UK applying to join Asia-Pacific free trade pact CPTPP
The UK will apply to join a free trade area with 11 Asia and Pacific nations on Monday, a year after it officially left the EU.
In total, CPTPP nations accounted for 8.4% of UK exports in 2019, roughly the same proportion as Germany alone.
In practice, however, the short-terms gains for households and business would be limited. The UK already has trade deals with seven of the 11 nations - and is pursuing two more. In total, CPTPP nations account for less than 10% of UK exports, a fraction of what goes to the EU.
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded. The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded. The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
I would agree with you regarding Barnier.
We are still supposed to be friends and trading partners with the EU, rather than on opposite sides.
The EUs actions were misjudged, and ill advised.
Although they appreciated this very quickly, and performed an almost immediate u-turn.
Unlike Boris with his controversial legislation.
To be fair to the EU, they have had a lot to put up with from the UK, since the referendum.
They must be fed up with Boris and his lies and bs.
Would Brexit have been possible had the EU not agreed that NI could remain in the customs union, and single market?
Some of the fragility of Brexit was exposed this week, when some of the agreed border checks have been abandoned due to threatening graffiti.
Officials said on Saturday they remained determined to hold manufacturers to account, with vaccine shortages being reported across the bloc. It is in dispute with AstraZeneca after the company said it could only deliver a fraction of the vaccines initially promised.
“We have a serious issue with a company that has signed a contract with us saying that it was to put at our disposal vaccines from two factories from the UK – and has not delivered a single dose from those factories,” an EU official said about AstraZeneca. “And it was clearly saying, supported by the British government, that those factories will not be delivering vaccines to the EU until the UK has got the 100 million doses it is supposed to get. This is a serious issue for us.”
AstraZeneca has said that it has a contractual obligation to fulfil the UK’s order of 100 million doses from the plants in Oxford and Staffordshire before diverting vaccine to the EU.
Micheal Martin claimed EU officials were "blindsided" by the bloc's dispute with drugmaker AstraZeneca when they acted to override part of the Brexit agreement, risking a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Amid an outcry from the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Brussels has since U-turned and abandoned its attempt to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The EU's move came just four weeks after the Protocol came into force and followed years of efforts to ensure Brexit did not lead to the creation of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Martin urged all parties to now work together "to make sure something like this doesn't happen again" and to ensure the Protocol "works effectively and efficiently for all concerned".
"The context was very clear, it was the ongoing row with AstraZeneca and its failure to fulfil its commitments to the EU in relation to their vaccine supply and to meet their commitments in a timely fashion," he said.
"The Commission were seeking transparency over their product.
"It's a nasty row, it's an acrimonious one over the last week and I think people were focused on that issue and the Protocol became collateral damage, which was wrong and it was very unfortunate."
The Taoiseach suggested that those responsible for the Article 16 move were "blindsided completely" by the EU's row with AstraZeneca, who recently told Brussels the initial number of doses it could supply to the bloc would be lower than first thought, due to manufacturing issues.
But Mr Martin denied the EU was guilty of a hostile move in seeking to control the export of coronavirus vaccines from the EU into Northern Ireland, as has been suggested by Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster.
He said: "It certainly wasn't a hostile act because, to be fair to the Commission - and, indeed, the EU member states - from the outset of the Brexit debate and post-referendum, they had real genuine interest in upholding and supporting the Good Friday Agreement and making sure that would be underpinned by whatever arrangements would emerge after Brexit.
"Hence the Protocol, hence the Withdrawal Agreement, which basically allows for seamless economic activity on the island of Ireland."
The Taoiseach added there were "clearly lessons to be learned" from the Article 16 row, but he denied the threshold had now been lowered for either side to trigger the mechanism in future.
"It was reversed very quickly and that's the key point here," he said.
"Clearly the threshold was never meant to be the issue that prevailed on Friday.
"But the reversal of the decision I think illustrates the degree to which people realised very, very quickly that this was the wrong way to go and this was inconsistent with the Protocol and the application of Article 16.
"That's the point really that I take some solace from.
The "rising trade tensions" in Northern Ireland feature on the front page of the Financial Times. It notes what were called "sinister" threats against border staff who were carrying out checks as part of the Brexit agreement - and says the issue must be handled sensitively.
