13th Mar 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=23 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

Politics Home RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said For the past 18 months we have strongly voiced our concerns to government officials specifically to the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling. Each time our concerns were met with the same response that UK international hauliers had nothing to worry about. We have never shared Mr Graylings optimism and this report confirms our doubts. To quote from the report The Department for Transport has failed to make timely preparations to procure the additional freight capacity needed to transport critical goods. The Departments procurement approach has been rushed and risky and preparations have been conducted in secrecy with inadequate stakeholder engagement. We could not agree more Richard Burnett continued. The road freight industry relies on accurate planning yet with only 13 working days until Brexit we are still in the dark about future border crossing procedures. Our pleas for clarity have been constant yet none has been forthcoming. https://www.politicshome.com/news/europe/eu-policy-agenda/brexit/press-release/road-haulage-association/102478/house-commons 12th Mar 2019

Jobs at Risk

Daily Mirror Nissan has said its Infiniti Q30 sedan and QX30 SUV will no longer be produced in Sunderland. The company said by the middle of 2019 manufacture will cease as it plans to exit western Europe early next year and turns its attention to sales in the worlds two biggest car markets instead. Infiniti has around 250 employees working on it in the Sunderland plant. Nissan said it is working to find alternative opportunities for staff consulting with employee representatives where necessary and identifying opportunities for transition and training support where appropriate. https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/breaking-nissan-stop-manufacturing-premium-14123309 12th Mar 2019

Jobs at Risk

The Times Workers at Britains biggest car plant received more bad news yesterday when Nissans luxury Infiniti division said that it would halt production in Sunderland within months. Trade union leaders sought urgent assurances over the fate of about 200 jobs at the site. Executives said that they were working to find alternative opportunities for all affected staff. The carmaker has decided to shift production of its Q30 model to Japan amid weak sales in western Europe. Work is due to conclude in Sunderland by mid2019. About 5000 had been manufactured at the plant each year. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/business/nissan-s-luxury-brand-infiniti-leaves-britain-ssnjzqv8p 13th Mar 2019

Jobs at Risk

The Guardian Growing numbers of British companies are preparing to cut jobs or put hiring plans on hold as Brexit uncertainty intensifies in the latest sign of stress on the economy. In an indication that Britains long jobs recovery since the financial crisis is gradually running out of steam as Brexit nears IHS Markit said UK employers staffhiring intentions had reached a sixyear low in February. A separate survey of more than 2000 firms by the employment agency ManpowerGroup found that growing numbers of companies were preparing to cut jobs across the country. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/12/brexit-uncertainty-prompts-more-uk-firms-to-prepare-for-job-cuts 12th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

The News Letter https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/brexit-no-deal-border-plans-to-be-published-1-8845983 12th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

AOL.co.uk Plans for the Irish border in the event of a nodeal Brexit are set to be published. Speaking after her Withdrawal Deal was defeated in a House of Commons vote Theresa May said her Government will publish its plans for a nodeal Brexit on Wednesday. The Prime Minister said these will include its approach to tariffs and the Northern Ireland border among other matters if the United Kingdom leave the European Union without a deal on March 29. https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2019/03/12/plans-for-irish-border-in-event-of-no-deal-brexit-to-be-publishe/ 12th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

BBC The City UK the finance industry body said leaving without a deal would be an own goal of historic proportions. The government is set to publish more details of its nodeal plans on Wednesday including trade tariffs and Irish border proposals. CBI directorgeneral Carolyn Fairbairn said the extension of the Brexit process should be as short as realistically possible and backed by a clear plan. Its time for Parliament to stop this circus she added. Stephen Phipson chief executive of manufacturers group Make UK said It is now essential that Parliament brings the curtain down on this farce and removes the risk of no deal. That outcome would be disastrous for the UK manufacturing jeopardising many thousands of jobs in every constituency in the land. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47546925 13th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Business leaders on Tuesday night called for a new approach to Brexit as Theresa Mays Brexit deal fell to its second major defeat in the House of Commons. Enough is enough said Carolyn Fairbairn directorgeneral of the Confederation of British Industry. Referring to Tuesdays tumultuous parliamentary debate on the prime ministers Brexit deal as another day of failed politics she demanded a different course from the government warning that jobs and livelihoods depend on it https://www.ft.com/content/23073a20-450a-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3 12th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Business Insider The UK economy expanded at a fasterthanexpected pace in January supported by growth in all main sectors such as manufacturing services and constructions preliminary figures from the Office for National Statistics showed on Tuesday. Gross domestic product grew 0.5 percent monthonmonth in January after a 0.40 percent decline in December. Economists had expected a 0.20 percent increase. In November GDP grew 0.2 percent monthly. https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/interestrates/uk-january-economic-growth-beats-forecast-1028022213 12th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

