London Calling is a weekly rundown of the top ten emerging issues from the past seven days shaping US-UK commercial relations.
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Memo: London Calling | Edition 11 | March 31, 2021
1. Readout: President Biden call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on March 26: Per the White House the two leaders underscored their continued commitment to combating COVID-19 and ensuring global health security.
They discussed the importance of developing ambitious climate goals, noting the opportunities provided by the Leaders Summit on Climate and the UK's G7 presidency.
They agreed to work closely together on shared foreign policy priorities, including China and Iran. The leaders also affirmed the importance of preserving political stability in Northern Ireland.
2. Boris Johnson's 'Global Britain' tilts toward Asia: Lionel Barber writes the Johnson government's defense and security review published this month reveals an important shift in thinking about Britain's place in an interconnected world, characterized by the ongoing rivalry between the US as the established superpower, China as the superpower-in-waiting, and Russia as the anti-democratic agent of disruption.
UK foreign policy seeks to adapt to 'Cold War 2.0'
3. The UK plans sweeping markets review to give London a Brexit edge: In an interview with Bloomberg, Economic Secretary to the Treasury John Glen said the government isn't going to stop after overhauling rules covering initial public offerings and fintech firms. It is also preparing to consult businesses on "detailed proposals for wider reform to the capital markets" in the summer.
4. Scots cool on independence after Sturgeon-Salmond slugging match: Support for Scottish independence has dropped sharply since Nicola Sturgeon appeared before a parliamentary inquiry into the handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond, her predecessor as first minister.
A poll of more than 4,000 voters shows a 12-point swing away from independence since Sturgeon gave evidence to the cross-party committee on March 3.
5. Alex Salmond has launched a new political party in what he described as a bid to build a super-majority for independence in the next Scottish parliament. The new party could also enable his own return to Holyrood.
Launching the Alba party, he denied the "new political force" would rival the Scottish National Party, which he led for more than two decades. He insisted other pro-independence parties in Westminster would make the UK government's position to refuse a second independence referendum "fundamentally weaker."
"A referendum is one tactic. It's by no means the only route."
6. SNP must focus on the voters, not Salmond's upstart party Alba: Kevin Pringle writes my strong advice to the SNP is to largely ignore Alba, as far as is possible, and concentrate on its own campaign. Wars of words with any other party are unproductive at a time when the SNP, as the long-established party of government in Scotland, needs to focus on a renewed conversation with the electorate.
7. Westminster should not refuse Scotland a referendum: John Major writes it is unwise to dismiss Scottish ambitions or delay any vote without action to expose the reality of separation — and remedy shortcomings in the UK's devolution settlement. A blunt refusal would be a more significant error if accompanied by the provocative assertion that Scots should wait for another generation before voting again on the issue. Such a hardline approach is more likely to provoke a break-up than prevent it.
John Major was a former UK prime minister.
8. The UK to press more businesses to sign up to net-zero carbon pledge: The UK is to intensify its push to persuade British companies to commit to the country's net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050 after signing up 30 companies in the FTSE 100 index.
The government is to expand its 2050 net-zero campaign to the UK's smaller businesses and hopes to secure more large financial services companies' backing.
9. Enjoy Blackpool: UK PM Boris Johnson has said that summer holidays abroad "look difficult for the time being" and suggested that the government could impose stricter border controls to stop the import of mutant strains.
10. Westminster polling intention:
CON: 42% (-1)
LAB: 32% (-2)
LDEM: 8% (+3)
GRN: 7% (-)
RFM: 3% (-)
-- YouGov March 25-26
