DEBATE: Should national exams in 2021 be cancelled? December 14, 2020 Emily Horton, fellow at Year Here and former journalist for The London Student, says YES If we want to avoid the further exacerbation of the already existing educational inequality gap, 2021’s GCSE and A-level exams should be cancelled. The pandemic has led to many of Britain’s poorest students missing out on as much as half [...]
Supermarkets begin stockpiling food in case of no-deal Brexit December 13, 2020 The UK’s largest supermarkets have begun stockpiling food and other products, after being warned about the potential of a no-deal Brexit by the government. Supermarkets and ministers are reportedly worried about the prospect of consumers panic buying before 1 January if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, while food producers are warning of [...]
Brexit: UK draws up bailout package for farmers and fishermen in case of no-deal exit December 13, 2020 The government is mapping out a multi-billion pound bailout package for British farmers and industry in case of a no-deal Brexit next month. The plans reportedly include emergency assistance for sheep farmers, fishermen, car manufacturers and chemical suppliers who would be hit by disruption and/or increased EU tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The [...]
Brexit trade talks to continue in Brussels as EU and UK vow to ‘go extra mile’ December 13, 2020 Post-Brexit trade talks will continue in Brussels next week after both sides vowed to “go the extra mile” to close a last minute deal, however Boris Johnson has also said the two sides are “very far apart” and that no-deal is now the most likely option. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson and EU chief von der Leyen to speak at lunchtime in last ditch bid to save a trade deal December 13, 2020 Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will speak at lunchtime today in a bid to save faltering post-Brexit trade negotiations. The pair are expected to decide whether there is a pathway to a trade deal or whether to end talks today, with less than three weeks left until the UK leaves [...]
Navy patrol ships on standby to protect UK from EU’s fishy business December 11, 2020 Four Royal Navy patrol ships are on standby for 1 January in case of a no-deal Brexit, ready to help to protect the UK’s fishing waters. The 80-metre long armed vessels would have the power to halt, inspect and impound all EU fishing boats operating within the UK’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which can extend [...]
Macron promises not to ‘have cake and eat it’ in Brexit negotiations December 11, 2020 French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted that the EU is not “asking to have its cake and eat it” in Brexit negotiations on fishing rights. Responding to a question on the European Commission contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit this morning, Macron said “I don’t want to have my cake and eat it too. No, [...]
UK tourists banned from EU travel from 1 January December 11, 2020 British holidaymakers will be temporarily banned from travelling to the EU on 1 January, with Brussels saying its travel exemption will be taken away after the Brexit transition period ends. Very few non-EU or EEA countries, with low Covid rates, are allowed to travel to member states under current restrictions. Borders are still open to [...]
No-deal Brexit likeliest outcome, Ursula von der Leyen tells EU leaders December 11, 2020 A no-deal Brexit is now likelier than the UK leaving the transition period with a trade deal, Ursula von der Leyen has told EU leaders. Speaking on the second day of a two-day summit in Brussels, the European Commission president refused to put a percentage on the chances of agreement but told EU leaders there [...]
UK signs free-trade deals with Vietnam and Singapore December 11, 2020 The UK has signed a continuity free-trade agreement with Vietnam the day after it penned a deal with Singapore. The Singapore deal protects trade that was worth £17.6bn last year while the Vietnam agreement protects £5.7bn of trade, the government said. Trade secretary Liz Truss, who is in south east Asia, said: “Both these agreements are [...]