13th Feb 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=3 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

Financial Times With four consecutive quarters of declining business investment 2018 recording the lowest annual growth rate of the economy since the financial crisis of 2009 and a slump in output last December of 0.4 per cent the effects of Brexit were stamped all over the national accounts data published by the Office for National Statistics. Economists have been calculating the Brexit effect on the economy for more than a year and most agree that it has cost Britain between 1.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product. https://www.ft.com/content/deaaffba-2df3-11e9-ba00-0251022932c8 12th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

BBC Bank of England governor Mark Carney has urged MPs to solve the Brexit impasse in a speech warning of growing threats to the global economy. He said a nodeal Brexit would create an economic shock at a time when Chinas economy is slowing and trade tensions are rising. It is in the interests of everyone arguably everywhere that a Brexit solution is found he said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47209266 12th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

New Statesman One of the reasons Brexit can happen is that its economic costs are not immediately visible. It is experienced but not isolated as a Brexit effect. It can be estimated to a reasonable degree of accuracy by experts but the Brexit press keeps going on about the prereferendum Treasury forecast and the broadcast media prefers a quiet life to routinely quoting these expert assessments. Brexit is not about the economy only because Leave voters are being kept in the dark about the impact Brexit is already having. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2019/02/how-economic-cost-brexit-being-hidden-leave-voters 12th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

Daily Mail Out in the real world of business of balance sheets profits and jobs there is despair at the political impasse as the clock counts down to March 29 and the threat of the UK crashing out of the EU looms ever larger. Some are unconcerned. Jacob ReesMogg and his hardcore Brexit cronies in the European Research Group ERG relish the prospect of No Deal. They place their own ideological purity above the economy or the worries of business. If the economy is trashed in the process well its a price worth paying. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-6693769/Flirting-Armageddon-Thats-hard-Brexiteers-EU-doing.html 12th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

The Independent The governments new immigration plans will cost employers more than 1bn according to a new report. Global Future an independent think tank advocating an open and vibrant Britain arguges the flagship proposals will also impose an 80m barrier to EU students and the proposed settled status scheme postBrexit exactly mirrors the makings of last years Windrush scandal but on a much larger scale. The analysis goes on to suggest the proposed 30000 salary threshold for skilled workers would leave over 100000 unfilled jobs in social care and nursing and cause the total EU workforce to shrink by 2025 making it very difficult for businesses to survive and expand. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/immigration-white-paper-cost-employers-red-tape-visa-brexit-a8772956.html 12th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

BBC MPs have dismissed the chancellors forecast of a Brexit deal dividend of lower taxes and higher spending. The Treasury Committee said it was not credible to describe any resultant economic boost from a Brexit deal as a dividend. In their report on the 2018 Budget MPs said what was being talked about was avoiding something really very bad. They also said the governments aim of eliminating the budget deficit had no credibility and should be abandoned. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47209369 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The British car industry faces a pivotal moment during the next few years of potential Brexit upheaval as manufacturers decide where to invest for the next generation of vehicle production. Car manufacturers tend to invest in cycles of roughly seven years meaning companies that started production of new models more than three years ago face imminent decisions on where to invest next. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/11/uk-car-industry-twin-concerns-brexit-global-upheaval 11th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent The children of EU citizens risk losing their right to stay in the UK after Brexit because of flaws in the application system a senior MP has warned. The alarm has been raised over youngsters who in a repeat of the Windrush scandal do not apply for the new settled status perhaps because their parents believe them to be British. Campaigners giving evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Committee told MPs of a real concern that there are no safeguards in place. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-settled-status-application-children-eu-citizens-yvette-cooper-home-office-a8775216.html 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

LBC Englands Chief Medical Officer has told LBC she is concerned that a nodeal Brexit could mean the NHS cannot get the medicine it needs to save lives. Professor Dame Sally Davies confirmed they have been stockpiling key drugs but warned that these will only last for six weeks. Her comments reflect those of the Chief Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry who said we must avoid a nodeal Brexit at all costs. Earlier this year Mike Thompson told LBC Our message is when parliamentarians come to think about the options in front of them nodeal is something which they should avoid at all costs because of the challenges it will give everybody. https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/nick-ferrari/chief-medical-officer-medicine-no-deal-brexit/ 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

