22nd Feb 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=10 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

The Guardian A senior figure at Honda listed a catalogue of risks posed by Brexit at a briefing near its Swindon plant last year fuelling doubts about the carmakers insistence that Britains withdrawal from the EU had nothing to do with the factorys closure. Multiple factors are understood to be behind the closure including global market conditions the shift to electric vehicles and a freetrade agreement with the EU that will allow Japanese carmakers to export cars tarifffree from 2027. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/21/honda-european-chief-outlined-no-deal-brexit-concerns-in-2018 21st Feb 2019

Jobs at Risk

@BestforBritain Someone has been mapping Brexit job losses... Not a pretty sight. https://www.easymapmaker.com/map/5411119ef29727d2711abc5d0c19b761 21st Feb 2019

Economic Impact

Reuters UK https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brexit-fitch/fitch-may-cut-uks-aa-rating-on-brexit-uncertainty-idUKKCN1Q92ZN 21st Feb 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times The UK faces a credit rating downgrade because of the mounting risk that it will leave the EU without a transition deal according to a leading rating agency. Fitch has put the UKs double A credit rating on negative watch over the growing uncertainty over Brexit a move that signals the increasing likelihood of a downgrade. There is heightened uncertainty over the outcome of the Brexit process Fitch said and an increased risk of a disruptive nodeal Brexit that the agency believes would lead to substantial disruption to UK economic and trade prospects. https://www.ft.com/content/14622ec4-3562-11e9-bd3a-8b2a211d90d5 21st Feb 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian A nodeal Brexit could lead to tariffs of 40 or more being imposed on food such as beef and cheddar cheese driving up prices in shops and squeezing household budgets across the UK and Ireland retail organisations from both countries have warned. With mounting fears that the UK could leave the European Union without an agreement in 36 days time the British Retail Consortium BRC Northern Ireland Retail Consortium NIRC and Retail Ireland issued a joint warning that this outcome could lead to delays at borders and shortages of fresh meat fish fruit and vegetables. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/21/uk-and-ireland-retailers-warn-of-40-tariffs-on-food-in-no-deal-brexit 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BuzzFeed News At least half and potentially more than twothirds of fines owed to the Home Office by employers using undocumented workers have gone unpaid in the last five financial years. Many of these employers have exploited undocumented workers as a way to pay far below the minimum wage. The introduction of more stringent fines was part of Theresa Mays hostile environment strategy when she was home secretary. https://www.buzzfeed.com/emilydugan/home-office-hostile-immigration-employer-fines 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Health Service Journal NHS trusts will have no choice but to prioritise which patients receive cancer treatment if a nodeal Brexit delays the import of radioactive isotopes the Royal College of Radiologists has warned. https://www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-regulation/some-cancer-treatment-may-be-delayed-post-brexit/7024457.article 19th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Reuters It would not be true to say that a hard Brexit automatically means the closure of plants in the United Kingdom neither for us nor for other manufacturers but it would certainly mean they come under greater scrutiny a car industry leader in the UK said. British workers would have to deliver productivity gains that offset tariffs and supply chain friction. everting to a regime of crossborder tariffs and World Trade Organization rules after decades of free trade would force Aston and its suppliers to trace and document where all the parts in a vehicle come from he told Reuters. When youve got 10000 parts on a car and then youve got all of the subparts and the subparts you quickly get up to hundreds of thousands of parts. And do you honestly know where theyve all come from Often not he said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-autos-insight-idUKKCN1QA0NO 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Reuters London Heathrow Airport could be boosted by extra trade if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal and Britains seaports and roads get clogged up with extra congestion the airports chief executive said on Thursday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-heathrow-results/londons-heathrow-airport-could-see-trade-boost-in-no-deal-brexit-idUKKCN1QA1GH 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News A London council has sparked debate over its ad campaign offering information to EU citizens on their rights after Brexit. Tower Hamlets is displaying posters on 11 bin lorries around the borough signposting people to its website and encouraging them to secure your right to stay here. The message read Are you one of the 41000 EU citizens who live in Tower Hamlets This is your home too. It was accompanied by an arrow pointing to the back of the lorry. https://news.sky.com/story/bin-lorries-raising-awareness-of-eu-citizens-rights-after-brexit-tell-them-this-is-your-home-11643657 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The National Farmers Union president Minette Batters questioned what would happen to British produce if no deal is agreed that allows goods to be accepted. With 900 hours to go its unacceptable for government to leave British businesses having to take this gamble she said. Nick von Westenholz the director of EU and international trade at the NFU said sheep farmers were particularly vulnerable because they rely heavily on exports to the EU that could be halted for months if the UK crashes out of the bloc on 29 March. The negative impact on the sheep sector will be felt within weeks because of the time of year he said. The EU has said it could take up to six months to authorise imports from UK food producers. The NFU says this would be a de facto trade embargo leaving sheep farmers with no option but to slaughter surplus animals. