In the event of no deal , from here >>>>https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8397 Agriculture and fisheries Trading arrangements - tariffs and standards – would be the main issue. With no alternative arrangement, the UK as a third country would be subject to tariffs, checks, registrations, certifications etc for commodities, food and feed, plant and animal-based products. Agriculture could also be impacted by the ‘no deal’ effects of other policies such as immigration (for seasonal, agri-food workers and vets).
Brexit means the UK will become an independent coastal state with responsibility for managing fisheries in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 miles. It will not be bound by the Common Fisheries Policy and could deny access to EU Member States’ vessels (and vice versa). But under international law States are required to minimise economic dislocation to other States whose nationals have habitually fished in a zone.
Thanks for this ^
I find this interesting- “ Could deny access to EU member States’ vessels” Even though the skippers sold their quotas to them?, isn’t that bound by law?
In the event of no deal , from here >>>>https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8397 Agriculture and fisheries Trading arrangements - tariffs and standards – would be the main issue. With no alternative arrangement, the UK as a third country would be subject to tariffs, checks, registrations, certifications etc for commodities, food and feed, plant and animal-based products. Agriculture could also be impacted by the ‘no deal’ effects of other policies such as immigration (for seasonal, agri-food workers and vets).
Brexit means the UK will become an independent coastal state with responsibility for managing fisheries in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 miles. It will not be bound by the Common Fisheries Policy and could deny access to EU Member States’ vessels (and vice versa). But under international law States are required to minimise economic dislocation to other States whose nationals have habitually fished in a zone.
Thanks for this ^
I find this interesting- “ Could deny access to EU member States’ vessels” Even though the skippers sold their quotas to them?, isn’t that bound by law?
I'm thinking that actually implementing denying access would be a tough gig ..especially when some countries have said , they would just continue to fish anyway regardless of any restrictions ....historically we have never been very good or thrown enough resources at protecting our waters anyway .
In the event of no deal , from here >>>>https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8397 Agriculture and fisheries Trading arrangements - tariffs and standards – would be the main issue. With no alternative arrangement, the UK as a third country would be subject to tariffs, checks, registrations, certifications etc for commodities, food and feed, plant and animal-based products. Agriculture could also be impacted by the ‘no deal’ effects of other policies such as immigration (for seasonal, agri-food workers and vets).
Brexit means the UK will become an independent coastal state with responsibility for managing fisheries in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 miles. It will not be bound by the Common Fisheries Policy and could deny access to EU Member States’ vessels (and vice versa). But under international law States are required to minimise economic dislocation to other States whose nationals have habitually fished in a zone.
Thanks for this ^
I find this interesting- “ Could deny access to EU member States’ vessels” Even though the skippers sold their quotas to them?, isn’t that bound by law?
In the event of no deal , from here >>>>https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8397 Agriculture and fisheries Trading arrangements - tariffs and standards – would be the main issue. With no alternative arrangement, the UK as a third country would be subject to tariffs, checks, registrations, certifications etc for commodities, food and feed, plant and animal-based products. Agriculture could also be impacted by the ‘no deal’ effects of other policies such as immigration (for seasonal, agri-food workers and vets).
Brexit means the UK will become an independent coastal state with responsibility for managing fisheries in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 miles. It will not be bound by the Common Fisheries Policy and could deny access to EU Member States’ vessels (and vice versa). But under international law States are required to minimise economic dislocation to other States whose nationals have habitually fished in a zone.
Thanks for this ^
I find this interesting- “ Could deny access to EU member States’ vessels” Even though the skippers sold their quotas to them?, isn’t that bound by law?
Theres an interesting bloke on this. He just spent £250, 000 on a new factory. The EU gave him the money. He appears at around 17.5 minutes.
In the event of no deal , from here >>>>https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8397 Agriculture and fisheries Trading arrangements - tariffs and standards – would be the main issue. With no alternative arrangement, the UK as a third country would be subject to tariffs, checks, registrations, certifications etc for commodities, food and feed, plant and animal-based products. Agriculture could also be impacted by the ‘no deal’ effects of other policies such as immigration (for seasonal, agri-food workers and vets).
Brexit means the UK will become an independent coastal state with responsibility for managing fisheries in the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone of 200 miles. It will not be bound by the Common Fisheries Policy and could deny access to EU Member States’ vessels (and vice versa). But under international law States are required to minimise economic dislocation to other States whose nationals have habitually fished in a zone.
