A weaker economy with a good deal of inflation is the likely outcome. Like the stock market that crashes, you rebuild. Best not to carry too much personal debt.
The MPs only had 69 days of Referendum campaigning. I never once heard of an issue with Northern Ireland. What were they doing? On my patch,Woking, the Tory MP voted for Brexit, whereas most of his supporters voted remain. My local forums are a great read, hope that applies to everybody else's..
What about the voters in NI? I appreciate that the majority were in favour of remaining, but how could anyone in NI vote to leave? What on earth were they thinking of? The NI border is just another one of the Brexit impossible choices.
There has to be a land border, a sea border. or no border. It is not possible for different customs territories to have no border. The Good Friday Agreement prohibits a land border. A sea border separates NI from the rest of the UK.
The problem is that many people are saying that they don't want any of the above.
As with much of the debate around Brexit, this is just not possible.
My thoughts on what has just happened. Johnson and Macron had this arranged as the last resort. The EU are as bored of this as most of the UK are. Now the heats on Corbyn to go for an election, otherwise Corbyn will look responsible for a no deal Brexit.Another Referendum is out of the equation. When the election occurs,Boris has his deal voted for ( although not passed)so it will likely be a hung Parliament. The Lib dems are now in the mire,with clashes between them and labour on the horizon.
A near global recession looms. Trade wars, China slowing down big time, unrest all over the place. Keep an eye on the Banks. They're going to get hit again down the line, as there are so many flakey businesses that barely make any profit, but carry far too much debt.
I thought I'd post this as I'm off again. I have the feeling some will say good. Each to their own.
Many people have quoted 7 to 10 years to get a trade deal. Michelle Barnier recently said he thought, at least 3. The Boris agreement stipulates that an extension to the implementation period should be applied for next Summer. There is absolutely no hope of any trade deal being reached by then. Failing to apply for an extension would result in crashing out at the end of next year.
Will the priority of Parliament for many years to come, be to just stop us crashing out of the EU without a deal, at regular intervals.
‘This confirms our worst fears’: Brexit deal will allow Boris Johnson to cut workers’ rights, leak reveals Prime minister accused of misleading parliament – after official paper boasts his agreement ‘leaves room for interpretation’
Labour seized on the leak as proof that “this Conservative government has no intention of maintaining high standards after we leave the EU”.
“These documents confirm our worst fears. Boris Johnson’s Brexit is a blueprint for a deregulated economy, which will see vital rights and protections torn up,” said Jenny Chapman MP, a Brexit spokeswoman. “It is also clear Boris Johnson was misleading Parliament earlier this week. You simply can’t trust a word Boris Johnson says.”
The leak could hit the prime minister’s hopes of winning Labour support for his withdrawal agreement bill in the Commons, if he decides to bring it back.
Brexit: Public turning against Boris Johnson's deal and blaming him for latest delay, poll finds Only 19 per cent of voters believe agreement is good deal - and more hold prime minister responsible for delay than Labour
The public is turning against Boris Johnson’s deal and blaming him – rather than Labour – for the latest Brexit delay, a poll has found. Only 19 per cent of voters believe the surprise agreement struck with Brussels last week is a good deal and only 3 per cent described it as ‘very good’.
The proportion not knowing enough about it to offer an opinion has fallen from 45 per cent to 34 per cent – with most who have made up their minds refusing to give their endorsement.
Furthermore, the survey suggested the prime minister has failed in his strategy of pinning the blame on Labour for the failure to deliver on his “do or die” pledge to leave the EU by 31 October.
One in five said that Mr Johnson and the Conservatives would be most responsible when Brexit fails to happen on Halloween, more than the 13 per cent who will blame Jeremy Corbyn’s party.
Only 23 per cent cited leaving the EU on Mr Johnson's terms as their preferred Brexit outcome, against 20 per cent wanting no deal and 37 per cent backing Remain.
Boris Johnson drops plans for government to 'go on strike' if MPs reject pre-Christmas election after ridicule No 10 vowed that ‘nothing will come before parliament but the bare minimum’ – but has now retreated
Boris Johnson has dropped plans for the government to go “on strike” if he fails to trigger a pre-Christmas general election, after the move was widely ridiculed. No 10 had threatened to abandon all legislation if Jeremy Corbyn refuses to agree to a snap poll – saying “nothing will come before parliament but the bare minimum”.
But the stance, widely interpreted as going on strike, prompted criticism from both Brexit supporters and from Labour MPs, one of whom branded it “beyond childish”.
Britain should pay £39bn Brexit ‘divorce bill’ even if it leaves without a deal, report says House of Lords committee warns of ‘serious’ damage to UK’s international reputation if cash is withheld
Britain should pay its £39bn Brexit “divorce bill” even if it leaves the EU without a deal, a new parliamentary report has said. A House of Lords committee said that failure to pay would risk trashing the UK’s international reputation and could block any future free trade deal with the rest of Europe.
Hardline Brexiteers, including Nigel Farage, have long argued that the UK should withhold the cash settlement with Brussels in a no-deal scenario, citing a 2017 report by the Lords’ EU Financial Affairs sub-committee which said Britain would be under “no enforceable obligation” to pay. But the same committee said today that the UK “should honour its financial obligations”. A refusal to hand over the sums agreed “would have consequences for the UK’s international standing and reputation”, it said in a report.
England's rugby heroes are celebrated on every front page but one, with Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi in a roaring embrace the stand-out image. The Sunday Times proclaims their World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand to be one of the finest performances in English rugby history. The Sunday Telegraph says the team are "one step from glory" and the Sun on Sunday proclaims "final here we scrum". The Daily Star goes as far as to claim that beating the mighty All Blacks was "Japaneasy", while the Mail on Sunday suggests the England team be sent to sort out Brexit.
