21st Mar 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=29 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

Financial Times https://www.ft.com/content/016171be-4a74-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 20th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Linkedin The finance industry is taking roughly 1 trillion in assets out of the UK as a result of Brexit uncertainty up by 200 billion from an estimate in January according to data from EY. That comes as firms are triggering their contingency plans just days before the UKs currently scheduled departure from the EU on March 29. Roughly 7000 finance jobs are expected to move outside the UK with Frankfurt Paris and Dublin the most popular destinations EY says. https://www.linkedin.com/feed/news/1tn-in-assets-to-brexodus-ey-4980810/ 20th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times According to the latest survey by consultants EY financial services groups have triggered contingency plans that will move 1tn of assets and 7000 jobs out of the UK to Europe. Never mind that there are still eight whole days to go before Britain leaves the EU with no withdrawal deal and no agreement on future trade in goods and services. https://www.ft.com/content/371c63ba-4b08-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 20th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Contingency plans published last week to eliminate most tariffs but impose a 10 per cent duty on imports of cars and some animal products drew a fierce reaction from industries that would face fiercer international competition and consumer groups that say some prices would rise sharply. However OBR officials said the overall impact on the economy would be limited and that the real world impact of tariffs would depend on how they were implemented and enforced and how people changed their behaviour in response. Robert Chote the OBR chairman told MPs that the dominant effect would come from the tariffs imposed on cars but added that there might be quite considerable compliance challenges. Given different rates for finished and unfinished vehicles he added one would need to ask if all that was needed...would be to stick on a wing mirror. Mr Bean said that tariffs would not necessarily affect domestic prices because foreign producers might absorb the impact and that because the plans published last week were quite tightly targeted there might be more scope to redefine a product so it falls into a different bucket. https://www.ft.com/content/fd76036e-4a5d-11e9-bbc9-6917dce3dc62 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/brexit-stockpile-food-loan-advert-banned-peachy-asa-a8831491.html 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC A financial services company has been ordered not to reuse an advert in which it tried to persuade people to take out a loan in case they wanted to stockpile food because of Brexit. Cash On Go trading as Peachy.co.uk sent out an email saying its a good idea to have a little stockpile ready. The Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint from a reader who said the advert was irresponsible. Peachy said it referred to Brexit lightheartedly and to make it topical. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47629809 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Money Saving Expert The UK Government has proposed to EU member states that the European Health Insurance Card arrangement should stay the same until the end of 2020 even if we leave the European Union with no deal but says protections may not be in place on the day we leave. In a written statement to Parliament health minister Stephen Hammond wants to guarantee that the reciprocal healthcare rights which include the use of the EHIC will remain until the end of 2020 if a nodeal Brexit occurs. If theres a deal the rights will remain until at least the end of 2020. But Hammond adds that whilst steps have been taken to ensure this does occur EHICs may no longer be valid in a no deal scenario. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2019/03/uk-proposes-keeping-the-ehic-even-if-there-s-a-no-deal-brexit---/ 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Britains manufacturers are in despair at the failure of politicians to end the Brexit impasse according to the CBI which reported a drop in output in March as businesses cut back production. Export order books increased among the 358 manufacturers in the survey supported by the low level of sterling but this was cancelled out by a decline in domestic demand to leave the industry in a weakened position ahead of a decision in parliament on Brexit. The total orders balance fell back to 1 in March after picking up to 6 in February from a threemonth low of 1 in January the CBI said. Prospects for the industry were likely to worsen following the recent slowing in the global economy which was expected to undermine the demand from foreign buyers for UK manufactured goods. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/20/uk-manufacturers-in-despair-at-brexit-impasse-says-cbi 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The government has been described as sick and uncaring by an organisation representing more than 10000 British nationals in Europe over NHS healthcare plans for pensioners in a nodeal Brexit scenario. British nationals who have retired to EU countries have reacted with fury to what they describe as an insulting and offensive offer by the government to cover healthcare costs for up to one year if they had applied for or are undergoing treatment before exit day. This is in contrast to the current reciprocal arrangement whereby the NHS reimburses EU member states for treatment of those who have paid into the UK national insurance system for a qualifying number of years. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/20/eu-retirees-say-nhs-plans-under-no-deal-brexit-are-uncaring 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Hospitals across England are experiencing medicine shortages due to stockpiling and price pressure as the Brexit deadline approaches NHS Providers has told BBC Newsnight. The trade association warned some trusts had seen shortages of up to 160 different drugs in the past six weeks. This was compared with just 25 to 30 drugs in normal times it said. The Department of Health said there was no evidence the small number of supply issues were related to Brexit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47646193?ocid=socialflow_twitter&ampns_source=twitter&ampns_mchannel=social&ampns_campaign=bbcnews 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Dieppe on the Normandy coast is tied to Sussex by centuries of sea crossings. Nowadays the ferry from Newhaven is a gateway to France carrying up to 40 lorries and 600 passengers two or three times a day in each direction. As the UK makes preparations for a possible nodeal exit from the EU how are people in Dieppe responding https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-sussex-47558316 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC A council is planning to create a temporary lorry park to help Nissan deal with any postBrexit port delays. Sunderland City Council is planning a sixmonth lease at Deptford Terrace to create a waiting area for lorries bound for the Washington factory. It said there was already a problem with lorries parking around the area awaiting a delivery slot. The authority estimates delays at ports could see a twofold increase in the number of waiting lorries. In an email sent to councillors by the Chief Officers Group council bosses said Were there to be delays at ports nationally as a result of a No Deal EU Exit then supply lorries would set off earlier to meet their delivery deadlines and overnight parking could increase greatly. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-47637916 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit means the rights of UK citizens living in EU countries are still to be guaranteed. Instead of waiting to see whats in store an increasing number of British people abroad are applying for citizenship in the European country where they live and work. Germany was the place that welcomed most new citizens from the UK in the year following the referendum. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-47633279/brexit-the-choice-facing-british-citizens-living-in-germany 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Curator at British Museum says date of exhibition featuring artwork is pure serendipity having conceived the exhibition five years ago the timing of its opening according to its curator Giulia Bartrum is pure serendipity certainly at the moment when we are all worrying about bloody Brexit. But thats actually sheer coincidence. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/mar/20/the-scream-edvard-munch-london-show-not-intentionally-timed-with-brexit 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Sun Shoppers could pay more for items such as steak and cheese cars and clothing as a result of a no deal Brexit but it will also make hundreds of products cheaper. Usually theres no tax known as a tariff to pay on goods being imported into the UK from the EU. But if a trade deal with the EU isnt agreed a tax on one in 10 European Union imports to the UK will be introduced. And theres a fear that these higher taxes could be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices. The temporary tariff regime would last for the first 12 months after a no deal Brexit while the Government comes up with a permanent solution. Some observers see the move as a threat to the EU from Theresa May to convince them to give Britain a better Brexit deal or see taxes slapped on their exports. https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/8627783/what-no-deal-brexit-tariffs-mean-and-how-they-could-push-up-cost-of-imported-volkswagen-cars-steak-and-cheese/ 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Express.co.uk https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1102597/Brexit-news-latest-theresa-may-Michel-Barnier-article-50-delay-Leave-EU 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Record Theresa May has blamed MPs for failing to implement the result of the 2016 EU referendum and told voters who want Brexit to be over I am on your side. In a televised address from Downing Street May said that it was a matter of great personal regret for her to have to ask for a threemonth delay to Britains withdrawal from the EU which was due to take place on March 29. She will go to Brussels on Thursday to make a formal request to the other 27 EU leaders for an extension to the twoyear Article 50 negotiation process. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/theresa-mays-address-nation-sees-14165403 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politico Theresa May blamed MPs for her request to delay Brexit for three months warning the public is fast losing patience with the political games in Westminster. In a rare address to the nation Wednesday night from inside No. 10 Downing Street the U.K. prime minister said her application for an extension to the Article 50 negotiating period was a matter of great personal regret but is necessary to deliver Brexit. The short fiveminute address came after another day of high drama in Westminster in which she hinted she would quit rather than delay Brexit any further. https://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-blames-mps-for-brexit-delay/ 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Theresa May has told the public she is on their side laying the blame for the delay to Brexit squarely with MPs. Speaking from Downing Street the prime minister said people were tired of infighting and political games and it was high time politicians made a decision on the next steps. Earlier Mrs May wrote to EU Council President Donald Tusk requesting to delay Brexit until 30 June. She said the postponement was a matter of great personal regret. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47647515 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times Her own leadership is now over. Unable to control the House unable to control her cabinet she lingers in office until her party gets round to removing her. It is hard to imagine her being prime minister long after this stage of Brexit is settled. If she is forced into the humiliation of going to Brussels on the eve of Brexit to beg for the long extension she has expressly ruled out she is likely to resign soon after. As with all negotiations with the EU nothing is final until it is irreversible. It may be that her deal will be defeated and a long delay then offered by the EU but its leaders are conspiring with Mrs May to present next week as a defining moment. It is a very big gamble. https://www.ft.com/content/48e9f020-4b40-11e9-bbc9-6917dce3dc62 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The EU will only agree to a short delay to Brexit if MPs approve the current withdrawal agreement next week Theresa May has been told. EU Council President Donald Tusk said an extension requested by the prime minister on Wednesday was possible. Mrs May has written to Mr Tusk requesting a Brexit delay to 30 June saying she needed more time to get her deal agreed by MPs and passed into law. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47636011 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Scotsman The EU has warned Theresa May the UK will not be granted a Brexit delay unless it has a purpose as Downing Street admitted that withdrawal from the EU had descended into crisis. Mr Barniers comments put the Prime Minister on notice that she has to shape a route ahead or no approval will be forthcoming https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/general-election/eu-demands-conditions-if-brexit-delay-to-be-granted-1-4892279 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The president of the European Council has said a short delay to Brexit will be possible but it will be conditional on the House of Commons backing the withdrawal agreement. He says that although Brexit fatigue is increasingly visible and justified the parties should not give up seeking a positive solution until the last minute. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/47645763/donald-tusk-extension-possible-but-conditional-on-positive-brexit-deal-vote 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters UK In a note on the Brexit process reviewed by the Commission at its weekly meeting on Wednesday officials wrote that leaders meeting May at a summit on Thursday faced a binary choice of a short delay of Brexit from March 29 to before May 23 or a long delay to at least the end of this year with Britain obliged to hold an election on May 23 for European Parliament lawmakers. Any extension offered to the United Kingdom should either last until 23 May 2019 or should be significantly longer and require European elections the document said. This is the only way of protecting the functioning of the EU institutions and their ability to take decisions. EU states which were due to receive additional legislative seats after Brexit would need to know by mid to late April if they would be denied those seats because Britain was staying. The note also said that in any extended membership Britain should in a spirit of loyal cooperation commit to constructive abstention on key issues such as the EUs longterm budget and filling top EU posts after the May election. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-commission/eu-commission-resists-mays-june-30-brexit-date-document-idUKKCN1R11ES 20th 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