The Independent Fresh food will run out prices will rise and UK travellers will face border delays after a nodeal Brexit civil servants are predicting. Whitehalls reasonable worst case scenario for crashing out of the EU is revealed by a government watchdog one day before a promised Commons vote on ruling out the prospect. The National Audit Office also reveals that 1.5bn is being spent by government on urgent civil contingencies funding in this financial year alone. The projections are made as part of Operation Yellowhammer the emergency planning project first disclosed when Philip Hammond was photographed with a secret Treasury document last autumn. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/no-deal-brexit-food-shortage-nao-report-price-uk-border-delays-eu-cost-economy-a8819671.html 12th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Express.co.uk Brexit uncertainty could see travellers forking out almost 900 per cent extra for their medical care abroad travel insurance experts have claimed. In the case of a no deal scenario the protection offered by the current European Health Insurance Card EHIC is unknown. Yet it might offer no assurances at all with Admiral Travel Insurance estimating treatment for food poisoning could cost 2000 should a British traveller fall ill overseas. Meanwhile for a more serious operation such as an appendix removal this fee could surge by almost 900 per cent post March 29. https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/1098681/brexit-news-latest-uk-travel-insurance-holiday-no-deal 11th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News Hugo Fry UK managing director of Sanofi supplier of medicines including insulin and flu vaccines reveals how it is preparing for Brexit. https://news.sky.com/video/sanofi-building-drug-stockpiles-ahead-of-brexit-11662203 12th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times Lowcost airline easyJet is stockpiling parts for its aircraft in continental Europe in case a nodeal Brexit severs its supply chains. Johan Lundgren chief executive said easyJet had also been transferring three aircraft a week to its new Austrian subsidiary which now had a fleet of 130. He said the airline was stockpiling spare parts for the Austrian fleet so as part of our Brexit preparations were making sure were not reliant on spare parts...only in the UK. He said easyJet had prepurchased a number of spare parts and allocated them to the right facilities. https://www.ft.com/content/4de95ff8-4419-11e9-a965-23d669740bfb 12th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News He voted Remain but now thinks that leaving the European Union could revolutionise Nortons fortunes. All day long we would have preferred to remain but now weve looked and reviewed our business model in the light of Brexit he told me. We have the potential to be bigger better and stronger to go across a wider range of export territories than we would ever have looked at if we had stayed Remain. Mr Garner is a confident cheerful and eloquent businessman with a background as unusual as his company. https://news.sky.com/story/norton-motorbike-boss-brexit-has-kicked-us-up-the-backside-11662637 12th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News A group calling itself the IRA says it was behind the parcel bombs sent to three London transport hubs and the University of Glasgow last week according to police. Officers say the group claimed five devices were sent but only four have been found so far. Police Scotland and the Metropolitan Police have said the claim was received by a Northern Ireland media outlet using a recognised codeword. https://news.sky.com/story/ira-says-it-is-responsible-for-parcel-bombs-police-11662974 12th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Express.co.uk The most recent news to come out of Brexit has shown the price of wine and highvalue cars could go up. According to a report by the Wine and Spirit Association 99 percent of wine drunk in Britain is imported and half of this is produced in the EU. According to a study done by the Journal of Wine Economics customers may have to pay up to 25 percent more by 2025 in the event of a hard Brexit. If the UK exit the EU with a softer version of the withdrawal agreement the price would only go up by 11 percent the research shows. https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/1098896/brexit-news-hard-brexit-no-deal-brexit-tariffs-uk-import-wto-theresa-may 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News MPs will vote on ruling out a nodeal Brexit after the Prime Minister was forced to concede a free vote for Conservative MPs to avoid ministerial resignations. If MPs vote against no deal 24 hours later they will vote on extending Article 50 which if carried would mean the UK would not leave the EU on the proposed date of March 29 https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-crisis-another-day-and-more-humiliation-looms-for-theresa-may-11663798 13th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters Even then a postponement is not guaranteed the EUs 27 members must all approve it. Keeping Britain in the bloc for more than a few extra months could complicate elections for a new European Parliament which will be held at the end of May. Eurosceptics will seize on any delay beyond March 29 as a betrayal of the result of the 2016 referendum. More importantly buying time will not change the fundamental choice that British politicians have yet to make to leave the European Union with a deal or without one or reverse the decision to quit probably following another referendum. That moment of truth is no more predictable after Tuesdays defeat but its probably a little bit further away. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-breakingviews/breakingviews-britain-positions-for-longer-brexit-limbo-idUKKBN1QT2XU 13th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Record Nicola Sturgeon has said the case for Scotlands independence has never been stronger after the Prime Ministers EU exit plan was heavily defeated for a second time in the House of Commons. Speaking after the vote which saw MPs reject the UK Governments proposals by 391 to 242 the Scottish First Minister said the Brexit plan had ignored the needs and voice of Scotland and left the entire UK poised on a cliff edge. The First Minister insisted Theresa May definitively rule out the catastrophe of a nodeal Brexit and warned that the UK had been left with a Government which has effectively ceased to function. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/nicola-sturgeon-says-case-independence-14126251 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Conservative Home All we need to do turn the Prime Ministers deal into Common Market 2.0 is to renegotiate the Political Declaration. We know that the EU wont make problems because they have already told us that they would be happy to agree to a future relationship that would keep us in the Single Market. Going for Common Market 2.0 would minimise the delay in delivering Brexit. It is the only Brexit compromise that really can be agreed and ratified in under 3 months. https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/03/robert-halfon-if-you-dont-like-the-backstop-and-you-want-a-brexit-deal-done-quickly-theres-only-one-answer-common-market-2-0.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Conservative MPs have a free vote on a motion stating that this House declines to approve leaving the European Union without a Withdrawal Agreement and a framework on the future relationship on March 29 2019 and notes that leaving without a deal remains the default in UK and EU law unless this House and the EU ratify an agreement. In short they can vote with their conscience instead of having to toe the party line as dictated by Conservative managers in a whipped vote. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8623179/free-vote-brexit-explained/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Director Carolyn Fairbairn CBI directorgeneral said Enough is enough. This must be the last day of failed politics. A new approach is needed by all parties. Jobs and livelihoods depend on it. She added Extending Article 50 to close the door on a March nodeal is now urgent. It should be as short as realistically possible and backed by a clear plan. Conservatives must consign their red lines to history while Labour must come to the table with a genuine commitment to solutions. Its time for Parliament to stop this circus. https://www.financialdirector.co.uk/2019/03/12/business-groups-react-to-brexit-vote/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Belfast Telegraph Prime Minister Theresa May has warned of the potential damage leaving the EU without a Brexit deal could do after MPs rejected her Withdrawal Agreement for the second time. Mrs May said she profoundly regrets the decision of 391 MPs to vote against her withdrawal agreement which she still believes is the best and only deal available. She also said she will allow a free vote among her party which will allow Conservative MPs to vote according to their personal beliefs rather than party policy. She said Brexit is an issue of grave importance for the future of our country just like the referendum there are strongly held and legitimate views on both sides. For that reason I can confirm that this will be a free vote on this side of the house. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/theresa-may-warns-of-nodeal-damage-following-heavy-brexit-defeat-37906974.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK The EU has demanded a credible justification before it can grant any request to delay Brexit suggesting Theresa May may have to pivot to a softer deal or call an election or referendum. The prime minister is now highly likely to be forced by MPs to by MPs to seek an extension of the Article 50 withdrawal process beyond March 29 after her Brexit deal was defeated in the Commons by a 149 vote majority. MPs now look likely to reject a nodeal Brexit in a vote on Wednesday before ordering May to seek an extension Article 50 in another vote on Thursday. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/eu-tells-may-to-provide-credible-justification-for-delaying-brexit_uk_5c88171fe4b0450ddae52008 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent Climate protesters are planning to blockade the main routes in and out of Dover on the day after Brexit to deepen any disruption to Britains food imports. Activists say their demonstrations on major roads from the port will cause major delays but nothing critical and will highlight the need for emergency action on the climate and ecological crisis. But news of the plans by Extinction Rebellion organisers on Saturday 30 March was met with an immediate backlash from supporters who warned that delaying food supplies was unfair and risked turning the public against them. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/climate-change-protest-block-roads-dover-brexit-day-a8818096.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Whilst the original Brexit referendum was based on a simple binary choice of Remain or Leave it is now implausible that a second poll could rerun the same question. For starters there are no longer two options on the table.... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/0/second-brexit-referendum-could-work-question-could-happen-would/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Juncker warned there would be no further chance to pass a withdrawal deal. He said In politics sometimes you get a second chance ... There will be no third chance. And he added a warning that it is this deal or Brexit might not happen at all. Moreover he said the UK would be legally obliged to hold European Parliament elections in May should Brexit not be sorted by then. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/mar/11/brexit-latest-news-vote-tuesday-tories-suspect-may-could-pull-tuesdays-key-vote-after-talks-fail-to-deliver-progress-politics-live 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Gibraltar Chronicle Theresa Mays defeat in the House of Commons has increased the chances of the UK and Gibraltar remaining in the European Union Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said on Tuesday even as he insisted that Gibraltar was nevertheless prepared for all possible outcomes including a hard Brexit. Mr Picardo was speaking after Mrs Mays Brexit strategy was dealt a devastating blow by MPs who rejected her EU Withdrawal Agreement by an overwhelming majority for the second time. http://chronicle.gi/2019/03/mays-crushing-defeat-gibraltar-prepares-options-hopes-remain/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Irish Examiner Sinn Fins deputy leader Michelle ONeill has claimed the Democratic Unionist Party is hellbent on pursuing a reckless and blinkered Brexit strategy that is driving us all towards a nodeal catastrophe. The EU has shown considerable patience and a willingness to facilitate a Brexit agreement that enables Britain to leave the EU without creating a hard border in Ireland or undermining the Good Friday Agreement she said. https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/michelle-oneill-dup-hell-bent-on-driving-us-all-towards-a-no-deal-catastrophe-910349.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times As Brexit day on March 29 approaches Mrs Mays publicly stated willingness to lead Britain out of the EU without a deal if none can be agreed by parliament is causing a collective loss of nerve at Westminster and beyond. Hilary Benn Labour chair of the Commons Brexit select committee said business leaders were tearing out their hair at the prospect of the UK crashing out of the EU without an agreement at the end of next month. https://www.ft.com/content/21363782-2ed5-11e9-8744-e7016697f225 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail Hardcore Brexiteers have thrown their weight behind a plan for a nodeal Brexit but want it delayed until May. Senior Tory eurosceptics the DUP leader in Westminster Nigel Dodds and moderate Leaver leader Simon Hart have signed up to an amendment to be tabled by former Brexit minister Steve Baker. It would alter the terms of the nodeal Brexit plan to be voted on tomorrow to extend Article 50 until 10.59pm on May 22 before we leave without a deal. This would give businesses time to prepare for a new customs tariff system that would come into play if the UK crashed out without a deal. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6801227/Jacob-Rees-Mogg-fires-Brexit-delay-warning-shot-Remainers-crushing-defeat-May.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail Britain will need a good reason for a Brexit delay if the House of Commons asks for an extension to Article 50 this week Donald Tusk has warned. The European Council president said Brussels would consider a reasoned request for a longer Brexit process but demanded that the UK supply a credible justification. Mr Tusk said the chances of a nodeal Brexit were significantly higher after MPs rejected Theresa Mays agreement for a second time. He said it was difficult to see what more we can do to help Mrs May win support for her deal in Parliament. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6801121/Britain-need-credible-justification-Brexit-delay-warns-Donald-Tusk.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Steve Baker the former Brexit minister who is the ERGs chief organiser announced late on Tuesday that he and others would attempt to force a socalled managed no deal in the Commons on Wednesday when MPs will have a free vote on whether the UK should leave with no agreement. In a latenight amendment signed by the former remainers Nicky Morgan and Damian Green Baker proposed a 21month transition to no deal an idea that the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier has explicitly rejected. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/12/no-deal-brexit-still-possible-even-if-mps-vote-against-it-erg 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The National A new poll has found that 60 of Scots want another independence referendum. Survation research asked Scots for their view on the timing of a second referendum on independence. Only around onethird of those polled 32 said there should never be another Scottish independence referendum. By contrast 60 of Scots backed a fresh vote on the countrys future. With dont knows excluded that figure rises to 65 in support of an indyref2. https://www.thenational.scot/news/17495536.new-poll-finds-majority-of-scots-want-another-independence-referendum/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@BBCPolitics Tory Brexiteer Jacob ReesMogg blames Brexit impasse on a historic disconnection between voters and MPs 52 of voters voted to leave but probably 500 out of 650 MPs voted to remain BrexitVote https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1105559367045144576 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@MikeySmith Im told Tory HQ is actively preparing to take part in European Elections. CCHQ Director General Alan Mabbutt is briefing Tory campaign managers at 4pm. https://twitter.com/mikeysmith/status/1105459270701772802 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@BBCPolitics The proper thing to do is to put it back to the public in a peoples vote in a second referendum Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve says hell vote against the PMs latest Brexit deal https://twitter.com/BBCPolitics/status/1105370818719113216 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Foreign Twitter accounts have recently tried to influence the debate around Brexit with proLeave tweets receiving the most support researchers say. Cybersecurity firm FSecure analysed 24 million tweets published between 4 December 2018 and 13 February 2019. Much inorganic activity was discovered including excessive retweeting carried out by bots or fake accounts. Both sides received amplification but proLeave much more so than proRemain. Twitter declined to comment on the findings. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47538021?ns_source=twitter&ampns_mchannel=social&ampns_campaign=bbc_politics&ampns_linkname=news_central 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@SteveBakerHW Heading to table a MalthouseCompromise Plan B amendment with @DamianGreen @NickyMorgan01 and @Simonhartmp supported by @JacobReesMogg @NigelDoddsDUP and Iain Duncan Smith https://twitter.com/SteveBakerHW/status/1105568607084441602 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@alexwickham At 642pm 18 minutes before the meaningful vote the MoD sends out a dear colleagues letter confirming they expect Bloody Sunday charging decisions on Thursday and that the govt will fund veterans defences https://twitter.com/alexwickham/status/1105541748644823041 12th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@MichelBarnier Listening to debate in @HouseofCommons there seems to be a dangerous illusion that the UK can benefit from a transition in the absence of the WA. Let me be clear the only legal basis for a transition is the WA. No withdrawal agreement means no transition. https://twitter.com/MichelBarnier/status/1105531020575678466 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Express.co.uk European Research Group ERG leader Jacob ReesMogg was left shocked after BBC presenter Andrew Neil accused the eurosceptic of losing Brexit. Mr Neil said a Brexit extension is now more likely and with that comes an uncertainty on when if at all Brexit will be achieved. The comments came moments after Theresa May failed to pass her withdrawal agreement through Parliament. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1099264/Brexit-News-update-latest-today-Jacob-Rees-Mogg-Andrew-Neil-vote 13th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times The defeat of Theresa Mays deal shows just how big a problem Brexit will be for her party in years to come. There are abstract benefits to leaving the EU but many of the concrete advantages are ones that Brexit voters dont really want. Which leaves the Conservative Party facing two directions at once. Today the position of the Tories looks grim. Perhaps however its external foes might come to its aid. A Norwayplus Brexit may now be imposed. This could make Brexit largely pointless. But at least it would relieve the Conservative Party of its strategic dilemma. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/tories-are-in-even-bigger-mess-than-they-think-blwsd63h6 13th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Theresa May has finally lost control of Brexit after her deal was once again defeated in parliament by a huge margin on a catastrophic night for her plans. She must now let MPs decide whether to rule out a nodeal Brexit and has been forced to allow her ministers to vote as they wish to stop a devastating public split in her cabinet. In a humiliating Commons speech the prime minister said with a broken voice that she will also let the Commons vote on delaying the UKs departure beyond 29 March and agreed to enact whatever was decided. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-brexit-vote-defeat-no-deal-article-50-votes-mps-erg-conservative-labour-dup-a8820186.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