With MP's due to vote on holding a general election on Monday, the Sunday Mirror warns that the country should not give in to Boris Johnson just because it's tired of Brexit... saying it would be like saying in 1944 that "we couldn't be bothered with D-Day because the Second World War was getting tiresome". The paper even raises the spectre of voters trooping to polling stations on Boxing Day reporting a No 10 source as saying the possibility of an election being held during Christmas week "hasn't been ruled out". 'Power struggle' According to the Sunday Times, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's inner circle is "at war" over whether to back an early election. The paper says the party's elections chief Karie Murphy is "locked in a power struggle" with shadow chancellor John McDonnell over both whether to back an election, and how it should be fought. The Mail on Sunday is reporting that rebel Labour MPs have set up a WhatsApp group to plot against Mr Corbyn - it says the group is called Clause One, after the party constitution's commitment to be a political force in Parliament, because they fear the party is losing sight of its mission. Should the prime minister succeed in getting a snap election, the Sunday Telegraph reports that ministers have been advised there would not be enough time to extend the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds. The paper says that appears to scotch plans by Labour and the SNP to table an amendment to extend voting rights.
Many of the papers report suggestions that the 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex may have been part of a wider operation to smuggle up to 100 people into the country, with two other lorries possibly completing similar journeys. The Mail on Sunday says that the way to ensure such a tragedy doesn't happen again is for the UK to be better at speedily returning illegal arrivals back to their home countries - to deter others from trying. The paper leads with the words of a man it claims is a people smuggler. It says the man, living in East London, "laughed off the fate of the 39 migrants", and told an undercover reporter that it was "the luck of the draw".
'Wake-up call' The paper says the man offered to arrange for the reporter to be smuggled into the UK in a lorry from Belgium, for a payment of £14,000. The Sunday Times says the tragedy is a "wake-up call", and says anti-slavery legislation is ineffective unless Britain's borders are properly policed. The Observer warns that the UK could face being excluded from Europe's anti-trafficking unit once it leaves the EU. It quotes sources from Europol - which runs the unit - saying it was unclear what future the links with British Police would be, calling it a "bleak prospect". Writing in the same paper, the Archbishop of York John Sentamu says it should remind us that Britain has long offered sanctuary to the oppressed, and calls for the country to embrace a national policy of welcome.
Many of the front pages feature pictures of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - sitting on the floor next to a rifle - and President Trump's description of how the Islamic State leader met his end. "ISIS Chief Died Like A Coward" is the headline in the Daily Express - which brands Baghdadi as a "monster" who was "holed up underground and living in fear" before US special forces stormed his compound in Syria at the weekend. The Daily Mirror says the world is a "safer place" without him. The Financial Times argues that Baghdadi's death is "undoubtedly a symbolic blow for a once potent terror group that is losing its power" - but warns that removing him may not make Islamic State any less dangerous.
The Guardian agrees - highlighting that the "huge disruption and grievances IS caused remain raw and largely unresolved". The paper also criticises Mr Trump's description of Baghdadi as a "dog" and a "gutless animal" - comparing it with the "dialogue of a triumphant chieftain in a made-for-TV warrior epic". But the Sun thinks the President is entitled to credit for the mission.
The Daily Telegraph focuses on suggestions that Boris Johnson may be open to the plan put forward by the Liberal Democrats and the SNP that would grant him the December election he wants - providing Brexit is delayed until the end of January. In its editorial, the paper calls the idea a "con" and urges MPs to back the government's own election motion today. The Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire isn't convinced either proposal would resolve the deadlock in the Commons. "Even if there is an election before Christmas", he says, "there is no guarantee it would produce a radically different result". Renewed criticism of Jeremy Corbyn's election chances by the Labour peer, Peter Mandelson, appears in the i. In a report for the Policy Exchange think tank, Lord Mandelson claims that Mr Corbyn's "extremely poor personal ratings make a majority Labour government an impossibility while he remains". Party officials tell the paper that they believe support will build "in the heat of an election campaign".
Grenfell families 'silenced' According to the Daily Telegraph, families involved in the Grenfell Tower disaster will need to sign non-disclosure agreements before they can read a long-awaited report into the fire. Survivors and relatives of those who died are due to meet the chairman of the Grenfell inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, for a private briefing today - ahead of the report's public release on Wednesday. One member of the "Justice for Grenfell" campaign group tells the paper she can't see how any family would be prosecuted for sharing its contents with the media before then, but adds "you never know". The Daily Mail leads on comments from the head of NHS England, Simon Stevens, who's accused the homeopathy industry of promoting "misinformation" about vaccinations. In a letter to the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, Mr Stevens describes some homeopaths as "chancers" who falsely claim that alternative remedies are as safe and effective as clinically-tested medicines. He also recommends that the Society of Homeopaths is removed from an official register of professional organisations - warning that its inclusion sends the wrong message to the public.
The Society insists it does not promote any treatment that conflicts with NHS guidance. Charity cash stash Analysis by the Times shows that Britain's ten largest military charities have built up reserves of £275m, prompting claims that they may be hoarding cash unnecessarily. Many charities hold unused money in bank accounts to weather unexpected financial problems, and reassure potential donors about their future. But the Times says that several of the organisations on the list - including the Royal British Legion - have admitted their reserves are too large. The head of Action on Armed Violence, Iain Overton, fears the sector is sleepwalking into a major funding scandal. "The unique status of military charities...", he says, "means many are uncomfortable to scrutinise them". The Daily Express says it's obtained figures showing the number of roadside breath tests conducted by police has halved in the past decade. It says 320,000 tests were carried out last year compared with 670,000 in 2009 - while arrests have fallen by 43%.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, says it's concerned that drink-driving will start to increase again as forces make changes to traffic units to cut costs.
And several papers - including the Daily Mail - reveal that the Queen insisted on having a speaking part in her famous sketch with Daniel Craig at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics. In a book serialised by Hello! magazine, her dresser and confidante, Angela Kelly, says the Queen "agreed immediately" to take part - providing she got to deliver the line, "Good evening, Mr Bond". Mrs Kelly also confirms that she personally wears in Her Majesty's shoes before engagements to make sure they're comfortable enough. "As we share the same size", she points out, "it makes the most sense this way".
Finally, the build-up to England's Rugby World Cup final with South Africa on Saturday has already started in the Times. It says pubs across the country are stocking up on extra beer, bacon and coffee for the 9am kick off - while diehard fans are parting with vast sums of money to be at the game in Japan. Yesterday, tickets for the match were being offered on reselling websites for up to £12,500.
