Rebecca Long-Bailey broke Labour leadership rules but was cleared by Corbyn allies Exclusive: Angry rival camps allege contest manipulated to favour ‘continuity Corbyn’ candidate – after rules on data use were rewritten following breach
“It’s clear the Labour Party is making it up as it goes along and deliberately engineering the rules in favour of a certain candidate,” alleged Wes Streeting, a supporter of Jess Phillips until she dropped out.
A second MP said: “This shows how they manipulate the system, they are doing everything they possibly can to help their candidate. They are in favour of party democracy, as long they control the rules.”
Len McCluskey stuns Sky host as he defends Corbyn’s ‘brains and brilliance’ to beat Boris LEN MCCLUSKEY's defence of Rebecca Long-Bailey as the Labour candidate with the "brains and brilliance" to beat Boris Johnson in an election was questioned concerning his previous support of outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn.
…Len Mccluskey loses it with BBC reporter in Labour leadership showdown
‘Appalling!’ Richard Burgon should be ‘ruled out’ of deputy leadership, warns Labour MP RICHARD BURGON has been branded as "appalling" by a fellow Labour MP after the Shadow Justice Secretary failed to sign up to anti-Semitism pledges.
Brexit explained: how it happened and what comes next
What will happen next?
There is a set timetable for the year with negotiations expected to formally kick off after 25 February. By 1 July there must be a deal on fisheries and a UK decision on whether to ask for an extension to the transition period. Johnson has urged Brussels to fast-track trade talks, but the EU moves at its own pace. Draft negotiating mandates are due to be produced by 1 February and EU ministers are expected to approve a mandate for the chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, on 25 February, allowing formal talks to begin soon after. These talks will be unprecedented, and could cover a vast sweep of policies, including trade, security, foreign affairs, data, fisheries, cultural-educational ties and much more. However, with just 11 months to negotiate, the chances are there will only be a “bare bones” deal likely covering trade, fisheries and security. If that is the case, then, at the end of 2020, there will be a lot of unfinished business. Differing aspirations for the trade talks have raised the prospect of a new no-deal scenario at the end of this year. Leaving the transition period without a trade deal would not lead to the major diplomatic bust-up that failure on the Brexit withdrawal agreement would have done. It would have huge domestic consequences, however, with representatives of the car industry, hospitals, agriculture and directors already expressing alarm over Sajid Javid’s declaration that the UK will not follow EU rules, which will cause hold-ups in Dover and Calais and possibly lead to businesses quitting the country. In the absence of a deal, the earlier accord on citizens’ rights, money and the Irish border remains intact. The special arrangements that apply in Northern Ireland will kick in, deal or no deal. Both sides would brace themselves for the economic shock of trading on World Trade Organization terms, an outcome that is more damaging for the UK. But talks would roll on.
What are the big issues at stake here?
Top of the list is a trade deal to ensure the tariff and quota-free flow of goods between the EU and UK. But the EU will only agree to zero tariffs and zero quotas if the UK pledges zero dumping – that is, not lowering social and environmental standards to outcompete the EU. Negotiators will almost certainly clash over the EU’s refusal to bring services into the trade deal, leaving the City of London reliant on a patchwork of market access agreements that can be withdrawn at any moment. Another early fight will be over fish, as the EU seeks to link goods trade to maintaining the status quo on access to British waters, a demand seen as outrageous in London. The non-trade topics sound easier, but are full of political landmines. For instance, agreeing a replacement for the European arrest warrant will require Germany to change its constitution. The UK will struggle to achieve the historic first of securing outside access to some EU crime-fighting databases.
What will happen to the economy?
It depends who you ask. In the short term, much of the risk seems to have been priced in, at least on currency markets, where sterling still languishes compared to where it was in June 2016. The stock market is well ahead. A slightly more certain outlook could allow business investment to recover, after years of lagging behind Britain’s G7 peers. But against that must be weighed the unpredictability of the looming trade talks.
What does it all mean for Britons in Europe…
No one yet fully knows; much remains to be negotiated. The withdrawal agreement secures British citizens’ basic rights to live and work within their EU host countries, a broadly similar post-Brexit status in each country, and EU-wide coordination on reciprocal healthcare and social security.
