The Policy Watch is a weekly update which aims to provide concise insights into the current policy landscape. Tailored for our members and individuals interested in international affairs, this update offers a brief yet comprehensive summary of key developments affecting policy decisions and political trends in the UK, Sweden, and the EU.CONSERVATIVES LOSES 9TH AND 10TH BY-ELECTION SINCE 2019 On Thursday, two by-elections were held in Wellingborough and Kingswood. Both constituencies ...

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British retail rebound  Retail sales fell by 3.3% in December 2023 due to a lack of consumer confidence. However, they have since rebounded, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics. Sales rebounded by 3.4% in January which represents the most significant rise since April of 2021. This rise was mostly surged by food stores and restaurants which massively exceeded projections. However, volumes also rose in most areas with ...

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The Policy Watch is a weekly update which aims to provide concise insights into the current policy landscape. Tailored for our members and individuals interested in international affairs, this update offers a brief yet comprehensive summary of key developments affecting policy decisions and political trends in the UK, Sweden, and the EU.SINN FÉIN LEADING THE IRISH POLLS MIGHT BE A THREAT TO BRITISH SECURITY INTERESTS  According to a report by the ...

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UK Jobs data unreliable The UK statistics ‘Watchdog’ claims that labour market data is very unreliable, which has led to a long period of uncertainty for UK ministers and businesses, and senior members of the Office for Statistics Regulation that the stats are far away from where they need to be before they can be trusted. An extension of the UK statistics authority, OSR, is set to complete a review this ...

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The Economy Watch is a weekly update dedicated to providing our members with a summary of key economic developments from the previous week. By focusing on Sweden and England, the update serves as a valuable resource for staying informed on economic news and trends.RIKSBANK MAINTAINS POLICY RATE AT 4.0% The Riksbank announced the retention of the policy rate at 4.0%. The board acknowledged that prior rate increases have helped alleviate ...

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The Policy Watch is a weekly update which aims to provide concise insights into the current policy landscape. Tailored for our members and individuals interested in international affairs, this update offers a brief yet comprehensive summary of key developments affecting policy decisions and political trends in the UK, Sweden, and the EU.INSTRUMENTS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND POWER-SHARING PASSES Following the agreement between the UK Government and the Democratic Union’s Party (DUP) two ...

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UK Carbon price falls The price of UK carbon emission permits dropped to an all-time low when it hit £31.48/ tonne of carbon dioxide due to tame winter temperatures, leading to less demand on energy suppliers needing permits to cover any spike in energy usage over the winter period. The price has dropped by 43% compared to just one year ago when it was at €62/tonne. This has raised concerns about ...

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We are happy to present the first edition of The Policy Watch, a new weekly update on the most important policy news from the previous week. "The Policy Watch" aims to provide concise insights into the current policy landscape. Tailored for our members and individuals interested in international affairs, this update offers a brief yet comprehensive summary of key developments affecting policy decisions and political trends in the UK, Sweden, and ...

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UK halts Canada trade talks The UK has paused trade talks with Canada, leaving UK farmers with reduced access to Canadian markets. The suspension in talks is because Canada demanded concessions on hormone-treated beef, which is blocked by UK legislation. This is the first time trade talks with another country have broken down post-Brexit. The halted negotiations will primarily affect farmers and carmakers. Trade between the UK was worth £26 billion per ...

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Sunak on Rwanda asylum and immigration bill Rishi Sunak has not revealed whether he expects asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda before the upcoming autumn elections. On Wednesday this week, the Rwanda bill saw a government majority in the House of Commons, which should have reinforced the political initiative. However, this was undermined by the UK's statistics watchdog, which claimed that the asylum statistics have been misleading. The UK government has ...

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