The i says urgent talks will be held today, with the Guardian saying Michael Gove has pledged to redouble efforts to resolve issues with the Northern Ireland protocol. The Daily Telegraph says the protocol has worsened community tensions - when it was supposed to forestall them - and it says everyone should work together to end the disruption.
There is a very clear reason why the EU are trying to blame AZ/the UK. The answer is simple:-BioNtech.
When it comes to R & D, BioNtech are very much Premier League, particularly as their core area of expertise has been fairly similar problem-solving for cancer patients.
The problem is not the product-it is distribution. Because in that field, BioNtech are rather more Beazer Homes League.
35 pharmaceutical companies turned over $10billion last year. 10 of those were European, including 5 of the largest 10 in the world. 4 German (including Bayer); 2 Swiss (Roche and Novartis, both with a strong German presence); 2 British (GSK and AZ), 1 French, 1 Danish.
BioNtech? Only been going 13 years, and yet to turnover $1 billion. Adding all those 13 years together. They are a successful niche provider. Who have been tasked with providing 1 of the highest volume rollouts in history. While the majority (not all, but assistance is only coming now) of those massive pharmaceutical companies just watch.
There is a very clear reason why the EU are trying to blame AZ/the UK. The answer is simple:-BioNtech.
When it comes to R & D, BioNtech are very much Premier League, particularly as their core area of expertise has been fairly similar problem-solving for cancer patients.
The problem is not the product-it is distribution. Because in that field, BioNtech are rather more Beazer Homes League.
35 pharmaceutical companies turned over $10billion last year. 10 of those were European, including 5 of the largest 10 in the world. 4 German (including Bayer); 2 Swiss (Roche and Novartis, both with a strong German presence); 2 British (GSK and AZ), 1 French, 1 Danish.
BioNtech? Only been going 13 years, and yet to turnover $1 billion. Adding all those 13 years together. They are a successful niche provider. Who have been tasked with providing 1 of the highest volume rollouts in history. While the majority (not all, but assistance is only coming now) of those massive pharmaceutical companies just watch.
I am not going to argue with any of that, but it is clearly this bit that is winding them up.
Officials said on Saturday they remained determined to hold manufacturers to account, with vaccine shortages being reported across the bloc. It is in dispute with AstraZeneca after the company said it could only deliver a fraction of the vaccines initially promised.
“We have a serious issue with a company that has signed a contract with us saying that it was to put at our disposal vaccines from two factories from the UK – and has not delivered a single dose from those factories,” an EU official said about AstraZeneca. “And it was clearly saying, supported by the British government, that those factories will not be delivering vaccines to the EU until the UK has got the 100 million doses it is supposed to get. This is a serious issue for us.”
AstraZeneca has said that it has a contractual obligation to fulfil the UK’s order of 100 million doses from the plants in Oxford and Staffordshire before diverting vaccine to the EU.
Boris Johnson’s claim we can’t close borders because of food imports branded ‘complete and utter nonsense’
The Prime Minister’s claim we can’t close borders because we need to import food has been branded a “complete and utter nonsense” by a Sage adviser.
Boris Johnson suggested there could not be a complete shutdown of the border while responding to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, who asked why further measures had not been taken.
The PM responded by saying 75% of Britain's medicines come from Europe as does 45% of its food, while 250,000 British businesses rely on imports.
Johnson said: “It is not practical completely to close off this country as he seems to be suggesting.
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded. The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
Johnson threatens to use emergency powers to avoid barrier in Irish Sea
Boris Johnson has raised the stakes in a bitter dispute with Brussels over post-Brexit rules in Northern Ireland, warning he could invoke emergency measures to ensure there was no “barrier of any kind in the Irish Sea”.
Mr Johnson told MPs on Wednesday he would legislate if necessary or use emergency override powers — Article 16 in the Northern Ireland protocol, which forms part of the UK’s 2019 Brexit treaty with Brussels — to maintain the free flow of trade between Great Britain and the region.
“We do think it’s very important the protocol does not place unnecessary barriers — or barriers of any kind — down the Irish Sea,” he said during prime minister’s questions.
Brexit news – live: Minister admits fishing deal ‘fell short’ as UK pleads with EU for grace period extension
The post-Brexit deal signed by Boris Johnson with the EU on fishing fell short of industry expectations, the environment secretary has admitted.