There is extensive analysis of the prime minister's election prospects now that he has failed to take the UK out of the EU by Halloween. "Boris Johnson may not be dead in a ditch", writes Polly Toynbee in the Guardian, but "he's a host of accidents waiting to happen" on the campaign trail "and so are many of his cabinet zealots". The Financial Times thinks it is a huge gamble for Mr Johnson to risk Brexit and his premiership on a "highly uncertain election, having failed to meet his main promise and before his legislation has actually been defeated". The Daily Mail agrees - warning Downing Street there is no guarantee "voters will accept the argument that the failure to come up with the goods should be pinned on a fractious, Remainer-dominated Parliament".
The Sun accepts that an election comes with "considerable risk" for the prime minister, but argues that should be put to one side. "This is simply the worst, most toxic, most inept, most juvenile Parliament of anyone's lifetime", the paper declares in its editorial. "It has to be replaced." The Daily Express strikes a similar tone, describing the continuing stand-off in the Commons as "insufferable". Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph accuses the Labour leader of "spluttering out a jumble of increasingly forlorn excuses" for not having an election. "The funny thing is Jeremy Corbyn probably does want one", writes Michael Deacon - "unfortunately, however, his MPs don't." Another casualty of the Brexit delay is the commemorative coin minted to coincide with 31 October. Bloomberg reports that the order has already been given for thousands of 50p pieces to be melted down. A Treasury spokesman tells the website that new coins will be produced to mark Brexit - whenever it takes place.
The Times says a management consultant is being paid almost £2,000 a day to find ways to cut costs at an NHS health board in north Wales. A Freedom of Information request also revealed that Philip Burns has been given permission to work one day a week from his home on the Costa del Sol. The paper points out that while Mr Burns earns more than the Welsh government's own health minister, one of the money-saving measures under consideration is to stop paying nurses for breaks during their 12-and-a-half hour shifts. In a statement, the Betsi Cadwaladr board says Mr Burns receives the "market rate" for his services, and does not get any travel or accommodation expenses.
Finally, the i reviews what it describes as a "festive fail" - in the form of a mince pie sandwich created by the supermarket chain, Morrisons. The paper says it is effectively a "jazzed-up cheese and pickle roll" with a spiced chutney-****-mince pie spread underneath two slices of hard cheddar. "The flavour is relatively inoffensive at first", writes Josh Barrie, "then all of a sudden, it's like biting into one of those unsold cinnamon candles found in the bargain bin at department stores in January."
The front pages give a flavour of the bitter Christmas election battle to come. The Mail portrays Boris Johnson as Santa Claus on his sleigh, with Jeremy Corbyn as Dr Seuss's Grinch taking presents out of the back. "Don't let the Grinch steal your Christmas" is the Mail's headline, which is coupled with a warning that both the Lib Dems and the Brexit Party could threaten the prime minister's opinion poll lead. The Daily Mirror, by contrast, puts Mr Johnson's head on a turkey and urges voters to "stuff him" and in doing so end what it says is a decade of Tory austerity and unnecessary hardship.
In the Telegraph, a commentary by a columnist, Sherelle Jacobs, takes up much of its front page. She thinks remainers in Parliament have cooked their own goose by giving Mr Johnson an election. She relishes the idea that Blairite "conviction politicians" in thumping Leave seats are about to be punished by lifelong Labour voters - and, drawing on a phrase associated with Donald Trump, says the election presents an opportunity to "drain the swamp". But in its editorial, the Guardian presents a different picture. It argues MPs voted for Brexit last week in the shape of the withdrawal agreement and the PM could have pushed to get the deal through the Commons. It says the prime minister is trying to manipulate opinion to give the impression the election is for the benefit of the people, rather than for his benefit.
Mr Johnson's failure to meet his original "do-or-die" Halloween Brexit deadline is one of the reasons why the Economist thinks the election is a "big gamble" for his party. But it identifies other dangers for Mr Johnson too, including a decline in party loyalty; an increase in tactical voting; the potential loss of Tory seats in London, the south-west and Scotland; and the election being fought on public services rather than on Brexit.
Gaining the support of "the Workington man" will be key to Mr Johnson's success, according to many papers which highlight a study by the think-tank, Onward. The Times says he will have to target older white men without degrees living in the Rugby League towns of the north of England. But it warns that to do so the Tories will have to develop a new Conservatism prioritising public spending. The Mail reflects anger among some of the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire that the London Fire Brigade Commissioner, Dany Cotton, is to retire at the age of 50 with a £2m pension pot despite being strongly criticised by the public inquiry into the tragedy. But the Guardian highlights the view of some firefighters that their unpreparedness was the result of a £100m cut to the brigade's budget as well as decades of decentralisation of fire safety.
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal would swipe £1,100 from every person in the UK every year, devastating new analysis says 'This corresponds to roughly the size of Wales’s economic output – or £70bn a year'
I think it is interesting that those that rail against a second referendum, and claim to support the will of the people, remain silent over what has been described as a Brexit election.
Why aren't they pointing out that we are meant to have an election every five years, not three in four.
They seem to be saying that we can have as many votes as we want, but only one referendum.
How can a General Election be the answer to Brexit?
The Tories could win a majority of seats with as little as 35% of the vote, and get us out of the EU.
This would mean that the majority will have voted for remain parties.
Would this then become the will of the people?
The majority voting for remain parties in a Brexit election, surely does, or does the vote on one day in June 2016, remain the will of the people forever, come what may, do or die, die in a ditch, amen.
Can the will of the people ever change?
I think the opposition parties will rue missing the opportunity to eject Boris, and get the referendum that they are all in favour of.
I listened to Jo Swinson on Andrew Neil this week.
She struggled to explain her election plan.
What is the point of having a policy without a plan on how to achieve it.
The policy is to revoke article 50.
The plan to achieve it, is for her to become PM, and the Lib Dems having to gain over 300 seats for this to happen.
Andrew Neill managed to keep a straight face, whilst she put this forward.
I couldn't.
She made it clear that she wouldn't enter a coalition with Boris or Corbyn.
