26th Feb 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=12 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

@CBITweets No deal will damage every region and nation of the UK https://twitter.com/CBItweets/status/1100020085165572097 25th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

BBC The risk of a nodeal Brexit is turning into a fullblown economic crisis the aerospace trade body has warned. ADS Group said it was now able to track the very real economic damage being caused by the continuing uncertainty over the UKs exit from the EU. Its warning comes as insurance trade body the ABI said a nodeal Brexit would be a be an unforgivable act of economic and social selfharm. The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March but no deal is yet in place. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47356866 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Evening Express The availability of medicines and vaccines the healthcare workforce NHS financing and access to medical research would all be negatively impacted by a nodeal Brexit according to a review published in medical journal The Lancet. The authors warn little evidence exists that the UK is prepared for any of the eventualities set out in their analysis. The report adds For instance the recently published NHS 10year plan ran to 136 pages with only two mentions of Brexit neither of which offered any detail about what it might mean or how any threats would be addressed. https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/uk/brexit-will-cause-significant-harm-to-the-nhs/ 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Huffington Post UK A nodeal Brexit will cause significant harm to the NHS top health academics have warned in a new paper. The medical journal The Lancet says that any form of leaving the EU will harm the health service but that quitting without a withdrawal agreement will be by far the worst option. The medical journal outlines how NHS staffing numbers finances and medicine will be impacted under four Brexit scenarios and concludes that the only way to avoid damaging healthcare is to remain a member of the bloc. The authors warn little evidence exists that the UK is prepared for any of the eventualities set out in their analysis. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/no-deal-brexit-nhs_uk_5c74168be4b04927a8764da4?ncid=other_twitter_cooo9wqtham&amputm_campaign=share_twitter 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent Experiments on animals may have to be replicated if UK companies cannot access testing data for everything from household products to medicines. Animal testing could surge in the UK after Brexit as companies are forced to duplicate procedures underpinning the safety of everything from medicines to household cleaning products. Experts have warned of unnecessary harm to animals as well as considerable costs for businesses amid the uncertainty of a potential nodeal outcome. Chemicals found in an enormous variety of products are currently regulated under an EU programme known as Reach. If the government cannot agree on a deal that maintains its access to the system it has said it will create its own UKbased version that essentially copy and pastes from the EU database. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-no-deal-animal-testing-chemicals-eu-reach-michael-gove-a8796031.html 25th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial News The chief executive of BlackRock the worlds largest asset manager has criticised the UK governments handling of Brexit saying it has become a problem for every private sector company in the world. The comments from Larry Fink made in an interview with CNBC come as UK Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to renegotiate the terms of a withdrawal agreement struck with Brussels last year and avoid a nodeal Brexit on March 29. Fink told CNBC Brexit is an immediate problem and its a problem thats quite frankly annoying every private sector organisation in the world today. The irresponsibility right now of the UK in coming to a resolution is putting more and more private sector organisations on alert. https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/blackrock-ceo-unhappy-with-uks-handling-of-brexit-report-20190225 25th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Telegraph Vital consumer protections have fallen by the wayside thanks to the Governments slow progress on Brexit experts have claimed. More than half of the consultations launched by government departments in 2018 are still waiting for a response according to the Consultation Institute a watchdog. Official guidelines state that a reason for delay should be given if responses are not published within 12 weeks. This target was not met in 204 of 414 cases last year. Among the policy discussions that have stalled are a solution to the care funding crisis reform of leasehold home ownership and proper regulation of the funeral plans sector. Social care was the issue that arguably cost Prime Minister Theresa her majority in 2018 and it is still not addressed https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/hidden-cost-brexit-political-wrangling-has-derailed-vital-consumer/ 25th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