ITV News The CBI has warned a proposed post Brexit immigration policy could restrict Welsh businesses from employing overseas workers. Workers would have to earn 30000 before firms could employ them but the CBI says in many industries the average wage is less than that. One area of Wales which has attracted many foreign workers is Llanybydder in Carmarthenshire. Hundreds of Polish Romanian and other EU nationals call the village and the surrounding area home. But ITV Wales has been told many are already leaving the UK worried about the uncertainty surrounding Brexit. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2019-02-12/what-brexit-means-for-polish-workers-living-in-rural-wales/ 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Daily Mirror The NHS is stockpiling bodybags to cope with a no deal Brexit shortage ministers have admitted. A letter from health minister Stephen Hammond to a fellow MP giving assurances to one of his constituents confirmed the macabre course of action in a bid to offer reassurance that the NHS will continue to operate despite the disruption. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nhs-stockpiling-body-bags-cope-13985984 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Trains will be permitted to use the Channel Tunnel for three months if the UK leaves the EU without a deal under a proposed European Commission law. The planned legislation published on Tuesday will give the UK and France time to renegotiate the terms under which the railway service operates. The law must be agreed by the European Parliament and EU member states. Britain leaving the EU with no deal is the default position on 29 March unless a withdrawal agreement can be approved. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47215904 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News Deborah Haynes Sky Foreign Affairs Editor visits and discusses Brexit with people in four European countries and ask them how their view of the UK is changing https://news.sky.com/story/how-brexit-is-changing-the-way-europe-views-the-uk-11635397 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times The nearparalysis in the UK parliament over Britains exit from the EU has kept alive the risk that the country tumbles out of the bloc without a withdrawal agreement at the end of March. Regulators responsible for capital markets spanning both the EU and the UK have been forced to step up efforts to minimise disruption in the event of a hard Brexit. This month they have signed agreements on datasharing and surveillance for trading and clearing. However brokers banks and investors remain anxious for guidance on what will happen to some key areas of trading should Britain leave the EU on March 29 without an agreement. https://www.ft.com/content/816bac40-2935-11e9-a5ab-ff8ef2b976c7 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The Guardian interviews a number of small but successful businesses working with the continent to better understand the complications they are facing due to the trading uncertainty of the UK governments failure to secure a Withdrawal Agreement https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/11/that-sinking-feeling-brexit-threatens-german-bathroom-connection 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