Thanks for this ^
I find this interesting- “ Could deny access to EU member States’ vessels” Even though the skippers sold their quotas to them?, isn’t that bound by law?
Fisheries policy and Brexit: A difficult balancing act
A couple of weeks ago the European Council published its draft negotiation guidelines for the next stage of Brexit talks with the UK. The word “fishing” only gets mentioned once in the whole document, but the provision to which it was attached has caused controversy: “trade in goods, with the aim of covering all sectors, which should be subject to zero tariffs and no quantitative restrictions with appropriate accompanying rules of origin. In this context, existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained” In other words, the EU is offering the UK tariff free trade in goods, but on the condition that existing access arrangements for EU vessels in UK waters are maintained. While leaving the Common Fisheries Policy and regaining control over the UK’s waters is an oft-repeated statement by the government, reports over the last couple of days suggest the UK may have conceded this point, at least during a transition phase.
A difficult balancing act in the negotiations The government’s challenge ultimately comes down to balancing act. It will have to juggle competing domestic interests, both within and beyond the fishing industry. In doing this, the government will need to ensure the concerns of those in the fishing industry who voted to leave the EU are addressed, while simultaneously managing its diplomatic relationships with the EU and non-EU coastal states. And all of this while delivering on its ambitions to pursue a green Brexit with a world-class fisheries management system.
UK mulls slashing all tariffs to zero if there's a no-deal Brexit
The UK government is actively considering the possibility of slashing all tariffs in the country to zero in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a move which would be calamitous for a range of industries including agriculture and manufacturers. A spokesperson within the Department for International Trade confirmed to Yahoo Finance UK that this was “one of many options on the table” in a bid to fight the expected surge in prices that would come after a no-deal Brexit on 29 March. “No decision has been taken and the government is currently considering all options in the event of a no-deal with the EU,” the agency said in a written statement. As a whole, the UK has very low tariffs, except for some industries like agriculture and auto manufacturing. For example, tariffs for car imports into the UK and European Union are set at 10%. Globally, tariffs are close to their lowest levels ever — averaging around 2.9% — according to the latest data from the World Bank. As a whole, developed nations have been lowering their tariffs for years, though non-tariff barriers and national regulations still present trading hurdles.
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said that lowering tariffs to zero would potentially counteract some inflationary pressures after a no-deal Brexit scenario. But it wouldn’t be very effective. “Ultimately, at best this would ensure prices wouldn’t rise too much,” he told Yahoo Finance UK. “When you look at the literature, tariff savings are very rarely passed along to the final consumer…But when tariffs go up, that usually does get passed through,” he said. Prime minister Theresa May is trying this month to rework her Brexit deal with the European Union in order to get the support of the majority of members of parliament. But political delays have created the possibility that the UK might leave the EU on the Brexit deadline with no formalised arrangements covering crucial issues including trade, migration, border control and even flights across the English channel. In this scenario, it’s expected that the pound would drop sharply – leading to a surge in UK prices – and the country would have to re-impose border checks, which would slow down trade. More than 50% of UK imports come from the European Union. David Henig, director of the UK Trade Policy Project at the European Centre for International Political Economy, warned that certain British industries would suffer deeply if the government unilaterally scrapped all tariffs. “Reducing all UK tariffs to zero would be potentially good news for consumers, but more troubling for UK producers in some key areas like automotive, ceramics, steel, and most of all agriculture,” he said. “There would be adjustments, and almost certainly job losses, among UK producers. Coming on top of the uncertainties over a no-deal Brexit, and the tariffs UK producers could pay for exports to the EU, many producers will have serious worries about their future,” he said.
Industry reaction The president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Minette Batters, warned this week in an interview with Sky News that the country would be “subsumed by cheap [agricultural] imports” that would put her industry at a disadvantage. At the same time, many British agricultural companies would be temporarily locked out of shipping their wares to other countries or would face the “high-tariff wall of the EU”. The British Ceramic Confederation has been lobbying against the potential tariff move and expressed its concerns this week directly to the secretary for international trade, Liam Fox. “Any unilateral removal of UK tariffs on our imports, without any prospect of other countries reciprocating on our exports, would put British ceramic manufacturing at risk,” warned the head of the trade association, Laura Cohen, in a written statement. “It would give foreign competitors a boost, while putting our members’ home market at risk.” “Liam Fox is concerned about the inflationary impact of Brexit, but this sort of fool hardy action in response could ruin British ceramic manufacturing by wrecking our home market. Moreover, it would massively weaken the UK’s hand in making free trade deals with other countries,” she said.