Express.co.uk Labour has thrown its weight behind an emergency debate being held on Brexit in order to prevent Prime Minister Theresa May seeking a short extension of Brexit. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell is supporting the application put forward earlier by Labour Wirral South MP Alison McGovern. Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer has also showed his support tweeting What the Government should be doing is showing real leadership making good on their commitment to break the deadlock and secure an extension with a genuine purpose. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1102710/Brexit-SO24-what-is-SO24-standing-order-emergency-debate-Labour-Party-John-McDonnell 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters UK An opposition Labour lawmaker requested on Wednesday an emergency debate in parliament on Brexit seeking to challenge Prime Minister Theresa Mays pursuit of a short delay to Britains departure from the European Union her office said. The office of Alison McGovern the Labour lawmaker said the socalled SO24 emergency debate motion would be a very short statement on Brexit and would be aimed at securing a debate in parliament. It is not clear if that would trigger a vote. It is up to parliaments speaker to decide whether to press ahead with the move after which McGovern would make a three minute speech on the case for such a debate and then parliament would have to agree that the debate should take place. The speaker who blindsided the government earlier this week by saying May could not ask parliament to vote on her deal for a third time unless it was substantially different could allow lawmakers to propose changes to what will be neutral statement. That might open the way for parliament to debate and vote on different options for the way forward on Brexit. So far it is not clear whether this will happen. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-emergencydebate/uk-labour-lawmaker-requests-emergency-debate-on-brexit-idUKKCN1R113S 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times MPs will on Monday make a fresh effort to seize control of the Brexit process from Theresa May by seeking to ensure the House of Commons votes on alternatives to the prime ministers exit package. Yvette Cooper a former Labour minister leading efforts in parliament to try to prevent a nodeal Brexit made a passionate appeal on Wednesday to Mrs May in the Commons to commit to socalled indicative votes by MPs on different Brexit options. Mrs May appeared to resist the idea saying MPs had already had multiple chances to vote on Brexit alternatives. https://www.ft.com/content/6ed9a360-4b2d-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

iNews A Tory MP has described the possibility that a third meaningful vote on Theresa Mays Brexit deal could be held in the same week the UK is due to leave the EU as absolutely jawdropping. Former minister Nicky Morgan was responding to suggestions the Government could hold a vote on the 28 March the eve of Brexit despite Mrs May suffering two heavy defeats on the deal in recent months. According to Channel 4 News the Government could kick off next week with a statement from the Prime Minister before putting a paving motion to a vote that would overrule the Speaker John Bercow after he ruled out MPs voting a third time on the same deal unless it was substantially different. https://inews.co.uk/news/brexit/brexit-vote-meaningful-third-delay-theresa-may-nicky-morgan/ 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Labours divisions on Brexit erupted in the Senedd on Tuesday after the first minister said a new referendum would inevitably be divisive and may not be decisive. Mark Drakeford said a new poll would not be straightforward. The comments prompted a robust response from Alun Davies Blaenau Gwent Labour AM and a Peoples Vote campaigner who said he regretted Mr Drakefords tone. Mr Drakeford told him it is not a difficulty free option. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-47624515 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Express.co.uk Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told Cabinet ministers in a letter the plan will be implemented on March 25 unless a new exit date is agreed. Operation Yellowhammer is the UK Treasurys contingency plan for no deal exit from the bloc. The plan drafts what would happen for factors such as money citizens trade and customs. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1102542/Brexit-news-latest-theresa-may-no-deal-eu-uk-stephen-barclay-operation-yellowhammer 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Scotsman The UK government has been accused of shortchanging and ripping off Scotland as the country prepares to leave the European Union. Scotlands finance secretary Derek Mackay said that the country had been sold out during the Brexit process while other parts of the UK were bought off with bungs https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/derek-mackay-claims-scotland-sold-out-by-brexit-process-1-4892241 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC A senior member of the Welsh Government has told BBC Wales that another referendum should be held on Brexit. The stance of the Health Minister Vaughan Gething puts him at odds with the First Minister Mark Drakeford. On Tuesday Mr Drakeford said a new referendum would inevitably be divisive and may not be decisive. But Mr Gething said he wanted the people to have that choice between the reality of leaving....and the potential to think again. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47638809 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian A meaningful pause would also allow time to reflect on whether this form of Brexit is what the country wants. This is about Mrs May giving back control both to parliament and to the people. The Guardian has already made it clear that if required this country should have a debate on Europe. Taking part in European parliamentary elections would be a good place to start. The advocate general at the European court of justice has also pointed out that such elections would not represent an insuperable obstacle to extending article 50. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/19/the-guardian-view-on-the-brexit-crisis-take-back-control-by-giving-it-up 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent Nearly twothirds of people would vote to remain in the EU rather than for Theresa Mays deal if a referendum offering those options were called a snap poll by YouGov has found. Sixtyone per cent of the population would vote to remain while 39 per cent would opt for the existing deal. However if people were asked in a public vote whether they would prefer to remain in the EU or leave with no deal in place Remain would still win though by the smaller margin of 5743 per cent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-second-referendum-deal-opinion-poll-theresa-may-a8831241.html 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Kent county council has activated nodeal plans to keep its roads hospitals and schools open as the government considers pulling the trigger on national contingency measures involving 30 central departments and 5000 staff. With the country placed on a knifeedge by the Theresa Mays latest Brexit crisis the government is preparing for any outcome with a decision on Monday on whether to roll out the national Operation Yellowhammer contingencies for food medicine and banking. Some measures have already swung into place including Operation Fennels traffic management in Kent. The Europe minister Alan Duncan has also said the Foreign Office staff deployed to its Brexit nerve centre were working to help UK citizens in the EU in the event they get caught up in a Brexit mess. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/20/uks-emergency-plans-for-no-deal-brexit-begin-to-be-put-into-action?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Jeremy Corbyn walked out on a crucial meeting with party leaders because former Labour MP Chuka Umunna was invited. The Labour leader was reported to have said he was leaving because Mr Umunna now an Independent Group MP is not a real party leader. A Labour spokesperson said It was not the meeting that had been agreed and the terms were broken. Downing Street is in such chaos that they were unable to manage their own proposed meeting. We are in discussions with Number 10 about holding the bilateral meeting with the PM that Jeremy proposed at PMQs . https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-brexit-jeremy-corbyn-walks-14164974?utm_source=twitter.com&amputm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=sharebar 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent May is expected to ask for a delay of up to three months. She originally wanted the option of a longer extension but has backed down after a revolt by cabinet Brexiteers amid threats of resignations and growing speculation that she could be forced out. A weak prime minister is being buffeted in whichever direction the gale blows two weeks ago a threat to resign by four proEuropean ministers forced her to rule out a nodeal exit this month. Now Eurosceptics led by Andrea Leadsom who want a managed nodeal have pushed May in the other direction. The cliff edge will move from March to June. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-delay-article-50-theresa-may-erg-andrea-leadsom-eu-a8831361.html 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Dominic Grieve who has known May since they were at Oxford University together spoke for many in his party when he gave a stinging speech in the emergency Brexit debate saying he had never felt more ashamed to be a member of the Conservative party. He said the prime minister was zigzagging all over the place rather than standing up for what the national interest must be and if the government did not get a grip we will spiral down into oblivion and the worst thing is we will deserve it. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/20/prime-minister-faces-increasing-pressure-to-quit- 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Huffington Post Theresa May has triggered a major backlash from MPs after she blamed them for the Brexit crisis. MPs from across the political spectrum and both Remain and Leave supporters condemned the Prime Ministers arrogant toxic and irresponsible late night address to the nation from inside Downing Street. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/theresa-may-mps_uk_5c92b3b4e4b0d952b22304c7?guccounter=1&ampguce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvL2hGUHpCQzFTQWo&ampguce_referrer_sig=AQAAAICYlEYMwsjh-QRLssPhzej3OcueesxccP0BwpP95ZawO8rhKIU7HXhqGzY362iKTfPz4LmOcnQW9TBZkpH77bdMB4ogvo3okob7CnpVVzHqFHb0d8rXO-apzZ1s3-MLTzJFQiWJ21reP8W4TWBt44Uv8xi8L9fsQR1JOctPCMKD 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Evening Standard More than 300000 people have signed a petition demanding that Article 50 is revoked as Theresa May was forced to beg EU leaders for a delay to Brexit. An influx of people jumped to sign it on a night of political chaos as the Prime Minister turned on MPs as she delivered an impassioned speech to the nation on Wednesday night. The 100000signature threshold for the petition to be debated in Parliament was quickly surpassed and the phrase revoke Article 50 became a global trend on Twitter. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/revoke-article-50-petition-300000-people-demand-uk-remains-in-eu-after-theresa-may-begs-for-brexit-a4097161.html 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Theresa May has pitched herself tonight against Parliament on the side of the people. Its true that No 10 believes strongly that swathes of the population have simply had enough of Brexit. The way it drowns out other public concerns the way its processes contradictions and clamour have wrapped their way around the normal workings of Westminster remote at the best of times and downright bizarre at the worst. But when it is MPs the prime minister needs to get on side if she is to have a real chance of finally getting her deal through next week third time extremely lucky the choice of message was not without risk. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47647611 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