@BCCAdam A parliamentary vote on March 12th for something thats meant to take effect on March 29th. 17 days notice for businesses employees investors and communities on what may be the biggest economic and trading change they face in a generation. Unbelievable. Brexit https://twitter.com/BCCAdam/status/1099693119178600455 24th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Sun Britain would have less access to EU information systems than the US Canada and Australia. In a lengthy paper calling for a bespoke UKEU permanent security arrangement it argues that Britain makes a disproportionate contribution to over 40 EU data systems and cooperation arrangements so its in neither partys interest to unnecessarily impede this flow of critical information. RUSI research fellow Alexander Babuta calls on the EU to consider creating new precedents for a third country to be granted access to certain critical databases regardless of whether there is a deal. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8509908/post-brexit-intelligence-deal-uk-eu-security/ 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian British tourists to Spain could face airport queues of five hours or more after a nodeal Brexit according to analysis by Which and the consumer group suggests travellers should take food water and even nappies to survive prolonged delays https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/26/britons-face-five-hour-airport-queues-in-spain-with-no-deal-brexit 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The biggest shareholder in Eurostar has sought to allay fears that Brexit might hit or even halt the crossChannel train service. Guillaume Pepy head of Frances SNCF railway company told French media that it was working to ensure smooth travel whatever the Brexit scenario. He said details still needed to be worked out but the services fundamentals would not be affected. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47365583 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Politics Home Today malnutrition affects at least 3 million people in the UK. This was the sobering statistic shared by Declan OBrien Director General of British Specialist Nutrition Association BSNA as he addressed an early morning roundtable in the House of Commons. The BSNA event sponsored by David Tredinnick MP brought together parliamentarians and concerned health professionals to discuss the challenges faced by patients at risk of malnutrition and how the NHS can shape greater support for the future. Chairing the event Mr OBrien laid out the reality of the situation. Currently one in three people in care homes one in 10 visiting their GP and one in four people admitted to hospital are malnourished he said. We know the number of malnourished people is increasing rather than decreasing so we have a real problem. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/health-and-care/illnesstreatments/opinion/british-specialist-nutrition-association-bsna 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

France 24 Diabetics and insulin providers in Britain are stockpiling the precious medicine to avoid potential shortages in case Britain leaves the European Union without a deal in just over months time. Diabetes UK and another group JDRF have called on the government to provide more details on its preparations in case of a nodeal. They point out that in addition to insulin people with diabetes use other drugs and imported products such as needles insulin pumps and devices used to measure blood glucose levels. https://www.france24.com/en/20190226-diabetics-stock-insulin-over-brexit-fears 26th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The government has created a logistics hub in Belgium where vital medical supplies will be stockpiled to stop the NHS running short of equipment if there is a nodeal Brexit. The Department of Health and Social Care has also arranged to get NHS supplies including drugs into Britain using seven new ferry routes to bypass the chaos that is widely expected in and around Dover in the event of no deal. The Department for Transport has agreed to pay two companies Brittany Ferries and the Danish firm DFDS 88.8m to transport products from the hub across the Channel over the next six months. Suppliers including pharmaceutical companies which will store their products elsewhere will be given priority access to the ferries. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/25/hub-in-belgium-to-keep-nhs-supplied-in-event-of-no-deal-brexit 25th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Simon Fox the chief executive said the writedown reflected the difficulties in generating advertising revenues locally and Brexit uncertainty. He said If there is a no deal there is a chance we could see a downturn in advertising. Reach has prepared for Brexit by increasing stockpiles of newsprint imported from Norway and Canada he said. The company said while average monthly page views for its websites grew by 6 to more than 1bn last year digital advertising revenues had been hit by algorithm changes made by Facebook and Google early in 2018 which reduced the amount of Reach content being distributed via these platforms. