20th Mar 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=28 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

City A.M. Founder and chief executive Robert Walters said political uncertainty had negatively impacted recruitment in the City as firms and candidates craved clarity. Its impacted confidence the London jobs market has gone into slow motion its not frozen as there is still plenty going on but its like walking through treacle at the moment he said. Doom and gloom is not the right phrase its just a rabbit caught in the headlights. The recruitment veteran said no specific city had emerged as a rival to London despite a significant amount of relocation activity. http://www.cityam.com/274876/city-jobs-market-slow-motion-brexit-uncertainty-hurts 20th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Irish Independent Britains fiscal watchdog has compared the shock of a nodeal Brexit to the collapse of Lehman Brothers that sparked the global financial crisis more than a decade ago. Sir Charlie Bean a member of the Office for Budget Responsibility OBR told MPs it was almost completely impossible to accurately predict the shockwaves that would be sent through the economy should the UK crash out of the EU without a deal. He said that as with the collapse of Lehmans in 2008 the actual havoc wrought by the shock would only become clear as events unfolded. https://www.independent.ie/business/brexit/britains-fiscal-watchdog-compares-shock-of-nodeal-brexit-to-collapse-of-lehman-brothers-37929779.html 20th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times European politicians have declared that if LCH wants to clear euros when or if Brexit occurs that business must either move to continental Europe or be regulated by the European Securities and Markets Authority the Parisbased entity. In one sense that is no surprise. And what has come as a relief for the City and banks is that Esma declared last month that it will let Londons clearing houses perform these functions even after a hard Brexit as long as they accept Esma rules. However there is a trilliondollar catch that sits completely outside the British parliaments control the US. The CFTC has told Europe that it will not accept Esma controlling Londons swaps business insofar as it impinges on dollar markets and US banks. https://www.ft.com/content/ab751f8a-499c-11e9-bbc9-6917dce3dc62 19th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Reuters British employers ramped up their hiring at the fastest pace since 2015 in the three months to January as the labour market defied broader Brexit weakness in the overall economy. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-unemployment/uk-employers-defy-approach-of-brexit-with-hiring-spree-idUKKCN1R00X6 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Less than half of the applications from UK firms for trusted trader status have been approved by HMRC since 2016 Newsnight has learned. The status is a quality marker which the government says allows firms to fasttrack their shipments through customs. This could be crucial if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Hauliers say they have been given chaotic information. HMRC said businesses must meet strict compliance standards for the status. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47628769 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times British business groups that threw their weight behind Theresa Mays Brexit deal are now pressing Downing Street to come up with a plan B in case she fails to get her agreement through the House of Commons. The prime minister received lukewarm support from business leaders for her withdrawal agreement when it was agreed with the EU in November with many backing it mainly because it prevented the severe disruption of a nodeal Brexit. But now executives are increasingly anxious that if parliamentary gridlock continues the UK could crash out of the EU without a deal on March 29 when it is scheduled to leave the bloc. They also worry that if the Brexit deadline is extended political paralysis will continue if Mrs May fails to devise an alternate plan. https://www.ft.com/content/32213130-4a57-11e9-bbc9-6917dce3dc62 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian David Sterling head of the Northern Ireland civil service complained Our system of government was not intended to function in the absence of elected representatives Without ministers we have no one with a democratic mandate to set new policies There is also ongoing work regarding planning for the sensible spend of the 1bn moneys. However this is another area where the absence of ministers is handicapping us. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/19/dup-bung-schools-hospitals-northern-ireland 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The government has thrown a potential 500m Brexit lifeline to 180000 British pensioners in EU countries outside the UK who rely on the NHS to pay for their healthcare. The health minister Stephen Hammond has said the government is committed to covering all treatments that began before exit day for up to 12 months afterwards in the event of no deal. The UK government has committed to fund healthcare for UK nationals and others for whom the UK is responsible who have applied for or are undergoing treatments in the EU prior to and on exit day for up to one year to protect the most vulnerable he said in a ministerial written statement. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/19/brexit-uk-to-pay-health-costs-of-retired-britons-in-eu-if-no-deal-agreed 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News A shortage of cancer specialists could be putting patients at risk according to a new report. The study from the Royal College of Radiologists RCR said cancer centres were reporting dire staffing levels with more than half of vacant posts being empty for more than a year. It said almost 1000 people are diagnosed with cancer every day and demand for radiotherapy is going up 2 every year while demand for chemotherapy is rising 4 a year. In 2018 there were 863 fulltime equivalent clinical oncology consultants working across the UKs 62 cancer centres. https://news.sky.com/story/cancer-doctor-shortage-threatens-patient-welfare-says-report-11669841 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Daily Mirror There are now several phrases and terms which have sufferers of Brexit fatigue people running as soon as they hear them Perhaps the most devastating damage caused by Brexit has been to the English language. The Mirror discusses seven terms which people are starting to get fatigued with hearing https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/7-brexit-terms-no-one-14152737 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Somerset Live Lorry drivers could stage their antiEU blockade on the M5 as early as this this weekend it can be revealed. Brexit Direct Action is calling on drivers to block major motorways around the country if the Government does not leave the European Union on Friday March 29. https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/plans-brexit-blockade-m5-bring-2661184 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News Hospitals are already facing drugs shortages as a consequence of Brexit with an information vacuum hampering their ability to plan for no deal NHS trust leaders have warned. One hospital chief executive said they are currently unable to source more than 160 medicines on a daily basis an increase from about 30 in normal circumstances. Other chief executives said Brexit had already had a negative impact on staffing with EU nurses and doctors leaving the service and poses a threat to future vaccination programmes and the maintenance of hospital infrastructure. All complained of a lack of meaningful guidance from NHS England to local hospital trusts describing planning as highlevel and sketchy and like navigating through treacle https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-information-vacuum-fuelling-nhs-drug-shortages-trust-bosses-warn-11670232 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News A woman has mocked her husband on Twitter after he drunkenly ordered 600 worth of items in preparation for a nodeal Brexit. Juliet East shared a picture of husband Tony Smolletts supermarket haul which includes 144 rolls of toilet paper more than 50 tins of food and numerous bottles of wine. In the post she wrote THIS is what my husbands drunken 600 No Deal shop looks like https://news.sky.com/story/man-mocked-for-drunkenly-spending-over-600-on-no-deal-brexit-stockpile-11670478 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Ordering and delivering within 24 hours will not be possible. I worry the flower business will go online and never come back he says. And personally I wont go there. Bothamleys Dutch suppliers are worried too he tells me adding that Holland is a world centre for the flower trade. They can manage without us. He needs them however. We look around the shop even the South African proteas come via the Netherlands. There is one jug of daffodils from Lincolnshire. People dont like the air miles but its a global business. Practically every carnation on sale comes from Colombia. Those roses are Italian. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/mar/19/brexit-bishy-road-bishopthorpe-york-high-streets-survive-shopkeepers 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian According to Sandro Carnicelli senior lecturer in events and tourism management at the University of the West of Scotland UK academics may also find going to conferences more difficult. Most academics are funded by research projects and a lot of those projects are European he says. Some partners in Europe are cautious about including British academics in proposals for funding because they believe there may be issues in getting funding approved. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/19/academics-avoid-conferences-in-brexit-britain 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Irish Times Holders of UK driving licences who have applied to swap them for Irish permits due to Brexit have been told they must stay off the road possibly for weeks while awaiting new licences. There are thousands of UK licence holders in Ireland who have been advised to change their licences as they will be invalid in the event of a nodeal Brexit. Fianna Fil transport spokesman Robert Troy said the Road Safety Authority RSA confirmed to him a demand of up to 500 applications per day was being seen. Amid backlogs caused by a rush of applications for licence exchange drivers are being told by the National Driver Licence Service NDLS that it is illegal for them to drive until they get their new permits. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/brexit-holders-of-uk-licences-in-ireland-face-weeks-off-road-1.3831922 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times Citigroups new brokerdealer in Frankfurt is now fully operational as the US bank finalises its Brexit contingency plans with political negotiations stuck in limbo less than two weeks before the UKs official leaving date. Citis German investment firm has begun trading on the main European exchanges and issuing in capital markets on behalf of institutional and corporate clients that can no longer be served through its British entities the lender said. It has also begun clearing on the Eurex exchange. Unable to wait any longer in recent months banks have put the finishing touches to their structural changes as the UK heads into more Brexit uncertainty after parliament rejected the deal on offer. https://www.ft.com/content/8e4a7ec0-49c7-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Universities have raised the alarm about the potential loss of hundreds of millions of pounds worth of EU grants from the UK in the case of a nodeal Brexit. They warned that lifechanging research could be days away from stalling and urged the government to set up contingency plans to protect UK access to research funding. Researchers who have submitted applications for the latest round of funding from the European Research Council ERC say they are still in the dark about what will happen to their submissions in the case of no deal. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/19/no-deal-brexit-could-mean-130m-hit-to-research-budgets 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Scotsman Scots living in remote areas have issued a stark warning that we are f as result of Brexit an official report as revealed. The blunt language appears in a document published by Scottish Rural Action SRA. It featured on a side banner on page four of the document. https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scots-living-in-remote-communities-claim-they-are-f-because-of-brexit-1-4891631 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times The percentage of overseas students making Britain their first choice for business school has increased since the EU referendum suggesting that fears about Brexit damaging the sector were overblown. The resilience of the British market is attributed to declines in the value of the pound after the vote to leave the EU which has made tuition fees in Britain relatively cheap for international students particularly for people who would otherwise apply to US business schools. https://www.ft.com/content/4abbf190-497a-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

@PortdeCalais BREXIT From 2903 00.00 HVs drivers for a rapid transit those documents will be needed on the port of Calais International consignment note CMR The Master reference number MRN barcode If you are transporting sanitary or phytosanitary goods the prenotification document https://twitter.com/calaisport/status/1107637485981655040 19th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Sun On February 1 EU ambassadors agreed to allow UK citizens visafree travel to Europe even with a no deal Brexit. This means Brits travelling to any of the 26 countries in the borderless Schengen area will be allowed visafree travel for a temporary stay for up to 90 days. The allotted 90 days can be taken in any 180day period. The European Council said its decision was based on an assumption that EU nationals would enjoy the same privilege when heading to the UK for a short stay. And they warned that a visa would quickly be imposed should that not be the case. The European Parliament is now expected to pass the decision into legislation. https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/8331597/eu-travel-brexit-uk-visa-delays/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News Theresa May is preparing to formally ask the EU to delay Brexit 1000 days since Britons voted to leave the EU. The prime minister will on Wednesday send a letter to Brussels revealing her preference for either a short or long extension of Article 50 the legal mechanism to take the UK out of the bloc. But she could face a potential cabinet split and the threat that such a request will be rejected. https://news.sky.com/story/theresa-may-to-ask-for-brexit-delay-1-000-days-since-referendum-11670556 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Yahoo! https://uk.news.yahoo.com/may-seeking-brexit-delay-june-30-option-two-131138341--business.html 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47627744 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent Theresa May is set to write to European Commission president Donald Tusk to lay out the governments plan for delaying Brexit. The cabinet spent 90 minutes discussing the issue this morning but reportedly did not reach a conclusion on the possible length of the extension. It comes as European leaders signalled that they may not agree to the UKs request for a delay to Britains departure from the bloc which was originally expected on March 29. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-live-vote-deal-theresa-may-john-bercow-commons-latest-a8829181.html 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/big-gaps-remain-between-dup-and-government-on-brexit-says-dodds-37931075.html 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-nireland-dup/dups-dodds-says-brexit-talks-good-but-deal-not-close-bbc-reporter-idUKKCN1R029M?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=topNews 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-47619405 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The DUPs conditions havent softened when it comes to the governments Brexit deal Nigel Dodds has said. The partys deputy leader said there had been good discussions but they are not ready to offer support yet. The government needs the backing of the 10 DUP MPs in order to get the agreement through the House of Commons. It comes amid reports that Theresa May is writing to the EU to ask for Brexit to be postponed until 30 June with the option of a longer delay. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47628566 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters Jeremy Corbyn leader of Britains main opposition Labour Party called on other opposition leaders on Tuesday to work towards finding a majority in parliament for a close economic relationship with the European Union after Brexit. Corbyn met leaders from the Scottish National Party Liberal Democrats Wales Plaid Cymru and the Green Party to discuss how to break the Brexit impasse in parliament which has twice rejected Prime Minister Theresa Mays deal to leave the EU. Should there not be a majority in parliament for Mays deal or a public vote Corbyn called on the other parties to engage constructively to find a parliamentary majority for a close economic relationship with the EU that can work for the whole country a Labour spokesman said. The party leaders discussed efforts to ensure Mays deal would be put to a public vote if she is able to force it through parliament with threats and phony bribes. https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-labour/labours-corbyn-calls-on-uk-opposition-parties-to-work-on-brexit-plan-idUSKCN1R0220 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Labour remains publicly committed to a policy of seeking a second referendum if the partys own customs unionbased Brexit plan is not adopted and is pushing for a confirmation vote if Mays deal passes parliament. The Labour spokesman said The party leaders discussed efforts to ensure Mays deal would be put to a public vote if she is able to force it through parliament with threats and phoney bribes. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/19/opposition-leaders-urge-corbyn-to-back-second-brexit-referendum 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Carefree Boris Johnson strolls on a paradise Italian beach while Britain is gripped by the Brexit crisis he helped to unleash. The former Foreign Secretary was pictured with blonde lover Carrie Symonds 30 on Fornillo beach at Positano on the stunning Amalfi Coast. Mr Johnson 54 wore a suit and shirt without a tie for a stroll. One tourist website describes Fornillo as a little hidden secret and says Many visitors rush around... and have no idea that this slice of paradise exists. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-crisis-deepens-boris-johnson-14160396?utm_source=twitter.com&amputm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=sharebar 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

MyLondon Thousands of people across London are set to march to Westminster on Saturday March 23 to take part in what will be one of the largest political demonstrations in British history. The Put it to the People march will call on Parliament to give London and Britains voters the right to have a crucial vote to say yes or no to whatever deal MPs finally come up with on Brexit. The huge march is likely to be even bigger than the previous demonstration organised by the grassroots Peoples Vote campaign back in October 2018 which was attended by around 700000 people including thousands from across London. Activists have been distributing thousands of leaflets in high streets in virtually every part of London in a bid to gather support for the march. https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/saturdays-huge-london-protest-demanding-15998210 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Theresa Mays Cabinet is fracturing over her plans for a Brexit delay after ministers told her she was risking the end of the Conservative Party. Angry ministers turned on the Prime Minister after she refused to tell them how long an extension she intends to request from the EU leaving some suspecting she could ask for a delay of up to two years. Amid accusations that Mrs May has failed to get a grip on what she admits is a crisis Eurosceptic ministers warned that a long delay would lead to a Jeremy Corbyn government and turn Britain into a barren land with gulags. Andrea Leadsom Liam Fox and Chris Grayling left Mrs May in no doubt that they would have to consider quitting the Cabinet https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/19/cabinet-fractures-brexit-delay-may-warned-could-cause-end-conservative/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Backbench Eurosceptic Tory MPs have made a behindthescenes bid to persuade European Union leaders to veto any delay to Brexit at this weeks Brussels summit. The undercover diplomatic initiative has been led by Tory MPs Daniel Kawczynski Craig Mackinlay and former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson. The talks have been discussed at meetings of the European Research Group of around 60 hardline Conservative MPs. The MPs were hoping that one of the EUs 27 remaining member states could veto Britains expected request to an extension to Article 50 to make it more likely that the UK leaves the EU at the end of next week. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/19/eurosceptic-tories-use-covert-talks-call-eu-countries-veto-brexit/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Channel 4 News Two government sources suggest the Meaningful Vote take 3 might happen on Thursday of next week. Of course like everything else right now that could change. But if it did pan out that way it would mean that we were voting on the eve of the 11pm 29th March departure time that is still in UK law. The week would start with a Monday statement from Theresa May following the EU summit which happens this ThursdayFriday. There has been talk in government of then having a paving motion ahead of the Meaningful Vote to overrule the objections of The Speaker by proving there is parliamentary will for a third attempt at getting the deal through. https://www.channel4.com/news/meaningful-vote-3-could-be-held-day-before-brexit 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters British Prime Minister Theresa May will write to the European Union on Tuesday to ask for a Brexit extension until the end of June and with a possible twoyear delay the BBCs political editor said. With Britain due to leave the bloc in just 10 days Mays spokesman earlier said she would be writing to European Council President Donald Tusk to request a delay to Brexit either on Tuesday or Wednesday. But the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg said on Twitter after Tuesdays Cabinet meeting Cabinet sources say PM is writing letter to EU today asking for extension frustration that she is going to ask for end date of June 30th with proviso of delay of up to 2 years. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-kuenssberg/may-seeking-brexit-delay-to-june-30-with-option-of-two-year-extension-bbc-idUKKCN1R01ML?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=domesticNews 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times Whoever is Conservative leader after Theresa May Henry Kissinger Nelson Mandela Donald Trump Britain will still be in the same position with a relatively weak negotiating hand facing a fairly united negotiating partner. Getting as a result of the current mess a year or two longer to prepare for leaving might mildly strengthen our hand which is one reason we shouldnt assume the EU will automatically agree to it. But no deal with our main allies and trading partners will remain significantly unattractive and hard to sustain. So we will need a deal and the sort of deal we will end up with wont change much. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/getting-rid-of-theresa-may-solves-nothing-7q70kfcb0 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Michel Barnier has suggested that the price of a long Brexit delay in the event of Theresa Mays deal being defeated again would be a soft Brexit or a new event such as a second referendum or general election. Speaking two days before Thursdays crunch leaders summit the EUs chief negotiator said the blocs heads of state and government would want to be convinced of the usefulness of extra time given the costs involved. The EU is seeking a detailed road map from the prime minister on how parliament will decide on one of those options should her deal be rejected again next week and is pushing for a commitment by May that a decision would be made by MPs by midApril. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/19/eu-ministers-baffled-frustrated-brexit-chaos-bercow 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

City A.M. a Further votes on Mays deal in spite of Bercows ruling b A major renegotiation but the EU have ruled this out c Another referendum but May has ruled this out d A general election May doesnt have the power but it could happen with the support of more than twothirds of MPs e Labour could table another no confidence vote f Another option is no Brexit. g The European Court of Justice ruled that the UK could unilaterally revoke Article 50 and abandon Brexit without the need to consult all 27 member states. Would this mean no Brexit ever or another referendum its unclear. http://www.cityam.com/274922/brexit-ten-days-go-going-happen- 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@Peston Huge Tory revolt under way to stop @theresamay asking EU for Brexit delay of nine months or more. She has been requested to address the 1922 committee of Conservative MPs at 5pm tomorrow where she will be told in no uncertain terms that delay must not be longer than... https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1108150958079569920 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times Blame for the current political chaos lies not with Mr Bercow but with Mrs May and her dogged insistence on treating Brexit as Conservative party property. The Speakers ruling rightly prevented the prime minister from putting a motion again before parliament that still has insufficient votes to pass. If Mrs May succeeds in mustering a majority in favour of her deal that same majority can vote to set aside his judgment. Mr Bercow himself might allow another vote as early as next week if the prime minister secures a change to the planned exit date at an EU summit on Thursday and Friday. https://www.ft.com/content/dbb09376-4a3e-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News There will be consequences if Article 50 is prolonged the EU has said as Theresa May prepares to ask for an extension. The comments from the European Union come just hours after Downing Street admitted the UK is in crisis over Brexit. The EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier also said that any extension to Britains membership had to be useful and warned it would bring uncertainty. Commenting on the length of any potential extension Mr Barnier said a longer delay would only be granted if it is linked to something new a new event a new political process. ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston assessed that Mr Barniers comments imply a general election or referendum would be required in the UK before the EU commits to a longer extension. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-19/downing-street-admits-britain-in-crisis-over-brexit-deal/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@ITVNews Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn comments on the most recent Brexit developments and says if the government doesnt get a majority for its way on Monday then it is surely time for a general election https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1108079333292294145 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will fight for an orderly Brexit until the very last hour. Mrs Merkel said that current events were in a state of flux adding that European Union leaders would try to react to whatever the UK proposed. The UK is due to leave the EU in 10 days time with or without a deal. Prime Minister Theresa May is writing to European Council President Donald Tusk to ask for an extension. She will meet EU leaders later this week. Mrs Mays proposed Brexit deal has already been rejected twice by MPs at Westminster. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47629229 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Under the current law the UK will leave the European Union with or without a deal on 29 March. The New Statesmans Grace Blakeley tells Politics Live the only thing in Parliament that has a majority is a soft Brexit. Responding Conservative Brexiteer Owen Paterson says if there is a lengthy extension to Article 50 he and other MPs will continue to represent the interests of the 17.4 million people who voted to leave the EU. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47630839/grace-blakeley-and-owen-paterson-on-brexit 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