iNews In the event of a nodeal Brexit the current mutual recognition of driving licences between the UK and EU is expected to end. That will mean that British and Northern Irish driving licences will no longer be valid in Europe without additional documentation. It means UK visitors will need additional permits and any British expats living in Europe will need to obtain a local driving licence. Until March 29 expats can apply to exchange their GB or NI licence for one in their country of residence. After March 29 they will have to sit the driving test in that country in order to obtain a valid licence. https://inews.co.uk/essentials/lifestyle/cars/car-news/driving-eu-after-brexit-europe-licence-international-permit-no-deal-france-spain/ 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News Bristol Port says it has put aside land to help other major UK ports in the event of disruption caused by a nodeal Brexit. The port stretching for miles between the Bristol Channel and the M5 covers nearly 2500 acres 800 acres assigned to socalled Temporary Storage Areas some of which it says can be made available. https://news.sky.com/story/bristol-port-hopes-to-profit-from-a-brexit-boost-if-no-deal-hits-other-uk-ports-11634971 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian This spring should see a government spending review to set the shape of public services into the 2020s. But this looks like becoming another casualty of Brexit with uncertainty around when the review will take place and what spending it will cover. How can you make a plan when the prime minister is making big spending commitments on the hoof and the economy and public revenues face meltdown https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/12/brexit-talking-public-spending-local-government-audit 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Food businesses could be facing extinction from the impact of a no deal Brexit the Food and Drink Federation has warned. CEO Ian Wright told Today a disruptive no deal Brexit is the biggest threat businesses have faced since 1939. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-47211931/no-deal-brexit-food-businesses-facing-extinction 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times Many fear that about 4000 jobs in the potteries would be at risk if the government reacts by unilaterally slashing import tariffs as Liam Fox the trade minister mooted last week and duties are imposed on ceramics exported to the EU. For the ceramics industry any deal including Mrs Mays that preserves something of existing trading relations would be preferable to that alternative. https://www.ft.com/content/6edd97b0-2de9-11e9-ba00-0251022932c8 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times The largest investor in British ports is ready to boost capacity quickly by 30 per cent at its Essex terminal to ease congestion at other sites should the country crash out of the EU without a trade deal. Sultan bin Sulayem chief executive of Dubais DP World said the stateowned ports operator would be able to raise volumes even further at London Gateway over time by bringing more cranes and other equipment to the fastgrowing facility. https://www.ft.com/content/d18a7fb8-2e11-11e9-8744-e7016697f225 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Supply and demand are pretty well balanced in the market right now. A hard Brexit and a border closing could trigger an important crisis over its initial years. We could have a couple of difficult years that could even mean we have to reduce our crop hectarage a bit to adapt our supply to the demand all over again. In other words the surplus resulting from the closed UK market would upset the balance drive prices down and force farmers to rethink their planting. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/12/spains-strawberry-fields-lie-under-a-brexit-shadow 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Warnings that Theresa Mays Brexit deal could create a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are based on a myth according to economic analysis. The deal that MPs have rejected would keep trade between Britain and Northern Ireland flowing smoothly with ports having to check on average just nine trucks a day the study found. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/11/may-brexit-deal-would-mean-checks-on-nine-trucks-a-day-study 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The Welsh Government said The Fisheries Bill is not the mechanism to take forward detailed negotiations between UK administrations or between the UK and the European Union on issues such as quota share. We continue to press the case around quota shares with the other UK administrations as part of separate discussions. The department for environment food and rural affairs said It is simply not true to say the Fisheries Bill doesnt deliver for the Welsh fishing industry. The bill creates more powers than ever before for the Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47204847 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Proposed immigration rules after Brexit risk causing significant harm to NI businesses the Confederation of British Industry CBI has said. The government is currently consulting on a minimum salary requirement of 30000 for foreign workers seeking fiveyear visas. The CBI said firms could face severe difficulties getting staff. Some sectors in NI are heavily dependant on workers from Europe such as food and drink manufacturing. The average private sector wage in Northern Ireland is 22000 and the CBI said 71 of all workers in the region earn below 30000. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47199037 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Farmers and food producers in Wales may suffer after Brexit if their lamb and beef is marketed under the union flag rather than with specific Welsh branding industry chiefs have said. The body that markets Welsh lamb and beef has expressed concern that in some parts of the world UK red meat is viewed negatively. It is keen to make sure that after Britain leaves the EU there will be a clear way to differentiate between Welsh red meat and the UKwide product. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/12/welsh-sheep-farmers-fear-post-brexit-british-branding 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent The Business Secretary Greg Clark warned last week that the real Brexit deadline for some exports is not 29 March but 15 February. This is because it takes six weeks to ship cars from the UK to Japan. If the UK crashes out of the European Union with no deal on 29 March it will also lose the coverage of the new JapanEU trade deal which means zero tariffs on cars sent between the two markets. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/brexit-no-deal-economic-impact-stockpiling-investment-finance-a8769806.html 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