During the 11-month transition period, because the UK will remain in the single market, Britons will retain the freedom to move within the EU as before. After it ends they will have the right – providing they register, or in some countries apply, within a given time limit – to stay and, after a time, seek permanent residence. But when the UK leaves the single market after transition, certain rights will fall away, including freedom of movement. This is a major blow for the 80% of UK citizens on the continent who are of working age or younger; they fought hard to lock free movement into the withdrawal agreement, but the EU decided this should be part of the trade talks. Some rights within the gift of the UK are not yet assured either, such as home fees for British students on the continent who wish to study in the UK, and family reunification rights for Britons returning to the UK with EU family members. ...and for Europeans in Britain? Many British voters who were passionate about staying in the EU will be feeling upset and emotional at 11pm on 31 January. While life goes on as normal in general, it is the point of no return and from 1 February British citizens will no longer be EU citizens. But for EU nationals in the UK the moment will cast a long shadow of material consequence. While the government has given assurances that they will not face deportation or loss of social or employment rights, the bond of trust with the government is weak, not least because of the Windrush scandal.
The FT highlights how another tricky dilemma could soon face the government, predicting a clash between the UK and the EU over fish and financial services. The paper says Britain could lose access to European markets unless it opens its coastal waters to EU boats. In its lead, the Times says a Brussels diplomatic document reveals that the the EU wants its judges to be able to rule on any post-Brexit agreement with the UK. The paper says Downing Street sources have rejected the proposal, arguing such provisions don't feature in other trade deals signed by the EU.
Though Labour is split, unity may now be easier than it looks
Labour splits many ways. Oddly, its centre-left Progress wing, which backed Jess Phillips– likeable but not a plausible leader – turned against Starmer for staying in Corbyn’s cabinet and failing to denounced him now. They pose as “realists” ready to do whatever electability demands, yet fail to engage with what getting chosen by Labour’s membership requires. True, Starmer’s no centrist but from the soft left, aiming to make the best Labour policies credible, while the hard left call him Tory-lite and worse. Yet unity may be easier than it now looks. A convincing Starmer victory would bind up wounds; some Corbynites might return to the socialist splinter groups from whence they came. Most will stay – and people change when times change, as they did in the 1990s. The result hangs in the balance. In polls Starmer is ahead of Long-Bailey, with Lisa Nandy’s intelligent campaign gaining ground, though few of the 650 constituencies are yet revealed. The signs are that most election-shocked members sincerely want someone to win for them. But between now and 4 April, when the result is declared, the Unite and Momentum machines will grind hard to keep their grip on the party. If they succeed, a party well used to roller-coaster rides faces its greatest existential crisis since the 1930s.
Brexit: EU launches hardline talks warning of checks, courts and 'consequences' Claims the European Court of Justice could rule on a future trade deal will infuriate 10 Downing Street - while an EU chief slaps down Boris Johnson's claim there would be no checks to Northern Ireland
EU chiefs have kicked off a hardline approach to talks after Brexit - warning of checks, courts and 'consequences' as the UK prepares to leave on Friday.
Mr Barnier said checks would be "indispensable" after 1 January 2021 because Boris Johnson's own deal "makes frictionless trade impossible".
The Freight Transport Association warned that means filling out 42 data fields for goods going west - and 29 for goods going east back to Great Britain.
Mr Barnier said: "I understand the fears of negative economic fallout expressed by some about these checks. "But Brexit unfortunately has consequences that we must manage."
Irish premier Leo Varadkar even suggested fishing rights - the prize of Leavers - would be up for grabs. He declared the UK "is now a small country" and the EU would have the "upper hand" in talks. In a blow to Brexiteers he added: "You may have to make concessions in areas like fishing in order to get concessions from us in areas like financial services."
Michel Barnier says that Brexit will always be a matter of 'damage limitation' for Britain warning that he sees no 'added value' in leaving the EU - but insists Brussels will not seek 'revenge' in trade talks He gave stark warning that there would be 'negative consequences' from Brexit EU Brexit negotiation spoke during the William Clinton Lecture in Belfast He insisted that Brussels sought no 'punishment' or 'spirit of revenge' on Britain
Michel Barnier tore into British reasons for wanting to leave the EU tonight, warning that Brexit would be a 'damage limitation exercise'. In a speech in Belfast tonight he gave a stark warning that there would be 'negative consequences' for Britain after it quits the trade bloc on Friday. The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator insisted that Brussels sought no 'punishment' or 'spirit of revenge' on Britain, even while the Brexit debate raged in London. But in his lecture at Queen's University, Belfast, he said: 'People must be aware of the consequences, because it's absolutely clear that there will be negative consequences.
Labour sends 'insulting' email to defeated candidates
At the end of the email, suggestions of places to seek help include the candidate’s GP, the Samaritans, Citizens Advice, and the mental health charity Mind. It adds: “If you feel you are at risk of immediate harm please contact 999 in the first instance”, saying that people could also attend an A&E or call NHS 111.