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/25/mirror-owner-brexit-writedown-reach-express-star 25th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Bloomberg L.P. There are limits to how much more some industries can prepare. For food manufacturers chilled storage is full and fresh food cant be stockpiled. To try to stock up any more would be prohibitively expensive said William Bain a policy adviser at the British Retail Consortium which represents more than 5000 retailers. People are busting a gut to make sure they do whats deliverable Bain said. Six months ago people didnt feel wed be in this position but its where weve landed. Some major firms still have their finger hovering over the nuclear option to move outside the U.K. said a FTSE 100 chief executive officer who asked not to be identified discussing confidential plans. If Britain confirms its in a nodeal scenario those companies will go the person said. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-22/companies-trigger-last-ditch-brexit-plans-as-no-deal-looms 22nd Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Theresa May will today propose to Cabinet that she formally rules out a No Deal Brexit on March 29 opening the door to a delay. The decision will mean putting off Britains EU exit by weeks or months if MPs still havent passed a new divorce agreement in two weeks time. Mrs Mays highly controversial move will infuriate hardline Tory Leavers. But allies of the PM say she has come to the difficult conclusion that the personal Uturn is the only way to avoid a catastrophic defeat by a Remain ministers rebellion. In a bid to calm Brexiteers fury Mrs May still wants to keep the option of No Deal alive for later in the year as negotiating pressure on Brussels. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8509130/theresa-may-delay-brexit-u-turn/ 26th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Business Insider The EU is reportedly considering delaying Brexit by up to 2 years. The proposal comes after May once again delayed a parliamentary vote on her deal. MPs will now not get to vote on it until March 12 just days before Britain is due to crash out of the EU. Senior ministers in Mays government are threatening to resign if she does not rule out a No Deal Brexit https://www.businessinsider.com/brexit-could-be-delayed-by-2-years-as-theresa-may-postpones-vote-on-deal-2019-2 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home According to the Telegraph Downing Street officials this weekend circulated a proposal to ask Brussels for an extension to Article 50. The report comes just hours after Mrs May confirmed that the second meaningful vote on her Brexit deal will not take place until 12 March teeing up the prospect of a fresh clash with her Cabinet. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/news/102061/theresa-may-considering-two-month-brexit 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics.co.uk Advocates for a second referendum should not get overexcited just yet. There are still massive obstacles to securing it let alone winning it. Labour support does not create a parliamentary majority. A chunk of Labour MPs probably around 50 of them would vote against any amendment on a Peoples Vote regardless of whether the leadership backed it or not. This approach also involves backing for Mays deal albeit with a rather massive snarling caveat which may make many opposition MPs queasy. That could worsen the numerical problem. And there are only about a dozen Tory MPs who are prepared to support such an idea right now. That means a lot of minds need changing to secure a Commons majority http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/02/25/labour-backs-second-referendum-is-this-really-happening 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/02/25/brexit-latest-news-theresa-may-seeks-breakthrough-irish-backstop/ 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/labour-announce-backing-for-a-second-brexit-referendum-11648217 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Labour has said it is prepared to back another EU referendum to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn has told Labour MPs the party will move to back another vote if their own proposed Brexit deal is rejected on Wednesday. Labours Emily Thornberry said if the parliamentary process ended with a choice of no deal or the PMs deal the public should decide. Theresa May is under growing pressure to delay the 29 March Brexit date. Labour are not yet making clear what their proposed referendum would be on. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47363307 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The National Scottish secretary David Mundell has been described as a ghost of a minister after walking away from a rebel cabinet group demanding nodeal Brexit be ruled out because he didnt want to give the SNP an easy win. Mundell accused the SNP of actively pursuing a no deal Brexit in the belief that the chaos and confusion it would cause would increase support for Scotland leaving the UK. I would urge you to work in Scotlands interests not your partys he added. https://www.thenational.scot/news/17457169.david-mundell-wont-oppose-no-deal-brexit-because-its-easy-win-for-snp/ 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

@JeremyCorbyn After meetings in Brussels and Madrid its clear that Labours alternative plan for Brexit is credible and could be negotiated with the EU. https://twitter.com/jeremycorbyn/status/1099985136802775040 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