EU News The Council today adopted a series of legislative acts as part of its contingency preparations for a nodeal Brexit scenario. The aim of these acts is to limit the most severe damage caused by a disorderly Brexit in specific sectors where it would create a major disruption for citizens and businesses. They come on top of other measures such as on citizens rights adopted by member states as part of their preparations for a nodeal scenario. These measures are temporary in nature limited in scope and adopted unilaterally by the EU. They are in no way intended to replicate the full benefits of EU membership or the terms of any transition period as provided for in the withdrawal agreement. In some areas they are conditional upon the UKs reciprocal action. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/03/19/brexit-council-adopts-a-series-of-contingency-measures-for-a-no-deal-scenario/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters UK France is ready to veto any British request for a Brexit delay that either kicks the can down the road without offering a way out of its deadlock or imperils European Union institutions an official in President Emmanuel Macrons office said on Tuesday https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-france/france-ready-to-veto-any-meaningless-brexit-delay-elysee-official-idUKKCN1R02A4 19th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The New European Some 20 hardliners have vowed to stop participating in key government votes if Theresa May extends the Brexit process by a year according to the Sun. The prime minister had hoped to win over enough support in the coming days to get her deal passed before March 29th. But rather than winning over extra Tory support the Brexiteers have instead insisted they will withdraw support for the prime minister altogether. A vote strike from 20 members of Theresa Mays government would put it on the blink of collapse. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/brexiteers-threaten-to-go-on-strike-over-article-50-delay-1-5945259 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The EUs chief negotiator would settle for a few hints of what the UKs plan for Brexit is perhaps expressed through interpretive dance https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/19/pity-poor-barnier-a-man-in-search-of-the-uks-plan 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Metro.co.uk Jeremy Corbyn is reportedly ready to step down as leader of the Labour Party it has been claimed. Sources said last night that Mr Corbyn is becoming tired and fed up in the role and is looking to leave as he nears his 70th birthday in May. Speaking to The Standard one member of the shadow cabinet said that those closest to the leader are of the view he would like to hand over his socialist project. https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/19/jeremy-corbyn-ready-stand-tired-fed-8935504/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Theresa May has admitted the country is in crisis as she prepares to write to the EU explaining her next steps with Britain heading towards a nodeal Brexit in ten days. The prime ministers spokesman argued that a crisis had now come to pass as Ms May warned it would after the House of Commons rejected her Brexit deal last week. She will now write to European Council president Donald Tusk setting out her next steps a letter likely to involve some kind of request for a delay to Brexit. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-latest-theresa-may-letter-eu-crisis-deal-vote-a8829836.html 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian We are edging away from the EU exit but not towards resolution of the social and political tensions exposed by the referendum. This is a dangerous dynamic. The remain cause makes tactical progress helped by the ineptitude of its enemies but the argument for being part of a European project has barely advanced. If Britain wants to preserve a healthy relationship with its nearest allies it is not enough that Brexit fails. More people must want it to fail. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/19/brexit-tensions-referendum 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph The Speakers extraordinary intervention has transformed the political landscape. Until yesterday proBrexit Tory MPs effectively had a gun to their heads. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/19/no-deal-has-sensationally-risen-back-dead-now-likely-ever/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-vote-leave-fined-text-messages-ico-eu-referendum-a8829881.html 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The Information Commissioners Office ICO has fined Brexit Campaign group Vote Leave 40000 53000 for sending out nearly 200000 unsolicited text messages. The text messages contained a link to the campaign website alongside information about its ambitions. They were sent in the runup to the EU referendum in 2016. The ICO said the group had been unable to prove that everyone who received the message had consented to the contact. Vote Leave said it had gathered numbers from people who had contacted it. It said the numbers came from website enquiries texts it had received in response to other promotions and from running its own football competition. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-47623413 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Scotsman Bercow who has revealed he had voted Remain may believe he is defending the Commons rules others will suspect he hopes defeating Mays deal will lead to a second referendum. If the latter is true he is playing a dangerous game of roulette that could well result in the worst of all outcomes a nodeal Brexit. A delay and a second referendum would indeed be the best way out of our current mess but MPs need to come to this conclusion themselves not be bounced into it by the Speaker. https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/speaker-john-bercow-wrong-to-stop-brexit-deal-vote-leader-comment-1-4891548 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Johnson is the current favourite of Brexitbacking Tory activists who will pick the leader out of a final two candidates. However the former London mayor would first have to clear the hurdle of convincing Conservative MPs to put him on the final list of two. One minister said she would leave the party if Johnson and his supporters such as Jacob ReesMogg took over the Conservatives. Another minister said he knew of five or six Conservatives who were openly saying they were so opposed to a Johnson premiership that they could not stay in the party run by him and a group of Brexit ultras. Anna Soubry the former Tory minister who quit to join the new Independent Group said she believed people will leave if Johnson were to become prime minister. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/19/tory-mps-vow-to-quit-party-if-boris-johnson-becomes-leader 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-jr-says-euro-14159869 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico U.S. President Donald Trumps eldest son said the establishment is trying to silence the voices of those who voted for Brexit and elected his father. Writing in the Telegraph Trump Jr. said British Prime Minister Theresa May has promised on more than 50 separate occasions that Britain would leave the EU on March 29 2019. She needs to honour that promise. In a way you could say that Brexit and my fathers election are one and the same the people of both the UK and the US voted to uproot the establishment for the sake of individual freedom and independence only to see the establishment try to silence their voices and overturn their mandates. What were seeing now in Washington London and Brussels is the desperate lastgasp attempt by those previously in power to cling on to what was once theirs in the face of an overwhelming mandate for change. https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-jr-brexit-election-comparison/ 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Donald Trump Jr and the US national security adviser John Bolton spoke out over Brexit on Tuesday in what appeared to be a coordinated intervention by the White House into British domestic politics. Both the US presidents son and Bolton attacked British political leadership after Theresa May said she would ask the EU for a delay to the UKs exit from the European Union in line with parliaments wish. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/19/donald-trump-jr-may-should-have-taken-my-fathers-brexit-advice 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Theresa May tonight faced a fullscale Cabinet mutiny as furious ministers tore into her bid to beg the EU for more time to sort Brexit. There were fears Leave MPs could quit over her expected formal request to Brussels on Wednesday for an extension that could keep us in the EU until June at the earliest or even up to two years. One raging minister said after a spiky Cabinet meeting on the matter I couldnt back a long delay. Shed have to sack me. It came as Downing St finally admitted the Brexit shambles was a crisis. And Mrs May slipped closer to being toppled as fedup Leavers believe any lengthy delay would kill her fading authority. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-theresa-faces-full-scale-14160434 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC One minister who was in the room suggested the prime minister gave the impression that she would ask the EU for an extension to the end of June with the option of you guessed it a backstop option of a delay of up to two years. But another minister said they left the meeting with the view that there had in fact been no judgement really made at all. Another insider was boiling with frustration that in their view yet again Theresa May was failing to express what she actually wants to do clearly and allowing the Tory Party and of course Parliament and more importantly the rest of the country twist in the wind while she grinds on. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47633569 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The public would feel cheated if Brexit did not happen on time a former Welsh Secretary has warned. Clwyd West Tory MP David Jones said it would require an awful lot of political courage from Prime Minister Theresa May to delay the process. Mr Jones a Brexiteer has twice voted against Theresa Mays deal. Last week MPs voted to reject a nodeal Brexit in a nonbinding Commons vote. The UK is currently due to leave the EU on 29 March. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-47624506 19th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC A proBrexit activist has pleaded not guilty to harassing MP Anna Soubry outside Parliament. James Goddard 29 from Altrincham Greater Manchester is alleged to have called the MP a Nazi and a traitor. He denied three charges before the case at Westminster Magistrates Court was temporarily adjourned when people in the public gallery started shouting. Mr Goddard was remanded on bail until 19 July when he will face a twoday trial at the court in London. He was held by police following protests outside Parliament. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47622282 19th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Evening Standard US President Donald Trump sees huge opportunity for a trade deal if the Brexit impasse is solved according to his national security adviser John Bolton told Sky News that America is ready to go on a trade deal with a newly independent Britain. Trade minister Liam Fox would be welcome here any member of the government would be welcome here we can do these deals quickly. We are ready to go. We want to partner with a newly independent Britain he said. The president has been clear he wants a resolution to this issue that allows the United States and Britain to come to trade deals again. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-sees-huge-opportunity-for-trade-deal-with-brexit-britain-a4096131.html 19th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Sky News Donald Trumps national security adviser John Bolton has told Sky News that America is ready to go with a USUK trade deal. In a UK exclusive the former US ambassador to the UN said We are ready to go we are ready to go. Trade minister Liam Fox would be welcome here any member of the government would be welcome here we can do these deals quickly. We are ready to go. We want to partner with a newly independent Britain. https://news.sky.com/story/were-ready-for-a-us-uk-deal-trump-adviser-john-bolton-says-america-wants-to-partner-with-brexit-britain-11670385 19th Mar 2019