinated [...]
Major UK business body calls for furlough scheme extension to July January 15, 2021 One of the UK’s largest business lobbies is calling for the government to extend the furlough scheme to July and to give out a fresh round of business grants worth £25,000 each. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) also called for temporary VAT cuts and business rates relief to be extended, with the group saying [...]