EDP 24 A Norfolk MP has said it is an outrage that parliament has been denied the opportunity to take control of Brexit as the prime minister rounded on representatives in a televised statement. But North Norfolk Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb said MPs had not been given the chance to have a say. He said I think theres some self delusion here she keeps talking about MPs are good at saying what they dont want but not good at saying what they do want. But he said MPs had not been given the chance to do so. https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/norfolk-mps-react-to-theresa-may-s-brexit-statement-1-5950054 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Theresa May has set the scene to take her final shot at pushing her troubled Brexit deal through parliament next week after a day which left her strategy and her political career teetering on the edge of ruin. In a statement from Downing Street the prime minister blamed MPs in the House of Commons for naval gazing and said they should just get on with it and pass her agreement https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-statement-brexit-mps-deal-eu-leave-a8832711.html 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

New Statesman Brexiteers are stopping Brexit because they believe in the fantasy of Global Britain The delusion that the UK can strike valuable trade deals with the rest of the world has driven Leavers to repeatedly reject Theresa Mays deal. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2019/03/brexiteers-are-stopping-brexit-because-they-believe-fantasy-global-britain 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Irish Times The decision to resort to a referendum to decide on the UKs EU membership was always going to lead to difficulties. The bitter divisions it opened up undermined two key features of the UKs constitution. First it undermined the organising principle of the British constitution the idea of parliamentary sovereignty which has traditionally meant that parliament is the ultimate decisionmaker on all matters. The referendum moved parliament from its role of taking decisions to the role of implementing the electorates decision to leave the EU no matter how vague and confused the instruction given by voters. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/brexit-may-have-just-killed-the-british-constitution-1.3831676 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Stop Make it stop says Labours Stella Creasy after slamming her head after Conservative Nadhim Zahawis Brexit comments on Politics Live. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47644969/brexit-stella-creasy-slams-head-on-desk 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The government has been described as sick and uncaring by an organisation representing more than 10000 British nationals in Europe over NHS healthcare plans for pensioners in a nodeal Brexit scenario. British nationals who have retired to EU countries have reacted with fury to what they describe as an insulting and offensive offer by the government to cover healthcare costs for up to one year if they had applied for or are undergoing treatment before exit day. This is in contrast to the current reciprocal arrangement whereby the NHS reimburses EU member states for treatment of those who have paid into the UK national insurance system for a qualifying number of years. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/20/eu-retirees-say-nhs-plans-under-no-deal-brexit-are-uncaring 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Britains reputation is theres no denying it much diminished judged Pascal Lamy one of Frances most senior public officials a former presidential adviser European commissioner and World Trade Organization head. Some British politicians are on another planet Lamy said incapable of seeing that Brexit is the infinitely complex diplomatic and legal equivalent of trying to take the eggs out of an omelette. Even today they spout the most monstrous nonsense. Many have still not landed in a place one could call reality. The cognitive dissonance is remarkable. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/20/pathetic-incoherent-chaotic-europes-verdict-on-brexit-shambles 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European Sources have told the Press Association that France Spain Belgium and maybe Italy stand prepared to reject an extension without evidence parliament is now ready to accept a deal and the deadlock can be broken. Some member states worry there is no point to an extension as even after 1000 days of negotiation Mays deal keeps being rejected and the EU cannot move any further towards the UK. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/france-spain-and-belgium-could-veto-brexit-extension-1-5949758 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times One negotiator says Brussels has zero trust in Theresa May and her government. This is a circus that is beyond comprehension said one senior EU diplomat working on Brexit. Another senior Brussels figure involved in talks likened it to dealing with a failed state. The 585page draft exit treaty UK prime minister Theresa May has agreed with the bloc looks comatose stuck in ratification stalemate in the House of Commons. https://www.ft.com/content/80bcdb6a-4b19-11e9-bbc9-6917dce3dc62 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Jeremy Corbyn walked out on a crucial meeting with party leaders because former Labour MP Chuka Umunna was invited. The Labour leader was reported to have said he was leaving because Mr Umunna now an Independent Group MP is not a real party leader. A Labour spokesperson said It was not the meeting that had been agreed and the terms were broken. Downing Street is in such chaos that they were unable to manage their own proposed meeting. We are in discussions with Number 10 about holding the bilateral meeting with the PM that Jeremy proposed at PMQs . https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-brexit-jeremy-corbyn-walks-14164974?utm_source=twitter.com&amputm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=sharebar 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Evening Standard Jeremy Corbyn refused to take part in crucial Brexit talks between opposition parties and Theresa May because breakaway Independent Group MPs were present Lib Dem leader Vince Cable said. The Labour leader is reported to have left at the start of the meeting because TIG MP Chuka Umunna who defected from Labour was present and allegedly said he is not a real party leader. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince described it as a very strange way to behave in a moment of national crisis. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-walked-out-of-brexit-meeting-with-theresa-may-and-opposition-leaders-because-a4097101.html 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian For more than two years the prime minister has spoken Maybot a very primitive computer language only capable of basic sentences that are more or less grammatical but still almost totally devoid of meaning. Since she became Leader in Name Only Lino hard to nail down but easy to walk over she cant even manage that. Her binary messages into deep space are now just a long series of random noughts. She literally has nothing to offer. More worrying still her already limited random access memory has totally failed. She now has no recollection of anything she said just days earlier. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/20/the-maybots-binary-messages-have-become-just-a-series-of-noughts 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Matt Hancock has faced criticism from experts after claiming a controversial genetic test for cancer could have saved his life. The health secretary was accused of showing an astonishing level of ignorance about the use of such tests which he said could change the way the NHS works. Experts are largely sceptical about his demand to roll out genetic testing more widely as they say it is premature and could place undue pressure on an already strained service. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/matt-hancock-genetic-test-prostate-cancer-nhs-genomics-a8832081.html 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Theresa May has put no deal firmly back on the table in flagrant defiance of parliament and the dictates of responsible government. Her political capital is all spent. She has no allies at home or abroad. Her only leverage in parliament comes from the fear that her appalling management of the country provokes the prospect that she is incompetent enough to allow the worst to happen. She long ago lost sight of diplomacy and strategy. Then she shed authority. Now she has abandoned responsibility completing the journey from bad prime minister to rogue prime minister. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/20/the-guardian-view-on-may-and-brexit-a-prime-minister-gone-rogue 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News On a day in which she launched a desperate eleventhhour bid to persuade MPs to vote for her Brexit deal Theresa May managed to do both charm and offensive on her own. She spent hours attempting to charm MPs of all parties in a series of meetings in her Commons office. Then she went on TV and was offensive to MPs insulting them and questioning their motives. Earlier in Prime Ministers Questions she accused the House of Commons of contemplating its navel and said it had indulged itself on Europe for too long. https://news.sky.com/story/theresa-may-manages-to-be-both-charming-and-offensive-11671382 20th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European Organisers of the March To Leave say their proBrexit protest is completely successful despite photographs appearing to show dwindling numbers on their twoweek journey from Sunderland to London. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/leave-means-leave-nigel-farage-march-sunderland-to-london-1-5945940 20th Mar 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Express.co.uk BREXITEER business tycoon Richard Tice has blasted the European Union for being a failing model insisting that only by leaving can the UK thrive. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1102359/brexit-news-theresa-may-brexit-delay-richard-tice-brexit-march-leave-means-leave-wto-video 20th Mar 2019