Brexit truce among Conservatives shattered as May says there is 'no suggestion' of scrapping Irish backstop
The fragile Tory truce over Brexit has been shattered after Theresa May admitted there is “no suggestion” of scrapping the Irish backstop – triggering fresh anger from her anti-EU MPs. Under pressure from business leaders in Belfast, the prime minister let slip that she will only seek “changes” to the controversial backstop – not its removal – in fresh talks in Brussels on Thursday. The comment was seen as backtracking on last week’s Commons vote that it should be “replaced with alternative arrangements”, which Ms May had ordered Conservative MPs to support. The reaction from the hardline European Research Group (ERG) of Tory MPs was swift, one source saying: “Even if she doesn't mean what she said, we still do.”
One prominent Brexiteer, John Whittingdale, pointed out the prime minister had set up a “working party” to explore ideas leading to trade deal that “would not need the backstop”. Brexit in-depth: All the latest news, analysis and expert opinion “That’s the kind of alternative that it is in the interest, not just of Northern Ireland, but the United Kingdom as a whole,” the former cabinet minister said. Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props the Tories up in power, said the backstop had to be axed.
“It’s very important that we replace that backstop – that we deal with it – because, currently, it creates a hard border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom and that’s totally unacceptable.” The ERG will reinforce its determination to replace the backstop with – unproven – technology at an event on Wednesday, as the prime minister holds talks with the Northern Ireland parties. On Thursday, Ms May will meet EU leaders in Brussels for the first time since the crushing defeat of her deal in last month’s “meaningful vote”, but with no specific proposal to break the deadlock.
And MPs will vote again on the crisis just one week later, a concession forced by the threat of cabinet resignations over the growing risk of a no-deal Brexit. Until her visit to Belfast, Ms May had insisted three options were being considered for reworking the backstop – a time limit, an exit mechanism, or ill-defined “alternative arrangements”. However, she appeared discomforted by questions from local business leaders and journalists, in the part of the UK where the guarantee – to avoid the return of border points and checks – enjoys strong support. Asked how she could win support for a deal stripped of the backstop, Ms May replied: “I'm not proposing to persuade people to accept a deal that doesn't contain that insurance policy for the future. “What parliament has said is that they believe there should changes made to the backstop.” Told that some in Northern Ireland believed she had “shafted them”, she said again: “There is no suggestion that we are not going to ensure that, in the future, there is provision for this - it's been called an insurance policy, the backstop.”
However, the Brady amendment – passed by the Commons last week, in a rare show of Tory unity – “requires the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border”. Furthermore, the working group of pro and anti-EU Tories, under the so-called ‘Malthouse Compromise’, is still exploring those alternatives, with civil service support. Downing Street tried to repair the damage, insisting all options remained open, including full replacement of the backstop. But Guto Bebb, a Conservative supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, said Ms May’s comments proved “there won’t be any substantial changes to her Brexit deal” “Instead, she’s going through the motions with the EU, letting the clock tick down further, and then will try again to force through her deal that doesn’t command the support of Parliament, doesn’t command the support of the public, and is a bad deal for the future of our country,” he said. The prime minister will meet both Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, the presidents of the European Commission and Council respectively, on Thursday.
Earlier, at cabinet, former pro-Remain ministers pushing for an extension to the Article 50 process, if necessary to prevent a crash-out, stayed silent as the prime minister insisted Brexit must still happen on 29 March. Unless ministers resign to vote for parliament to “take control” next week, it is likely the Commons will again fail to vote to draw up legislation to seek to delay Brexit, extending the stalemate.
Labour membership falls 10% amid unrest over Brexit stance
Setting lapsers aside, more members have joined Labour than resigned during recent weeks. But several MPs claim scores of local activists have become disillusioned and drifted away, as a result of what they regard as the party’s ambivalent stance on Brexit. The leadership has resisted fierce pressure from grassroots members, who are overwhelmingly pro-remain, to swing its weight behind a second referendum – instead merely suggesting MPs should be given the option of considering a “public vote” to resolve the impasse at Westminster.