@BBCPolitics Theresa May once again rejects the idea of delaying Brexit saying any extension of Article 50 isnt addressing the issues https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1100021749519765504 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Spectator In September 2016 the Labour party reached a turning point but then failed to turn. The reelection of Jeremy Corbyn as leader with an increased majority despite the opposition of two thirds of his own MPs seemed to make a split inevitable. But it wasnt until this week that Labour MPs found the nerve to leave the party and begin to form a new one the Independent Group. https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/02/a-divided-labour-could-hand-the-tories-another-12-years-of-power/ 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The threat that Brexit poses to the British left is aptly summed up by an essay published 40 years ago. In The Great Moving Right Show the late Stuart Hall laid out the scale of the challenge he believed the left faced from Thatcher months before she even moved into No 10 years before she began her scorchedearth economics. But Hall saw it all coming the populism of Thatcher the way she would target schools and policing. And he saw how Thatcherism would win mass support Its success and effectivity does not lie in its capacity to dupe unsuspecting folk but in the way it addresses real problems real and lived experiences real contradictions and yet is able to represent them within a logic of discourse which pulls them systematically into line with policies and class strategies of the right. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/25/labour-aids-tory-brexit-destroyed 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Spectator The announcement that Labour will support an amendment calling for a second referendum if its own amendment to change the governments negotiating position fails this week has proved divisive. While many MPs in the room welcomed the decision even those who have campaigned for a second referendum were left frustrated. According to Owen Smith Corbyn was asked 23 times if in a future referendum he would want Remain to be an option on the ballot paper. Corbyn declined to answer. https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/02/sparks-fly-at-parliamentary-labour-party-meeting-on-second-referendum/ 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/theresa-may-signals-she-is-keen-to-stay-after-brexit-to-deliver-domestic-agenda-11647602 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Theresa May has signalled she will defy calls to quit and let someone else negotiate the second stage of Brexit. The Prime Minister has faced demands to walk away once the UK has formally left the EU allowing another figure to seize the No 10 keys and thrash out the terms of Britains future relationship with Brussels. But she is desperate not to be remembered as the Brexit PM and wants to forge a domestic legacy. She told the Tories backbench 1992 Committee in December that she would not fight the 2022 general election. But she has refused to outline a timetable for her departure. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-signals-defy-calls-quit-14047104 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Bloomberg In just over a month the U.K. is meant to be departing the union its belonged to for 40 years but the outlook has never looked more uncertain. Mays hands are increasingly tied by an unpopular divorce deal she sealed with the EU but that Parliament has rejected by a landslide. Brexit has proved to be such a divisive issue that both mainstream parties have suffered defections businesses are panicking and voters are exasperated. Delaying Brexit has the potential to split Mays Cabinet and her ruling party triggering a rebellion from Brexitsupporting Tories who might even try to bring down her government. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-24/eu-is-said-to-mull-idea-of-proposing-brexit-extension-to-2021 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Remain Cabinet ministers will demand Theresa May this week spells out a timetable to delay Brexit if there is no EU deal by midMarch as their price not to rebel. A public declaration by Amber Rudd David Gauke and Greg Clark to a back a Commons bid this week to extend Article 50 talks ignited a fresh civil war at the top of Government. Brexiteer Cabinet ministers angrily accused the trio who are joined by 20 other junior minister and dozens of backbench Tory MPs of astonishing disloyalty and undermining the PM. But Mrs May herself turned a blind eye yesterday and refused to slap them down. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8500303/tory-rebels-delay-brexit-timetable/ 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The National If Scotland is in favour of staying in Europe and you wrench the UK out of Europe then yep people who are arguing for independence are going to have another dimension to their argument Tony Blair said. It doesnt mean to say I agree with it but its bound to have an impact. https://www.thenational.scot/news/17456205.tony-blair-its-bloody-obvious-the-case-for-independence-is-stronger/ 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Chris Grayling has been accused of trying to conduct large parts of a trial over the 14m Brexit ferry fiasco in private against the principle of open justice the high court has heard. The transport secretary is being sued by Eurotunnel over the allegedly unlawful award of a government contract to Seaborne Freight a company with no ships and two other ferry companies in a case due to start on Friday. Lawyers for Eurotunnel told the high court on Monday that the minister was trying to keep the majority of documents in relation to the contract out of the public domain. They said they did not know his reasons but argued that if Grayling was trying to avoid adverse publicity or embarrassment then this was not legally justifiable. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/25/grayling-accused-of-trying-to-hold-brexit-ferry-trial-in-private 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European Pascal Lamy claimed a nodeal Brexit would make no sense in a world that is globalising and integrating. He urged the British government to strike an agreement to ensure there is continuity beyond March 29th contradicting the vision of Brexiteers like Farage and ReesMogg who want to end up on WTO rules. Lamy told Euronews I know theres a view on the Brexit side that they become independent they regain control. In a world which is globalising integrating I think it makes absolutely no sense. What would be the sense of having a regulation for 60 million people when the world is moving to zones who have regulations for 500 million or 600 million people It makes no sense. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/pascal-lamy-from-world-trade-union-on-brexit-1-5904928 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

@tnewtondunn An extraordinary proposition from Theresa May to achieve Brexit on time says she could try to pass a Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the Commons BEFORE the EU27 even formally sign off a new deal on March 22 It is possible to do it either way. https://twitter.com/tnewtondunn/status/1100023600726331392 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Ministers are planning a hardship fund for Britons impoverished by a nodeal Brexit. A leaked document from the cabinet committee dedicated to preparing for a chaotic rupture with the European Union reveals the extraordinary scenarios being prepared for in Whitehall. Other measures under consideration include using tax and benefits policy to offset rises in the cost of living protection for parts of the country geographically vulnerable to food shortages and sourcing alternative food for schools prisons and hospitals. The plans were drawn up at a meeting this month of the EU exit and trade preparedness committee which is chaired by Theresa May and attended by almost every cabinet minister. One of the actions arising circulated after the meeting says that officials and ministers in several government departments including the Department for Work and Pensions and the Treasury will work on the detail of a possible hardship fund. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/no-deal-hardship-fund-planned-for-surge-in-jobless-sthj7g79g?shareToken=57100b6520e0d1459c5639706a15aed3 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Labours support has fallen below the combined total for the new Independent Group and the Liberal Democrats. A YouGov poll for The Times asked people how they would vote if they could support the Independent Group TIG in their constituency. The poll found the Tories on 36 per cent down two points from last week and Labour on 23 per cent down three points. TIG received a fourpoint boost at 18 per cent with the Lib Dems on 6 per cent down one. The result means that TIG and the Lib Dems which support a second referendum are on a combined 24 per cent one point ahead of Labour underlining the potential scale of the challenge to Labour from proreferendum parties. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poll-shows-labour-fall-as-independent-group-rises-8m62g6fh3 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The prime minister of Iceland has warned that the UK will be in a very difficult position if it leaves the European Union without a deal. In an interview for BBC Scotlands new news programme The Nine Katrn Jakobsdttir said a nodeal Brexit was also a concern for Iceland. She said this was because of close trading links between the two nations. Asked whether she thought Scotland could be independent Ms Jakobsdttir replied absolutely. Although she said the decision was not for me to take. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47363132 26th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror A Tory DWP minister has demanded people stop claiming the benefits system can be directly linked to suicides. Sarah Newton said MPs should be careful before making allegations about the regime which includes fitforwork tests underpayments in error and cuts under Universal Credit . And she brushed off calls for an investigation into 20000 people who died waiting to see if they were owed sickness benefit. The plea came as Ms Newton answered questions on a 1.7bn blunder that paid 210000 people too little Employment and Support Allowance ESA as far back as 2011. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/dwp-minister-sarah-newton-urges-14051705 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European Not too long ago commentators and pundits were gleefully writing eulogies for the Peoples Vote campaign. In early February after the prime minister managed to fudge her way to a parliamentary majority sort of with the Labour partys continued intransigence in the face of member opinion to support a Peoples Vote and the clock continuing to run down it was universally agreed that if there ever was a chance for a Peoples Vote it was now gone. But whisper it quietly there is growing momentum for a Peoples Vote once again. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/the-peoples-vote-brexit-campaign-is-back-1-5906054 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