Therefore making a vote for the Lib Dems absolutely pointless.
Also many voters are likely to feel that revoking article 50, is as undemocratic as leaving without a deal.
This could well work in Labours favour.
The campaign will be interesting.
Can the Brexit Party stop Brexit, by nicking enough votes from the Tories?
Will the Boris lies come back to bite the Tories?
Can Nigel Farage get elected at the eighth attempt?
Will the Brexit Party get any seats?
Will the Tories get wiped out in Scotland?
Can Labour get close despite Corbyn?
What about the DUP?
Does the Boris deal signal the end of the UK?
What happens next if we get another hung Parliament?
More General Elections?
More extensions?
The will of the people seems to be for us to continue going around in circles?
I had contemplated voting for the Lib Dems, as I couldn't describe myself as a fan of Corbyn, or Boris.
I am now convinced that it would be a waste of a vote.
She said she wanted to revoke A50 or a referendum.
Undoubtedly this hit a chord with a significant portion of the electorate, increasing their share of support.
But she appears to want the GE to increase her party's seats in the Commons before any referendum.
Probably worried that if the referendum came first, she would lose all the support she had gained, in a subsequent GE, as the main reason for the Lib Dem surge had been removed.
She said she wanted to revoke A50 or a referendum.
Undoubtedly this hit a chord with a significant portion of the electorate, increasing their share of support.
But she appears to want the GE to increase her party's seats in the Commons before any referendum.
Probably worried that if the referendum came first, she would lose all the support she had gained, in a subsequent GE, as the main reason for the Lib Dem surge had been removed.
I may be wrong but it seemed a bit self-serving.
She is absolutely deluded.
The last 2 interviews with her that I have seen, she has talked about what she will do when she becomes PM.
This wont happen.
Most people would think they had a terrific result if they got 50 or 60 seats.
The only way that they will play a significant role in the future of Brexit, will be by supporting other remainer opposition parties in getting a referendum.
The Lib Dems, and the SNP may well get 50 seats each, and hold the balance of power in a hung Parliament.
She says that she wont form a coalition with anyone which puts her out of the game.
If we had one good leader amongst the opposition parties, they would have got Boris out on a vote of no confidence, and pushed through a referendum.
General election: Boris Johnson accused of suppressing secret report on Russian meddling in Brexit vote and UK polls Investigation by a committee of MPs concluded two weeks ago – but Downing Street won’t say if it will be published before election
The investigation, by a powerful committee of MPs, concluded two weeks ago – but Downing Street has refused to published it before the general election.
It was launched after the revelation that Russia-based Twitter accounts posted more than 45,000 messages about Brexit in just 48 hours during the 2016 referendum.
Before he became prime minister, both Mr Johnson, and his predecessor Theresa May, declined to say if Russia had interfered in Brexit, arguing there was no evidence yet. But Ms May acknowledged Russian interference in elections “in a number of countries in Europe” and the head of the Commons media committee, Damian Collins, said it was “a big and serious problem”.
Brexit deal explained simply: What Boris Johnson agreed with EU in full Boris Johnson is grappling with MPs after he secured a final Brexit deal with the EU. Here's what is in the deal and what it actually means
Northern Ireland and Britain would share a customs territory - technically forcing customs checks on goods crossing the 310-mile border with the Republic. But in practice, to avoid checks at the border, the checks will instead happen when goods reach Northern Ireland on the island of Ireland. This would effectively put the customs checks across the Irish Sea - more of this below.
Northern Ireland and the Republic would share some EU single market rules - forcing checks on manufactured and agricultural products crossing the Irish Sea.
Northern Ireland will stay in the UK customs territory - putting goods north of the 310-mile border under different customs rules to the Republic of Ireland
But there's a vital exception - and here's where it gets complicated. EU customs rules will apply to goods entering Northern Ireland that are deemed "at risk" of moving into the EU at a later date. And because everyone has promised no customs checks on the Irish border, they will be done in ports when goods arrive at "ports of entry" in Northern Ireland. Critics say this in fact amounts to a customs border down the Irish Sea.
Northern Ireland will remain aligned to a limited set of EU single market rules - to avoid checks on goods crossing the 310-mile Irish border.
These are: legislation on goods, sanitary rules for veterinary controls (“SPS rules”), rules on agricultural production/marketing, VAT and excise in respect of goods, and state aid rules. This means Northern Ireland will have some different rules to Britain. And there will be single market "checks and controls" on the relevant goods when they pass between Northern Ireland (EU rules) and mainland Britain (UK rules). The EU says there will be "border inspection posts" to make sure the sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls are carried out correctly.
The Northern Ireland Assembly - known as Stormont - will get a vote every four years on whether to let EU law continue in Northern Ireland.
This sets up a massive showdown with the DUP, because it means EU rules could rule over Northern Ireland despite one side - e.g. unionists - opposing them.
Workers' rights The deal stops short of Labour's demands to safeguard workers' rights by putting the issues into the 'Political Declaration'. This means it is not as legally binding and would only be dealt with at a later date.
Labour's Keir Starmer said the deal "gives Johnson licence to slash workers’ rights, environmental standards and consumer protections."
"Instead, the level playing field provisions only last until the end of transition with a warning shot from the EU about the impact this will have on (reduced) access to EU markets."
EU courts No10 sources were keen to insist that "Britain is out of the European court." But "Britain" does not necessarily include Northern Ireland - and the document suggests there will still be some European court involvement for the UK. The exact nature of such involvement is unclear but it says: "The UK may participate in the proceedings before the Court of Justice of the EU in the same way as a member state."
Continued access to EU programmes Britain and the EU will work together to see that the UK can continue to stay part of popular EU programmes like the Erasmus student exchange and Euratom's research programme. But Britain's membership of those schemes will be "subject to conditions" set by the EU and subject to "fair and appropriate financial contribution" - meaning Britain will stay pay into certain EU programmes.
Free trade and regulation Both parties have agreed to strike a free trade deal which will "combine deep regulatory and customs co-operation". In practice, this means that while Britain and the EU will be technically free to set their own rules, both parties recognise that in key areas - including the regulation of medicines, agricultural products and technical definitions - they will likely strike a deal to effectively mirror one another's regulations. On key areas such as financial services and fishing, the document says the EU and UK will try and strike deals by July 2020.
