EU referendum: Boris Johnson slams Prime Minister David Cameron over EU red card February 2, 2016 Prime Minister David Cameron may be claiming victory on a key piece of his European Union reform agenda today, but mayor of London Boris Johnson seemed less than impressed when asked about Cameron's renegotiation efforts this morning. A draft agreement tabled by European Council President Donald Tusk this afternoon includes a new so-called red card for [...]
EU referendum: Full text of Donald Tusk’s letter to EU leaders on Prime Minister David Cameron’s reform agenda February 2, 2016 European Council President Donald Tusk just published his long-awaited response to Prime Minister David Cameron's renegotiation demands. To be, or not to be together, that is the question… My proposal for a new settlement for #UKinEU https://t.co/w4VSmnbahQ — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) February 2, 2016 Full text of his letter to EU leaders below: Keeping the unity [...]
No new Safe Harbour agreement: Experts warn of “absolutely enormous” disruption to business as EU and US fail to strike data transfer deal before deadline February 2, 2016 As EU and US negotiators failed their mission to reach a new landmark Safe Harbour agreement before the deadline, experts are warning of “absolutely enormous” risks to business. The deadline to strike a new data transfer regulation ran out yesterday, as talks reportedly hit a brick wall over EU citizens’ options in the event of [...]
Ted Cruz beats Donald Trump in Iowa caucus – but Democrat race is tight between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders February 2, 2016 Ted Cruz has beaten Donald Trump for Republican candidacy in the crucial Iowa caucus last night – but the battle between Democrat candidates Hillary Clinton has come up surprisingly close. Cruz won 28 per cent of the vote in last night's primary, while Trump – who has in the past called Iowans "stupid" – took just 24 [...]
Mayoral elections 2016: Whether it’s Sadiq Khan or Zac Goldsmith, whoever takes over from Boris Johnson must maintain London’s momentum February 2, 2016 With less than four months to go to the London mayor election, it’s good news that all the main candidates have been keen to stress their support of business. Despite its reputation as a leading business centre, London cannot take its position as a truly global city for granted. London’s reputation has been hard won [...]
George Osborne is playing a dangerous game with the new Help to Buy London February 1, 2016 George Osborne is playing a dangerous game with the new Help to Buy London Back during the Autumn Statement, George Osborne announced with great pleasure that he would be introducing a London-specific Help to Buy scheme. The government are going to give a hand to struggling homeowners, to get on the first rung of a [...]
Britain’s top accountants say the Treasury does not have the financial expertise of the private sector February 1, 2016 A leading industry group has slammed the Treasury today, saying the government department is "not functioning as a modern finance industry". In a new report out today, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) says the Treasury needs major reforms and restructuring to "more effectively tackle the deficit, be more efficient in spending [...]
North sea oil and gas: Scottish government unveils funding to boost research and development February 1, 2016 The Scottish government today unveiled £12.5m funding to sustain research and development (R&D) in the embattled North Sea oil and gas industry, which has been pummelled by the oil price rout. Scottish Enterprise funding of £10m will help firms reduce risks associated with carrying out R&D. An extra £2.5m will enable them to draw on [...]
EU referendum: New research shows at least one in three Conservative MPs will back Brexit February 1, 2016 One in three MPs are still undecided on whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union, according to a new poll out today from Ipsos Mori. The pollsters carried out the survey for the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, finding that a third of MPs said their vote in the referendum [...]
MPs on BIS Committee say government “lacks focus” when it comes to tackling low UK productivity February 1, 2016 An influential group of MPs has slammed the government over its efforts to boost Britain’s productivity, saying ministers’ plans “lack focus”. In a new report out today, MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Committee said the government’s so-called productivity plan, first introduced last summer, “lacks clear, measurable objectives and largely amounts to an [...]