@JolyonMaugham The nature of Labours amendment changes to the nonbinding Political Declaration suggests Labour might support the withdrawal agreement if its amendment is carried. The amendment also hangs out to dry those who want the right to live and work and love across Europe. https://twitter.com/JolyonMaugham/status/1100092515418558465 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

New York Britains opposition Labour Party said on Monday that it was prepared to support a second referendum on withdrawal from the European Union a shift that could have significant ramifications for the fate of Brexit and for the countrys future. After the resignations of nine Labour Party members last week and amid the prospect of more the partys leader Jeremy Corbyn dropped his longstanding resistance to a second vote on leaving the bloc. Getting an amendment for a new vote through Parliament any time soon is unlikely but Mr. Corbyns support for one will cheer proEuropean Britons who have been fighting to reverse the outcome of the 2016 referendum decision. Without the support of Labour there is no chance of a second referendum ever being authorized by lawmakers. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/world/europe/Jeremy-Corbyn-brexit-referendum.html 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The European parliaments Brexit chief has criticised Theresa May for delaying a parliamentary vote on her deal branding the decision one of the most reckless he had ever seen in his life. Guy Verhofstadt accused the prime minister of kicking the can down the road and adding to the crippling uncertainty for citizens and businesses. The prime minister announced over the weekend that she would not be holding a Commons vote this week despite a looming deadline to ratify an agreement before the UK crashes out. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-vote-delay-theresa-may-commons-guy-verhofstadt-parliament-eu-a8795461.html 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Irish Times An Irish business delegation led by former taoiseach Enda Kenny had a rendezvous with this German reality at a recent breakfast in Berlin with Bundestag MPs. They told us Brexit is not among their top 10 political concerns said Ralf Lissek chief executive of the GermanIrish Chamber of Industry and Commerce who led the group. I have the impression the visiting Irish were relieved to hear they werent in the top five but a little nervous to hear they werent in the top 10. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/dead-calm-brexit-not-in-top-10-of-german-businesses-priorities-1.3803856 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Before Theresa Mays press conference in Sharm el Sheikh a rumour went round that the Egyptian authorities would not permit any questions about Brexit. I dont know who started it. But it was very cruel of them to get our hopes up like that. As it turned out journalists were free to ask Mrs May whatever they liked. Not that it mattered. Ive said this so many times now that Im in danger of becoming as repetitive as she is. But watching the Prime Minister field questions about Brexit is extraordinary. No matter what you ask her she pointblank refuses to give a straight answer. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/02/25/will-theresa-may-ever-give-us-straight-answer-brexit/ 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The National With the Conservatives and Labour in disarray lets hope The Independent Group shakes British politics to its core. The new group are united by moderate values. They think Brexit is a disaster and have called for another referendum. They think the leaders of their former parties are being manipulated by hardliners on the far right Conservatives or far left Labour. They think British politics is broken and expect more MPs to join them. https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/british-mps-now-have-their-chance-to-take-back-control-from-theresa-may-s-hapless-government-1.829984 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Theresa May will not get her Brexit deal through the Commons Donald Tusk has warned leaving the UK with the option of a chaotic Brexit or an extension of its membership of the EU beyond 29 March. The European council president to quell speculation disclosed that during private talks with the prime minister at a summit in Sharm elSheikh he had walked through the legal process that would need to be followed to delay Brexit. Tusk said it was not the EUs plan to extend the twoyear negotiation but that it was now evident to him that it was the rational solution in light of the prime ministers failure to corral a majority behind the deal. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/25/chaotic-brexit-or-extension-article-50-donald-tusk 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