Level playing field As part of the Political Declaration, the EU and UK have agreed to a level of cooperation on regulations, workers rights and market rules which might cheer Labour MPs looking for an opportunity to support the bill. But promises that any arrangement will "prevent distortions of trade and unfair competitive advantages" will come as bad news to Tories who believe Britain's economic success after Brexit comes from aggressively cutting regulation to undercut the EU and attract global business.
Comments
I appreciate that the majority were in favour of remaining, but how could anyone in NI vote to leave?
What on earth were they thinking of?
The NI border is just another one of the Brexit impossible choices.
There has to be a land border, a sea border. or no border.
It is not possible for different customs territories to have no border.
The Good Friday Agreement prohibits a land border.
A sea border separates NI from the rest of the UK.
The problem is that many people are saying that they don't want any of the above.
As with much of the debate around Brexit, this is just not possible.
Michelle Barnier recently said he thought, at least 3.
The Boris agreement stipulates that an extension to the implementation period should be applied for next Summer.
There is absolutely no hope of any trade deal being reached by then.
Failing to apply for an extension would result in crashing out at the end of next year.
Will the priority of Parliament for many years to come, be to just stop us crashing out of the EU without a deal, at regular intervals.
Prime minister accused of misleading parliament – after official paper boasts his agreement ‘leaves room for interpretation’
Labour seized on the leak as proof that “this Conservative government has no intention of maintaining high standards after we leave the EU”.
“These documents confirm our worst fears. Boris Johnson’s Brexit is a blueprint for a deregulated economy, which will see vital rights and protections torn up,” said Jenny Chapman MP, a Brexit spokeswoman.
“It is also clear Boris Johnson was misleading Parliament earlier this week. You simply can’t trust a word Boris Johnson says.”
The leak could hit the prime minister’s hopes of winning Labour support for his withdrawal agreement bill in the Commons, if he decides to bring it back.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-boris-johnson-eu-workers-rights-environment-leak-labour-a9171961.html
Brexit: Public turning against Boris Johnson's deal and blaming him for latest delay, poll finds
Only 19 per cent of voters believe agreement is good deal - and more hold prime minister responsible for delay than Labour
The public is turning against Boris Johnson’s deal and blaming him – rather than Labour – for the latest Brexit delay, a poll has found.
Only 19 per cent of voters believe the surprise agreement struck with Brussels last week is a good deal and only 3 per cent described it as ‘very good’.
The proportion not knowing enough about it to offer an opinion has fallen from 45 per cent to 34 per cent – with most who have made up their minds refusing to give their endorsement.
Furthermore, the survey suggested the prime minister has failed in his strategy of pinning the blame on Labour for the failure to deliver on his “do or die” pledge to leave the EU by 31 October.
One in five said that Mr Johnson and the Conservatives would be most responsible when Brexit fails to happen on Halloween, more than the 13 per cent who will blame Jeremy Corbyn’s party.
Only 23 per cent cited leaving the EU on Mr Johnson's terms as their preferred Brexit outcome, against 20 per cent wanting no deal and 37 per cent backing Remain.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-boris-johnson-delay-article-50-opinion-poll-a9172051.html
No 10 vowed that ‘nothing will come before parliament but the bare minimum’ – but has now retreated
Boris Johnson has dropped plans for the government to go “on strike” if he fails to trigger a pre-Christmas general election, after the move was widely ridiculed.
No 10 had threatened to abandon all legislation if Jeremy Corbyn refuses to agree to a snap poll – saying “nothing will come before parliament but the bare minimum”.
But the stance, widely interpreted as going on strike, prompted criticism from both Brexit supporters and from Labour MPs, one of whom branded it “beyond childish”.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-brexit-election-strike-december-christmas-delay-eu-a9170846.html
House of Lords committee warns of ‘serious’ damage to UK’s international reputation if cash is withheld
Britain should pay its £39bn Brexit “divorce bill” even if it leaves the EU without a deal, a new parliamentary report has said.
A House of Lords committee said that failure to pay would risk trashing the UK’s international reputation and could block any future free trade deal with the rest of Europe.
Hardline Brexiteers, including Nigel Farage, have long argued that the UK should withhold the cash settlement with Brussels in a no-deal scenario, citing a 2017 report by the Lords’ EU Financial Affairs sub-committee which said Britain would be under “no enforceable obligation” to pay.
But the same committee said today that the UK “should honour its financial obligations”.
A refusal to hand over the sums agreed “would have consequences for the UK’s international standing and reputation”, it said in a report.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-boris-johnson-divorce-bill-no-deal-pay-eu-latest-a9167586.html
England's rugby heroes are celebrated on every front page but one, with Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi in a roaring embrace the stand-out image.
The Sunday Times proclaims their World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand to be one of the finest performances in English rugby history.
The Sunday Telegraph says the team are "one step from glory" and the Sun on Sunday proclaims "final here we scrum".
The Daily Star goes as far as to claim that beating the mighty All Blacks was "Japaneasy", while the Mail on Sunday suggests the England team be sent to sort out Brexit.
With MP's due to vote on holding a general election on Monday, the Sunday Mirror warns that the country should not give in to Boris Johnson just because it's tired of Brexit... saying it would be like saying in 1944 that "we couldn't be bothered with D-Day because the Second World War was getting tiresome".
The paper even raises the spectre of voters trooping to polling stations on Boxing Day reporting a No 10 source as saying the possibility of an election being held during Christmas week "hasn't been ruled out".
'Power struggle'
According to the Sunday Times, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's inner circle is "at war" over whether to back an early election.
The paper says the party's elections chief Karie Murphy is "locked in a power struggle" with shadow chancellor John McDonnell over both whether to back an election, and how it should be fought.
The Mail on Sunday is reporting that rebel Labour MPs have set up a WhatsApp group to plot against Mr Corbyn - it says the group is called Clause One, after the party constitution's commitment to be a political force in Parliament, because they fear the party is losing sight of its mission.
