Theresa May’s bungled Brexit backstop plan means that once again nothing has changed October 18, 2018 The gathering of EU leaders in Brussels this week was supposed to bring clarity, not confusion, to the Brexit negotiations. After the PR disaster of Salzburg, both sides needed to at least act like the talks were going in the right direction and a deal was doable. But as with so much of the Brexit [...]
Theresa May rows back from Brexit transition extension after Tory backlash October 18, 2018 Theresa May has tried to downplay anger over a plan to extend the UK’s post-Brexit transition period, just hours after flagging the idea to EU leaders. Speaking in Brussels, the PM claimed keeping the UK signed up to EU rules for a further year was not her idea – but could indeed be a solution [...]
Auditors face fresh headache as shareholder adviser eyes industry October 18, 2018 The world’s largest adviser to shareholders is to ramp up its scrutiny of auditors, in a move that will pile further pressure on the UK’s embattled beancounters amid a series of industry controversies. Auditors will be facing another headache at their shareholder meetings next year after the Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) today unveiled plans to [...]
London is the best place in the world to start a business, says Innocent co-founder Richard Reed October 18, 2018 London is the best place in the world to start a business, according to Innocent Drinks co-founder Richard Reed. The investor, who set up venture capital fund Jam Jar Investments after selling his smoothies business to Coca-Cola for more than £380m in 2013, said Britain is the birthplace of entrepreneurship. Read more: Entrepreneur outlines Patisserie Valerie rescue [...]
EU leaders did not discuss extending Brexit transition period, reveals Donald Tusk October 18, 2018 EU leaders did not discuss extending the UK’s post-Brexit transition period last night despite Theresa May floating the offer as a way to jumpstart negotiations. The PM made the proposal to her EU counterparts on Wednesday, but European Council president Donald Tusk revealed it was not talked about after she had left the room. German [...]
Opinion: Why we must remember that Mark Carney’s warnings about house prices are a worst case scenario October 18, 2018 Mark Carney made headlines, and plenty of waves, with his comments on the possible effect of a no-deal Brexit on house prices. He said that they could fall by a third if we failed to strike a deal with the EU. Certainly, you would have to say that the governor of the Bank of England [...]
Brexit uncertainty puts small businesses at risk, warns FSB October 18, 2018 Tens of thousands of small businesses would be put at risk from a no-deal Brexit, the Federation of Small Businesses claimed today. The business campaigner added that the lack of progress in negotiations between the UK and EU is increasing uncertainty among firms, forcing them to consider putting business decisions on hold and even cutting [...]
Whitehall’s move to Canary Wharf should inspire us towards a smaller, smarter state October 18, 2018 Moore's Law is an observable rule that has held broadly true since the mid-1960s. Named after the co-founder of Intel, it argues that every two years the number of transistors on a microchip will double at the same time that costs halve. In the real world, this has meant phones, cameras, and computers that are now [...]
Growing the UK games industry’s success shouldn’t be taxing October 18, 2018 The video games industry is one of the UK’s great success stories. Last week’s report by the British Film Institute (BFI) showed that the sector is thriving, describing it as a “significant entertainment industry”, which has produced a “wide array of globally successful and culturally impactful entertainment products”. At The Independent Games Developers' Association (TIGA), [...]
Brexit: Theresa May is losing the confidence of colleagues as negotiations stall, says ex-minister October 18, 2018 Prime Minister Theresa May is losing Cabinet members’ trust in her ability to reach a Brexit agreement, a former minister claimed today, accusing both the UK and EU of secretly hoping for a no-deal scenario. May and her EU counterparts are running down the clock towards a no-deal Brexit, said Tory MP Nick Boles, who [...]