Donald Tusk: Special place in **** for Brexiteers without a plan
European Council President Donald Tusk has spoken of a "special place in ****" for "those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it safely". He was speaking after talks with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Brussels. He said the EU would "insist" on the Irish backstop in any UK withdrawal deal to preserve peace. But he and Mr Varadkar were preparing for the "possible fiasco" of a no-deal Brexit
Donald Tusk: Special place in **** for Brexiteers without a plan
European Council President Donald Tusk has spoken of a "special place in ****" for "those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it safely". He was speaking after talks with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Brussels. He said the EU would "insist" on the Irish backstop in any UK withdrawal deal to preserve peace. But he and Mr Varadkar were preparing for the "possible fiasco" of a no-deal Brexit
Unbelievable that the brexiteers argue for us to have changes to suit our agenda; talk about wanting our cake and eating it... still it could be worse...we could be negotiating with Trump on future trade deals...doh
We leave the EU on a managed no deal basis, and trade on WTO rules. This involves tariffs, which will make imported products more expensive to buy. So we get less trade, lose jobs and our cost of living goes up. A 10% tariff on cars would surely mean we would sell less particularly in Europe.
To counteract this the Brexiteers have a cunning plan. We will do away with tariffs, which will mean we don't see increases in the prices of imports, and our cost of living doesn't increase. WTO rules say that if you do away with tariffs, you must do away with them across the board. If we did away with tariffs on cars, any imports would be tariff free, whether they came in from Japan, USA, or Europe. The problem with this is that cheap imports will decimate some of our manufacturers.
So we are likely to lose thousands of jobs.
The second problem is that there is no obligation for other countries to reciprocate.
So if we did away with tariffs, why would other countries follow suit?
Also any other country would be mad to want to do a trade deal with us. Why would they if they could access our market tariff free, while protecting their own jobs by charging us tariffs?
This could leave us with a 10% tariff on our cars going into the EU, and no tariffs on theirs coming into the UK.
Someone from the ceramics industry has just been on the news suggesting that removing tariffs would kill them off.
Donald Tusk: Special place in **** for Brexiteers without a plan
European Council President Donald Tusk has spoken of a "special place in ****" for "those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it safely". He was speaking after talks with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Brussels. He said the EU would "insist" on the Irish backstop in any UK withdrawal deal to preserve peace. But he and Mr Varadkar were preparing for the "possible fiasco" of a no-deal Brexit
Unbelievable that the brexiteers argue for us to have changes to suit our agenda; talk about wanting our cake and eating it... still it could be worse...we could be negotiating with Trump on future trade deals...doh
Boris Johnson earned £51,000 for one speech, MPs' register reveals
Whatever the speculation about Boris Johnson’s political role since stepping down as foreign secretary, no one can doubt his ability to make money since returning to the backbenches, including, it has emerged, being paid more than £51,000 for a single speech. The latest register of MPs’ financial interests shows Johnson, who is paid nearly £23,000 a month for his weekly Daily Telegraph column, received £51,250 from the Irish firm Pendulum Events for a speech in Dublin. The previous register of interests showed that the digger manufacturer JCB had paid Johnson £10,000 three days before he gave a speech at its Staffordshire headquarters in which he repeatedly praised the company’s business acumen.
Boris Johnson’s income has certainly not suffered since he left office. In November, he was paid £94,000 for a speech to an asset management firm in New York.
Police called after Tory MP Ross Thomson is accused of 'sexual touching' in Commons bar
Mr Thomson, 31, is one of 12 Scottish Tory MPs elected to the House of Commons in 2017 and a prominent BREXIT SUPPORTER.
One Tory MP told The Herald: “He has been under a lot of pressure with the workload and BREXIT.”
A Tory MP is at the centre of allegations of “sexual touching” at a bar in the Houses of Parliament. Officers were called to the Strangers’ Bar late on Tuesday night after complaints about inappropriate behaviour by a man, understood to be Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson. Onlookers said the man had appeared “blind drunk” in the bar after 10.30pm and began “sexual touching” other drinkers at the venue. One witness told i: “He was going up to people he didn’t know and touching them. He was told to stop by a complainant. He was taken outside and told to stop it.