LBC A nodeal Brexit would be unlawful and very difficult to include in any second referendum former attorney general Dominic Grieve told LBC. The Tory rebel who is calling for another public vote on Brexit said the government had a legal obligation to obtain a soft border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/iain-dale/a-no-deal-brexit-would-be-unlawful-dominic-grieve/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Belfast Telegraph Sinn Fein president MaryLou McDonald has hit out at the defeat of Theresa Mays Brexit deal claiming it shows an absolute disregard for the people of Ireland. Mrs McDonald was speaking after the Prime Ministers latest deal was defeated in the Commons by 149 votes. We are 17 days away from Brexit and the uncertainty and confusion continues she said. A crash out Brexit would be unthinkable for the peace process jobs trade and to the loss of peoples rights and quality of life particularly in border communities. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/sinn-feins-mcdonald-mays-brexit-defeat-shows-absolute-disregard-for-the-people-of-ireland-37907653.html 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

MSN.co.uk https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/uk-parliament-strongly-rejects-brexit-deal/ar-BBUFzhP?OCID=ansmsnnews11 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Theresa Mays EU withdrawal deal has been rejected by MPs by an overwhelming majority for a second time with just 17 days to go to Brexit. MPs voted down the prime ministers deal by 149 a smaller margin than when they rejected it in January. Mrs May said MPs will now get a vote on whether the UK should leave the EU without a deal and if that fails on whether Brexit should be delayed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47547887 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Register The UK government has moved so slowly to prepare for a nodeal Brexit that backup plans for IT systems will be burdensome and more errorprone MPs on the Public Accounts Committee PAC have warned. The committee has hounded government departments about their plans for the UKs exit from the European Union without a deal for more than a year. Throughout the MPs expressed concern about the pace of progress and lack of urgency and have today said they are disappointed some of these fears have come to fruition. In a report titled Brexit Risky and rushed activity must not become new normal the committee looked particularly at the Department for Transport and the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Defra. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/03/12/brexit_border_defra_it_not_ready/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News MPs have rejected Theresa Mays Brexit deal for a second time to prompt further instability at Westminster and uncertainty over the UKs departure from the EU. The prime minister whose political future has also been thrown into doubt saw 391 MPs vote against her withdrawal agreement on Tuesday night with 242 voting in favour. This delivered a defeat by 149 votes for Mrs Mays deal. https://news.sky.com/story/theresa-may-suffers-149-vote-defeat-as-mps-reject-brexit-deal-for-second-time-11663375 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Theresa May is set to vote on Wednesday to block a nodeal Brexit after she suffered another humiliating Commons defeat which left her fighting for her Premiership life https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/12/brexit-vote-latest-news-meaningful-vote-result-theresa-may-deal/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics.co.uk Its not right to pity her. She has been utterly hopeless throughout. She gave away her red lines in 2016 to win Conservative party support and has been limited by that decision ever since. She triggered the timetable of Article 50 without bothering to have a plan and then wasted precious months calling a snap election which only suceeded in removing her majority. She made countless political decisions to placate the extremist wing of her party rather than seek the kind of consensus which might conceivably have united the country. She treated parliament with utter contempt. She lied and lied and lied. She lied as easily as she breathed. She followed a path based on the most meanspirited and inwardlooking of all possible political convictions. Her strategic failure has been equal only to her moral failure. She deserves all of the consequences of her actions and none of the pity which might normally have come with them. http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/03/12/lost-broken-ruined-may-humiliated-once-again-by-commons 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Economist IT WAS once rare for British governments to lose big votes in the House of Commons. Under Theresa May it is becoming a habit. On the evening of March 12th for a second time her proposed Brexit deal was roundly rejected by MPs. The margin of defeat was 149 votessignificantly less than the 230vote defeat the deal suffered in January but still a huge loss by historical standards. https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/03/12/theresa-mays-brexit-deal-fails-again?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/ed/theresamaysbrexitdealfailsagainmayday 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun The PM who lost a vote on her Brexit deal in January by a record 230 votes this time managed to reduce the number of Tory rebels from 118 to 75 she still crashed to the fourth biggest Commons defeat in history. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8623392/theresa-may-brexit-deal-defeat-loses-voice/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian In her statement after the defeat the prime minister insisted her deal was still the only deal on offer. It was bordering on clinical madness. Her limitations as leader once more exposed. This was May unplugged. Unvoiced even. Her words no more than the occasional gasp. Even when she glimpsed reality by barking out that there would be a nodeal vote the next day she was unable to prevent herself from more selfharm by declaring she would fail to whip it. Weakness piled on weakness. The martyrdom of St Theresa. Condemned by her own hand. A kinder Tory party would put an end to her suffering right now. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/12/this-was-may-unplugged-unvoiced-and-once-more-exposed 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian There might still be ways that Brexit can go badly unexplored dead ends and byways of failure. But the road to success is now closed. Parliaments second verdict on Theresa Mays deal is slightly less crushing than the first one in January. But a defeat by 149 votes just weeks before Britain is due to leave the EU indicates not only the last evacuation of any authority from the prime minister but a profound crisis in the project that is the only purpose of her government. She had one job and she cannot do it. Vital questions about the future will now be settled in a state between despondency and panic. There is no strategy no guiding intelligence. A plan must be salvaged from the wreckage of a bad idea badly executed. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/12/theresa-may-brexit-reality-prime-minister-eu-exit 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News Farright political groups have been using fake accounts and coordinated behaviour on Twitter to amplify proLeave views according to new research. In a study examining Brexitrelated activity on Twitter researchers from cyber security firm FSecure identified fake accounts had been attempting to influence both sides of the debate. However the firm found that astroturfing the practice of faking grassroots support for a cause or subject was far more prominent in Leave conversations than on Remains side. They found this by examining tweets made between 4 December 2018 and 13 February 2019 well after the referendum but during a critical time of parliamentary debate. https://news.sky.com/story/fake-foreign-and-far-right-dodgy-accounts-uncovered-pushing-brexit-agenda-on-social-media-11663202 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The Democratic Unionist party has rejected Theresa Mays bid for support for her Brexit deal in another serious setback for the prime minister. Hours after the attorney general revealed that his legal advice over the Irish backstop remained unchanged the party said it would not be supporting her at Tuesday nights crunch vote. Their decision could have a devastating domino effect on the outcome of the vote with many in the Eurosceptic European Research Group led by Jacob ReesMogg likely to vote the same way as the DUP. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/12/democratic-unionist-party-will-not-support-mays-deal-in-vote?CMP=share_btn_tw 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The National https://www.thenational.scot/news/17494768.nicola-sturgeon-told-shes-not-bright-enough-for-mays-brexit-deal/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Nicola Sturgeon was told that she simply wasnt bright enough to understand the benefits of Theresa Mays Brexit deal during a Downing Street meeting according to an SNP MSP. The claim by Michael Russell the Scottish constitutional relations secretary was described as ridiculous by senior British government sources. Mr Russell was party to a terse meeting between Ms Sturgeon and Mrs May at No 10 in January after which the Scottish first minister accused the prime minister of running scared of a second independence referendum. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/nicola-sturgeon-told-she-wasn-t-bright-enough-to-understand-may-deal-benefits-gwjx2jqn6?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1552411980 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror The Prime Minister claimed victory in a lastditch trip to Strasbourg where she unveiled some legally binding changes at the last possible moment. But Tory Brexiteers and the DUP rejected the changes after her Attorney General said they wont guarantee we can quit the Irish backstop. Cornered embattled and suffering a nasty cold the croakyvoiced PM warned MPs they risk No Deal or no Brexit by voting her down. And she said Brexit could be lost tonight if she loses. If the deal is defeated tonight MPs vote on whether to reject No Deal Brexit at 7pm on Wednesday. They then vote on delaying Brexit at 5pm on Thursday https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-vote-live-theresa-faces-14121769 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Reuters This deal has now reached the end of the road. If it is rejected tonight I hope that it will be put to bed Johnson told parliament. Johnson said if the EU was unwilling to accept further changes Britain should leave without a deal as while this would be more difficult in the short term in the end it would be the only safe route out of the abyss and the only safe path to self respect. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-johnson-idUKKBN1QT2H7?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&amputm_content=5c8803143ed3f00001f0be23&amputm_medium=trueAnthem&amputm_source=twitter 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph It was painful watching the Prime Minister in the Commons on Tuesday it really was. And not just because that familiar voice with a hesitant scratch in it had deteriorated to the same Dalek croak that wrecked her speech to the Conservative Party Conference back in 2017. The second defeat of Theresa Mays Brexit Bill was not as bad as the first but 149 votes against would still count as a pulverising loss under normal circumstances. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/12/theresa-may-appallingly-weak-has-led-us-surreal-new-level-crisis/?WT.mc_id=tmgoff_pso-tw_main_premium-politics&amputm_source=tmgoff&amputm_medium=tmgoff_pso-tw&amputm_content=main_premium&amputm_campaign=tmgoff_pso-tw_main_premium-politics 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph The EU can do nothing more to break the Brexit deadlock in the House of Commons the European Commission and the president of the European Council said after MPs rejected Mrs Mays deal by a huge margin for the second time on Tuesday night. On the EU side we have done all that is possible to reach an agreement. It is difficult to see what more we can do. If there is a solution to the current impasse it can only be found in London said Donald Tusks spokesman. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/12/brussels-gets-ready-play-hardball-theresa-may-fails-deliver/?li_source=LI&ampli_medium=li-recommendation-widget 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph heresa Mays Brexit Withdrawal Agreement has been voted down by MPs in another landmark defeat for the Government. Some 118 Conservative MPs had rebelled against against the Government in the first Meaningful Vote delivering a record defeat. This meant that Prime Minister May had a huge task at hand in order to regain her majority. This time round in the second Meaningful Vote the Government lost by a margin of 242 to 391 a majority of 149. Some 75 Conservative MPs rebelled this time delivering the fourth largest Government defeat in parliamentary history. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/12/brexit-vote-result-tory-rebels-mp-voted-theresa-mays-deal/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times Mrs May must end the fantasy of bringing her deal to parliament a third time. EU officials have made clear there will be no further concessions on the backstop aimed at avoiding a hard border in Ireland. Mrs May should instead allow parliament to take control. She must work to promote and facilitate exactly the kind of crossparty cooperation in the national interest that she has so far stubbornly resisted. https://www.ft.com/content/def3dae4-44d9-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

