Latest news with #AlanJohnson
Evening Standard
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Snow Patrol frontman to perform home city gig with a difference
Among the other author events scheduled, former Labour cabinet member Alan Johnson will talk about his new book, Harold Wilson, Chris Whitaker will be discussing his international best-selling novel All The Colours Of The Dark, and American writer Karen Hao will be talking about her new book Empire Of AI.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Brexit reset deal hits deadlock just days before crucial UK-EU summit
Keir Starmer is locked in a £1bn standoff with the EU over university tuition fees as he tries to get his much vaunted Brexit reset deal agreed in time for Monday's crucial summit. The prime minister's optimism that he is on the cusp of landing a 'superb deal' with the EU was dealt a blow with just days to go after EU member states raised a series of objections to the European Commission's draft communique. The Independent understands that there is anger that the draft deal does not include big enough concessions from the UK on fishing rights and student fees while a proposed cap on the number of under-40s who could live and work in the UK and Europe under a time-limited youth mobility scheme is too low. They also appear to be pressing for Britain to accept the authority of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), as first reported in the Financial Times. But with Chancellor Rachel Reeves struggling to balance the books and under mounting pressure to raise taxes or break her financial borrowing rules, the demand that EU students pay UK student rates at British universities is a problem for Labour. With UK universities having between 75,000 and 95,000 EU students over the past two years and overseas student fees ranging from between £12,000 to £40,000 compared to £9,535 for UK students it is understood the gap in funding for UK universities could be around £1bn if such a deal was agreed. Former education secretary Alan Johnson has already raised concerns about Britain's 'world class universities' being 'under threat' through controls on migration with many struggling to raise enough money to stay afloat. While universities already warning that they could be bankrupted, a UK government spokeswoman has insisted ministers will negotiate 'in the national interest'. She said: "These are EU internal draft texts. No final agreement has been made. We are not providing a running commentary on our discussions with the EU, these are ongoing and cover a wide range of issues. 'We have been clear that we will always act in the national interest to secure the best outcomes for the UK." The last-minute row in the talks has echoes of the late hitches in trying to agree a withdrawal agreement after the EU referendum in 2016 before the UK finally left in 2020. It came as France's Emmanuel Macron said the EU must 'reshape and completely reinvent' the relationship with the UK post-Brexit. Meanwhile, a senior figure in the UK government insisted that the deal, due to be unveiled on Monday at a summit in London, would be 'superb'. There was a warning the new agreement would anger both Brexiteers and Rejoiners but would include alignment to EU rules and regulations to ease trade barriers and a youth mobility scheme for 18 to 40-year-olds based on the one the UK has with countries such as Australia. The reset deal has been touted as the third piece in a major shift on UK trade following deals this month with India and the US. They are seen as essential to Sir Keir's plans for economic growth and the prime minister has the Gulf states as his next target for a major agreement to unleash billions in investment. But an EU diplomat told the Financial Times: 'We are all unhappy with missing progress, especially on youth mobility... and how the British demand wide-ranging concessions without offering anything in return.' Another told The Guardian, that the proposed deal is 'not sufficiently ambitious' on youth mobility numbers or fishing. Another said: 'There is a feeling among a large group of member states that the balance between rights and obligations is not there yet.' Another noted the importance of fishing, stating that it 'is one of the building blocks of this agreement. It is not possible to imagine that we have a successful summit without a positive outcome on this issue,' a third diplomat said. 'If you don't have an agreement on fisheries, you don't have an agreement on SDP [security and defence policy], you don't have an agreement on migration. It has to be a win-win.' Sir Keir is expected to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the margins of the European Political Community summit in Albania on Friday. It is understood that even landlocked EU states are angered by the refusal to allow for greater fishing in British waters, although it is understood that the UK offered a time-limited and renewable access scheme. It is reported that the draft text also includes a 'dispute resolution mechanism with an independent arbitration panel that ensures that the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is the 'ultimate authority for all questions of EU law'. The UK would be invited 'at an early stage' to discuss proposed EU rules and would be part of the 'decision shaping' process, but would have no vote or veto over changes. But a UK government source said: 'The ECJ role in arbitration between the EU and other countries is advisory. Any rulings are the decision of the independent arbitration court, not the ECJ.'