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/20/farmers-lamb-culling-no-deal-brexit-exports-union 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The boss of the UKs biggest protective packaging distributor has a high degree of confidence it could still serve customers after a nodeal Brexit. Peter Atkinson of Macfarlane Group said there would be difficulties if Britain crashed out of the EU but added that contingency plans were in place. His comments came as the Glasgowbased firm reported a ninth year of successive growth. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-47306485 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Fitforwork tests the linchpin of the austerity eras pernicious welfare reforms. Introduced by New Labour but accelerated dramatically by the coalition government these assessments have falsely pushed disabled and severely ill people off benefits and even towards suicide. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/21/brexit-inaction-fit-work-scandal-shameless 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC There are fears that a nodeal Brexit might disrupt supplies of food from abroad. So how many of us are stockpiling groceries ahead of the leave date Heres what some are doing in the Yorkshire town of Baildon. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-47308935/are-we-stockpiling-in-case-of-a-no-deal-brexit 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Spectator An advert in the Netherlands features a hairy beast warning about the looming departure of Britain from the EU. Move over Project Fear this is Project Fur a campaign aimed at urging businesses to brace themselves for a nodeal Brexit. So what do the Dutch make of the big blue Brexit monster While the British media has been busy laughing at photos of the muppetlike creature straddling a desk as the Dutch foreign minister watches on the truth is that this campaign has actually passed many people by. This is a shame there are good reasons for Dutch folk to worry about the impact of an acrimonious Brexit. Such an outcome would be in noones interests. But just as British supporters of Brexit talk of it as an opportunity so too do many people in the Netherlands only from their point of view this will come at Britains expense. https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/02/for-the-dutch-brexit-is-a-mistake-and-a-big-opportunity/ 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Rail passengers commuting into London could have services disrupted by freight trains if a nodeal Brexit causes logjams at the Channel tunnel it has emerged. GoAhead the company behind the rail operator Southeastern said it was working with the government to try to ensure commuters were not affected. But David Brown the chief executive of GoAhead which runs some of the biggest rail and bus networks in Britain said there was a risk some passenger services could give way to goods. He also warned of a potential future shortage of bus drivers revealing that job applications from Europe had dried up since the UKs EU referendum in 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/21/no-deal-brexit-could-cause-staff-shortages-and-passenger-delays-warns-train-operator 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Telegraph Some of the UKs biggest pharmaceutical companies research hospitals and medical industry groups say it is now impossible for them to be prepared for a no deal Brexit which would put the future of medical trials in doubt. They say leaving the EU at the end of next month without a deal would also potentially delaying lifesaving breakthroughs in fields such as cancer care. A blizzard of nodeal notices have been sent to medical firms this week by the industry watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA with warnings that much of its important guidance and online services will not be available until the day of Brexit itself. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/02/21/medical-industry-sounds-alarm-risks-posed-no-deal-brexit/ 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Irish Times The European Union has given Aer Lingus and two related airlines in Spain a sixmonth deadline in the event of a nodeal Brexit in which to restructure its shareholding and thus ensure it is eligible to continue operating as a European company. This is the result of Aer Lingus Iberia and Vueling being owned by British holding company International Airlines Group IAG. According to EU rules only companies that are majority owned by EU shareholders are able to operate flights between member states. A nodeal Brexit raised the prospect of Aer Lingus Iberia and Vueling being stripped of their EU flying rights. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-given-six-months-to-fix-brexit-eu-ownership-issue-1.3800724 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Metro British tourists may have to pay to visit European countries after Brexit because of Spanish demands over the status of Gibraltar. Legislation being put in place to ensure Brits are able to travel visafree within Europe after leaving the EU was derailed by Spain during talks in Brussels. The country was reluctantly backed by the other 26 member states when on Wednesday it reignited the argument over whether the British overseas territory should be described as a colony in the EUs statute book. https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/21/tourists-face-52-visa-eu-brexit-spain-plans-block-waiver-8692507/ 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Wired.co.uk Leaving the single market will have the least impact on the most ambitious startups. The EUs regulatory harmony has always been somewhat offset for startups by its linguistic and cultural diversity. In any case these companies place no geographic bounds on their aspirations. The UKs prosaic but fundamental strengths a favourable time zone and the English language will keep the country attractive as a springboard to launch a global company. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/brexit-london-venture-capital-startups 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Al Jazeera The Scotch Whisky Association SWA trade body was not unique among UK industry in supporting a Remain vote. Business hates uncertainty and the European Union accounts for over 30 percent of overseas Scotch whisky sales. Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29 after most people in England and Wales unlike those in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to leave the bloc. If there is no deal agreed to govern that exit then Britain is going to be trading with the EU and the rest of the world on World Trade Organization WTO terms. There is a risk of losing benefits including lower tariffs secured through the EUs bilateral trade deals with markets representing around 10 of Scotch exports according to the SWA. https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/rocks-scottish-whisky-industry-survive-brexit-190220174424197.html 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Yahoo Finance UK Many auto companies from luxury marques like Aston Martin to massmarket brands such as Vauxhall are working on ways to survive after March 29. On the outskirts of London workers at Vauxhalls operation in Luton are preparing to produce a new line of commercial vans following fresh investment from the brands owner PSA which they are counting on to sustain over 1000 jobs. While postBrexit market conditions remain a big unknown Vauxhall boss Stephen Norman told Reuters Britains exit from the European Union could present an opportunity to increase the brands market share. He is pursuing a marketing campaign to boost demand for the companys modestly priced cars and SUVs. https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/remain-leave-carmakers-confront-hard-070443772.html 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Daily Post First Minister Mark Drakeford said Wales needed to be at the front of the queue for any postBrexit economic relief. He was in Llandudno Junction on Thursday for a cabinet meeting at the Welsh Government offices. Asked what his plan B was if companies such as Toyota and Airbus UK were to relocate after Brexit taking away thousands of direct and ancillary jobs from the area he laid the blame squarely with the Westminster government. https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/first-minister-says-wales-needs-15865863 21st Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent Retailers have warned that a nodeal Brexit will lead to unaffordable price hikes on food and drink for customers in both the UK and Ireland as well as causing shortages of some everyday items. Leaders of retail bodies said reverting to World Trade Organisation tariffs could make the cost of making fresh food and drink available to consumers increase by as much as 45 per cent which is likely to be passed on to customers. Food and drink production will be made more expensive due to a combination of higher tariffs and new regulatory checks according to Aodhan Connolly director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium Thomas Burke director of Retail Ireland and William Bain the British Retail Consortium Europe and international policy adviser. The warning comes days after Birds Eye boss Wayne Hudson said food prices were likely to rise by up to 20 per cent virtually immediately due to new tariffs. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/brexit-no-deal-food-prices-tariffs-wto-uk-ireland-retail-a8789576.html 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Theresa May has been warned by a group of 100 moderate Tory MPs that they are prepared to rebel against the Government to force her to delay Brexit if she cannot reach a deal. The Brexit Delivery Group which represents both Remain and Leave MPs has called for a free vote next week on a backbench bid to take no deal off the table. Simon Hart and Andrew Percy the leaders of the bloc say in a letter leaked to The Daily Telegraph that numerous members of the group have become deeply troubled by the prospect of a no deal Brexit. The letter to Julian Smith the chief whip says The reputation for competence of both the party and the Government depends on our ability to deliver an orderly exit in line with the existing timescale. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/02/21/brexit-latest-news-labour-tories-brace-walkouts-defectors-reshape/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Fears over Brexit and the party drifting to the right and away from relevance are held far beyond todays three amigos but by dozens of MPs privately including ministers in the government. If as is likely more MPs move across those private pleas to stay in the centre ground have more weight. Like Labour the Tories have big questions they cant answer at the moment profound quandaries that its not clear their leaderships are ready or perhaps even capable right now of meeting. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47309514 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Deutsche Welle The leader of Britains biggest opposition party warned on Thursday that there was a very serious risk that the country would crash out of the European Union without a deal. Following a useful meeting in Brussels with Michel Barnier the EUs chief Brexit negotatiator Corbyn said May was trying to keep the threat of a no deal on the table and accused her of running down the clock ahead of the Brexit deadline on March 29. The Labour Party was determined to remove the possibility of a nodeal exit he said adding that Barnier had conveyed the EUs own fears about the predicted economic damage such an outcome would entail for both sides. https://www.dw.com/en/uks-jeremy-corbyn-risk-of-no-deal-brexit-very-serious/a-47618553 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

@SkyNewsPolitics Did Barnier say it was possible to have an extension to Article50 asks @StoneSkyNews. @jeremycorbyn responds with It is a complex and difficult question to answer at this stage. https://twitter.com/SkyNewsPolitics/status/1098572275647987712 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics.co.uk Heres the great secret truth about the Brexit cliff edge Its not on March 29th. Its actually pretty easy to extend that deadline by a few months and there is something close to consensus in Whitehall Westminster and Brussels that well have to. The real cliff edge is on July 1st the day before the inaugural plenary session of the newlyelected European parliament. Thats the dead zone. If you havent taken part in the upcoming European elections theres no way to extend the deadline any further. So something is becoming increasingly clear. If Labour really is committed to ruling out nodeal if moderate Tory Cabinet ministers really mean it when they say they refuse to allow it to happen they must support British participation. This is by far the most important aspect of the whole Brexit debate. And there is almost no mention of it at all. http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/02/21/the-real-brexit-cliff-edge-is-not-on-march-29th-it-s-july-1s 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Channel 4 News Labour MP Jess Phillips who has said she found it hard to disagree with her former colleagues who are part of the Independent Group spoke to Channel 4 News and they asked her whether she was minded to join them. https://www.channel4.com/news/labour-mp-jess-phillips-i-feel-closer-to-luciana-berger-than-jeremy-corbyn-without-any-shadow-of-a-doubt 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian From the perspective of the antiBrexit movement the Labour split does not change the bottom line. At some point in the process Labour needs to whip in favour of a public vote and if there is not a general election in the meantime enough Tories need to join them to pass the motion. The damaging thing is the bigger process the crude attempt by Chuka Ummuna and others to cash in their role in the antiBrexit movement to lend credibility to a New Labour project which has run out of its own ideas. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/20/labour-splitters-backing-peoples-vote-independent-group-anti-brexit-movement?fbclid=IwAR3DKMNZkx9Tk34wt-wKsOr1OGx9TPlVI0B0DNnGbzPTi35aTjB4n0nR9T0 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Cabinet ministers have told Theresa May she must agree to delay Brexit if there is no EU deal to halt their Commons rebellion next week. Four of the PMs top table confronted her during a No10 meeting on Monday to insist she must take No Deal off the table. Amber Rudd David Gauke Greg Clark and David Mundell named a new pledge from Mrs May to extend Article 50 talks as their price not to side with backbench rebels during a new showdown with MPs in seven days time. If the PM refuses the senior ministers insisted they and 20 other members of the Government would press on with their vow to back Labour MP Yvette Cooper and Tory grandee Sir Oliver Letwins plan for Parliament to seize control of the Brexit process. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8269759/brexit-news-latest-theresa-may-eu-exit-delayed/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