“I voted Remain, not just for political reasons but because my mum’s moved to Spain and I want her to stay there.”
An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman walk into a bar. The Englishman wanted to go so they all had to leave. #Brexitjokes
Why do we need any colour passport? We should just be able to shout, “British! Less of your nonsense!” and stroll straight through.
This is like when Geri Halliwell overestimated her viability as a solo artist and left the Spice Girls
“A lot of Leave voters say ‘Stop complaining, it’s democracy!’ Well democracy doesn’t always work. If five people democratically elect to take your iPhone, it’s a mugging.”
Bond films to last 30% longer with scenes of his passport being more heavily scrutinised between exotic European locales
“Roy Hodgson has just been made Prime Minister. He has a fantastic record of leaving Europe swiftly.”
I'm not giving up my seat to the elderly anymore. Eye for an eye.
“Brexit was like the UK got drunk and accidentally unfriended Europe on Facebook.”
“I was surprised when people kept voting to keep Wagner on X Factor, and ever since then it’s never surprised me, our ability to mess up a vote.”
How did the Brexit chicken cross the road? "I never said there was a road. Or a chicken".
After #brexit, when rapper 50 cent performs in GBR he'll appear as 10.000 pounds.
“How many Brexiters does it take to change a lightbulb? Whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn’t say there was a lightbulb.”
“A Brexit deal could take ten years. That’s not fair. Most of the people who voted for it could be dead by then.” – Gary Lineker
“The young people are surprised that the older people have done them over. All those year’s they spent hanging outside Tesco Metro, drinking, smoking, intimidating them… these old people have just been waiting for their chance. And yesterday they thought ‘let’s see how you like listening to your drum ‘n’ bass on your phone when we’re out of the EU, you p****!”
Meanwhile India is just blown away that you can get Britain to leave by voting
I know it's not very "politically correct" to say it out loud but in the wasteland of ruined Britain I am going to hunt and eat old people
“Let’s get one thing clear, personally I in no way believe that all those who voted for Brexit are racist or stupid. People voted based on the information (albeit limited and misleading) put before them by politicians. We could just as easily have arrived at a result by counting belly buttons. Innies Vs Outies. Turns out we are a nation of outies.”
“Michael Gove’s right, we don’t need expert analysis. Especially now, they’re all saying we’re screwed.”
Hello, I am from Britain, you know, the one that got tricked by a bus
Comments
I find this interesting- “ Could deny access to EU member States’ vessels”
Even though the skippers sold their quotas to them?, isn’t that bound by law?
Theres an interesting bloke on this. He just spent £250, 000 on a new factory. The EU gave him the money. He appears at around 17.5 minutes.
A couple of weeks ago the European Council published its draft negotiation guidelines for the next stage of Brexit talks with the UK. The word “fishing” only gets mentioned once in the whole document, but the provision to which it was attached has caused controversy:
“trade in goods, with the aim of covering all sectors, which should be subject to zero tariffs and no quantitative restrictions with appropriate accompanying rules of origin. In this context, existing reciprocal access to fishing waters and resources should be maintained”
In other words, the EU is offering the UK tariff free trade in goods, but on the condition that existing access arrangements for EU vessels in UK waters are maintained. While leaving the Common Fisheries Policy and regaining control over the UK’s waters is an oft-repeated statement by the government, reports over the last couple of days suggest the UK may have conceded this point, at least during a transition phase.
A difficult balancing act in the negotiations
The government’s challenge ultimately comes down to balancing act. It will have to juggle competing domestic interests, both within and beyond the fishing industry. In doing this, the government will need to ensure the concerns of those in the fishing industry who voted to leave the EU are addressed, while simultaneously managing its diplomatic relationships with the EU and non-EU coastal states. And all of this while delivering on its ambitions to pursue a green Brexit with a world-class fisheries management system.
https://www.brexitenvironment.co.uk/2018/03/19/fisheries-brexit-balancing-act/
The UK government is actively considering the possibility of slashing all tariffs in the country to zero in the event of a no-deal Brexit, a move which would be calamitous for a range of industries including agriculture and manufacturers.
A spokesperson within the Department for International Trade confirmed to Yahoo Finance UK that this was “one of many options on the table” in a bid to fight the expected surge in prices that would come after a no-deal Brexit on 29 March.
