Brexit 1) Merkel and Tusk snub the idea of a swift reciprocal deal on expat rights ‘Theresa May’s hopes of quickly settling one of Brexit’s most emotive issues appeared doomed last night after she was rebuffed by Angela Merkel and Donald Tusk. Mrs May is offering an early deal guaranteeing reciprocal residency rights for British […]
Brexit 1) ‘Have cake and eat it’ – aide accidentally displays EU notes in Downing Street ‘The Government’s ideal ‘model’ for Brexit appears to be a ‘have cake and eat it’ approach, according to a scribbled page of A4 notes being carried by a Tory aide leaving Downing Street today. The notes suggest the Government has […]
EU 1) Kerr warns that odds of an orderly Brexit are diminishing “Britain has a less than 50/50 chance of completing an orderly exit from the EU within two years, a controversial ex-negotiator claimed last night. The cross-bench peer Lord Kerr said Parliament, including himself, would ‘not have the guts’ to vote down any government […]
May plans fast-track bill to authorise Brexit… “Theresa May will push a law triggering Brexit through the House of Commons in only five days if judges rule against the Government in next month’s court case. The Prime Minister and David Davis have drawn up plans which ensure that the process for leaving the EU in March 2019 is […]
Autumn Statement, Day Two: Hammond is sceptical about OBR forecasts… “To me it makes sense, given the warning signals from the OBR report, to keep a little bit of firepower in the locker, to build a little bit of a reserve so that if there is a slowdown next year, we’ve got enough capacity to […]
Autumn Statement 1) Hammond pledges billions to close productivity gap “Productivity in Britain is so poor that it takes UK workers five days to produce what Germans make in four, the Chancellor admitted yesterday. Announcing billions of pounds to tackle the issue, Philip Hammond said Britain’s ‘productivity gap’ was ‘well known, but shocking nonetheless’. Mr Hammond told the House […]
Autumn Statement 1) Hammond to put £1bn into welfare system ‘More than £1billion will be diverted into the welfare system in a move designed to ease the impact of cuts introduced by George Osborne, the Chancellor will announce today. Philip Hammond will use his inaugural Autumn Statement to increase the amount of benefits that claimants […]
CBI Speech 1) Brexiteer anger over May’s hints of ‘transitional’ EU deal ‘Furious Brexiteers lashed out at Theresa May for ‘fueling uncertainty’ after she hinted at a ‘transitional’ EU exit deal to appease City firms that could see us tied to Brussels for years. The Prime Minister held out an olive branch to business by […]
May pledges lowest corporation tax in the G20 “Theresa May will offer an olive branch to business today and declare her determination to cut corporation tax to a historic low. The Prime Minister will restate her commitment to the Conservative ‘core beliefs’ in ‘free markets, capitalism and business’ after some company bosses complained about a […]
Philip Hammond: My first Autumn Statement will prepare Britain for our post-Brexit future “The British people have taken the bold decision to chart a new course for this country outside the European Union. This Government is committed to delivering on their verdict. Unlike some politicians, I have heard the voice of the people and my commitment […]
Scotland and Wales ‘allowed to intervene’ in Article 50 court battle ‘The Scottish and Welsh governments have been permitted to intervene in the government’s appeal against a High Court ruling on triggering Article 50 for Britain to leave the European Union. The Supreme Court, which will hear the appeal next month, said on Friday that […]
Downing Street warns peers not to block Brexit “Downing Street has warned peers they face a drastic curtailing of their powers if they try to block the triggering of Brexit. Number Ten delivered the ultimatum amid mounting fears inside Government that the Supreme Court will rule that Parliament must have a vote on Article 50. […]
EU: Johnson accused of insulting Italy in row over exports… “Never mind the customs union or the financial passport, Boris Johnson has been arguing with an Italian minister about prosecco and fish and chips. Carlo Calenda, an economic minister, revealed a terse exchange over post-Brexit trade, claiming that Mr Johnson told him that Italy would allow […]
Autumn Statement 1) May demands action to help the JAMs – those just-about managing ‘Theresa May and Philip Hammond have ended weeks of fraught Autumn Statement negotiations by agreeing measures to help key voters known in Whitehall as “Jams” — people who are “just about managing”. Downing Street and Treasury officials have spent weeks in […]
Prime Minister’s first foreign policy speech focuses on trade and Trump ‘Britain will use the freedom of Brexit to “set our own rules” as it negotiates new international trade deals, Theresa May told company bosses as she denied that she has an “anti-business agenda”. In her first major foreign policy speech since becoming Prime Minister, […]