George Eustice told a House of Lords committee on Wednesday that "it's fair to say that we didn't get everything that we wanted on fishing", adding that “compromises were made”.
Another problem for the UK government is the disruption of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the end of the Brexit transition period. This has led Downing Street to urge the EU to extend the Brexit “grace period” to 2023.
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded. The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
I would agree with you regarding Barnier.
We are still supposed to be friends and trading partners with the EU, rather than on opposite sides.
The EUs actions were misjudged, and ill advised.
Although they appreciated this very quickly, and performed an almost immediate u-turn.
Unlike Boris with his controversial legislation.
To be fair to the EU, they have had a lot to put up with from the UK, since the referendum.
They must be fed up with Boris and his lies and bs.
Would Brexit have been possible had the EU not agreed that NI could remain in the customs union, and single market?
Some of the fragility of Brexit was exposed this week, when some of the agreed border checks have been abandoned due to threatening graffiti.
PM 'open to overriding Brexit deal' to ensure no barrier down the Irish Sea
Boris Johnson has vowed to "do everything we need to do" - including an attempt to override post-Brexit arrangements with the EU - in order to "ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea".
Ahead of Wednesday's talks, Mr Sefcovic described the Protocol as "a cornerstone" of the Withdrawal Agreement and "the only way to protect Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all dimensions, protecting peace & stability on the island of Ireland".
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded. The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
I would agree with you regarding Barnier.
We are still supposed to be friends and trading partners with the EU, rather than on opposite sides.
The EUs actions were misjudged, and ill advised.
Although they appreciated this very quickly, and performed an almost immediate u-turn.
Unlike Boris with his controversial legislation.
To be fair to the EU, they have had a lot to put up with from the UK, since the referendum.
They must be fed up with Boris and his lies and bs.
Would Brexit have been possible had the EU not agreed that NI could remain in the customs union, and single market?
Some of the fragility of Brexit was exposed this week, when some of the agreed border checks have been abandoned due to threatening graffiti.
PM 'open to overriding Brexit deal' to ensure no barrier down the Irish Sea
Boris Johnson has vowed to "do everything we need to do" - including an attempt to override post-Brexit arrangements with the EU - in order to "ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea".
Ahead of Wednesday's talks, Mr Sefcovic described the Protocol as "a cornerstone" of the Withdrawal Agreement and "the only way to protect Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all dimensions, protecting peace & stability on the island of Ireland".
He's a politician. Who is caught between a rock and a hard place in relation to Northern Ireland.
He will do what all politicians do in that situation.
He will talk the talk. But he won't walk the walk.
Classic example is the nonsense about the UK borders.
Starmer asked a pertinent question about tightening borders. Johnson answers a question that was not asked, in relation to total border closure. Scientist misses the point, and adds fuel to the fire, coupled with mischievous headlines from the press.
And the important question is ignored.
There is a reason why it is called "Prime Ministers Questions" rather than "Prime Ministers Answers"
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded. The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
I would agree with you regarding Barnier.
We are still supposed to be friends and trading partners with the EU, rather than on opposite sides.
The EUs actions were misjudged, and ill advised.
Although they appreciated this very quickly, and performed an almost immediate u-turn.
Unlike Boris with his controversial legislation.
To be fair to the EU, they have had a lot to put up with from the UK, since the referendum.
They must be fed up with Boris and his lies and bs.
Would Brexit have been possible had the EU not agreed that NI could remain in the customs union, and single market?
Some of the fragility of Brexit was exposed this week, when some of the agreed border checks have been abandoned due to threatening graffiti.
PM 'open to overriding Brexit deal' to ensure no barrier down the Irish Sea
Boris Johnson has vowed to "do everything we need to do" - including an attempt to override post-Brexit arrangements with the EU - in order to "ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea".
Ahead of Wednesday's talks, Mr Sefcovic described the Protocol as "a cornerstone" of the Withdrawal Agreement and "the only way to protect Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all dimensions, protecting peace & stability on the island of Ireland".
He's a politician. Who is caught between a rock and a hard place in relation to Northern Ireland.
He will do what all politicians do in that situation.
He will talk the talk. But he won't walk the walk.
Classic example is the nonsense about the UK borders.