North Wales Chronicle
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Chronicle
Government asks Nissan for full details over factory closure plans
Downing Street said it is a 'concerning' time for workers at the Japanese firm. Nissan currently employs around 6,000 people at its factory in Sunderland. Earlier on Tuesday, the company revealed it will extend a major restructuring plan in order to slash costs after recent weak demand in the US and China. The car maker said it will cut 11,000 more jobs than originally planned, having announced in November that it would axe 9,000 roles. The group said its major overhaul will see it reduce its number of plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. Changes are expected to affect around 15% of the company's workforce but it is not currently known where jobs will be cut across its global operations. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'We recognise this will be a concerning time for workers at Nissan and their families. 'Whilst this is a global decision taken for commercial reasons, we have a long-standing partnership with Nissan and will continue to work closely with them on their manufacturing future in the UK. 'We've asked the company to share its full plan so we can assess the impact in the UK.' Last month, Alan Johnson, senior vice president for manufacturing for Nissan's Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania operation, cautioned that the UK was 'not a competitive place' to build cars as he called for Government support. The company is seeking to reduce its production capacity after two recent profit downgrades. The firm has been affected by stalling sales in China and the US. The company said the shake-up will help 'create a leaner, more resilient business' as it also cautioned over the impact of US President Donald Trump's plans for 25% tariffs on cars imported into the US. The vast majority of cars made in the UK will be subject to a 10% tariff after the UK-US trade deal agreed last week. Nissan has said it is targeting 250 billion yen (£1.28 billion) of cost savings against the previous financial year. This will be secured through the closure of plants, work shift adjustments and reduced capital spending, including through cancellation of a planned lithium battery plant in Kyushu in Japan for its electric vehicles. Nissan president and chief executive Ivan Espinosa said: 'In the face of challenging full-year 2024 performance and rising variable costs compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume. 'As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery. 'Re:Nissan is an action-based recovery plan that clearly outlines what we need to do now.'
Glasgow Times
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Government asks Nissan for full details over factory closure plans
Downing Street said it is a 'concerning' time for workers at the Japanese firm. Nissan currently employs around 6,000 people at its factory in Sunderland. Earlier on Tuesday, the company revealed it will extend a major restructuring plan in order to slash costs after recent weak demand in the US and China. Nissan employs around 6,000 people at its factory in Sunderland (Ian Forsyth/PA) The car maker said it will cut 11,000 more jobs than originally planned, having announced in November that it would axe 9,000 roles. The group said its major overhaul will see it reduce its number of plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. Changes are expected to affect around 15% of the company's workforce but it is not currently known where jobs will be cut across its global operations. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'We recognise this will be a concerning time for workers at Nissan and their families. 'Whilst this is a global decision taken for commercial reasons, we have a long-standing partnership with Nissan and will continue to work closely with them on their manufacturing future in the UK. 'We've asked the company to share its full plan so we can assess the impact in the UK.' Last month, Alan Johnson, senior vice president for manufacturing for Nissan's Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania operation, cautioned that the UK was 'not a competitive place' to build cars as he called for Government support. The company is seeking to reduce its production capacity after two recent profit downgrades. The firm has been affected by stalling sales in China and the US. The company said the shake-up will help 'create a leaner, more resilient business' as it also cautioned over the impact of US President Donald Trump's plans for 25% tariffs on cars imported into the US. The vast majority of cars made in the UK will be subject to a 10% tariff after the UK-US trade deal agreed last week. Nissan has said it is targeting 250 billion yen (£1.28 billion) of cost savings against the previous financial year. This will be secured through the closure of plants, work shift adjustments and reduced capital spending, including through cancellation of a planned lithium battery plant in Kyushu in Japan for its electric vehicles. Nissan president and chief executive Ivan Espinosa said: 'In the face of challenging full-year 2024 performance and rising variable costs compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume. 'As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery. 'Re:Nissan is an action-based recovery plan that clearly outlines what we need to do now.'
South Wales Guardian
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- South Wales Guardian
Government asks Nissan for full details over factory closure plans
Downing Street said it is a 'concerning' time for workers at the Japanese firm. Nissan currently employs around 6,000 people at its factory in Sunderland. Earlier on Tuesday, the company revealed it will extend a major restructuring plan in order to slash costs after recent weak demand in the US and China. The car maker said it will cut 11,000 more jobs than originally planned, having announced in November that it would axe 9,000 roles. The group said its major overhaul will see it reduce its number of plants from 17 to 10 by 2027. Changes are expected to affect around 15% of the company's workforce but it is not currently known where jobs will be cut across its global operations. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'We recognise this will be a concerning time for workers at Nissan and their families. 'Whilst this is a global decision taken for commercial reasons, we have a long-standing partnership with Nissan and will continue to work closely with them on their manufacturing future in the UK. 'We've asked the company to share its full plan so we can assess the impact in the UK.' Last month, Alan Johnson, senior vice president for manufacturing for Nissan's Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania operation, cautioned that the UK was 'not a competitive place' to build cars as he called for Government support. The company is seeking to reduce its production capacity after two recent profit downgrades. The firm has been affected by stalling sales in China and the US. The company said the shake-up will help 'create a leaner, more resilient business' as it also cautioned over the impact of US President Donald Trump's plans for 25% tariffs on cars imported into the US. The vast majority of cars made in the UK will be subject to a 10% tariff after the UK-US trade deal agreed last week. Nissan has said it is targeting 250 billion yen (£1.28 billion) of cost savings against the previous financial year. This will be secured through the closure of plants, work shift adjustments and reduced capital spending, including through cancellation of a planned lithium battery plant in Kyushu in Japan for its electric vehicles. Nissan president and chief executive Ivan Espinosa said: 'In the face of challenging full-year 2024 performance and rising variable costs compounded by an uncertain environment, we must prioritise self-improvement with greater urgency and speed, aiming for profitability that relies less on volume. 'As new management, we are taking a prudent approach to reassess our targets and actively seek every possible opportunity to implement and ensure a robust recovery. 'Re:Nissan is an action-based recovery plan that clearly outlines what we need to do now.'
