Australia and UK to enter trade talks ‘as soon as possible’ after Brexit September 18, 2019 Australia has agreed to begin negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK “as soon as possible” after Brexit – and financial services are high on the government’s hit list. The undertaking has been agreed during a visit by international trade secretary Liz Truss, who will meet senior politicians including trade minister Simon [...]
Brexit: UK ‘refusing to leave papers with EU negotiators’ September 17, 2019 Further details have emerged of the UK’s hardball tactics as an air of mutual mistrust continues to dominate Brexit talks while the clock runs down. Despite the European Union’s repeated calls for legally operable text to be presented by the UK before formal negotiations can resume, the UK has so far only shown the Northern [...]
Pannick stations: Battle lines drawn in Supreme Court case September 17, 2019 Supreme Court judges have been warned that their decision could pave the way for a future Prime Minister to “silence” parliament for longer periods, hinting at greater threats to the UK’s democracy. Today saw QCs Lord Pannick and Lord Keen set out the arguments for both sides of this constitutionally significant court case. Read more: [...]
Parliament prorogue: Supreme Court to preside over Brexit legal battle September 17, 2019 The Supreme Court will today hear a legal tussle over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament for five weeks as the countdown to Brexit continues. The UK’s highest court will hear appeals for two distinct legal cases brought in England and Scotland against Johnson’s move to suspend parliament until 14 October. Read more: [...]
No 10 plans to run down clock in Brexit face-off September 17, 2019 The UK will hold back from giving Brussels a written proposal for alternatives until as late as October, as the two sides try to out-manoeuvre each other in the final stages of Brexit talks. The European Union has repeatedly called for operable, legal text before it will consider reopening the Withdrawal Agreement and removing the [...]
Row breaks out over Boris Johnson’s ’empty podium’ moment in Luxembourg September 16, 2019 Boris Johnson has been forced to cancelled a press conference with his counterpart in Luxembourg, after local aides refused to move it away from a protest. The Prime Minister was scheduled to give an update on Brexit talks following a bilateral with Xavier Bettel, as well as the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker [...]
Barnier to resume Brexit talks as Johnson swerves press conference September 16, 2019 Jean-Claude Juncker has given the go-ahead for the EU’s chief negotiator to resume meetings with the UK’s Brexit secretary, following a meeting today with Boris Johnson. The Prime Minister lunched with the President of the European Commission in a Luxembourg restaurant – the first time the two have met since Johnson took the keys for [...]
Overlapping UK and EU regulations post-Brexit would hurt markets, FCA warns September 16, 2019 The head of the UK’s financial regulator has warned that overlaps between UK and EU share trading regulations post-Brexit would damage markets “to no good end”. Brussels has warned that in the event of a no-deal Brexit, EU investment firms must trade euro-denominated shares within the bloc – many of which are currently traded in [...]
PM Johnson tips deal ‘in weeks’ ahead of Juncker meeting September 16, 2019 Boris Johnson has said he is confident of striking a Brexit deal “within weeks” as he travels to Luxembourg to meet Jean-Claude Juncker today. The lunch of “snails, salmon and cheese” is not being billed as a “breakthrough moment” by sources within Number 10 – but the Prime Minister is expected to put forward his [...]
Liberal Democrats split over new Revoke A50 position September 16, 2019 The Liberal Democrats are fracturing over the party’s new position to revoke Article 50, less than a day after it was agreed as formal policy. Yesterday afternoon members overwhelmingly voted for MPs to stand on a manifesto promise to revoke Brexit without a referendum. Under the plan, the Liberal Democrats would still support a second Brexit referendum [...]