CNN A disorderly Brexit would cause customs checks at the UK border and disrupt the finely tuned manufacturing system. The companies have warned of immediate damage to their supply chains while new trade barriers and higher costs after March 29 could eventually force manufacturers to rethink their business in the United Kingdom. The worst case scenario would be just blockades vehicles parked up because we dont know whats going on said David Zaccheo operations director at Alcaline. Its difficult for me to obviously comment on that because were not sure ourselves whats gonna happen. https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/11/business/brexit-manufacturers-supply-chains/index.html 12th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Isle of Wight News Delays to upgrading Island Line trains could be being caused by Brexit with the government refusing to approve plans until the end of the financial year. An improvement plan for the Islands oldest trains was put before the Department for Transport DfT at the end of May 2018 as part of the franchise agreement the DfT must approve the plans before South Western Railway SWR can invest in the new stock. https://onthewight.com/brexit-could-delay-upgrades-to-island-line-trains-swr-growing-increasingly-concerned/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

RTE.ie Given the complexity of the issue and the impasse on the Withdrawal Agreement in Westminster a second referendum is a political necessity. Furthermore a second referendum is a moral requirement. A second referendum would not mark the end of democracy in the UK as we know it and the prospect of anarchic violence postreferendum is nothing more than empty rhetoric and shameless fearmongering. https://www.rte.ie/eile/brainstorm/2019/0208/1029032-heres-the-moral-case-for-a-second-brexit-referendum/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Evening Standard Theresa May would win a working majority if a general election were held today but the Tories would only gain four seats a new poll has found. YouGov modelling for The Times which correctly predicted a hung parliament suggests that Jeremy Corbyns Labour would lose 12 seats and the Tories would gain four. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-news-latest-theresa-may-would-win-working-majority-in-snap-general-election-poll-finds-a4064001.html 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

CNBC I have seen many negotiations yes but this one is such a wide one that you cannot strike a deal by changing a number a percentage or adding a sentence. This is so wide that it took many months in fact two years to negotiate and there are so many different topics so thats why we needed something that encompasses the whole relationship and thats why a lastminute agreement cannot fix it all Luxembourg Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna said. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/12/luxembourg-finance-minister-on-possible-brexit-deal.html 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph it now looks as if the Prime Minister yet again wants to postpone a showdown and seek another fortnights grace in the hope of securing changes able to get her deal over the line. If by February 27 she cannot bring a renegotiated agreement before Parliament for a socalled meaningful vote then she promises to let the House debate an amendable motion that would allow all the various alternatives to be voted on. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2019/02/11/heading-no-deal-brexit-government-not-acting-now/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News A source told Sky News that Mr Van Rompuy was invited to attend the dinner because he is seen as an influencer with the potential capability to seek out a compromise between the two sides. Mr Van Rompuy was at the helm in the European Council throughout the Greek financial crisis which threatened the stability of the euro. Greece was finally bailed out in a compromise deal overseen by Mr Van Rompuy. https://news.sky.com/story/uk-calls-on-former-eu-chief-to-help-break-brexit-deadlock-11634946 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Theresa May has promised MPs a final decisive vote on her Brexit deal with the EU but not until she has secured changes to the Irish backstop clause. The PM said she needed some time to get the changes she believes MPs want. She promised to update MPs again on 26 February and if she had not got a new deal by then to give them a say on the next steps in nonbinding votes. Jeremy Corbyn accused her of running down the clock in an effort to blackmail MPs into backing her deal. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47206286 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