@UK Parliament Were aware of a technical issue with our website and our live feed to the House of Commons Chamber and were working quickly to bring you coverage of the WithdrawalAgreement. https://twitter.com/UKParliament/status/1105540837755244544 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The National Theresa Mays hopes of securing House of Commons approval for her Brexit deal suffered a shattering blow as leading Tory and DUP eurosceptics said they would not recommend that MPs vote for it. The socalled Star Chamber of lawyers convened by the Leavebacking European Research Group found that agreements reached by the Prime Minister in 11thhour talks in Strasbourg do not deliver the legallybinding changes the Commons has demanded. https://www.thenational.scot/news/17494963.tory-and-dup-eurosceptics-set-to-vote-down-mays-brexit-deal/ 12th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Brussels has washed its hands of trying to help Theresa May get her Brexit deal through parliament warning that it is up to the UK to either pass the agreement or not. Immediately after MPs rejected the withdrawal package for the second time on Tuesday evening a spokesperson for European Council president Donald Tusk said that the EU had done all that is possible to reach an agreement. Given the additional assurances provided by the EU in December January and yesterday it is difficult to see what more we can do. If there is a solution to the current impasse it can only be found in London he told reporters in Brussels. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-eu-response-vote-result-irish-backstop-talks-uk-theresa-may-no-deal-a8820071.html 12th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

BBC The BBC understands the UK government does not intend to collect customs duties or have any other controls at the Irish border in the event of a nodeal Brexit. Instead it will rely on selfreporting by businesses. Details of how the UK will manage the border if there is no deal will be published on Wednesday. Meanwhile the DUP will vote against a motion in Parliament that would rule out the UK leaving the EU with no deal. It is also understood the governments border plan will suggest an appbased system to record cross border trading. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-47544149 12th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Independent Claims Britain will be able to recuperate its trade losses with the EU by dealing with Commonwealth nations are utter bollocks Australias former prime minister has said. Kevin Rudd said the idea trade deals with his country Canada New Zealand and India would make up for leaving the EU was the nuttiest of the many nutty arguments made by Brexit supporters. Writing in The Guardian he said that while Australia Canada and New Zealand would do whatever they could to work out new freetrade agreements with the UK their total population of 65 million people does not come within a bulls roar of Britains adjacent market of 450 million Europeans. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-uk-trade-commonwealth-kevin-rudd-australia-a8818996.html 12th Mar 2019