Frost: EU needs to get used to UK controlling its own fishing waters May 18, 2021 The EU needs to “get used to” the UK having control over its own fishing waters post-Brexit or else there will continue to be “difficulties”, according to Lord David Frost. The minister for UK-EU relations also told MPs yesterday that the post-Brexit relationship will be “a bit bumpy for a time”. There have been complaints [...]
‘Ferocious’ row blazing in Whitehall over Australia trade deal May 18, 2021 Ministers are divided over whether to sign off a trade deal with Australia after the department of agriculture and the department of internal trade could not come to an agreement on the terms. Ministers were battling over whether to grant tariff-free access to Australian farmers, the Financial Times reported, a move that could spark backlash [...]
Indian Covid-19 variant growing in 86 local authorities in England May 17, 2021 Five or more cases of the Indian Covid-19 variant have been found in 86 English local authorities, with Bolton and Blackburn the two worst affected areas. Health secretary Matt Hancock said today that there were 2,323 cases of the more transmissible Covid strain in England, with 483 of them in Bolton and Blackburn where it [...]
UK government to set up new unit to exploit ‘Brexit opportunities’ May 17, 2021 The UK government is setting up a new unit to explore “Brexit opportunities” particularly around shedding EU regulations, according to Lord David Frost. Frost, the minister for UK-EU relations, said he was helping hire a new head of the unit that will come from outside government and that it would explore things like changing financial [...]
Downing Street says post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol in current form should be scrapped May 17, 2021 Downing Street has said the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol cannot continue in its current form and that it should be “urgently” changed. Boris Johnson’s spokesman told journalists today that Northern Irish businesses “have made extraordinary efforts to adjust” to the Brexit treaty’s terms, but that “it’s hard to see the way the protocol is operating [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for Londoners to ‘support British businesses’ as restrictions eased May 17, 2021 Sadiq Khan has called on Londoners to “support British businesses” and to come back into central London as Covid restrictions are eased further in England today. Khan said people outside the capital should not despair about the limited opportunities to currently travel overseas and that “everything you need is in London”. Tens of thousands of [...]
Rishi Sunak does not back Joe Biden’s global business tax plan May 17, 2021 Rishi Sunak is withholding support for Joe Biden’s draft plan to implement a minimum 21 per cent global business tax rate, with the chancellor wanting more assurances on taxation on US tech giants. Sunak, who is chairing this year’s G7 meetings for finance ministers, has reportedly said he would only support a minimum tax rate [...]
Caution urged as rules around hugging, socialising and travel are eased May 17, 2021 The Prime Minister has called for a “heavy dose of caution” as lockdown rules are eased today in England, Wales and most of Scotland. People can now socialise indoors and hug loved ones for the first time in months, and the ban on foreign travel has been lifted and instead replaced with a traffic light [...]
Brexit: Northern Ireland Protocol ‘dead in the water’, says Johnson ally May 16, 2021 The post-Brexit Northern Ireland treaty is reportedly seen as “dead in the water” by Downing Street as negotiations between the UK and EU over the protocol continue. Lord David Frost earlier this week said the Northern Ireland Protocol, which sees Northern Ireland follow EU customs union and single market rules, posed “significant challenges” for businesses, [...]
Hancock: ‘Increasing confidence’ vaccines work against Indian variant May 16, 2021 The government and its health officials have “increasing confidence” that vaccines work against the new Indian Covid variant, according to health secretary Matt Hancock. Hancock said the government has a “high degree of confidence” the new variant transmits faster, but that “the early data suggests the vaccines are effective against the Indian variant”. Boris Johnson [...]