Starmer asked a pertinent question about tightening borders. Johnson answers a question that was not asked, in relation to total border closure. Scientist misses the point, and adds fuel to the fire, coupled with mischievous headlines from the press.
And the important question is ignored.
There is a reason why it is called "Prime Ministers Questions" rather than "Prime Ministers Answers"
I havent watched it for weeks now, he never answers a question from Keir Starmer.
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded. The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
I would agree with you regarding Barnier.
We are still supposed to be friends and trading partners with the EU, rather than on opposite sides.
The EUs actions were misjudged, and ill advised.
Although they appreciated this very quickly, and performed an almost immediate u-turn.
Unlike Boris with his controversial legislation.
To be fair to the EU, they have had a lot to put up with from the UK, since the referendum.
They must be fed up with Boris and his lies and bs.
Would Brexit have been possible had the EU not agreed that NI could remain in the customs union, and single market?
Some of the fragility of Brexit was exposed this week, when some of the agreed border checks have been abandoned due to threatening graffiti.
PM 'open to overriding Brexit deal' to ensure no barrier down the Irish Sea
Boris Johnson has vowed to "do everything we need to do" - including an attempt to override post-Brexit arrangements with the EU - in order to "ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea".
Ahead of Wednesday's talks, Mr Sefcovic described the Protocol as "a cornerstone" of the Withdrawal Agreement and "the only way to protect Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement in all dimensions, protecting peace & stability on the island of Ireland".
He's a politician. Who is caught between a rock and a hard place in relation to Northern Ireland.
He will do what all politicians do in that situation.
He will talk the talk. But he won't walk the walk.
Classic example is the nonsense about the UK borders.
Starmer asked a pertinent question about tightening borders. Johnson answers a question that was not asked, in relation to total border closure. Scientist misses the point, and adds fuel to the fire, coupled with mischievous headlines from the press.
And the important question is ignored.
There is a reason why it is called "Prime Ministers Questions" rather than "Prime Ministers Answers"
You couldnt make it up.
He would rather die in a ditch than extend the transition period.
Now he wants to extend the period of grace until 2023, to avoid at least some of the border chaos.
The grace period just avoids some of the regulations that he agreed to, but subsequently denied their existence.
We were supposed to be ready.
I wonder how many MPs from all parties are now wishing they had voted for the Theresa May deal.
"We do not have the same Brexit that the rest of the UK has, thats not our fault. We voted for the same Brexit."
Alternatively Prof Anand Menon, who usually seems quite sensible, and knowledgeable, maintains that,
"The checks on the Irish Sea are the inevitable consequence of Boris Johnsons Brexit deal. What that protocol does is impose the need for checks on goods going from GB to NI. The open question was, how intrusive those checks would be, that was partly a function of how close the relationship negotiated in the EU/UK trade deal was. Thats quite a distant relationship. What we are seeing now is the cumulative effect of the protocol and the trade and cooperation agreement."
Boris Johnson’s Scottish adviser for union ‘sacked following furious row’
The prime minister’s official spokesman confirmed Mr Graham has “left his No 10 position” on Thursday – only two days after press secretary Allegra Stratton said he was a “very valued member of staff”.
Comments
The UK will apply to join a free trade area with 11 Asia and Pacific nations on Monday, a year after it officially left the EU.
In total, CPTPP nations accounted for 8.4% of UK exports in 2019, roughly the same proportion as Germany alone.
In practice, however, the short-terms gains for households and business would be limited. The UK already has trade deals with seven of the 11 nations - and is pursuing two more. In total, CPTPP nations account for less than 10% of UK exports, a fraction of what goes to the EU.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55871373
Being on the opposite side from Ursula von der Leyen.
The sort of EU official who is totally convinced she is always right, and ignores the needs of various people she should be representing. particularly Ireland.
I always had a grudging admiration for Barnier-tough, but fair-minded.
The EU has for many years been united behind the political colossus that is Angela Merkel. As she gradually fades from view, the EU look less appealing than in, say, 2016.
We are still supposed to be friends and trading partners with the EU, rather than on opposite sides.
The EUs actions were misjudged, and ill advised.
Although they appreciated this very quickly, and performed an almost immediate u-turn.
Unlike Boris with his controversial legislation.
To be fair to the EU, they have had a lot to put up with from the UK, since the referendum.
They must be fed up with Boris and his lies and bs.