New Statesman May doesnt want to embrace membership of a customs union with the European Union because that would split her party. What she is aiming for instead is to pass a Brexit deal primarily with Conservative and DUP votes with Labour votes making up the difference. The problem is that the Prime Minister is fishing in a very very small pool. Just 20 Labour MPs have voted against the Labour whip to make Brexit harder than official party policy and a further nine have abstained on vital votes. Taken together that gets you to 29 votes including a number of sitting shadow ministers. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2019/02/there-s-big-problem-theresa-may-s-plan-pass-her-brexit-deal 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politico.EU Theresa May is still seeking legally binding changes to the Irish backstop and these can be achieved by reopening the Withdrawal Agreement she told MPs. Despite the EUs firm rejection of any changes to the legally binding draft agreement as communicated to May during meetings in Brussels last week the U.K. prime minister said talks are at a crucial stage. https://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-tells-mps-shes-still-seeking-backstop-changes/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News Addressing the House of Commons a fortnight after MPs voted for her to go back to Brussels and replace the controversial Irish border backstop Mrs May acknowledged that she would need some time to hold talks with the EU. Mrs May pledged to return to Parliament on February 26 if no deal has been secured before that time to report back on progress and trigger a further MPs vote the following day. https://www.itv.com/news/utv/2019-02-12/pm-calls-on-mps-to-hold-their-nerve-on-brexit/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The New European Blackford was angry that the prime minister had claimed an economic analysis of her Brexit proposals put forward had been published and the claim she wanted her Brexit deal done and dusted by hristmas despite pulling the vote. Blackford in his main response to Mays statement said Sometimes I think the prime minister must live in a parallel universe. Weve just heard from the prime minister that she wanted this concluded in December. Talk about rewriting history. It was the prime minister that denied us the right to have the meaningful vote and to try and rewrite history and she sits there laughing sometimes you should be honest with yourself never mind being honest with the people of the United Kingdom. He added May is lost in a Brexit fantasy adding Were 45 days from Scotland being dragged out of the European Union against our will 45 days from economic catastrophe. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/ian-blackford-calls-theresa-may-a-liar-in-the-house-of-commons-1-5888872 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