“No decision has been taken and the government is currently considering all options in the event of a no-deal with the EU,” the agency said in a written statement.
As a whole, the UK has very low tariffs, except for some industries like agriculture and auto manufacturing. For example, tariffs for car imports into the UK and European Union are set at 10%.
Globally, tariffs are close to their lowest levels ever — averaging around 2.9% — according to the latest data from the World Bank. As a whole, developed nations have been lowering their tariffs for years, though non-tariff barriers and national regulations still present trading hurdles.
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said that lowering tariffs to zero would potentially counteract some inflationary pressures after a no-deal Brexit scenario. But it wouldn’t be very effective.
“Ultimately, at best this would ensure prices wouldn’t rise too much,” he told Yahoo Finance UK.
“When you look at the literature, tariff savings are very rarely passed along to the final consumer…But when tariffs go up, that usually does get passed through,” he said.
Prime minister Theresa May is trying this month to rework her Brexit deal with the European Union in order to get the support of the majority of members of parliament. But political delays have created the possibility that the UK might leave the EU on the Brexit deadline with no formalised arrangements covering crucial issues including trade, migration, border control and even flights across the English channel.
In this scenario, it’s expected that the pound would drop sharply – leading to a surge in UK prices – and the country would have to re-impose border checks, which would slow down trade.
More than 50% of UK imports come from the European Union.
David Henig, director of the UK Trade Policy Project at the European Centre for International Political Economy, warned that certain British industries would suffer deeply if the government unilaterally scrapped all tariffs.
“Reducing all UK tariffs to zero would be potentially good news for consumers, but more troubling for UK producers in some key areas like automotive, ceramics, steel, and most of all agriculture,” he said.
“There would be adjustments, and almost certainly job losses, among UK producers. Coming on top of the uncertainties over a no-deal Brexit, and the tariffs UK producers could pay for exports to the EU, many producers will have serious worries about their future,” he said.
Industry reaction
The president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Minette Batters, warned this week in an interview with Sky News that the country would be “subsumed by cheap [agricultural] imports” that would put her industry at a disadvantage. At the same time, many British agricultural companies would be temporarily locked out of shipping their wares to other countries or would face the “high-tariff wall of the EU”.
The British Ceramic Confederation has been lobbying against the potential tariff move and expressed its concerns this week directly to the secretary for international trade, Liam Fox.
“Any unilateral removal of UK tariffs on our imports, without any prospect of other countries reciprocating on our exports, would put British ceramic manufacturing at risk,” warned the head of the trade association, Laura Cohen, in a written statement. “It would give foreign competitors a boost, while putting our members’ home market at risk.”
“Liam Fox is concerned about the inflationary impact of Brexit, but this sort of fool hardy action in response could ruin British ceramic manufacturing by wrecking our home market. Moreover, it would massively weaken the UK’s hand in making free trade deals with other countries,” she said.
The fragile Tory truce over Brexit has been shattered after Theresa May admitted there is “no suggestion” of scrapping the Irish backstop – triggering fresh anger from her anti-EU MPs.
Under pressure from business leaders in Belfast, the prime minister let slip that she will only seek “changes” to the controversial backstop – not its removal – in fresh talks in Brussels on Thursday.
The comment was seen as backtracking on last week’s Commons vote that it should be “replaced with alternative arrangements”, which Ms May had ordered Conservative MPs to support.
The reaction from the hardline European Research Group (ERG) of Tory MPs was swift, one source saying: “Even if she doesn't mean what she said, we still do.”
One prominent Brexiteer, John Whittingdale, pointed out the prime minister had set up a “working party” to explore ideas leading to trade deal that “would not need the backstop”.
Brexit in-depth: All the latest news, analysis and expert opinion
“That’s the kind of alternative that it is in the interest, not just of Northern Ireland, but the United Kingdom as a whole,” the former cabinet minister said.
Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props the Tories up in power, said the backstop had to be axed.
“It’s very important that we replace that backstop – that we deal with it – because, currently, it creates a hard border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom and that’s totally unacceptable.”
The ERG will reinforce its determination to replace the backstop with – unproven – technology at an event on Wednesday, as the prime minister holds talks with the Northern Ireland parties.
