Theresa May told to resign over ‘abject surrender’ of Halloween Brexit delay April 11, 2019 Theresa May was accused of an “abject surrender” and told to resign by a furious veteran Conservative MP today after she agreed to another delay to Brexit. Read more: May vows to seek 'orderly' Brexit after Halloween extension Sir Bill Cash, one of parliament’s most long-standing anti-EU MPs, urged the PM to quit as she [...]
Facebook and the tech giants are welcoming government regulation – that’s a panic signal for all of us April 9, 2019 Last year, I met someone who had previously worked for a big tech firm in its “free speech” unit. What had happened to make him come and slum it among us mortals in the (badly paid) policy world? Answer: the unit had been shut down. It’s in this context that you should see the milquetoast [...]
Cross-party Brexit talks abandoned until after EU summit, Downing Street confirm April 9, 2019 The Conservatives and Labour have abandon Brexit talks until Thursday after failing to reach an agreement, just a day before Theresa May asks the EU for another delay to the UK’s withdrawal. Leading MPs from both parties held talks for four hours on Tuesday in an attempt to find a compromise plan which could win [...]
Philip Hammond accuses businesses of burying their heads in the sand over no-deal Brexit April 9, 2019 Chancellor Philip Hammond has accused businesses of burying their heads in the sand when it comes to preparing for a no deal Brexit. Speaking just four days before the UK could potentially leave the EU without an agreement, the chancellor warned some firms had adopted an ostrich mentality over the potential outcome of the Brexit [...]
EU ministers say Britain needs ‘clear plan’ to be granted Brexit delay April 9, 2019 EU ministers arrived in Luxembourg this morning to try and thrash out a united stance on whether it should give the UK a Brexit extension ahead of tomorrow's summit. Read more: Brexit delay on the cards as Tories gear up for European elections Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok said the EU should give Britain “more [...]
Europe must lead the way with digital tax, says EU competition commissioner April 8, 2019 Europe must agree on plans for a new digital tax and should be the trailblazer if there is no global consensus, the EU’s competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has said. The EU last month scrapped initial plans to roll out a digital tax on tech giants after opposition from several member states. Read more: EU drops [...]
Hammond “optimistic” on reaching Brexit agreement with Labour April 6, 2019 Chancellor Philip Hammond has said he is “optimistic” talks between Labour and the Conservative Party over the Brexit deadlock can end in “some form of agreement”. Speaking ahead of the EU finance ministers’ meeting in Bucharest, Hammond said that the government had no “red lines” and an “open mind” to discussions with the oppositions, which [...]
Editors’ Notes: Philip Hammond outfoxes the Treasury committee in clash over end to austerity April 5, 2019 Three cheers for Philip Hammond! Yes, you heard that right – I may be alone, but I found myself applauding the chancellor last night when we got a sneak preview of his response to the Treasury Select Committee’s (TSC) fisking of the autumn Budget. Read more: Hammond says ending austerity will not mean spending splurge [...]
Self-driving cars could inject £62bn into UK economy by 2030 if Brexit is a success, says trade body April 4, 2019 Self-driving cars could provide Britain's economy with a £62bn boost by 2030, but only if the UK agrees a favourable Brexit deal, a report by a leading trade body has found. The report, produced by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), says the UK is the world's number one location for connected and [...]
UK must decarbonise heating, but not through hydrogen, Centrica boss says after government commitment March 19, 2019 Britain and other countries must remove carbon from their heating and cooling, British Gas owner Centrica said today, but warned a move to make the gas grid run on hydrogen is “unlikely to be practical”. Centrica chief executive Iain Conn said natural gas would be “crucial” in the transition to reducing carbon emissions, and that Britain [...]