iNews Conservative MP Phillip Lee sparked a row during the BBC Politics Live show on Wednesday after he branded Brexit a turd during a heated discussion. The Tory MP for Bracknell was discussing the latest defections of his colleagues Anna Soubry Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston to the centrist The Independent Group parliamentary bloc that has taken shape this week. While he said he did not feel it was the time to join them he took issue with the Conservatives embrace of Brexit since the 2016 vote. https://inews.co.uk/news/tory-mp-phillip-lee-brexit-turd-bbc-politics-live/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Record Anybody claiming a nodeal Brexit would be anything other than a catastrophe is either an idiot or a liar. Its a simple fact that crashing out of the EU without a deal would involve an economic shock that would be devastating for hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. This truth was driven home in a stark parliamentary statement by Scottish Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell yesterday. The SNP minister revealed that official Scottish Government estimates suggest 100000 jobs would be lost in the aftermath of a nodeal Brexit. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-must-rule-out-catastrophic-14023120 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent The outline of a potential compromise deal on Brexit has begun to emerge in Brussels with both sides now working towards a new route out of the deadlock. EU diplomats confirmed they were looking at a new kind of legal instrument to sit alongside the existing withdrawal agreement giving clarity over the temporary nature of the Irish backstop so hated by Tory backbenchers. They were in meetings with the UKs attorney general Geoffrey Cox who has already done groundwork on similar instruments before heading to Brussels for meetings alongside Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-latest-theresa-may-negotiations-brussels-eu-stephen-barclay-a8790816.html 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The threat of a nodeal Brexit is focusing minds and encouraging compromise the chancellor has said. Philip Hammond said the government was determined to get a deal before leaving the EU on 29 March but a very bad no deal outcome remained possible. The government said talks on Thursday were productive and would continue urgently at a technical level. Jeremy Corbyn who met EU negotiator Michel Barnier earlier again accused the PM of running down the clock. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47316895 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Cornwall's Pirate FM https://www.piratefm.co.uk/news/world-news/2812069/european-commission-president-jean-claude-juncker-complains-of-brexit-fatigue/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Channel 4 News We dont need more time we need decisions from the British Parliament this from the EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier whos just been holding talks with the Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay the mood in Brussels growing distinctly gloomier about the prospects of No Deal. Even the European Commission president JeanClaude Juncker declared he had Brexit fatigue. https://www.channel4.com/news/corbyn-in-brussels-to-break-brexit-deadlock-as-juncker-declares-his-brexit-fatigue 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Euro News Its just over a month before the UK is set to leave the European Union on March 29 and the risk of a no deal exit is rising with every day that passes. In this scenario British citizens in the EU and EU citizens in the UK could lose their rights https://www.euronews.com/2019/02/21/amendment-to-may-s-brexit-deal-could-protect-uk-and-eu-citizens-rights 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Yahoo! The SDLP and Fianna Fail have issued a joint statement urging proremain parties across Ireland to form an alliance. The statement which was issued by party leaders Colum Eastwood and Micheal Martin sets out five core principles for parties across the island to agree on in order to counteract the consequences of Brexit. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/newly-partnered-fianna-fail-sdlp-201129117.html 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Scotsman The SNP is contriving to bring about a No Deal Brexit because it will hasten the demise of the United Kingdom Scottish Secretary David Mundell has claimed. And he indicated that he is ready to back moves to remove control of the Brexit process from the Government and return it to the Commons to avoid a No Deal scenario . https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/david-mundell-snp-wants-no-deal-brexit-to-break-up-uk-1-4876823 21st Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK The Independent Group of Labour and Tory defectors could prop up Theresa Mays government in a confidence and supply arrangement a leading member has said. This would include voting for any Brexit deal if the prime minister put it to the public in a referendum. Gavin Shuker told HuffPost UKs Commons People podcast it would be in the national interest to provide stability through any public vote which could take a year to arrange. The group first made the offer in a meeting with the PMs de facto deputy David Lidington last month. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-independent-group-offers-to-prop-up-theresa-mays-government-in-return-for-a-referendum-on-her-deal_uk_5c6ec007e4b0e2f4d8a379b3 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent One of the many unintended consequences of Brexit is that Global Britain seems curiously friendless. We have proved remarkably inept at taking back control of our foreign policy we are losing friends we need diplomatically every day. Telling Bangladesh to take our now stateless ISIS bride sending haughty letters to Japan they need to urgently agree a trade treaty with us our defence secretary threatening to send a warship into Chinas backyard and then we ask them for a trade deal. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-trade-deal-eu-japan-china-bangladesh-shamima-begum-isis-a8790521.html 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Shropshire Star Irelands deputy premier said the economy would be affected if the UK crashes out of the EU. A nodeal Brexit threatens to push Ireland into a budgetary deficit Irelands deputy premier has warned. Simon Coveney said the economy would be impacted if ... https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2019/02/21/no-deal-brexit-threatens-to-push-ireland-into-budgetary-deficit/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