Would Brexit have been possible had the EU not agreed that NI could remain in the customs union, and single market?
Some of the fragility of Brexit was exposed this week, when some of the agreed border checks have been abandoned due to threatening graffiti.
Officials said on Saturday they remained determined to hold manufacturers to account, with vaccine shortages being reported across the bloc. It is in dispute with AstraZeneca after the company said it could only deliver a fraction of the vaccines initially promised.
“We have a serious issue with a company that has signed a contract with us saying that it was to put at our disposal vaccines from two factories from the UK – and has not delivered a single dose from those factories,” an EU official said about AstraZeneca. “And it was clearly saying, supported by the British government, that those factories will not be delivering vaccines to the EU until the UK has got the 100 million doses it is supposed to get. This is a serious issue for us.”
AstraZeneca has said that it has a contractual obligation to fulfil the UK’s order of 100 million doses from the plants in Oxford and Staffordshire before diverting vaccine to the EU.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/30/eus-vaccine-blunder-reopens-brexit-battle-over-irish-border
Micheal Martin claimed EU officials were "blindsided" by the bloc's dispute with drugmaker AstraZeneca when they acted to override part of the Brexit agreement, risking a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Amid an outcry from the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, Brussels has since U-turned and abandoned its attempt to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The EU's move came just four weeks after the Protocol came into force and followed years of efforts to ensure Brexit did not lead to the creation of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Martin urged all parties to now work together "to make sure something like this doesn't happen again" and to ensure the Protocol "works effectively and efficiently for all concerned".
"The context was very clear, it was the ongoing row with AstraZeneca and its failure to fulfil its commitments to the EU in relation to their vaccine supply and to meet their commitments in a timely fashion," he said.
"The Commission were seeking transparency over their product.
"It's a nasty row, it's an acrimonious one over the last week and I think people were focused on that issue and the Protocol became collateral damage, which was wrong and it was very unfortunate."
The Taoiseach suggested that those responsible for the Article 16 move were "blindsided completely" by the EU's row with AstraZeneca, who recently told Brussels the initial number of doses it could supply to the bloc would be lower than first thought, due to manufacturing issues.
But Mr Martin denied the EU was guilty of a hostile move in seeking to control the export of coronavirus vaccines from the EU into Northern Ireland, as has been suggested by Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster.
He said: "It certainly wasn't a hostile act because, to be fair to the Commission - and, indeed, the EU member states - from the outset of the Brexit debate and post-referendum, they had real genuine interest in upholding and supporting the Good Friday Agreement and making sure that would be underpinned by whatever arrangements would emerge after Brexit.
"Hence the Protocol, hence the Withdrawal Agreement, which basically allows for seamless economic activity on the island of Ireland."
The Taoiseach added there were "clearly lessons to be learned" from the Article 16 row, but he denied the threshold had now been lowered for either side to trigger the mechanism in future.
"It was reversed very quickly and that's the key point here," he said.
"Clearly the threshold was never meant to be the issue that prevailed on Friday.
"But the reversal of the decision I think illustrates the degree to which people realised very, very quickly that this was the wrong way to go and this was inconsistent with the Protocol and the application of Article 16.
"That's the point really that I take some solace from.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/covid-19-irish-pm-says-123500837.html
The i says urgent talks will be held today, with the Guardian saying Michael Gove has pledged to redouble efforts to resolve issues with the Northern Ireland protocol. The Daily Telegraph says the protocol has worsened community tensions - when it was supposed to forestall them - and it says everyone should work together to end the disruption.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-55913135
There is a very clear reason why the EU are trying to blame AZ/the UK. The answer is simple:-BioNtech.
When it comes to R & D, BioNtech are very much Premier League, particularly as their core area of expertise has been fairly similar problem-solving for cancer patients.
The problem is not the product-it is distribution. Because in that field, BioNtech are rather more Beazer Homes League.
35 pharmaceutical companies turned over $10billion last year. 10 of those were European, including 5 of the largest 10 in the world. 4 German (including Bayer); 2 Swiss (Roche and Novartis, both with a strong German presence); 2 British (GSK and AZ), 1 French, 1 Danish.
