15th Mar 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=25 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

CNBC In the past three months 93 earnings calls of the SP 500 companies addressed Brexit and its potential impact according to FactSet. Among those are some of the largest companies including Facebook Cisco and Walmart. While most companies were cautious with their answers sharing very little detail some companies were more upfront about it. Expedia for example said its seen a dropoff in U.K flight bookings due to uncertainty around Brexit. Booking Holdings the owner of a group of travel sites including Priceline.com also said Brexit is creating a tremendous amount of uncertainty. Facebooks CFO David Wehner also said during Januarys earnings call that macroeconomic concerns like Brexit are a risk on top of other issues facing the company. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/14/brexit-shows-up-in-risk-factors-earnings-calls-for-salesforce-others.html 14th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Belfast Telegraph The UK proposals announced on Wednesday morning in a bid to inform MPs ahead of a nodeal vote in parliament state there will be no checks and no tariffs imposed on goods moving from the Republic of Ireland across the border into Northern Ireland. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/eu-will-not-match-zero-tariffs-mays-nodeal-brexit-plan-means-hard-border-in-northern-ireland-warns-cbi-chief-37908595.html 13th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Irish Independent The EU will fight fire with fire by levying tariffs on UK food exports to Europe if Britain enacts draconian new taxes on Irish farm products in a nodeal Brexit. In the event of a disorderly Brexit the UK will levy beef lamb pork poultry and some dairy imported from the EU including Ireland. The moves will lead to retaliatory measures by the EU imposing levies on UK foodstuffs coming into EU markets under its normal third party trade regime. https://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/its-war-eu-will-retaliate-over-british-tariffs-threat-37912125.html 14th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Sterling remained lodged in the red on Thursday evening after Britains parliament voted in favour of extending the Brexit date past March 29. The currency was down 0.67 per cent at 1.3250 well off the low of 1.3209 that was hit in the London morning. It had rallied as much as 2.4 per cent to a high of 1.3383 during the previous session. The pound only very briefly trimmed its losses after the House of Commons voted to tell the government it should delay the UKs break from the EU either until June if Theresa Mays deal is agreed or further into the future if not. https://www.ft.com/content/63967122-45fb-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Sun House prices across the UK are expected to drop by the end of the year for the first time since 2012 according to an official Government watchdog. The Office for Budget Responsibility OBR which analyses the Governments finances predict that house prices will fall by 0.3 per cent in 2019. Its a sharp contrast to its fiveyear forecast made in October 2018 which saw house prices rise by more than three per cent in the last three months of the year. Experts have blamed the lagging property market on a dragged out Brexit and lack of affordability. https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/8634115/house-prices-fall-2019-brexit-uncertainty-freezes-market/ 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Wales Online Bridgend council also says its catering services which takes care of catering in schools and care homes have stockpiled six weeks of goods as a precautionary measure https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/no-deal-brexit-could-mean-15974512 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Yorkshire Evening Post Doctors and pharmacists are being told not to give patients extra prescriptions in advance after Brexit. The NHS has stockpiled medication in case of difficulties in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal at the end of this month. There have been concerns that it may be problematic to get some supplies into the country because of a potential backlog at ports. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/doctors-given-post-brexit-advice-on-patient-prescriptions-1-9651305 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent Senior travel industry executives surveyed by The Independent unanimously reported an apparent reluctance to commit to short breaks and longer holidays over the next few weeks in the run up to 29 March and across the Easter school break. They blame uncertainty over international travel in the event of a nodeal departure from the European Union EU the present Brexit default. The consequences would range from British driving licences and the passports of millions of UK travellers losing validity for the EU to confusion over arrangements for medical treatment. As a result air fares and hotel rates are tumbling. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/brexit-cheap-holidays-bargains-bufffer-p-o-cruises-uk-travel-business-budget-a8822036.html 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Buyers and sellers are sitting tight as Brexit uncertainty continues to freeze the UK property market surveyors have said. Some 77 of members asked by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors RICS said that the Brexit impasse was holding back activity. New buyer enquiries sales and homes being put on the market all fell in February the survey said. This would mean a challenging spring for housing and the economy it sa https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47556539 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The New Yorker For a number of reasons Brexit has been an invidious political process. But one of the most unsettling has been the mismatch between the generations that voted for Britains departure and the generations that will have to bear the