On Thursday, Ms May will meet EU leaders in Brussels for the first time since the crushing defeat of her deal in last month’s “meaningful vote”, but with no specific proposal to break the deadlock.
And MPs will vote again on the crisis just one week later, a concession forced by the threat of cabinet resignations over the growing risk of a no-deal Brexit.
Until her visit to Belfast, Ms May had insisted three options were being considered for reworking the backstop – a time limit, an exit mechanism, or ill-defined “alternative arrangements”.
However, she appeared discomforted by questions from local business leaders and journalists, in the part of the UK where the guarantee – to avoid the return of border points and checks – enjoys strong support.
Asked how she could win support for a deal stripped of the backstop, Ms May replied: “I'm not proposing to persuade people to accept a deal that doesn't contain that insurance policy for the future.
“What parliament has said is that they believe there should changes made to the backstop.”
Told that some in Northern Ireland believed she had “shafted them”, she said again: “There is no suggestion that we are not going to ensure that, in the future, there is provision for this - it's been called an insurance policy, the backstop.”
However, the Brady amendment – passed by the Commons last week, in a rare show of Tory unity – “requires the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border”.
Furthermore, the working group of pro and anti-EU Tories, under the so-called ‘Malthouse Compromise’, is still exploring those alternatives, with civil service support.
Downing Street tried to repair the damage, insisting all options remained open, including full replacement of the backstop.
But Guto Bebb, a Conservative supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, said Ms May’s comments proved “there won’t be any substantial changes to her Brexit deal”
“Instead, she’s going through the motions with the EU, letting the clock tick down further, and then will try again to force through her deal that doesn’t command the support of Parliament, doesn’t command the support of the public, and is a bad deal for the future of our country,” he said.
The prime minister will meet both Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk, the presidents of the European Commission and Council respectively, on Thursday.
Earlier, at cabinet, former pro-Remain ministers pushing for an extension to the Article 50 process, if necessary to prevent a crash-out, stayed silent as the prime minister insisted Brexit must still happen on 29 March.
Unless ministers resign to vote for parliament to “take control” next week, it is likely the Commons will again fail to vote to draw up legislation to seek to delay Brexit, extending the stalemate.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/brexit-truce-among-conservatives-shattered-as-may-says-there-is-no-suggestion-of-scrapping-irish-backstop/ar-BBTdmsc?ocid=spartandhp
Setting lapsers aside, more members have joined Labour than resigned during recent weeks. But several MPs claim scores of local activists have become disillusioned and drifted away, as a result of what they regard as the party’s ambivalent stance on Brexit.
The leadership has resisted fierce pressure from grassroots members, who are overwhelmingly pro-remain, to swing its weight behind a second referendum – instead merely suggesting MPs should be given the option of considering a “public vote” to resolve the impasse at Westminster.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/labour-membership-falls-10percent-amid-unrest-over-brexit-stance/ar-BBTduhX?ocid=spartandhp
European Council President Donald Tusk has spoken of a "special place in ****" for "those who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan of how to carry it safely".
He was speaking after talks with Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Brussels.
He said the EU would "insist" on the Irish backstop in any UK withdrawal deal to preserve peace.
But he and Mr Varadkar were preparing for the "possible fiasco" of a no-deal Brexit
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47143135
We leave the EU on a managed no deal basis, and trade on WTO rules.
This involves tariffs, which will make imported products more expensive to buy.
So we get less trade, lose jobs and our cost of living goes up.
A 10% tariff on cars would surely mean we would sell less particularly in Europe.
To counteract this the Brexiteers have a cunning plan.
We will do away with tariffs, which will mean we don't see increases in the prices of imports, and our cost of living doesn't increase.
WTO rules say that if you do away with tariffs, you must do away with them across the board.
If we did away with tariffs on cars, any imports would be tariff free, whether they came in from Japan, USA, or Europe.
The problem with this is that cheap imports will decimate some of our manufacturers.
So we are likely to lose thousands of jobs.
The second problem is that there is no obligation for other countries to reciprocate.
So if we did away with tariffs, why would other countries follow suit?
Also any other country would be mad to want to do a trade deal with us. Why would they if they could access our market tariff free, while protecting their own jobs by charging us tariffs?
This could leave us with a 10% tariff on our cars going into the EU, and no tariffs on theirs coming into the UK.
Someone from the ceramics industry has just been on the news suggesting that removing tariffs would kill them off.
