Don’t run for the hills over alignment – the big question is where and when to diverge January 19, 2020 As we approach the 50-day point in Boris Johnson’s premiership, questions are still being asked about what kind of leader he will be, and how different the country will become under him. Londoners in particular are used to certain amount of showmanship in the Johnson approach to politics. As mayor, he was a high profile [...]
Chancellor Sajid Javid warns business ‘there will be no alignment’ with EU on regulations January 18, 2020 The Chancellor has warned businesses that “there will not be alignment” with the EU on regulations following Brexit. Sajid Javid said firms will have to “adjust” to new regulations. The automotive and pharmaceutical industries were among those that warned the government last year of the damage that not aligning with the EU could do. Javid [...]
Downing Street to hold light display to mark Brexit Day as Unions Jacks fly January 17, 2020 Downing Street has announced that it will hold a light display on 31 January to mark Britain leaving the European Union. As Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation that evening, the black bricks of his official residence will light up with the display, featuring a clock counting down to 11pm. Buildings around Whitehall will [...]
Boris Johnson calls on public to crowdfund Big Ben Brexit bongs January 14, 2020 Boris Johnson has urged the public to chip in to a crowdfunding campaign so that Big Ben can ring out to celebrate the UK’s departure from the EU. The Prime Minister called on Brits to “bung a bob for a Big Ben bong” after it emerged that the projected costs of the celebratory chimes had [...]
Brexit: Analysts give govt just 20% chance of striking EU trade deal this year January 14, 2020 The government has just a 20 per cent chance of striking a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU within its stated deadline of this calendar year, a new report by Oxford Economics argues. Indeed, analysts believe there is a higher chance of talks disintegrating entirely, leaving the UK trading on WTO terms from the start [...]
Boris Johnson says Brexit trade deal ‘epically likely’; says he won’t risk UK security over Huawei January 14, 2020 Boris Johnson has said a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU by the end of this year is “epically likely” – but admitted he could fail to clinch it within the deadline. Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning the Prime Minister said it was “very, very, very likely” the UK will get a trade deal [...]
Northern Ireland: Boris Johnson insists ‘no circumstances’ for checks on goods after Brexit January 13, 2020 Boris Johnson has insisted there will be “no circumstances” in which goods coming between Northern Ireland and Great Britain would be subject to checks after Brexit. The Prime Minister, who is in Stormont after the breakthrough last week restored the power-sharing executive, praised those involved for having “stepped up to the plate and shown leadership”. [...]
Major sacrifices will have to be made for rushed Brexit trade deal, report claims January 13, 2020 Rushing a post-Brexit trade deal to meet the end-of-year deadline will require major sacrifices to be made and will leave businesses with just weeks to adapt to the new trading terms, a new report claims. The Institute for Government believes Boris Johnson and team will have to accept only “a narrow agreement” can be reached [...]
Government decision to scrap Erasmus scheme will harm UK’s bottom line January 10, 2020 The UK has always lagged behind its European neighbours in foreign language learning, and the vote this week to eradicate the Erasmus scheme will only slow that adoption further. For many, Erasmus was an opportunity to live and learn a new culture and language, free from class and income boundaries. The programme gave the UK’s [...]
Johnson’s Brexit bill passes Commons without fanfare January 9, 2020 Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was passed by MPs without fanfare on Thursday afternoon, with the Prime Minister not even marking the moment with a valedictory speech. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) passed its third reading in the Commons with 330 votes to 231, and will now move to the Lords for further scrutiny. It is [...]