Catastrophic EU VAT rules are destroying the digital sector September 8, 2015 In January, new EU VAT legislation was imposed on the broadcasting, telecoms and digital sectors, causing a crisis for SMEs. Thousands of businesses have closed, geo-blocking (the refusal of non-EU businesses to sell into the EU) is rampant, and the legislation threatens to wreck the Digital Single Market. In simple terms, the new [...]
What’s purdah and why is everyone so upset about it? Everything you need to know about yesterday’s Commons battle over the EU referendum September 8, 2015 A coalition of Labour, the SNP and nearly 40 Conservative rebels handed Prime Minister David Cameron a one-two punch late last night when they voted down the government's amendment to the EU referendum bill and backed the opposition's proposal, instead. But what actually happened? Was it as "humiliating" as some papers are saying? And [...]
Cameron loses crunch vote over EU referendum as Tory backbenchers rebel September 8, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron was handed a bruising defeat late last night as a coalition of Labour, SNP and eurosceptic Conservatives rejected the government’s latest proposals surrounding the EU referendum. In Cameron’s first defeat of the new parliament, just 285 MPs backed the government’s amendment to the EU referendum bill, while 312 MPs voted [...]
Tories put City at centre of EU talks: George Osborne vows to take on damaging and misguided regulations September 6, 2015 The government will put the City’s interests at the forefront of its bid to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the European Union, chancellor George Osborne said today. Writing exclusively for City A.M., the chancellor warns that red tape from Brussels poses a major danger to London’s status as a global financial hub. While Osborne [...]
Chancellor George Osborne: The City has made progress… Now for the next 10 years September 6, 2015 Today marks a decade since City A.M. established itself as a leading paper for the City of London. Lots has changed over that time, not least the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 that cost Britain billions in lost economic output. Back then, the City was seen as part of the problem. But since I [...]
David Cameron braces for defeat on EU referendum bill September 6, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron stands to be dealt a bruising defeat today if a cross-party coalition of Labour, the SNP and Conservative rebels vote down the government’s proposed changes to the EU referendum bill. Last week, Downing Street indicated that Cameron would U-turn on his initial refusal to impose a period of “purdah” ahead of [...]
EU referendum: More Britons are now in favour of leaving the EU than remaining in it, and the “no” camp is set to grow even further if the migrant crisis worsens September 6, 2015 The EU “no” camp is gaining strength among British voters, a new Survation poll reveals. If a referendum on membership took place today, 43 per cent of Britons would opt to leave the bloc, while 40 per cent would choose to stay and 17 per cent are undecided about how they would vote. The results are [...]
EU referendum: Ukip leader Nigel Farage is going on an anti-EU tour of the UK, including Leeds, Essex and London September 4, 2015 Nigel Farage – regarded by some as rockstar-esque for taking on the establishment, and others as something of a comedian – is attempting to consolidate his image by going on tour. https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/639742568268480512 The “Say No to the EU referendum tour”, which will put forward arguments as to why British people should vote to leave the [...]
The refugee crisis, the EU referendum and London’s skyline: Here’s what got us talking this week September 4, 2015 There was a fine wine scam. There was a Circle Line travelator (in the making). And somewhere in Japan, people started seeing the world from a cat's perspective. Here's what got us talking this week 1) The refugee crisis Disturbing images of dead toddler Aylan Kurdi galvanised the world into action over the Syrian refugee [...]
Skills gap is bigger threat than Brexit: Talent shortages to hit UK economic growth, warn finance chiefs September 4, 2015 Top UK finance chiefs are more unnerved by their lack of access to talented labour than they are by the threat of Britain leaving the EU, the Bank of England hiking borrowing costs or even the abrupt slowdown in China that has sent shockwaves throughout global financial markets. Fear over dwindling access to skilled [...]