New Statesman According to recent polls 86 per cent of people surveyed in the Republic preferred a united Ireland to a hard border and 62 per cent of people in Northern Ireland believe that Brexit makes a united Ireland more likely. Reunification would mean Northern Ireland automatically remains in the EU. A united Ireland was always the solution that dare not speak its name says Margaret Urwin author of A State in Denial a book about the British governments collaboration with loyalist paramilitaries. But speaking about reunification used to lead to accusations of supporting the IRA. Its a breath of fresh air now people feel able to mention it she tells me. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/brexit/2019/02/united-ireland-now-looks-increasing-possibility 11th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Channel 4 News https://www.channel4.com/news/by/gary-gibbon/blogs/brexit-cooper-is-reborn-and-theresa-hands-out-sweets 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News Two proposals were published after the prime minister urged MPs to give her more time to renegotiate an agreement with Brussels but faced claims she is running down the clock. Jeremy Corbyn is leading the Labour frontbench bid to force a vote on the EU divorce deal itself or let MPs come up with their own plans to change the course of Brexit. From the backbenches Yvette Cooper has teamed up with Labour colleagues and Tory rebels to try to give MPs a separate vote a fortnight before Brexit day on 29 March. https://news.sky.com/story/mps-reveal-two-new-plans-to-stop-no-deal-brexit-11635807 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Gibraltar Chronicle http://chronicle.gi/2019/02/westminster-prevent-may-running-brexit-clock-says-starmer/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Irish Times The British Labour Partys Brexit spokesman has warned that Theresa May is running down the clock towards Brexit and restated his partys promise to put a second referendum on the table. Im very concerned now with 46 days to go that the prime minister appears to be just running down the clock he told journalists at the headquarters of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Mindful as I am that the next EU summit is the 21st of March and if shes trying through chunks of two weeks to run the clock down then I think parliament has to step in with a hard stop and say were not going to accept that. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/theresa-may-running-down-the-clock-on-brexit-starmer-says-1.3789999 11th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/12/theresa-mays-brexit-tactic-my-way-or-a-long-delay 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/02/12/theresa-mays-chief-brexit-negotiator-warned-mps-face-choice/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The National https://www.thenational.scot/news/17427665.uks-chief-brexit-negotiator-choice-is-really-mays-deal-or-an-extension/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News Olly Robbins said that in his view he expects the choice for MPs to be either backing Mays deal or extending talks with the EU. He expects MPs in March to be presented with backing a reworked Brexit deal or a potentially significant delay to Brexit he told colleagues last night. The issue is whether Brussels is clear on the terms of extension he was overheard saying. In the end they will probably just give us an extension. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-02-12/exclusive-uk-chief-brexit-negotiator-olly-robbins-warns-mps-the-choice-is-mays-deal-or-extension/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-brexit-napoleon-french-revolution-parallels/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The politicians pushing Brexit should be careful not follow in the footsteps of revolutionary leaders who ended up on the guillotine the European Parliaments Brexit chief has said. At a press conference in Strasbourg Guy Verhofstadt compared Boris Johnson and Jacob ReesMogg to Georges Danton and Maximilien Robespierre leading figures in the French revolution who were ultimately executed by their former comrades. He said it was important to remind the senior Conservatives that their historical counterparts had ended up losing their heads. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-parliament-brexiteers-guillotine-guy-verhofstadt-jacob-rees-mogg-erg-a8775281.html 12th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian AntiBrexit campaigners have turned their attention to Jeremy Corbyn by erecting a largely blank billboard in the Labour leaders constituency that invites people to write slogans challenging his position. However on Tuesday morning the Corbyn billboard complete with stepladder appeared opposite Arsenals Emirates stadium in north London. Young remainers quickly got to work filling it in with slogans demanding another referendum on Brexit. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/12/brexit-billboard-graffiti-jeremy-corbyn-labour 12th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Herald Scotland A failed UKIP candidate who has appeared in the BBCs Question Time audience four times has claimed he was invited on to the show. Speaking to The Times he claimed that he was invited by the shows producer to appear in the unionistheavy audience in Motherwell last week in part to make up a shortage of conservative speakers. Audience members usually go through a process of applying to be on the show while answering key questions about political affiliations voting history and if they have been on the programme before https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17425818.failed-ukip-candidate-claims-he-was-personally-invited-on-to-bbc-question-time/ 12th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror I wanted this sorted before Christmas smirked the Prime Minister who delayed a Brexit vote by an entire month as she urged MPs to hold our nerve with just 45 days to go Commons erupts in anger as she tries to blame them for the delay https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-mps-erupt-fury-theresa-13988618 12th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Jeremy Corbyn vowed to defeat the European Union after accusing it of supressing the British economy in a tubthumping rally speech before he became party leader. In his speech he calls the EU a militaristic Frankenstein https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-jeremy-corbyn-video-eu-defeat-labour-party-speech-world-bankers-a8774426.html 12th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Reuters British Prime Minster Theresa May told business leaders on Tuesday that extending the Article 50 process under which the UK is meant to leave the European Union on March 29 would serve no purpose the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. May said delaying Britains departure from the EU would bring no end to Brexit uncertainty or push parliament any closer to approving a withdrawal agreement the FT report said citing people who took part in a phone call with the prime minister. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-article50/brexit-extending-article-50-would-serve-no-purpose-ft-quotes-pm-may-idUKKCN1Q12J4?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=domesticNews 12th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Independent Overcoming the many contradictions in what is no better than a wishlist of headings for a future EUUK partnership will take many years. The free trade agreement between Canada and the EU was first proposed 22 years before it was signed and it took seven years to negotiate. It does not cover services or the rights of Canadians to live freely in Europe or EU citizens to work or retire in Canada. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-political-declaration-single-market-customs-union-may-a8773921.html 12th Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Express.co.uk According to a new report populist parties across Europe are set to make massive gains in Mays European Parliamentary elections and some feel they may try to sabotage a postBrexit trade deal between the bloc and the UK. The ECFR warns many parties are planning to destroy the European project from within and could also vote down any future UKEU trade deal after Brexit https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1086327/brexit-latest-populist-parties-eu-elections-far-right-lega-fidesz-orban 12th Feb 2019

EU Funding Benefits

Press and Journal Northern Scotland would have benefited from more than 320 million in European Union funding over the next eight years had the UK not voted Leave new analysis has revealed. In all the UK would have been entitled to approximately 13 billion euros in regional development funding for the 20212027 period had it remained in the EU the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions CPMR think tank has estimated. A regional breakdown of the figures has revealed that the Highlands and Islands region would have received just over 160 million while the northeast and east would have benefited from more than 169 million. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/north-east/1673246/northern-scotland-will-lose-320-million-in-eu-funding-post-brexit/ 12th Feb 2019