consequences. Around seventy per cent of those under the age of twentyfour voted Remain while sixty per cent of those older than sixtyfive voted Leave. Its really really scary to watch politicians who are trying to implement something which the vast majority of us dont want and have never wanted https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-uk/the-young-people-staring-down-an-endless-brexit 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Calls not to politicise mentalhealth issues fall flat when an era of cuts and uncertainty sees our mental wellbeing plummet writes Dr Frances Ryan https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/14/austerity-mental-health-brexit 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times Tim Martin says that the companys four nonexecutive directors differ with him on Brexit I dont talk to them much about it because its too emotional. David Page an old friend and founder of the Franco Manca pizza chain who voted Remain says it is as personal to him as the pubs. I think hes sad about how divisive it has become but when Tim makes up his mind it takes an earthquake to change it. https://www.ft.com/content/425bf0fe-4457-11e9-a965-23d669740bfb 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Harvard Business Review According to a survey of over 7000 business leaders in the UK...We find that Brexit has been an important source of uncertainty for many UK businesses. We estimate that this led to a 6 reduction in investment in the first two years after the referendum with employment also around 1.5 lower. And Brexit is likely to reduce future UK productivity by around half a percentage point via a batting average effect of output being reallocated away from higher productivity firms toward lower productivity ones. The majority of businesses anticipate that Brexit will eventually reduce sales and increase costs. https://hbr.org/2019/03/brexit-is-already-affecting-uk-businesses-heres-how 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Farming unions in Wales have called for more time until Brexit to protect the industry. The Farmers Union of Wales FUW urged MPs to reject a nodeal Brexit under all circumstances while NFU said an extension to leaving the EU needed to be as long as necessary. There are concerns a nodeal Brexit would have a devastating impact on Wales lamb exports. Concerns have also been expressed within the steel and car industries. Meanwhile First Minister Mark Drakeford said what was announced under the new tariff regime demonstrated the catastrophic effect a nodeal Brexit would have on the Welsh economy. It exposes us immediately to all sorts of headwinds in terms of international trade that will make the task of securing jobs here in Wales in manufacturing in agriculture even more difficult he said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47554092 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The UKs continuing Brexit uncertainty is another factor said to be weighing heavily on the sector. Malcolm Barber cochairman of auction house Bonhams which has its headquarters in London says Brexit has led to caution among UK car collectors as it has in most industries in Britain. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47525435 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Washington Post While British lawmakers fumble through Brexit negotiations sales of two items might hint at how the public is bracing for impact toilet paper and painkillers. On a recent earnings call David Potts chief executive of British supermarket Morrisons said that the chain had seen a small amount of stockpiling and that sales of these two goods had risen more than 7 percent in the past year. Weve seen quite a tickup in painkillers and toilet rolls sales Potts said according to reporting from Reuters. Whether that has any bearing on how people are feeling about Brexit I dont know. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/03/14/what-spike-toilet-paper-sales-says-about-brexit/ 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Daily Mirror Bomb disposal crews have been called to Manston Airport which the government may need to use as a lorry park if theres a no deal Brexit in 15 days https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-brexit-unexploded-bomb-found-14135815 14th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Fruitnet Those arguing that the UK is woefully unprepared for its departure from the EU on 29 March were given further ammunition last week as the House of Lords EU Energy and Environment SubCommittee took evidence from Public Health Minister Steve Brine MP and Food Standards Agency Chair Heather Hancock. Although major preparations have been made the Committee heard significant uncertainty remains concerning the UKs relationship with the EU on food safety issues. Brine said that the FSA would be highlighting to Defra the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs the importance of continued scientific collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority EFSA which undertakes food safety risk assessments on behalf of the EU but admitted the terms were still a matter for negotiation. We will not be able to contribute to the strategic direction of EFSA he said. Access to EFSAs risk assessments that is a matter for negotiation. Their scientific opinions are made publicly available but the supporting data is not published. So following exit if we dont have access to the data we may have to source our own. http://www.fruitnet.com/fpj/article/178177/brexit-raises-safety-concerns?utm_source=Brexit+raises+food+safety+concerns%3B+UK+tariff+announcement+eases+Spanish+fears%3B+Tech+advances+%E2%80%98will+attract+fresh+talent%E2%80%99&amputm_medium=email&amputm_campaign=Brexit+raises+food+safety+concerns%3B+UK+tariff+announcement+eases+Spanish+fears%3B+Tech+advances+%E2%80%98will+attract+fresh+talent%E2%80%99 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Hammonds very public advocacy of a wholly different Brexit route delivered with May glowering stonyfaced and silent on the benches behind him showed the shift that was taking place in the government in the Tory party and in parliament. It announced in effect that the national interest matters more than the party interest because an agreed Brexit deal that passes is a higher priority than Mays deal which has now been twice defeated. It therefore has to imply that Hammond thinks that May may have to go. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/13/theresa-may-deal-vote-mps-brexit 15th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC It is becoming a key question in this complex Brexit process. If the UK was to request or be offered a lengthy extension of its membership of the European Union EU would there be an obligation to take part in Mays European elections Both the UK government and the European Commission EC say that there would but legal opinion is divided and many lawyers argue that a satisfactory fix could be found. The elections are taking place between 23 and 26 May although the new parliament will not sit and new members will not be sworn in until 2 July. That is why it has been argued that an extension of Article 50 until the end of June would not prove to be a problem. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47568283 15th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Brexit will no longer happen on March 29th after MPs voted to delay it. After a series of votes in the House of Commons MPs backed an extension to the Article 50 process which is expected to last at least another three months. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-live-mps-decide-delay-14133047 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News The government might need to offer updated legal advice in order to convince both to drop their hostility to the Irish border backstop while the looming prospect of a long delay to Brexit could also make them reverse their opposition. However it has been suggested Mrs May might not be able to bring back her deal if its not significantly different for a third vote under parliamentary convention. https://news.sky.com/story/mps-have-voted-to-delay-brexit-so-what-might-happen-now-11665636 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to seek a delay in Britains exit from the European Union setting the stage for Prime Minister Theresa May to renew efforts to get her divorce deal approved by parliament next week. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu/may-piles-pressure-on-british-lawmakers-to-back-brexit-deal-idUKKCN1QV0Z8?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=topNews&amprpc=921 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters European Union leaders will consider pressing Britain to delay Brexit by at least a year to find a way through its domestic deadlock the chair of next weeks EU summit said on Thursday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-tusk/eus-tusk-floats-long-brexit-delay-before-summit-idUKKCN1QV14U?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=topNews 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Warrington Guardian https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/national/17502426.mps-vote-to-delay-brexit-beyond-march-29-as-tory-splits-exposed/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent The unity of Theresa Mays cabinet has publicly crumbled after eight of her most senior ministers refused to back her plan to delay Brexit by three months. Those who failed to support it included the prime ministers Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay who was joined by 187 other Conservative MPs and frontbenchers in voting against her approach. None of the ministers opposing Ms Mays ultimately successful move to delay Brexit will be sacked because she allowed a free vote on the issue in the face of a mass rebellion. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-theresa-may-article-50-extension-vote-ministers-a8823836.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Theresa May will hold a third meaningful vote on Brexit after MPs authorised her to ask for a lengthy delay if no deal has been agreed by next Wednesday. Huge pressure is now being put on the DUP and Brexiteers to fall in behind the Prime Ministers deal to avoid the risk of Article 50 having to be extended by up to two years. But it emerged on Thursday night that the star chamber of legallytrained Brexiteer MPs has already rejected fresh legal advice from Geoffrey Cox the Attorney General over the Northern Irish backstop. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/14/brexit-vote-latest-news-article-50-extension-delay-result/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

RTE.ie The Taoiseach has welcomed a vote in the House of Commons which enables the British government to ask the European Union for a delay to Brexit. MPs want to delay the UK leaving the EU until at least the end of June. The motion by the British government was approved by 412 votes to 202. In a statement Leo Varadkar said that the result of the vote reduces the likelihood of a nodeal Brexit. However he said that London needs to give details on what purpose an extension would serve and how long it would last for. https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2019/0314/1036339-brexit-reaction/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming explains what a potential delay to the triggering of Article 50 would mean. MPs are expected to be given a vote on Thursday on whether they want to seek an extension to the Article 50 negotiation period. The EU have said any extension would need a purpose. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47561581/brexit-will-the-eu-accept-a-delay-to-article-50 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Donald Tusk is pushing the European Unions leaders to consider a long Brexit delay to allow the UK to rethink its goals in the negotiations as the Commons voted in favour of seeking an extension of article 50. In an apparent shift in the EUs red lines the European council president suggested even before MPs had voted that a lengthy extension beyond 29 March could be granted simply to give Westminster time to recalibrate. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/14/donald-tusk-to-encourage-eu27-to-be-open-to-long-brexit-delay 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC This is now a crisis the rules that traditionally have preserved governments are out of the window. The prime minister has been defeated again. Her authority if not all gone is in shreds. But for Number 10 theres an opportunity too because MPs will soon be presented with a new choice back the PMs deal which has already been defeated twice or accept the chance of a delay to Brexit. This isnt the choice of a government thats in control. But the tactic is to make the best of chaos. To use nerves among Brexiteers to shove them towards accepting Theresa Mays deal in the absence of another solution with no other agreed alternative yet. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47563560 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News Donald Trump has said he is surprised at how badly the Brexit negotiations have gone for Britain and claimed that leaving the EU is tearing the country apart. In an explosive intervention the US president claimed that Theresa May did not listen to his suggestions on how to handle the negotiations. He also poured scorn on the idea of a second referendum. https://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-surprised-at-how-badly-brexit-negotiations-have-gone-11665325 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Conservative MPs should finally get behind Theresa Mays Brexit plan in yet another Commons vote Philip Hammond has argued saying the alternatives were either a softer crossparty Brexit or a long delay to departure. After MPs voted to indefinitely rule out a nodeal Brexit and ahead of another likely dramatic set of votes on Thursday about extending article 50 and the idea of a second referendum the chancellor strongly indicated that May would try for a third time to get her deal through parliament. Amid signs the Democratic Unionist party and Tory Brexiters might finally be starting to back the deal Hammond used a round of media interviews to warn them of the consequences of it failing yet again. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/14/hammond-warns-brexiter-tories-to-back-may-deal-or-face-softer-cross-party-plan 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Sir Vince Cable has announced he will step down as Liberal Democrat leader after Mays English local elections. Sir Vince said he wanted to pave the way for a new generation. He became party leader without a contest after Tim Farrons resignation in 2017 but the party has struggled to make an impact in the polls since. The former business secretary said in September he would stand down as party leader once Brexit is resolved or stopped. But in an interview with the Daily Mail he said It now looks as if it will be a protracted process and may never happen. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47577739?ns_mchannel=social&ampns_campaign=bbc_politics&ampns_linkname=news_central&ampns_source=twitter 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home More than 100 MPs have backed an amendment to todays motion on delaying Brexit seeking to stop a socalled peoples vote from ever taking place. Tabled by Tory eurosceptic Lee Rowley and backed by DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds and Labour MPs Gareth Snell and Caroline Flint it asks the Commons to endorse the view that the result of the 2016 EU referendum should be respected and that a second EU referendum would be divisive and expensive and therefore should not take place. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/102516/brexiteers-launch-commons-bid-kill-divisive-second-eu 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BuzzFeed News The UK will ask the European Union to delay Brexit after parliament voted by a majority of 210 to seek an extension to the withdrawal process. On a third consecutive night of drama in Westminster MPs voted 412 to 202 to ask for more time to resolve the crisis that has bitterly divided the countrys political class and gravely undermined Theresa Mays government. Only 112 Tory MPs voted to delay Brexit with 188 voting against. The delay only got through the Commons on Labour votes. Eight cabinet ministers voted against the governments motion including Steve Barclay the Brexit secretary who had spoken in favour of it at the despatch box as he closed the debate for the government. He was joined in the Noe lobby by fellow cabinet ministers Penny Mordaunt Gavin Williamson Liz Truss Liam Fox Alun Cairns Chris Grayling and Andrea Leadsom. Julian Smith the government chief whip abstained on the governments motion while Michael Gove the former chair of Vote Leave and David Davis the former Brexit secretary voted to delay Brexit. https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/theresa-may-will-ask-the-eu-to-delay-brexit-after-mps-voted 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BuzzFeed News A core group of around 20 hardline Brexiteers is threatening to vote down Theresa Mays deal for a third time next week and bring down her government at a confidence vote called by Jeremy Corbyn. But as Eurosceptic Conservative MPs divide on how to approach the third meaningful vote due next week a wider group of Brexiteer rebels are now keen to back the deal on the condition that May commits to stepping down as prime minister in the summer. Downing Street remains pessimistic that the PMs deal will pass at the third attempt. A senior government source told BuzzFeed News that they expected a significant number of Brexiteer switchers but not enough to secure a majority next time round. The source said the government could lose the third meaningful vote by between 20 and 40 votes and then hope to win with support from Labour backbenchers at a fourth attempt. https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/brexiteers-split-may-erg 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent And I wonder if she ever reflects on the fact that her entire strategy is to keep asking MPs the same question when nothing has changed in the hope they change their minds but it is an affront to democracy that the British people almost three years on when so much has changed and so much more is known about what Brexit actually means should not be allowed to express a view. As we fight for a peoples vote there are bound to be differences of opinion on tactics about how best to prosecute the case in parliament. Today was not in my view the right time to seek parliamentary support though I share the passion for a peoples vote of those who tabled the amendment. But today was about securing the extension to Article 50 and allowing the world to let the chaos in government sink in. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-article-50-second-referendum-voted-down-theresa-may-commons-a8822696.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home MPs are due to debate whether the Government should try to push back the UKs exit date beyond 29 March after giving the PM another shot to get her deal through next week. Members are once again hoping to throw a spanner or two in the works. Here are the bids that John Bercow has chosen to be put to a vote. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/102520/amendments-explained-everything-mps-will-vote-tonights 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail Donald Tusk today revealed he will urge EU leaders to agree a long extension to Article 50 delaying Brexit by up to two years to give the UK time to rethink if Theresa Mays deal is voted down a third time next week. The President of the European Councils intervention on Twitter this morning will bolster claims that the UK would not leave the EU until 2021 unless Mrs May can persuade the DUP and Brexiteers to back her divorce deal because some in the EU want to play hardball and push for a delay of two years. Irelands Foreign Minister Simon Coveney also said today the EU is likely to offer Britain a 21month delay to Brexit while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar added that if the UK changes its mind it would be welcomed back like the prodigal son. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6807955/Britain-faces-TWO-YEARS-Brexit-limbo-unless-Theresa-wins-vote.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Michael Gove has warned reimposing direct rule for Northern Ireland from Westminster is a real possibility if there is a nodeal Brexit. Devolved government in Northern Ireland collapsed in January 2017 after a row between the powersharing parties. MPs have voted to reject the UK leaving the EU with no deal but it is not legally binding. The environment secretary said direct rule would be a grave step the government would have to consider. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-47548623 13th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Scotsman https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/calls-for-david-mundell-to-resign-intensify-following-brexit-vote-1-4889299 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Tory ministers who abstained on a vote opposing leaving the European Union without a deal should resign or be sacked a Brexiteer MP has told BBC Wales. Thirteen government ministers defied whips by abstaining on the vote on Wednesday night. David Davies said the MPs should not be in government. MPs rejected leaving the EU without a deal 321 votes to 278 in a further government defeat on Brexit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47563144 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC . https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47568883 15th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Evening Standard Attorney General Geoffrey Cox was today warned that using a Vienna Convention article to get out of the Brexit backstop was a complete nonstarter. The QC was also told he risked turning his codpiece into a figleaf if he changes his legal advice which had been dubbed a codpiece in an eleventhhour bid by the Government to persuade Tory and DUP MPs to back Theresa Mays plans. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-latest-attorney-general-geoffrey-cox-warned-using-vienna-convention-to-get-out-of-backstop-is-a4091711.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News Theresa May is urging MPs to back a threemonth Brexit postponement or face the threat of a much longer delay in a desperate bid to persuade her proLeave rebels to back her withdrawal agreement next week. After a cabinet gang of four and several more ministers abstained and 17 backbenchers voted against the government in a Commons vote ruling out no deal the prime minister has issued an ultimatum to Tory Brexiteers. In what many MPs see as a last roll of the dice for the beleaguered PM and her Brexit deal she is effectively challenging her rebel MPs who have now defeated her deal twice Back me or risk losing Brexit altogether. https://news.sky.com/story/mps-to-vote-on-article-50-extension-as-may-warns-they-might-be-kissing-brexit-goodbye-11664792 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Comedian Mark Steel takes apart the absurd farce of the Brexit discussions and votes going on in Parliament at the moment. Every detail seems designed to make Britain look gloriously stupid he says https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-vote-article-50-delay-theresa-may-jacob-rees-mogg-a8823036.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror The Commons has voted against an amendment that would have paved the way for indicative votes for MPs to discuss in order to find a new way forward. The amendment was been tabled by the powerful a crossparty coalition of Hilary Benn Yvette Cooper and Oliver Letwin. It was defeated by 312 votes to 314. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-brexit-mps-plan-take-14136387 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Philip Hammond dangled the prospect of 26.6bn before their eyes telling Parliament that if they behave themselves and back a Brexit deal the taps can be turned on. The end of austerity can turn from simply an end to restraint into a new age of cash for all. If we leave the EU with a deal and an orderly transition to a future economic partnership we will see a deal dividend Hammond told the Commons in his announcementlight statement. Britain can expect an economic boost from recovery in business confidence and investment and a fiscal boost... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/03/14/analysis-hammonds-brexit-war-chest-smaller-looks/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News Frans Timmermans says that the UK parliament need to tell the EU what they want in terms of a deal on Brexit in a video interview with Sky News https://news.sky.com/video/uk-needs-to-get-act-together-on-brexit-deal-says-european-commissions-vice-president-11665041 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

CNBC Brexit faced a crucial week this week as May tried to get her Brexit deal approved by the U.K. Parliament. It failed to win enough support from British lawmakers for a second time but MPs also then voted to reject the option of leaving the EU without a deal. They are next going to vote on whether to delay Brexit altogether. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/14/what-do-americans-think-about-brexit.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

CNBC As U.K. Prime Minister Theresa Mays proposed Brexit deal continues to face a pummeling in Parliament the only option is to return the matter to the British public for a second referendum according to Drew Hendry a U.K. member of parliament from Scotland. Hendry on Wednesday joined the chorus of parliamentarians calling for more time before Britains looming departure from the European Union. There needs to be a situation now where theres an extension to Article 50 to allow this to go back to the people Hendry told CNBCs Squawk Box Wednesday. Article 50 refers to the formal twoyear process governing the U.K.s departure from the European Union https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/14/uk-needs-a-second-brexit-referendum-after-no-deal-exit-rejected-snp.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News Extraordinary shambolic chaos in the Commons as the planned prime ministerial free vote on ruling out no deal disintegrated before her eyes taking ministers with it. The PM ended up effectively voting for no deal after her motion only ruling it out for a month was defeated and replaced with one ruling it out full stop. Humiliatingly she also lost that vote against no deal by an even bigger margin. One of the Labour MPs being wooed to vote for her deal a few months ago Jess Phillips called her a disgrace to her face in the voting lobby. https://news.sky.com/story/the-brexit-clocks-have-been-reset-but-times-running-out-for-the-pm-11664777 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The Brexit saga isnt just about a negotiation gone awry nor about the impasse a country finds itself in having fallen prey to a movement based on lies and deception. The wider question is about what kind of world we want to live in. To fully see this it helps to keep Trumps US in mind not just the intricacies of British parliamentary arithmetic or Michel Barniers latest statement. Because Trumps US is intimately intertwined with the Brexiter vision of Britain. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/14/chaotic-brexit-trump-plan-europe-president 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The result of yesterdays meaningful vote in the House of Commons much like the first in January was emblematic of a very striking Brexit reality that the principle barrier to leaving the EU comes from the very people most desperate to see it happen. The Tory right have had two clear chances to push Brexit over the line two clear chances that were squandered in dogged pursuit of a perfect vision of Brexit. What makes their intransigence all the more useless is their collective inability to produce any worthwhile negotiating alternative. What we have witnessed is an exercise in prioritising ideology over what is best for the country. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/13/cake-unicorns-brexit-zealots 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC US President Donald Trump has been critical of how Theresa Mays Brexit negotiations have taken place. Trump told reporters a second vote would be unfair on the people who won and that the Irish border issue was one of the most complex Brexit issues. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-47575443/trump-surprised-at-bad-brexit-negotiations 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Express.co.uk A European Commission spokesman fired off a quick response moments after a vote to delay Article 50 was won 412202 with a majority of 210. The ballot will allow Mrs May to iron out a better deal or postBrexit Britain though not without their permission the spokesman reminded the Prime Minister. The spokesman said We take note of tonights votes. A request for an extension of Article 50 requires the unanimous agreement of all 27 Member States. It will be for the European Council Article 50 to consider such a request giving priority to the need to ensure the functioning of the EU institutions and taking into account the reasons or and duration of a possible extension. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1099927/brexit-news-latest-vote-no-deal-article-50-vote-today-UK-EU-theresa-may 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Express.co.uk Nigel Farage was confronted about rumours suggesting he is planning to seek the support of allies in Italy and Poland to ensure requests for a Brexit extension are rejected. Mr Farage was asked to clarify the claims on Wednesday and he confirmed he has been thinking very carefully about reaching out to fellow Eurosceptics to make sure the UK quits the bloc on March 29. Speaking to Euronews the architect of Brexit said Next Thursday night is a major moment because if Mrs May comes and meekly asks for an extension without a plan and isnt able to offer a second referendum because of the implications for her own party you may find that there is a veto there with or without my help. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1099996/Brexit-news-Nigel-Farage-UK-EU-withdrawal-Italy-Poland-no-deal-extension-vote-today-May 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror The Mirror understands Labour whips will instruct MPs to abstain. Responding to a question from Anna Soubry in the House of Commons he said Many colleagues in and out of this place absolutely supportive of the cause she supports namely a peoples vote vehemently disagree with this amendment being tabled and voted on today. The Peoples Vote campaignhave issued a formal statement of their position today in response to amendment H saying we have made it clear that we do not regard today as the right time to press the case for the public to be given a final say. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-brexit-labour-not-support-14135018 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Jeremy Corbyn said Today I reiterate my conviction that a deal can be agreed based on our alternative plan that can command support across the House. I also reiterate our support for a Peoples Vote not as a political pointscoring exercise but as a realistic option to break the deadlock. But Labour rebel Neil Coyle who supported a second referendum told the Mirror Labour members are fretting over the partys failure to lead in seeking a new Peoples Vote. I am forced to break a whip for something that is supposed to be Labour Party policy but has not been backed today. There is little time left to win a new public vote. Next week Labour must back it wholeheartedly and with no more reservations. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-commons-uproar-jeremy-corbyn-14136788 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Spectator I feel particularly sorry for Michael Gove because there is psychological torment here. His understandable reasoning for not resigning over Theresa Mays Chequers proposal was that he had been accused first of betraying David Cameron then of betraying Boris Johnson. He could not face being accused of a third betrayal by walking out on Mrs May. This meant that he unintentionally betrayed the cause of Brexit. He is now the governments media apologist for whatever piece of contortion comes out of Downing Street and is humiliated when the line he has just peddled collapses a few hours later. https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/03/michael-gove-is-now-betraying-brexit/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European Baroness Smith of Basildon Labours leader in the Lords said May did not have the full support of her government or the cabinet. Lady Smith said the May had been extraordinarily intransigent in her speech to MPs after the defeat last night on a nodeal Brexit and wanted to ignore parliament. Lady Smith said the government was spending time energy and money on preparing for a nodeal failure despite the vote to rule it out. She said of reports that Mrs May would make another attempt to get her twice rejected deal approved by MPs Shes acting like a cruel parent who when a child wont eat its dinner serves up the same plate of cold food day after day until they are forced to accept the unwanted unpalatable and dangerous. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/theresa-may-is-acting-like-a-cruel-parent-over-brexit-1-5938151 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Angela Rayner who has said in the past she doesnt want a second vote thinks it would be a terrible idea to go back to the people but MPs will vote on it today https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8636220/labour-in-brexit-chaos-again-as-top-jeremy-corbyn-ally-says-second-referendum-would-be-disaster/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian It now means the prime minister can stage next Tuesdays vote the way she wants it as an ultimatum to the ultras of the European Research Group and the Democratic Unionist party. Thanks to another much more comfortable vote this evening approving in principle an extension of article 50 those intransigents will now face a sharp dilemma. The ERG and DUP either swallow their objections and vote for Mays deal or they face the prospect of a long delay to Brexit perhaps for the best part of two years. Given the mayhem on show these past few days who would bet what might happen to their precious Brexit project between now and 2021 They might lose it altogether. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/14/theresa-may-brexit-article-50-delay 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Shropshire Star https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2019/03/14/corbyn-hit-by-labour-revolt-over-second-brexit-referendum/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mail A Labour whip and an aide to deputy Labour leader Tom Watson quit in order to vote against a second Brexit referendum as the partys divisions on the issue were laid bare. Stephanie Peacock resigned from the whips office saying she wanted to respect the result of the 2016 vote and her constituents in Barnsley East would expect her to honour that promise. Ruth Smeeth resigned as parliamentary private secretary to Mr Watson saying she had a duty to support the will of my constituents in Leavesupporting StokeonTrent North. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-6811031/Labour-whip-quits-second-referendum-vote-exposes-splits.html 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Huffington Post Theresa May has suffered a mass Tory revolt by her ministers and MPs as she caved to pressure to delay Brexit by three months. Amid shambolic scenes in Parliament the prime ministers tattered authority took a fresh blow when more than half her party opposed her government move to postpone exit day from March 29 to June 30. Some seven Cabinet ministers including her Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay voted against Mays motion which was aimed at giving her extra time to get her EUUK divorce deal passed and put on the statute book. Earlier she had seen off a dramatic attempt by parliament to seize control of the Brexit process. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit-to-be-delayed-by-three-months-as-mps-give-may-third-chance-to-get-her-eu-deal-passed_uk_5c8a8793e4b038892f4baf18 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Youve probably heard at least one person say the UK is in a Brexit crisis. Politicians from Europe and Britain have said it and its been in headlines usually in CAPITAL LETTERS a lot. But are we being dramatic or is the UK actually in a crisis over leaving the European Union We spoke to three experts to find out. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47500166/brexit-is-the-uk-actually-in-a-crisis-over-leaving-the-eu 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Brussels has reacted furiously after Theresa May announced plans to hold a third meaningful vote on her Brexit deal just one day before an EU summit to approve an extension to the Article 50 negotiations. While EU27 leaders are divided over the length and conditions for the extension beyond the March 29 deadline they are united in their irritation that the prime minister will give the bloc very little time to consider their response and prepare a joint position. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/14/eu-furious-theresa-may-calls-third-brexit-vote-eve-summit/ 14th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times Brexit is viewed by republican dissidents as an opportunity rather than a political end in itself say politicians and security officials. Yet it would be wrong says one UK security expert to expect a sudden upsurge in violence after the UK leaves the EU. But he adds the security situation will become harder to manage after Brexit with even the slightest hardening of the border likely to provide a tempting target for extremists. The idea of border checkpoints enforced by police or immigration officers remain unlikely but even softer options such as the addition of automated cameras to check the movement of goods as they cross the border could be magnets for dissidents looking to send a message https://www.ft.com/content/dabcac5c-44df-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3 14th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Irish Independent The new regime would mark a shift in favour of products from nonEU countries. While 82 per cent of imports from the EU would be tarifffree down from 100 per cent now 92 per cent of imports from the rest of the world would pay no border duty up from 56 per cent. Are there any special arrangements for Northern Ireland Yes the north would be treated differently to Britain for goods originating in the Republic. In special arrangements for Northern Ireland the UKs temporary import tariffs would not apply to EU goods crossing the border from the Republic. The decision is designed to avoid a hard border in Ireland. http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2019/03/14/news/brexit-uk-s-no-deal-trade-plan-and-what-it-means-for-ireland-north-and-south-1572234/ 15th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Independent Liam Foxs claim to have secured a postBrexit trade deal with Switzerland of huge economic importance has been sharply criticised because it fails to protect about half of current commerce. The agreement one of the few successfully rolled over with the scheduled departure from the EU just 16 days away does not cover services a committee of peers has warned. Most trade in services which make up 52 per cent of all UKSwiss trade is not covered by the deal its report says. Trade with Switzerland which is outside the EU but participates in its single market is worth about 31bn a year to the UK economy making a rollover a key government priority https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-trade-deal-switzerland-liam-fox-exports-economy-uk-a8821526.html 14th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Guardian Britain has signed a postBrexit trade deal with the Pacific islands of Fiji and Papua New Guinea as the government rushes to sign as many agreements as possible before 29 March. The Department for International Trade said the agreement would maintain access to goods including sugar and fish imported from the islands 10000 miles away. Total trade between Britain and the region is worth about 369m a year. Signed by the international trade secretary Liam Fox the deal eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from Fiji and Papua New Guinea and will gradually remove around 80 of tariffs on UK exports to these countries. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/14/uk-signs-post-brexit-trade-deal-with-fiji-and-papua-new-guinea 14th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Yahoo! TUC general secretary Frances OGrady accused the Government of showing reckless disregard for peoples jobs warning the proposed tariff regime would be a hammer blow to our manufacturing industries and the communities they support. The general secretary of steelworkers union Community Roy Rickhuss said The Governments plan for zero tariffs would be a fresh betrayal of British steelworkers putting further pressure on their jobs at a difficult time for the industry. In special arrangements for Northern Ireland the UKs temporary import tariffs will not apply to EU goods crossing the border from the Republic. The decision designed to avoid the need for checkpoints which might revive sectarian tensions has raised fears of smuggling as ministers insist there will not be a border down the Irish Sea. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/no-deal-tariff-regime-sledgehammer-084909121.html 14th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

@LiamFox Signed a trade agreement today with Pacific Islands which will avoid around 19m of tariff duties on UK imports from https://twitter.com/LiamFox/status/1106190636850561025 14th Mar 2019