Boris Johnson earned £51,000 for one speech, MPs' register reveals
Whatever the speculation about Boris Johnson’s political role since stepping down as foreign secretary, no one can doubt his ability to make money since returning to the backbenches, including, it has emerged, being paid more than £51,000 for a single speech.
The latest register of MPs’ financial interests shows Johnson, who is paid nearly £23,000 a month for his weekly Daily Telegraph column, received £51,250 from the Irish firm Pendulum Events for a speech in Dublin.
The previous register of interests showed that the digger manufacturer JCB had paid Johnson £10,000 three days before he gave a speech at its Staffordshire headquarters in which he repeatedly praised the company’s business acumen.
Boris Johnson’s income has certainly not suffered since he left office. In November, he was paid £94,000 for a speech to an asset management firm in New York.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-earned-£51000-for-one-speech-mps-register-reveals/ar-BBTg32D?ocid=spartandhp
Police called after Tory MP Ross Thomson is accused of 'sexual touching' in Commons bar
Mr Thomson, 31, is one of 12 Scottish Tory MPs elected to the House of Commons in 2017 and a prominent BREXIT SUPPORTER.
One Tory MP told The Herald: “He has been under a lot of pressure with the workload and BREXIT.”
A Tory MP is at the centre of allegations of “sexual touching” at a bar in the Houses of Parliament.
Officers were called to the Strangers’ Bar late on Tuesday night after complaints about inappropriate behaviour by a man, understood to be Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson.
Onlookers said the man had appeared “blind drunk” in the bar after 10.30pm and began “sexual touching” other drinkers at the venue.
One witness told i: “He was going up to people he didn’t know and touching them. He was told to stop by a complainant. He was taken outside and told to stop it.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/police-called-after-tory-mp-ross-thomson-is-accused-of-sexual-touching-in-commons-bar/ar-BBTgvmx?ocid=spartandhp
BREXIT: "Which bit of 'replaced' was not clear?" - Brexiteer MP Francois challenges minister
An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman walk into a bar.
The Englishman wanted to go so they all had to leave. #Brexitjokes
Why do we need any colour passport? We should just be able to shout, “British! Less of your nonsense!” and stroll straight through.
This is like when Geri Halliwell overestimated her viability as a solo artist and left the Spice Girls
“A lot of Leave voters say ‘Stop complaining, it’s democracy!’ Well democracy doesn’t always work. If five people democratically elect to take your iPhone, it’s a mugging.”
Bond films to last 30% longer with scenes of his passport being more heavily scrutinised between exotic European locales
“Roy Hodgson has just been made Prime Minister. He has a fantastic record of leaving Europe swiftly.”
I'm not giving up my seat to the elderly anymore. Eye for an eye.
“Brexit was like the UK got drunk and accidentally unfriended Europe on Facebook.”
“I was surprised when people kept voting to keep Wagner on X Factor, and ever since then it’s never surprised me, our ability to mess up a vote.”
How did the Brexit chicken cross the road?
"I never said there was a road. Or a chicken".
After #brexit, when rapper 50 cent performs in GBR he'll appear as 10.000 pounds.
“How many Brexiters does it take to change a lightbulb? Whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn’t say there was a lightbulb.”
“A Brexit deal could take ten years. That’s not fair. Most of the people who voted for it could be dead by then.” – Gary Lineker
“The young people are surprised that the older people have done them over. All those year’s they spent hanging outside Tesco Metro, drinking, smoking, intimidating them… these old people have just been waiting for their chance. And yesterday they thought ‘let’s see how you like listening to your drum ‘n’ bass on your phone when we’re out of the EU, you p****!”
Meanwhile India is just blown away that you can get Britain to leave by voting
I know it's not very "politically correct" to say it out loud but in the wasteland of ruined Britain I am going to hunt and eat old people
“Let’s get one thing clear, personally I in no way believe that all those who voted for Brexit are racist or stupid. People voted based on the information (albeit limited and misleading) put before them by politicians. We could just as easily have arrived at a result by counting belly buttons. Innies Vs Outies. Turns out we are a nation of outies.”
“Michael Gove’s right, we don’t need expert analysis. Especially now, they’re all saying we’re screwed.”
Hello, I am from Britain, you know, the one that got tricked by a bus