Forget Trump, the midterms are about populism November 6, 2018 When the results of the US midterms start to come in this evening, some here in the UK will roll their eyes and think “what a crazy country”. Others will wonder why Britain and America are such anomalies with Brexit and Trump, and wish that we could be more like, say, Germany. The truth is [...]
EU firms scramble to stay in the City in no-deal Brexit November 5, 2018 More than 1,000 EU firms have expressed their interest in taking up the UK's offer of continued access to the City in the event of a no-deal Brexit, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The City watchdog's international director Nausicaa Delfas said around 1,300 EU firms were seeking to trade within the FCA's temporary [...]
Varadkar expresses ‘openness’ to Irish backstop review, but rules out British withdrawal November 5, 2018 Ireland Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said today he is open to the idea of a review of any so-called Irish backstop arrangement, as long as Britain could not decide to kill off the temporary measure. A way of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland is widely considered the biggest obstacle to the UK and [...]
Business confidence hits lowest level since the financial crisis November 5, 2018 Confidence among UK businesses has fallen to its lowest level since 2008 amid a lack of progress in Brexit negotiations, according to new figures published today. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales' (ICAEW's) Business Confidence Monitor index showed a sharp fall in confidence since last quarter from -0.2 to -12.3, lower than after both the [...]
Made in Britain: The entrepreneur helping UK firms realise their exporting ambitions in Asia November 5, 2018 I am at the National Liberal Club in London. Everything about this place – from the smoking room to the 1915 portrait of Winston Churchill – screams old-world British at me. And there’s nothing coincidental about Siddharth Shankar’s choice of meeting place. Surrounded by empty chesterfield sofas, Shankar seems to be in his element – [...]
Winter is coming, let the chill of change work to your advantage November 5, 2018 Winter is coming, to borrow the oft-quoted phrase from Game of Thrones. We all know what it feels like: shorter days, darkness abounds, chilled to your bones. Pull up the duvet and prepare for hibernation. But awake, Britain – throw open the doors of your toasty warm Hobbit-holes and allow the chilly gusts of reality [...]
Our once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that the City is fit for the future November 5, 2018 Firms across the Square Mile have had to spend a disproportionate amount of time recently planning for the short term. With less than five months to go before the UK leaves the European Union, it is right that businesses urgently prepare for all possible outcomes, including a possible no-deal scenario. There are many pressing issues [...]
Ireland ‘would block British demand to quit Irish backstop agreement’ November 5, 2018 Ireland has hit out at reports that Britain wants the right to pull out of any so-called Irish border backstop arrangement after a short period of time. Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said a deal in which Britain could decide to close the Irish border by itself would not pass muster with Ireland or the [...]
Investors positive about investing in UK post-Brexit November 5, 2018 Investors are more positive about investing in the UK post-Brexit this year than they were last year, according to a survey released today. The research shows that 62 per cent of investors are more likely to invest in the UK post-Brexit, up from 31 per cent last year. Overall 88 per cent of investors said [...]
A second referendum would not heal the country’s divisions but it would unleash a fresh wave of uncertainty November 4, 2018 Business leaders will this week hurl themselves back into the Brexit debate as some of the most high-profile figures from corporate Britain join the campaign for a second referendum. They were pretty vocal during the first one, with a series of interventions and letters used to highlight the legitimate concerns that many sectors and firms [...]