Should the prime minister succeed in getting a snap election, the Sunday Telegraph reports that ministers have been advised there would not be enough time to extend the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds.
The paper says that appears to scotch plans by Labour and the SNP to table an amendment to extend voting rights.
Many of the papers report suggestions that the 39 people found dead in a lorry in Essex may have been part of a wider operation to smuggle up to 100 people into the country, with two other lorries possibly completing similar journeys.
The Mail on Sunday says that the way to ensure such a tragedy doesn't happen again is for the UK to be better at speedily returning illegal arrivals back to their home countries - to deter others from trying.
The paper leads with the words of a man it claims is a people smuggler.
It says the man, living in East London, "laughed off the fate of the 39 migrants", and told an undercover reporter that it was "the luck of the draw".
'Wake-up call'
The paper says the man offered to arrange for the reporter to be smuggled into the UK in a lorry from Belgium, for a payment of £14,000.
The Sunday Times says the tragedy is a "wake-up call", and says anti-slavery legislation is ineffective unless Britain's borders are properly policed.
The Observer warns that the UK could face being excluded from Europe's anti-trafficking unit once it leaves the EU.
It quotes sources from Europol - which runs the unit - saying it was unclear what future the links with British Police would be, calling it a "bleak prospect".
Writing in the same paper, the Archbishop of York John Sentamu says it should remind us that Britain has long offered sanctuary to the oppressed, and calls for the country to embrace a national policy of welcome.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-50197368
Many of the front pages feature pictures of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - sitting on the floor next to a rifle - and President Trump's description of how the Islamic State leader met his end.
"ISIS Chief Died Like A Coward" is the headline in the Daily Express - which brands Baghdadi as a "monster" who was "holed up underground and living in fear" before US special forces stormed his compound in Syria at the weekend.
The Daily Mirror says the world is a "safer place" without him.
The Financial Times argues that Baghdadi's death is "undoubtedly a symbolic blow for a once potent terror group that is losing its power" - but warns that removing him may not make Islamic State any less dangerous.
The Guardian agrees - highlighting that the "huge disruption and grievances IS caused remain raw and largely unresolved".
The paper also criticises Mr Trump's description of Baghdadi as a "dog" and a "gutless animal" - comparing it with the "dialogue of a triumphant chieftain in a made-for-TV warrior epic".
But the Sun thinks the President is entitled to credit for the mission.
The Daily Telegraph focuses on suggestions that Boris Johnson may be open to the plan put forward by the Liberal Democrats and the SNP that would grant him the December election he wants - providing Brexit is delayed until the end of January.
In its editorial, the paper calls the idea a "con" and urges MPs to back the government's own election motion today.
The Daily Mirror's Kevin Maguire isn't convinced either proposal would resolve the deadlock in the Commons. "Even if there is an election before Christmas", he says, "there is no guarantee it would produce a radically different result".
Renewed criticism of Jeremy Corbyn's election chances by the Labour peer, Peter Mandelson, appears in the i. In a report for the Policy Exchange think tank, Lord Mandelson claims that Mr Corbyn's "extremely poor personal ratings make a majority Labour government an impossibility while he remains".
Party officials tell the paper that they believe support will build "in the heat of an election campaign".
Grenfell families 'silenced'
According to the Daily Telegraph, families involved in the Grenfell Tower disaster will need to sign non-disclosure agreements before they can read a long-awaited report into the fire.
Survivors and relatives of those who died are due to meet the chairman of the Grenfell inquiry, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, for a private briefing today - ahead of the report's public release on Wednesday.
One member of the "Justice for Grenfell" campaign group tells the paper she can't see how any family would be prosecuted for sharing its contents with the media before then, but adds "you never know".
The Daily Mail leads on comments from the head of NHS England, Simon Stevens, who's accused the homeopathy industry of promoting "misinformation" about vaccinations.
In a letter to the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care, Mr Stevens describes some homeopaths as "chancers" who falsely claim that alternative remedies are as safe and effective as clinically-tested medicines.
He also recommends that the Society of Homeopaths is removed from an official register of professional organisations - warning that its inclusion sends the wrong message to the public.
The Society insists it does not promote any treatment that conflicts with NHS guidance.
Charity cash stash
Analysis by the Times shows that Britain's ten largest military charities have built up reserves of £275m, prompting claims that they may be hoarding cash unnecessarily.
Many charities hold unused money in bank accounts to weather unexpected financial problems, and reassure potential donors about their future.
But the Times says that several of the organisations on the list - including the Royal British Legion - have admitted their reserves are too large.
The head of Action on Armed Violence, Iain Overton, fears the sector is sleepwalking into a major funding scandal. "The unique status of military charities...", he says, "means many are uncomfortable to scrutinise them".
The Daily Express says it's obtained figures showing the number of roadside breath tests conducted by police has halved in the past decade.
It says 320,000 tests were carried out last year compared with 670,000 in 2009 - while arrests have fallen by 43%.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, says it's concerned that drink-driving will start to increase again as forces make changes to traffic units to cut costs.
And several papers - including the Daily Mail - reveal that the Queen insisted on having a speaking part in her famous sketch with Daniel Craig at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics.
In a book serialised by Hello! magazine, her dresser and confidante, Angela Kelly, says the Queen "agreed immediately" to take part - providing she got to deliver the line, "Good evening, Mr Bond".
Mrs Kelly also confirms that she personally wears in Her Majesty's shoes before engagements to make sure they're comfortable enough.
"As we share the same size", she points out, "it makes the most sense this way".
Finally, the build-up to England's Rugby World Cup final with South Africa on Saturday has already started in the Times.
It says pubs across the country are stocking up on extra beer, bacon and coffee for the 9am kick off - while diehard fans are parting with vast sums of money to be at the game in Japan.
Yesterday, tickets for the match were being offered on reselling websites for up to £12,500.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-50203637
There is extensive analysis of the prime minister's election prospects now that he has failed to take the UK out of the EU by Halloween.
"Boris Johnson may not be dead in a ditch", writes Polly Toynbee in the Guardian, but "he's a host of accidents waiting to happen" on the campaign trail "and so are many of his cabinet zealots".