Comments
Exclusive: Angry rival camps allege contest manipulated to favour ‘continuity Corbyn’ candidate – after rules on data use were rewritten following breach
“It’s clear the Labour Party is making it up as it goes along and deliberately engineering the rules in favour of a certain candidate,” alleged Wes Streeting, a supporter of Jess Phillips until she dropped out.
A second MP said: “This shows how they manipulate the system, they are doing everything they possibly can to help their candidate. They are in favour of party democracy, as long they control the rules.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rebecca-long-bailey-labour-leadership-rules-broken-corbyn-election-latest-a9300891.html
LEN MCCLUSKEY's defence of Rebecca Long-Bailey as the Labour candidate with the "brains and brilliance" to beat Boris Johnson in an election was questioned concerning his previous support of outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn.
…Len Mccluskey loses it with BBC reporter in Labour leadership showdown
‘Appalling!’ Richard Burgon should be ‘ruled out’ of deputy leadership, warns Labour MP
RICHARD BURGON has been branded as "appalling" by a fellow Labour MP after the Shadow Justice Secretary failed to sign up to anti-Semitism pledges.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1233554/len-mccluskey-labour-party-leadership-contest-jeremy-corbyn-boris-johnson-sky-news
What will happen next?
There is a set timetable for the year with negotiations expected to formally kick off after 25 February.
By 1 July there must be a deal on fisheries and a UK decision on whether to ask for an extension to the transition period.
Johnson has urged Brussels to fast-track trade talks, but the EU moves at its own pace. Draft negotiating mandates are due to be produced by 1 February and EU ministers are expected to approve a mandate for the chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, on 25 February, allowing formal talks to begin soon after.
These talks will be unprecedented, and could cover a vast sweep of policies, including trade, security, foreign affairs, data, fisheries, cultural-educational ties and much more.
However, with just 11 months to negotiate, the chances are there will only be a “bare bones” deal likely covering trade, fisheries and security. If that is the case, then, at the end of 2020, there will be a lot of unfinished business. Differing aspirations for the trade talks have raised the prospect of a new no-deal scenario at the end of this year.
Leaving the transition period without a trade deal would not lead to the major diplomatic bust-up that failure on the Brexit withdrawal agreement would have done.
It would have huge domestic consequences, however, with representatives of the car industry, hospitals, agriculture and directors already expressing alarm over Sajid Javid’s declaration that the UK will not follow EU rules, which will cause hold-ups in Dover and Calais and possibly lead to businesses quitting the country.
In the absence of a deal, the earlier accord on citizens’ rights, money and the Irish border remains intact.
The special arrangements that apply in Northern Ireland will kick in, deal or no deal.
Both sides would brace themselves for the economic shock of trading on World Trade Organization terms, an outcome that is more damaging for the UK. But talks would roll on.
What are the big issues at stake here?
Top of the list is a trade deal to ensure the tariff and quota-free flow of goods between the EU and UK. But the EU will only agree to zero tariffs and zero quotas if the UK pledges zero dumping – that is, not lowering social and environmental standards to outcompete the EU.
Negotiators will almost certainly clash over the EU’s refusal to bring services into the trade deal, leaving the City of London reliant on a patchwork of market access agreements that can be withdrawn at any moment.
Another early fight will be over fish, as the EU seeks to link goods trade to maintaining the status quo on access to British waters, a demand seen as outrageous in London.
The non-trade topics sound easier, but are full of political landmines. For instance, agreeing a replacement for the European arrest warrant will require Germany to change its constitution. The UK will struggle to achieve the historic first of securing outside access to some EU crime-fighting databases.
What will happen to the economy?
It depends who you ask. In the short term, much of the risk seems to have been priced in, at least on currency markets, where sterling still languishes compared to where it was in June 2016. The stock market is well ahead.
A slightly more certain outlook could allow business investment to recover, after years of lagging behind Britain’s G7 peers. But against that must be weighed the unpredictability of the looming trade talks.
What does it all mean for Britons in Europe…
No one yet fully knows; much remains to be negotiated. The withdrawal agreement secures British citizens’ basic rights to live and work within their EU host countries, a broadly similar post-Brexit status in each country, and EU-wide coordination on reciprocal healthcare and social security.
During the 11-month transition period, because the UK will remain in the single market, Britons will retain the freedom to move within the EU as before. After it ends they will have the right – providing they register, or in some countries apply, within a given time limit – to stay and, after a time, seek permanent residence.
But when the UK leaves the single market after transition, certain rights will fall away, including freedom of movement. This is a major blow for the 80% of UK citizens on the continent who are of working age or younger; they fought hard to lock free movement into the withdrawal agreement, but the EU decided this should be part of the trade talks.
Some rights within the gift of the UK are not yet assured either, such as home fees for British students on the continent who wish to study in the UK, and family reunification rights for Britons returning to the UK with EU family members.
