We’re certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer’s government. The president really loves the UK. He loved the queen. He admires and loves the king. It is a very important relationship. And he’s a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [the UK].
But I think it’s much deeper than that. There’s a real cultural affinity. And of course, fundamentally America is an Anglo country. I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.
The comments come just weeks after the Trump administration imposed a blanket 10% tariff on imports from the UK, with higer rates on specific sectors like automobiles.
very warm message there from the US vice-president JD Vance about the prospects of a deal with the UK. But remember that the one sector, or one of the two sectors, where there are significant tariffs that have already been applied, 25% has been on automotives, and then the next in its sights is pharmaceuticals. And in terms of the data from last year, those were the two big goods exports from the UK to the US.
He then pointed out that where it had initially looked like the UK had been spared the worst of Trump’s unilateral tariffs – you will recall some people pointed to the rate being lower than that applied to the EU being described in some quarters as a “Brexit dividend” – that is no longer the case. The rowing back and pausing on tariffs for most countries means pretty much everybody is on the same base rate of a 10% tariff.
He told listeners:
So what is actually being negotiated in any talks between the UK and US? That 10% baseline tariff that now applies across the entire world, apart from China. Is that actually up for grabs in any way?
There are reasons to think it isn’t up for grabs. Because one of the reasons why you set a universal tariff is that you don’t want different countries to become areas where you could channel and then not pay the tariff.
The other thing just to watch out for is the UK is also engaged with the EU in a negotiation over things like food standards, and if, as the mood music seems to be, we align, we have a high alignment, high ambition deal … that is precisely the sort of thing that they [the US] notice in trying to do a deal.
a series of posts, the Central Devon MP said:
We are spending over £100bn a year on debt interest. It’s almost double what we spend on defence. That is totally unacceptable. People’s taxes are being poured down the drain on interest payments.
Before Covid debt was falling, but government had to spend huge amounts supporting the economy during the pandemic. And post-Covid, interest rates have risen due to inflation. That’s why the Conservatives left a plan in place to stop debt rising and start bringing it down.
Rachel Reeves said before the election that she would stick to that commitment to get debt falling.
He then criticised her for adjusting the definition of government “debt”, and suggested that she had put the government in a position where it was “vulnerable to even small changes in markets” which he described as “completely irresponsible”.
He finished by quoting Reeves saying “The responsible choice is to reduce our levels of debt and borrowing in the years ahead”, adding “I agree with Rachel. The problem is she doesn’t seem to agree with herself”. Stride was a government minister from 2015 until 2024.
the number of payrolled workers in UK fell by 78,000.
The Labour MP for Birkenhead said:
We’re determined to get Britain working again as part of our plan for change by overhauling job centres, creating good jobs, transforming skills, transitioning to net zero and delivering the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation.
This month, local areas are also starting to roll out their plans to tackle the root causes of inactivity as we get Britain back to health and back to work – backed by a share of £125m of investment.
Real wages are continuing to rise, and the “National Living Wage” is also coming into effect this month – boosting working people’s payslips and improving living standards as part of our plan for change.
The ONS figures shows wages rising 5.9% in the three months to February, while unemployment remained at 4.4%.
Wera Hobhouse was refused entry to Hong Kong by authorities there.
In a statement last night, Davey said statements from Chinese officials indicate that “no explanation for the appalling treatment of my colleague and friend Wera Hobhouse is going to be forthcoming”. Davey said “We cannot simply let this slide.”
He continued:
Refusing a British Parliamentarian entry to Hong Kong for a private family visit, without reason, is an affront to UK-China diplomatic relations and will have a chilling effect on all UK politicians who speak up for freedom and democracy. That is why it is so important that we secure a statement setting out the Chinese authorities’ motivations for this act.
It’s now clearer than ever that the Chinese authorities aren’t going to play ball here. The foreign secretary needs to urgently take the exceptional step of summoning the Chinese ambassador in person to provide a clear and comprehensive account of why Wera was refused entry.
urging the government to review Chinese investment in UK infrastructure.
She told viewers:
At the moment, I’m not going to say yes or no to anything that isn’t at the moment on the table or being looked at.
Whatever the future for Scunthorpe, we want to make sure we can keep primary steel-making, we can keep steel-making in our country and we can grow that industry, not see the continued decline that we’ve had over recent years.
previously been reported by the BBC, accusing Unite’s national leadership of prolonging the dispute, claiming that the leadershiop was “in the grip of people for whom disruption, disputes and revolution are their priority.”
Kasab replied:
Well, I think that’s purile, to be perfectly frank with you. What we are engaged in is defending our members, pay and conditions, and we will make no apology for doing that time and time again. I’m not going to get into sort of mud slinging about personalities, but that type of briefing is purile. What we need to concentrate on is resolving this dispute.
voted yesterday to reject a pay offer from Birmingham city council, business and trade minister Sarah Jones this morning reiterated the government’s call for the dispute to end.
Appearing on the BBC Breakfast programme, she said:
Fundamentally what needs to happen now is the strike needs to be called off. Unite need to accept the offer that’s on the table. It’s a good offer and that is what we are asking them to do, and that is the way we’re going to get back to normal in Birmingham.
Now I know that other councils are sort of coming in to support, that there is logistical support from the Army and that some private sector support is already there, but of course, it’s completely unacceptable, the images are awful and people have enough to worry about in their lives without having to worry about rubbish collection alongside it.
So our message loud and clear is Unite need to call off the strike, accept the deal, and let’s get back to normal, which is what people expect and what people deserve.
the number of workers on UK company payrolls has fallen at the fastest pace since the height of the Covid pandemic, and UK business confidence appears to have fallen to its lowest level in over two years.
My colleage Richard Partington writes:
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of people employed in at least one job paid through pay as you earn fell by 78,000 in March after a revised fall of 8,000 in February.
Reflecting a slowdown in the jobs market, the latest snapshot showed annual pay growth rose slightly in the three months to February and remained at historically high levels. Regular pay, excluding bonuses, rose to 5.9%, from a revised 5.8% in the previous rolling three-month period to the end of January.
Despite the drop in the number of workers on company payrolls, the ONS said its official unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4% in the three months to February.
It should be noted here is currently a caveat around ONS labour market data, with the validity of some of its data being questioned.
the US vice president told Sohrab Ahmari:
We’re certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer’s government. The president really loves the UK. He loved the queen. He admires and loves the king. It is a very important relationship. And he’s a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [the UK].
But I think it’s much deeper than that. There’s a real cultural affinity. And of course, fundamentally America is an Anglo country. I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.
The comments come just weeks after the Trump administration imposed a blanket 10% tariff on imports from the UK, with higer rates on specific sectors like automobiles.
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Source: theguardian.com