The Financial Times thinks it is a huge gamble for Mr Johnson to risk Brexit and his premiership on a "highly uncertain election, having failed to meet his main promise and before his legislation has actually been defeated".
The Daily Mail agrees - warning Downing Street there is no guarantee "voters will accept the argument that the failure to come up with the goods should be pinned on a fractious, Remainer-dominated Parliament".
The Sun accepts that an election comes with "considerable risk" for the prime minister, but argues that should be put to one side. "This is simply the worst, most toxic, most inept, most juvenile Parliament of anyone's lifetime", the paper declares in its editorial. "It has to be replaced."
The Daily Express strikes a similar tone, describing the continuing stand-off in the Commons as "insufferable".
Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph accuses the Labour leader of "spluttering out a jumble of increasingly forlorn excuses" for not having an election. "The funny thing is Jeremy Corbyn probably does want one", writes Michael Deacon - "unfortunately, however, his MPs don't."
Another casualty of the Brexit delay is the commemorative coin minted to coincide with 31 October. Bloomberg reports that the order has already been given for thousands of 50p pieces to be melted down. A Treasury spokesman tells the website that new coins will be produced to mark Brexit - whenever it takes place.
The Times says a management consultant is being paid almost £2,000 a day to find ways to cut costs at an NHS health board in north Wales.
A Freedom of Information request also revealed that Philip Burns has been given permission to work one day a week from his home on the Costa del Sol.
The paper points out that while Mr Burns earns more than the Welsh government's own health minister, one of the money-saving measures under consideration is to stop paying nurses for breaks during their 12-and-a-half hour shifts.
In a statement, the Betsi Cadwaladr board says Mr Burns receives the "market rate" for his services, and does not get any travel or accommodation expenses.
Finally, the i reviews what it describes as a "festive fail" - in the form of a mince pie sandwich created by the supermarket chain, Morrisons.
The paper says it is effectively a "jazzed-up cheese and pickle roll" with a spiced chutney-****-mince pie spread underneath two slices of hard cheddar.
"The flavour is relatively inoffensive at first", writes Josh Barrie, "then all of a sudden, it's like biting into one of those unsold cinnamon candles found in the bargain bin at department stores in January."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-50216191
The front pages give a flavour of the bitter Christmas election battle to come.
The Mail portrays Boris Johnson as Santa Claus on his sleigh, with Jeremy Corbyn as Dr Seuss's Grinch taking presents out of the back.
"Don't let the Grinch steal your Christmas" is the Mail's headline, which is coupled with a warning that both the Lib Dems and the Brexit Party could threaten the prime minister's opinion poll lead.
The Daily Mirror, by contrast, puts Mr Johnson's head on a turkey and urges voters to "stuff him" and in doing so end what it says is a decade of Tory austerity and unnecessary hardship.
In the Telegraph, a commentary by a columnist, Sherelle Jacobs, takes up much of its front page. She thinks remainers in Parliament have cooked their own goose by giving Mr Johnson an election.
She relishes the idea that Blairite "conviction politicians" in thumping Leave seats are about to be punished by lifelong Labour voters - and, drawing on a phrase associated with Donald Trump, says the election presents an opportunity to "drain the swamp".
But in its editorial, the Guardian presents a different picture. It argues MPs voted for Brexit last week in the shape of the withdrawal agreement and the PM could have pushed to get the deal through the Commons.
It says the prime minister is trying to manipulate opinion to give the impression the election is for the benefit of the people, rather than for his benefit.
Mr Johnson's failure to meet his original "do-or-die" Halloween Brexit deadline is one of the reasons why the Economist thinks the election is a "big gamble" for his party.
But it identifies other dangers for Mr Johnson too, including a decline in party loyalty; an increase in tactical voting; the potential loss of Tory seats in London, the south-west and Scotland; and the election being fought on public services rather than on Brexit.
Gaining the support of "the Workington man" will be key to Mr Johnson's success, according to many papers which highlight a study by the think-tank, Onward.
The Times says he will have to target older white men without degrees living in the Rugby League towns of the north of England. But it warns that to do so the Tories will have to develop a new Conservatism prioritising public spending.
The Mail reflects anger among some of the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire that the London Fire Brigade Commissioner, Dany Cotton, is to retire at the age of 50 with a £2m pension pot despite being strongly criticised by the public inquiry into the tragedy.
But the Guardian highlights the view of some firefighters that their unpreparedness was the result of a £100m cut to the brigade's budget as well as decades of decentralisation of fire safety.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-50229627
'This corresponds to roughly the size of Wales’s economic output – or £70bn a year'
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-brexit-deal-latest-news-annual-loss-eu-single-market-a9176511.html
The third General Election in 4 years.
I think it is interesting that those that rail against a second referendum, and claim to support the will of the people, remain silent over what has been described as a Brexit election.
Why aren't they pointing out that we are meant to have an election every five years, not three in four.
They seem to be saying that we can have as many votes as we want, but only one referendum.
How can a General Election be the answer to Brexit?
The Tories could win a majority of seats with as little as 35% of the vote, and get us out of the EU.
This would mean that the majority will have voted for remain parties.
Would this then become the will of the people?
The majority voting for remain parties in a Brexit election, surely does, or does the vote on one day in June 2016, remain the will of the people forever, come what may, do or die, die in a ditch, amen.
Can the will of the people ever change?
I think the opposition parties will rue missing the opportunity to eject Boris, and get the referendum that they are all in favour of.
I listened to Jo Swinson on Andrew Neil this week.
She struggled to explain her election plan.
What is the point of having a policy without a plan on how to achieve it.
The policy is to revoke article 50.
The plan to achieve it, is for her to become PM, and the Lib Dems having to gain over 300 seats for this to happen.
Andrew Neill managed to keep a straight face, whilst she put this forward.
I couldn't.
She made it clear that she wouldn't enter a coalition with Boris or Corbyn.
Therefore making a vote for the Lib Dems absolutely pointless.
Also many voters are likely to feel that revoking article 50, is as undemocratic as leaving without a deal.
This could well work in Labours favour.
The campaign will be interesting.