ITV News After his meetings with EU officials in Brussels on Thursday the Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and those around him seem more confident than ever that their vision of Brexit will somehow become reality. Despite not actually being in the negotiation seat or in power. Sources close to the talks between Mr Corbyn and Michel Barnier say the EUs chief negotiator was sympathetic to Labours ideas of membership of a customs union and a closer alignment with the single market. Speak to EU diplomats and officials in Brussels privately and they have always seen the Labour plans as more favourable. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-02-21/jeremy-corbyn-pushes-labours-brexit-blueprint-in-brussels/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Reuters Mays finance minister Philip Hammond raised hopes that a revised deal was on the cards by saying lawmakers could get an opportunity as early as next week to vote on a revised deal. But within hours of his comments a British government source speaking on condition of anonymity played down the likelihood of a deal within days. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-vote/not-there-yet-but-closer-britain-and-eu-haggle-over-brexit-compromise-idUKKCN1QA0Q4?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=topNews 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Theresa May has held meetings with leading Tory Remainers amid speculation about further defections. Justine Greening and Phillip Lee say Mrs May has ignored requests from proEU Tory MPs in favour of Brexiteers. The pair had separate meetings with the PM in Downing Street. Meanwhile one exLabour member of the new Independent Group of MPs has said it could help keep Mrs May in power on condition that she agreed to another EU referendum with Remain as an option. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47321482 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The UK government is undermining national security by delaying the introduction of publicly available share ownership registers in Britains major tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands the foreign affairs select committee has said. During a general inquiry into the relationship between the UK and its overseas territories the MPs on the committee discovered that the Foreign Office planned to delay the introduction of publicly available beneficial share ownership registers until 2023 three years after the deadline MPs believed they had set. Public registers are seen as critical by campaigners for cracking down on money laundering corruption and tax evasion including by leaders of authoritarian governments. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/21/delay-to-tax-havens-public-registers-risks-national-security 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times Theresa May tried on Thursday to prevent further Europhile Tory MPs from resigning by promising that her UK government would occupy the political centre ground. Justine Greening and Philip Lee two Tory MPs who are seen as among the most likely to join the new Independent Group in the House of Commons were both invited to meet Mrs May at Downing Street. Hours earlier Ms Greening said she would resign from the Conservative party if the government sought to take Britain out of the EU without a deal https://www.ft.com/content/51712a20-35b9-11e9-bb0c-42459962a812 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The Scottish secretary has said he is determined to stop a nodeal Brexit but has no intention of leaving the Conservative Party. Speaking at an event in Edinburgh David Mundell said leaving the EU without a deal could cause chaos and disruption in our economy. He said he was not surprised that three proRemain Tory MPs had quit the party to join the new Independent Group. But he said he would most certainly not be joining them. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-47321671 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The withdrawal agreement widely known as Mays deal clearly sets out the objective of leaving both the customs union and the single market. Leaving them both is part of the prime ministers many red lines. Not only are Mays claims on the political declaration false they are an attempt to obscure the decisive difference between her deal and Corbyns policy. Corbyn is demanding that our economy is in a customs union with the closest possible relationship with the single market. The prime minister is willing to destroy tens of thousands of jobs and lower living standards as workers at Nissan Ford and Honda are finding out. And the distortion of the truth is part and parcel of that plan. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-deal-theresa-may-eu-vote-commons-customs-union-labour-corbyn-a8789861.html 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Express BBC Today programme host John Humphrys was shocked by Philip Hammonds Brexit admission as the Chancellor revealed the UK Government may have never asked the EU whether they would offer Britain an extension of Article 50. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1090383/BBC-news-Brexit-Article-50-extension-Philip-Hammond-John-Humphrys 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Spectator Brexit was a mutiny. Like all mutinies it was driven by anger at authority rather than by a strategy for the future. To date the consequences have been to deepen polarisation but triumphant victory for either side is not the way forward. That there is no majority for any of the current options is entirely understandable they are all awful. We can only break the polarisation with a new strategy. The Brexit mutiny should have been a wakeup call. Instead the elite are angry that the mutiny was not suppressed while the mutineers have become ever more distrustful. There is a way out of this nightmare. Revoke Article 50 https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/02/theres-only-one-way-out-of-this-brexit-nightmare-revoke-article-50/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Justine Greening has indicated she would leave the Conservative Party if the Government backed a nodeal Brexit. I dont think I would be able to stay part of a party that was simply a Brexit party that had crashed us out of the European Union the former education secretary said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47321901/no-deal-brexit-might-see-justine-greening-quit-conservatives 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News When historians come to write the story of Brexit where will their account begin The year it all started to go wrong for David Cameron was 2012 first Greece teetered on default and the EU took a highly publicized austerity stance. This threw the Euro into crisis and in turn the political project went into the mixer https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-became-inevitable-while-we-were-all-looking-the-other-way-11614522 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Theresa Mays Tory party was pushed close to breaking point on Wednesday as three prominent MPs walked out to join the new Independent Group. Former Cabinet minister Anna Soubry Commons Health Committee chair Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen stunned Westminster with the defection. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8473872/tories-breaking-point-mps-defect-independent-group/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico.eu Just over 3 kilometers away from the Commissions Berlaymont building a giant electronic billboard in Brussels Place De Brouckre shows one of Mays tweets from April 2016. It says I believe it is clearly in our national interest to remain a member of the European Union. The billboard is the work of Led By Donkeys an antiBrexit group that posts according to its Twitter bio the Brexit predictions of our leaders rendered as tweets then put on massive billboards. https://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-trolled-in-brussels-by-anti-brexit-group/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Theresa May is facing the most serious cabinet revolt of her premiership next week with as many as 25 members of the government ready to vote for a Brexit delay unless she rules out no deal in a move that will challenge her to sack them. Rebel Conservatives believe there are now enough MPs across the House of Commons to pass an amendment that would require May to extend article 50 rather than allow the UK to leave without a deal. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/21/theresa-may-faces-ministerial-revolt-over-no-deal-brexit 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Taxpayers face a staggering 310 MILLION bill from the Windrush scandal the Sun can reveal. Home Secretary Sajid Javid has told Cabinet colleagues that a compensation fund may cost the extraordinary sum. And he is warning the bill is so high the Home Office will struggle to even launch the fund without extra cash from the Treasury. One Cabinet source told The Sun Saj is saying its unaffordable and that the Home Office budget needs another 150 million. Its the first time the Government has put a figure on the likely redress for thousands of Commonwealth citizens caught up in the scandal which erupted almost exactly one year ago. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8483058/windrush-310-million-home-office/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home The European Commission president lamented that the two sides were unlikely to reach a deal MPs will be willing to support. And he warned that a nodeal departure from the bloc would have terrible economic and social consequences both in Britain and on the continent. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/102006/eu-chief-jean-claude-juncker-not-optimistic-about 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