...and for Europeans in Britain?
Many British voters who were passionate about staying in the EU will be feeling upset and emotional at 11pm on 31 January. While life goes on as normal in general, it is the point of no return and from 1 February British citizens will no longer be EU citizens.
But for EU nationals in the UK the moment will cast a long shadow of material consequence. While the government has given assurances that they will not face deportation or loss of social or employment rights, the bond of trust with the government is weak, not least because of the Windrush scandal.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/brexit-explained-how-it-happened-and-what-comes-next/ar-BBZmm0M?ocid=spartanntp
The FT highlights how another tricky dilemma could soon face the government, predicting a clash between the UK and the EU over fish and financial services. The paper says Britain could lose access to European markets unless it opens its coastal waters to EU boats.
In its lead, the Times says a Brussels diplomatic document reveals that the the EU wants its judges to be able to rule on any post-Brexit agreement with the UK. The paper says Downing Street sources have rejected the proposal, arguing such provisions don't feature in other trade deals signed by the EU.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-51275213
Labour splits many ways. Oddly, its centre-left Progress wing, which backed Jess Phillips– likeable but not a plausible leader – turned against Starmer for staying in Corbyn’s cabinet and failing to denounced him now. They pose as “realists” ready to do whatever electability demands, yet fail to engage with what getting chosen by Labour’s membership requires. True, Starmer’s no centrist but from the soft left, aiming to make the best Labour policies credible, while the hard left call him Tory-lite and worse.
Yet unity may be easier than it now looks. A convincing Starmer victory would bind up wounds; some Corbynites might return to the socialist splinter groups from whence they came. Most will stay – and people change when times change, as they did in the 1990s.
The result hangs in the balance. In polls Starmer is ahead of Long-Bailey, with Lisa Nandy’s intelligent campaign gaining ground, though few of the 650 constituencies are yet revealed. The signs are that most election-shocked members sincerely want someone to win for them. But between now and 4 April, when the result is declared, the Unite and Momentum machines will grind hard to keep their grip on the party. If they succeed, a party well used to roller-coaster rides faces its greatest existential crisis since the 1930s.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/28/labour-split-affection-corbyn
Claims the European Court of Justice could rule on a future trade deal will infuriate 10 Downing Street - while an EU chief slaps down Boris Johnson's claim there would be no checks to Northern Ireland
EU chiefs have kicked off a hardline approach to talks after Brexit - warning of checks, courts and 'consequences' as the UK prepares to leave on Friday.
Mr Barnier said checks would be "indispensable" after 1 January 2021 because Boris Johnson's own deal "makes frictionless trade impossible".
The Freight Transport Association warned that means filling out 42 data fields for goods going west - and 29 for goods going east back to Great Britain.
Mr Barnier said: "I understand the fears of negative economic fallout expressed by some about these checks.
"But Brexit unfortunately has consequences that we must manage."
Irish premier Leo Varadkar even suggested fishing rights - the prize of Leavers - would be up for grabs.
He declared the UK "is now a small country" and the EU would have the "upper hand" in talks.
In a blow to Brexiteers he added: "You may have to make concessions in areas like fishing in order to get concessions from us in areas like financial services."
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-eu-launches-hardline-talks-21375477
He gave stark warning that there would be 'negative consequences' from Brexit
EU Brexit negotiation spoke during the William Clinton Lecture in Belfast
He insisted that Brussels sought no 'punishment' or 'spirit of revenge' on Britain
Michel Barnier tore into British reasons for wanting to leave the EU tonight, warning that Brexit would be a 'damage limitation exercise'.
In a speech in Belfast tonight he gave a stark warning that there would be 'negative consequences' for Britain after it quits the trade bloc on Friday.
The European Union's chief Brexit negotiator insisted that Brussels sought no 'punishment' or 'spirit of revenge' on Britain, even while the Brexit debate raged in London.
But in his lecture at Queen's University, Belfast, he said: 'People must be aware of the consequences, because it's absolutely clear that there will be negative consequences.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7935275/Michel-Barnier-says-Brexit-matter-damage-limitation-Britain.html
At the end of the email, suggestions of places to seek help include the candidate’s GP, the Samaritans, Citizens Advice, and the mental health charity Mind. It adds: “If you feel you are at risk of immediate harm please contact 999 in the first instance”, saying that people could also attend an A&E or call NHS 111.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/labour-sends-insulting-email-to-defeated-candidates/ar-BBZpApo?ocid=spartandhp
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/tories-unveil-£12-got-brexit-done-tea-towel-as-part-of-memorabilia-to-mark-eu-departure-date/ar-BBZqGPI?ocid=spartanntp