BioNtech? Only been going 13 years, and yet to turnover $1 billion. Adding all those 13 years together. They are a successful niche provider. Who have been tasked with providing 1 of the highest volume rollouts in history. While the majority (not all, but assistance is only coming now) of those massive pharmaceutical companies just watch.
Officials said on Saturday they remained determined to hold manufacturers to account, with vaccine shortages being reported across the bloc. It is in dispute with AstraZeneca after the company said it could only deliver a fraction of the vaccines initially promised.
“We have a serious issue with a company that has signed a contract with us saying that it was to put at our disposal vaccines from two factories from the UK – and has not delivered a single dose from those factories,” an EU official said about AstraZeneca. “And it was clearly saying, supported by the British government, that those factories will not be delivering vaccines to the EU until the UK has got the 100 million doses it is supposed to get. This is a serious issue for us.”
AstraZeneca has said that it has a contractual obligation to fulfil the UK’s order of 100 million doses from the plants in Oxford and Staffordshire before diverting vaccine to the EU.
The Prime Minister’s claim we can’t close borders because we need to import food has been branded a “complete and utter nonsense” by a Sage adviser.
Boris Johnson suggested there could not be a complete shutdown of the border while responding to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, who asked why further measures had not been taken.
The PM responded by saying 75% of Britain's medicines come from Europe as does 45% of its food, while 250,000 British businesses rely on imports.
Johnson said: “It is not practical completely to close off this country as he seems to be suggesting.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-s-claim-we-can-t-close-borders-because-of-food-imports-branded-complete-and-utter-nonsense/ar-BB1dmCdj?ocid=msedgntp
Boris Johnson has raised the stakes in a bitter dispute with Brussels over post-Brexit rules in Northern Ireland, warning he could invoke emergency measures to ensure there was no “barrier of any kind in the Irish Sea”.
Mr Johnson told MPs on Wednesday he would legislate if necessary or use emergency override powers — Article 16 in the Northern Ireland protocol, which forms part of the UK’s 2019 Brexit treaty with Brussels — to maintain the free flow of trade between Great Britain and the region.
“We do think it’s very important the protocol does not place unnecessary barriers — or barriers of any kind — down the Irish Sea,” he said during prime minister’s questions.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/johnson-threatens-to-use-emergency-powers-to-avoid-barrier-in-irish-sea/ar-BB1dm8hy?ocid=msedgntp
The post-Brexit deal signed by Boris Johnson with the EU on fishing fell short of industry expectations, the environment secretary has admitted.
George Eustice told a House of Lords committee on Wednesday that "it's fair to say that we didn't get everything that we wanted on fishing", adding that “compromises were made”.
Another problem for the UK government is the disruption of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the end of the Brexit transition period. This has led Downing Street to urge the EU to extend the Brexit “grace period” to 2023.
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/brexit-news-live-boris-johnson-080610785.html
"We do not have the same Brexit that the rest of the UK has, thats not our fault. We voted for the same Brexit."
Alternatively Prof Anand Menon, who usually seems quite sensible, and knowledgeable, maintains that,
"The checks on the Irish Sea are the inevitable consequence of Boris Johnsons Brexit deal.
What that protocol does is impose the need for checks on goods going from GB to NI.
The open question was, how intrusive those checks would be, that was partly a function of how close the relationship negotiated in the EU/UK trade deal was.
Thats quite a distant relationship.
What we are seeing now is the cumulative effect of the protocol and the trade and cooperation agreement."
The prime minister’s official spokesman confirmed Mr Graham has “left his No 10 position” on Thursday – only two days after press secretary Allegra Stratton said he was a “very valued member of staff”.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/boris-johnson-s-scottish-adviser-for-union-sacked-following-furious-row/ar-BB1doi9X?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/varadkar-and-coveney-blame-brexit-voters-yet-they-have-culpability-too/ar-BB1doGn2?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/brexit-live-eu-asks-boris-johnson-to-immediately-change-new-law-five-countries-lash-out/ar-BB1dpxmq?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/from-border-delays-to-tariffs-we-were-told-wouldn-t-exist-brexit-is-wreaking-havoc-on-our-businesses/ar-BB1dogeK?ocid=msedgntp
You really aren't giving Brexit a fair chance are you Mr Haysie?
Its only been 35 days or so, give it the almost 5 decades it took for the E U to hogtie us and I'm sure everything will be just fine.
Keep calm and put the kettle on.