NBC News Europeans in Brussels the unofficial capital of the E.U. have some choice words to describe Britains attempt to leave the 28country bloc. Horrifying chaotic and frustrating are just a few of them. There are just 36 days left until Brexit and lawmakers have been unable to agree on how it will leave and what the future relationship will look like. Its like watching a car crash in slow motion and you cant do anything to stop it said Jess Fitch who was born and raised in Belgium to British parents and is a U.K. national. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/europe-brexit-watching-car-crash-slow-motion-n972966 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8477659/tory-mp-christopher-davies-faces-trial-over-claims-he-cheated-expenses-and-could-be-jailed-for-a-year/ 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror A Tory MP has been charged with forgery over claims he falsified documents for his Parliamentary expenses. Chris Davies 51 will face court next month charged with three alleged offences dating back to early 2016. The Crown Prosecution Service said today they brought the criminal charges after reviewing allegations that Mr Davies falsified two invoices in support of Parliamentary expenses claims. The MP has represented Brecon and Radnorshire since 2015 and was made a government aide to the Wales Office in January 2018. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-chris-davies-tory-mp-14031134 21st Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Huffington Post ExTory MP Anna Soubry has claimed Theresa May has a problem with immigration on the same day she decided to quit the Tories to join parliaments new Independent Group. Soubry who announced her resignation on Wednesday over the governments stance on Brexit told BBC Newsnight that the prime minister would not agree to the single market because of the free movement of people. Soubry added And I think whats really worried me about Theresa and she has history in the Home Office that supports this because Im an old barrister I look at the evidence and I think shes got a problem with immigration. I really honestly do. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ex-tory-mp-anna-soubry-says-theresa-may-has-a-problem-with-immigration_uk_5c6da7f4e4b0e2f4d8a2172a?ncid=other_twitter_cooo9wqtham&amputm_campaign=share_twitter 20th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Labour has reported its former MP Joan Ryan to the Information Commissioners Office though she strongly denies accessing party systems to contact members after resigning from the party on Tuesday to join the breakaway Independent Group. It is understood the party has informed the commissioner about the alleged breach and that it intends to submit a full report. Suspicions about the breach prompted party officials to shut down its key canvassing software. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/21/labour-reports-former-mp-joan-ryan-over-alleged-data-breach 30th Nov -0001

Trade Deals/Negotiations

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47319533 21st Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Financial Times https://www.ft.com/content/c6056590-35ff-11e9-bd3a-8b2a211d90d5 21st Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-news-japan-trade-deal-will-not-be-ready-by-march-29-deadline-liam-fox-confirms-a4073441.html 21st Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Sky News The government has admitted it has run out of time to roll over existing trade pacts with Japan and Turkey in the event of a nodeal Brexit. A document released on Thursday by the Department for Trade showed it was seeking to continue deals with 40 trading partners currently covered by EU membership accounting for 11 of all UK trade. But it confirmed that in the case of Japan whose trade pact with the EU only came into force this month it is unlikely that we will reach an agreement prior to exit day. https://news.sky.com/story/trade-pact-with-japan-ruled-out-by-brexit-deadline-11643831 21st Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Guardian The international trade secretary Liam Fox is using the opportunity of the Parliamentary recess to avoid proper scrutiny of plans that threaten our rights our environment and our democracy. He tabled a general debate on postBrexit trade agreements with the US Australia New Zealand and the TransPacific Partnership for Thursday. And he is expected to launch negotiations soon after the debate with no chance for parliament to stop him. The government is planning to include investorstate dispute settlement ISDS mechanisms in future trade deals. ISDS clauses let foreign investors sue national governments for introducing policies that harm their profits. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/21/liam-fox-post-brexit-trade-plan-go-unscrutinised 21st Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

irish Independent Britain has upped the ante in the battle over the Brexit backstop by threatening to favour Brazilian beef over Irish using a system of tariffs and quotas. The British plan which echoes tactics used against the government of Eamon de Valera during the AngloIrish trade war of the 1930s aims to allow beefproducing countries like Brazil to dodge the brunt of the new import taxes or tariffs after Brexit. It will mean a huge quantity of lowpriced Brazilian beef being pushed into the UK market with quality Irish beef being priced out. https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/news/farming-news/britain-threatens-to-favour-brazilian-beef-over-irish-as-new-trade-war-looms-37837844.html 21st Feb 2019

EU Funding Benefits

Forbes Responsible for balanced development across the European Union the ERDF has funded a large chunk of infrastructure projects and services in remote regions of the UK. The funding was particularly important in West Wales and Cornwall the two poorest regions in Northern Europe. With Brexit fast approaching areas relying on the ERDF are growing increasingly worried about the lack of information regarding the UK Shared Prosperity Fund UKSPF the government has set up to replace it. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/02/21/life-after-brexit-sustainability-and-the-european-regional-development-fund/ 21st Feb 2019