Can the Brexit Party stop Brexit, by nicking enough votes from the Tories?
Will the Boris lies come back to bite the Tories?
Can Nigel Farage get elected at the eighth attempt?
Will the Brexit Party get any seats?
Will the Tories get wiped out in Scotland?
Can Labour get close despite Corbyn?
What about the DUP?
Does the Boris deal signal the end of the UK?
What happens next if we get another hung Parliament?
More General Elections?
More extensions?
The will of the people seems to be for us to continue going around in circles?
I had contemplated voting for the Lib Dems, as I couldn't describe myself as a fan of Corbyn, or Boris.
I am now convinced that it would be a waste of a vote.
She said she wanted to revoke A50 or a referendum.
Undoubtedly this hit a chord with a significant portion of the electorate, increasing their share of support.
But she appears to want the GE to increase her party's seats in the Commons before any referendum.
Probably worried that if the referendum came first, she would lose all the support she had gained, in a subsequent GE, as the main reason for the Lib Dem surge had been removed.
I may be wrong but it seemed a bit self-serving.
The last 2 interviews with her that I have seen, she has talked about what she will do when she becomes PM.
This wont happen.
Most people would think they had a terrific result if they got 50 or 60 seats.
The only way that they will play a significant role in the future of Brexit, will be by supporting other remainer opposition parties in getting a referendum.
The Lib Dems, and the SNP may well get 50 seats each, and hold the balance of power in a hung Parliament.
She says that she wont form a coalition with anyone which puts her out of the game.
If we had one good leader amongst the opposition parties, they would have got Boris out on a vote of no confidence, and pushed through a referendum.
A real missed opportunity.
If Boris gets a majority its all over.
Investigation by a committee of MPs concluded two weeks ago – but Downing Street won’t say if it will be published before election
The investigation, by a powerful committee of MPs, concluded two weeks ago – but Downing Street has refused to published it before the general election.
It was launched after the revelation that Russia-based Twitter accounts posted more than 45,000 messages about Brexit in just 48 hours during the 2016 referendum.
Before he became prime minister, both Mr Johnson, and his predecessor Theresa May, declined to say if Russia had interfered in Brexit, arguing there was no evidence yet.
But Ms May acknowledged Russian interference in elections “in a number of countries in Europe” and the head of the Commons media committee, Damian Collins, said it was “a big and serious problem”.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-boris-johnson-russia-troll-bots-brexit-vote-report-a9179351.html
Boris Johnson is grappling with MPs after he secured a final Brexit deal with the EU. Here's what is in the deal and what it actually means
Northern Ireland and Britain would share a customs territory - technically forcing customs checks on goods crossing the 310-mile border with the Republic. But in practice, to avoid checks at the border, the checks will instead happen when goods reach Northern Ireland on the island of Ireland. This would effectively put the customs checks across the Irish Sea - more of this below.
Northern Ireland and the Republic would share some EU single market rules - forcing checks on manufactured and agricultural products crossing the Irish Sea.
Northern Ireland will stay in the UK customs territory - putting goods north of the 310-mile border under different customs rules to the Republic of Ireland
But there's a vital exception - and here's where it gets complicated.
EU customs rules will apply to goods entering Northern Ireland that are deemed "at risk" of moving into the EU at a later date.
And because everyone has promised no customs checks on the Irish border, they will be done in ports when goods arrive at "ports of entry" in Northern Ireland.
Critics say this in fact amounts to a customs border down the Irish Sea.
Northern Ireland will remain aligned to a limited set of EU single market rules - to avoid checks on goods crossing the 310-mile Irish border.
These are: legislation on goods, sanitary rules for veterinary controls (“SPS rules”), rules on agricultural production/marketing, VAT and excise in respect of goods, and state aid rules.
This means Northern Ireland will have some different rules to Britain.
And there will be single market "checks and controls" on the relevant goods when they pass between Northern Ireland (EU rules) and mainland Britain (UK rules).
The EU says there will be "border inspection posts" to make sure the sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls are carried out correctly.
The Northern Ireland Assembly - known as Stormont - will get a vote every four years on whether to let EU law continue in Northern Ireland.
This sets up a massive showdown with the DUP, because it means EU rules could rule over Northern Ireland despite one side - e.g. unionists - opposing them.
Workers' rights
The deal stops short of Labour's demands to safeguard workers' rights by putting the issues into the 'Political Declaration'.
This means it is not as legally binding and would only be dealt with at a later date.
Labour's Keir Starmer said the deal "gives Johnson licence to slash workers’ rights, environmental standards and consumer protections."
"Instead, the level playing field provisions only last until the end of transition with a warning shot from the EU about the impact this will have on (reduced) access to EU markets."
EU courts
No10 sources were keen to insist that "Britain is out of the European court."
But "Britain" does not necessarily include Northern Ireland - and the document suggests there will still be some European court involvement for the UK.
The exact nature of such involvement is unclear but it says: "The UK may participate in the proceedings before the Court of Justice of the EU in the same way as a member state."
Continued access to EU programmes
Britain and the EU will work together to see that the UK can continue to stay part of popular EU programmes like the Erasmus student exchange and Euratom's research programme.
But Britain's membership of those schemes will be "subject to conditions" set by the EU and subject to "fair and appropriate financial contribution" - meaning Britain will stay pay into certain EU programmes.
Free trade and regulation
Both parties have agreed to strike a free trade deal which will "combine deep regulatory and customs co-operation".
In practice, this means that while Britain and the EU will be technically free to set their own rules, both parties recognise that in key areas - including the regulation of medicines, agricultural products and technical definitions - they will likely strike a deal to effectively mirror one another's regulations.
On key areas such as financial services and fishing, the document says the EU and UK will try and strike deals by July 2020.
Level playing field
As part of the Political Declaration, the EU and UK have agreed to a level of cooperation on regulations, workers rights and market rules which might cheer Labour MPs looking for an opportunity to support the bill.
But promises that any arrangement will "prevent distortions of trade and unfair competitive advantages" will come as bad news to Tories who believe Britain's economic success after Brexit comes from aggressively cutting regulation to undercut the EU and attract global business.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-deal-explained-what-boris-20640851