LBC If the referendum had been legally binding then the findings of the Electoral Commission would have rendered it invalid. But because it wasnt binding we can be held to something that was corruptly delivered. according to lawyer Jessica Simor QC who took the government to court over the matter https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/brexit-referendum-corruptly-won-but-result-stands/ 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8501316/theresa-may-pleas-stay-after-brexit/ 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times First of all you are absolutely right that there is a second part of the negotiation in terms of the future economic relationship and the future security partnership. We have set out a clear framework for that and that is the basis on which those negotiations would go forward she said. But I was very clear in December with the Conservative Party that what Im doing my job is not just about delivering Brexit. Actually theres a domestic agenda that Im delivering on that reflects what I said on the doorstep of No 10 when I first became PM. Thats why weve been making key decisions like the extra money for the NHS and the longterm plan for the NHS. There is still a domestic agenda that I want to get on with. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/politics-i-ll-stay-beyond-summer-for-brexit-stage-two-says-theresa-may-7dcw3760v 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times The main news of the past week was not the splintering of our calcified political system. It concerned attacks on it from outside. A devastating report from a Commons committee looking at disinformation highlighted the threat posed by unregulated political advertising. It lambasted the big tech companies as digital gangsters for their greedy collusion in this. Another report by the Royal United Services Institute showed how the Chinese authorities systematically control foreign academic and media discussion and turn economic ties to their political advantage. If you think you live in a free country ask when your rulers last spoke out bluntly on topics such as Taiwan and Tibet. The combination of foreign interference and technological change threatens to overturn our political system. How can we have a fair election when unlimited money from murky sources including foreign ones can pay for secret messages that most voters never see That is what Facebook enabled in the Brexit referendum. How can we deal sensibly with the worlds secondbiggest economy if our discussions and actions are constrained by greed for its money https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/digital-gangsters-threaten-to-kill-democracy-ttds777jm 25th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Byline Times None of the defects in electoral regulation or the threats of disinformation and hostile campaigns domestic and foreign have been addressed. The DCMS report arrived with a whimper and nothing has been implemented that makes any of it better. Truth be told the situation is worse now than it was in 2016. The reality is simply that Leave own the conversation on Facebook where activism translates from electronic to the street and they are punching well above their audience on Twitter too. For example of 2.7 million monitored interactions across the countrys most popular Facebook pages of all political flavours in the last week the proBrexit lobby owned 76.45 of the conversation. And on Twitter where Leave only really has a quarter of the total audience its still in charge of 39.38 of the interactions https://www.byline.com/column/67/article/2428 25th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

BBC Whats crucial is whats missing from the Governments announcement today said Laura Cohen chief executive of the British Ceramic Confederation. We still do not know what they are going to do with those underlying most favoured nation tariffs onto which trade remedies are added. If Government drops these to zero in a nodeal Brexit then ceramic tiles and tableware and many thousands of other goods manufactured in this country will be in jeopardy because a flood of imports will cause untold damage to our domestic markets she said. Even a highly experienced authority would struggle with the sheer volume and complexity of reviewing all the transitioned measures implementation of the UKs new steel safeguards as well as taking on a brand new investigations into dumping and subsidies said the Director General of UK Steel Gareth Stace. UK steel producers are at risk of exposure to unfair trading practices whilst the fledgling Trade Remedies Authority wrestles with this mammoth task and plays catchup with its EU counterpart he said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47361334 25th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Politics.co.uk I am calling for parliament to have the right to set a thorough mandate to govern each trade negotiation the right of the public to be consulted as part of setting that mandate transparency in the negotiations and parliamentary power to amend and reject trade deals. The government offers none of that. The trade bill currently making its way through parliament contains no provision for greater parliamentary involvement in trade agreements. In fact it provides no formal obligation to even inform or consult parliament on negotiations. As with so many aspects of Brexit it is a threat to our parliamentary sovereignty. The number of parliamentary defeats this government has faced in 2019 alone not to mention the margins of defeat and its consistent attempts at undermining parliament have taken away its legitimacy to govern effectively. http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analysis/2019/02/25/this-brexit-trade-bill-threatens-parliamentary-sovereignty 25th Feb 2019