22nd Mar 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=30 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

Politico.eu Europeans are facing billions of euros in income losses due to Brexit a study by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung has found. A hard Brexit would hit citizens in both the EU and the United Kingdom particularly hard resulting in 57.3 billion in income losses every year in the U.K. and 40.4 billion in the EUs remaining 27 member states. Germany alone would see annual income losses of 9.5 billion. France and Italy wont escape unscathed either The study expects 8 billion and 6 billion in annual income losses respectively for the two countries making them the biggest losers after the U.K. and Germany. Yet a soft Brexit would cost Europe dearly too although considerably less than a hard Brexit. In the U.K. income losses in case of a soft Brexit would amount to 32 billion a year while the remaining EU countries would incur annual income losses of around 22 billion. https://www.politico.eu/article/soft-or-hard-brexit-will-cost-uk-and-eu-billions-of-euros-study/ 21st Mar 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian Britains humiliation over its Brexit negotiations has been caused by a fundamental inability to resolve a conflict between the desire to leave Europe politically but to remain economically Pascal Lamy the former head of the World Trade Organization has said. He also said he did not think it feasible for the UK to leave the EU without an agreement since it would be so costly. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/21/hard-brexit-would-be-costly-chaos-says-former-head-of-wto 21st Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Dealmaking in the UK by some of the largest sovereign wealth funds has plummeted because of the growing uncertainty around Brexit a report from IE Business School in Madrid has revealed. Statebacked funds including Singapores GIC and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board invested a total of 21bn in the UK in 2017 compared with only 1.8bn last year said the report based on the total assets allocation of 91 funds with 8.1tn of assets under management. There were only eight deals by SWFs in the UK last year compared with 18 a year before. https://www.ft.com/content/55e0f9aa-4afe-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 21st Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times British consumers appear to have shrugged off Brexit uncertainty in February as retail sales unexpectedly jumped during the month according to data published by the Office for National Statistics on Thursday. Volumes bought rose by 0.4 per cent compared with January much better than the decline of 0.4 per cent expected by City economists. There was little sign that the rise in sales was because of stockpiling ahead of a potentially disorderly Brexit food sales were the only subcategory to see a drop in sales during the month which the ONS attributed to the end of the January sales. https://www.ft.com/content/bca187f4-4bbc-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 21st Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Sky News The Bank keeps rates on hold and publishes a survey suggesting 80 of firms are as ready as they can be for a nodeal Brexit. https://news.sky.com/story/bank-of-england-says-nature-of-brexit-will-guide-path-for-economy-11671606 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times Britain needs a whole new plan if politicians are to avoid a chaotic departure from the EU according to the directorgeneral of the UKs largest business association the CBI. Carolyn Fairbairn said businesses were looking at the parliamentary infighting around Brexit with a sense of absolute horror. https://www.ft.com/content/1376ce46-4b2b-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times European fund managers have called on regulators to reconsider plans that would prevent them from trading some of Britains biggest stocks in London in a nodeal Brexit amid accusations that the EU is mounting a land grab of UK share trading. Investors were surprised by a ruling late on Tuesday from the European Securities and Markets Authority the panEuropean administrator which detailed some 6200 stocks that EUregistered investors would have to trade in the EU if the UK leaves the bloc without a deal. The list included 14 stocks whose home listing is in London and which trade overwhelmingly on the citys main exchange such as Vodafone Rio Tinto and BP. All 6200 stocks are either EUbased or have a second highly active listing in London such as Ryanair. https://www.ft.com/content/8f604aae-4b04-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 20th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Nursing Notes A report coauthored by the Nuffield Trust Health Foundation and Kings Fund predicts that in the next five years nurse shortages will double and GP gaps nearly treble if major action isnt taken. The health think tanks suggest a combination of international recruitment student grants a significant overhaul of the current system and an investment of at least 900m is needed to address the widening workforce gap. It recommends offering a 5200 grant for living expenses to student nurses tripling the number of postgraduates in training and bringing 5000 more students onto nursing courses every year. https://nursingnotes.co.uk/nhs-will-be-short-of-100000-nurses-in-a-decade/ 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Profits at retail chains stores slump by more than a fifth but online arm reports growth. CEO says customers are numb to Brexit and the results do not relate to it https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/21/next-profits-fall-but-boss-says-brexit-not-affecting-spending 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Teachers in schools in Kent have been told they may have to suspend classes and adopt a carer role in the event of disruption caused by a nodeal Brexit. The warning comes as the government confirms it has activated a team in a nuclearproof bunker under the Ministry of Defence to provide army support in a nodeal scenario. Nodeal planning will move from the Cabinet Office to daily meetings of the governments emergency committee Cobra from next week. Also the militarys Operation Redfold will have authority to direct some 3500 military personnel to move food and fuel and help with traffic congestion in Kent. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/21/kent-teachers-care-stranded-pupils-parents-traffic-disruption-no-deal-brexit 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Harvard Business Review Japanese companies that have invested in Britain offer an interesting example of how international business is coping with the political tumult roiling the UK economy over Brexit. Japanese firms operating in the UK and the Japanese ambassador to London have been uncharacteristically outspoken about their dissatisfaction with Brexit and its inept handling by British politicians. However they are not rushing to exit the UK. Instead they are making limited defensive moves while they wait for clarity to emerge from the chaos. https://hbr.org/2019/03/brexit-and-how-japanese-companies-are-navigating-its-uncertainties 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Were at quite a serious point Aquascots CEO Mr Overton told BBC Radios Good Morning Scotland programme. If we do see a nodeal exit from the EU thats gong to be problematic to quite a number of players in the food and drink sector. Its probably most extreme for those people who export highvalue perishable products and seafood. Shellfish farmed salmon and farmed trout come into that. He added Were heading into a period it could be in the coming weeks of real risk. That risk has been looked at and thought about but frankly its a big challenge. There are big red flashing lights on at the moment. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-47650443 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Business lobby groups have written to the European Commission warning that its own nodeal Brexit plans fall short of what is needed to limit major disruptions Newsnight has learned. The letter is from Business Europe an umbrella body for lobby groups across the EU including Britains CBI. It warns of possible disruption to flights drug supply shortages and datasharing interruptions. The Commission said it was in frequent contact with stakeholders. But the document suggests European companies not just UK firms are extremely nervous about the economic repercussions of a nodeal Brexit on 29 March. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47661237 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Economist Companies braced for a nodeal Brexit may empathise. Those with contingency plans for March 29th surely feel relieved that the government is trying to extend the Article 50 talks. Nine in ten firms prefer an extension to crashing out according to the Confederation of British Industry cbi a lobby group. Yet the prospect of a short delay with no new plan for how to agree on a deal merely moves the cliff edge back. Firms that had hoped to cancel their costly nodeal plans must now remake them. https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/03/23/firms-that-planned-for-a-no-deal-brexit-in-march-now-plan-for-june 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-47640908 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian One of the UKs biggest suppliers of toilet and kitchen roll has been stockpiling about 3.5m rolls in UK warehouses in preparation for a nodeal Brexit. The German firm Wepa said it had been storing an extra 600 tonnes of toilet and kitchen roll in the last three to four months to safeguard supplies in Britain in case the UK crashes out of the EU without an agreement on 29 March. The company has also built six weeks supplies of the cardboard core used inside the rolls as this cannot be sourced from the UK in sufficient quantities and is imported from EU countries in eastern Europe and Scandinavia. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/21/uk-biggest-toilet-roll-supplier-wepa-stockpiling-no-deal-brexit-avoid-customs-delays 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Manchester Evening News Brexit or lack of it appears to be dominating all parts of society. Now protests over delays to the process of leaving the European Union are even being planned for the M62 motorway. Dozens of members of the Brexit Protest and Direct Action Group UK Facebook group have said they would be taking part in a 40mph goslow drive between Leeds and Liverpool on Saturday reports Examiner Live. The protest action could see traffic in both directions affected with protesters travelling westbound from Leeds to junction 18 at Simister Island and eastbound from Liverpool to the same junction. Almost 60 members of the group have signed up so far. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/brexit-m62-go-slow-protest-16008280 21st Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Sky News Small businesses are resigned to whatever happens with Brexit as they do not have the resources to plan for a nodeal scenario according to the Federation of Small Businesses. The organisation has told Sky News that many are finding it impossible to make decisions ahead of a weeks time when the UK could be leaving the EU if the prime ministers efforts to agree an extension to the current 29 March deadline fail. Alan Soady from the FSB said A lot of small businesses dont have the kind of resources and specialist teams to do contingency planning. They dont have the money or expertise. Thats why many have found it so difficult to plan and prepare for the possibility of an unplanned no deal. https://news.sky.com/story/small-firms-have-no-resources-for-no-deal-brexit-planning-11671122 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Scotsman EU leaders have rejected Theresa Mays assurances that she can get her Brexit deal passed this week and opened the door to a long delay to the UKs departure offering proEU MPs a twoweek window to mobilise for an alternative. In marathon talks in Brussels EU leaders agreed a flexible extension to Article 50 that will keep the UK in the EU until 22 May if the deal is passed but giving until 12 April for the UK to ask for more time if MPs reject it again. After telling MPs the country and 27 European heads of government that she wouldnt tolerate the UK staying in the EU beyond the end of June fellow leaders ignored her and kept open the possibility of putting Brexit off until the end of the year. https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/general-election/brexit-eu-leaders-open-door-to-long-delay-as-may-fails-to-set-out-plan-b-1-4893861 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The UK could be offered a Brexit delay to 22 May on the condition MPs approve the PMs deal next week the latest draft European Council document says. But if MPs vote the withdrawal deal down for a third time EU leaders would back a shorter delay until mid April https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47660019 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The Ministry of Defence has set up an operations room in a bunker at its main Whitehall building to deal with a potential nodeal Brexit. The preparations are being run under the banner of Operation Redfold although officials stress they are part of wider crossgovernment planning. An MoD spokesman said it was always willing to support wider government planning for any scenario. Defence chiefs had previously said 3500 troops were being readied. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47658403 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times The European Council will probably not take a final decision on whether to extend the Brexit deadline today. But it can do something useful to help bring this process to a good conclusion and remind the UK parliament that Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty and a recent ruling of the European Court of Justice allow only three Brexit outcomes deal nodeal or unilateral revocation. https://www.ft.com/content/de60a878-4bc8-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters European Union leaders were considering an offer of a twostage Brexit delay on Thursday depending on whether Prime Minister Theresa May gets her divorce deal approved by the British parliament next week diplomatic sources said. If she does the bloc would offer a Brexit delay from the current leave date of March 29 to May 22 according to several diplomats briefed on talks between the other 27 national EU leaders meeting in Brussels. If she does not get approval for her deal Britain would be given until April 12 to inform the EU whether it would hold European Parliament elections on May 2326. If Britain agreed to hold the elections the EU could then consider a longer extension and if it did not a nodeal Brexit would happen on May 22 the diplomats said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-two-tier/eu-looks-at-two-stage-approach-to-brexit-delay-diplomats-idUKKCN1R22JC 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC EU leaders have agreed on a plan to delay the Article 50 process postponing Brexit beyond 29 March. The UK will be offered a delay until 22 May if MPs approve the withdrawal deal negotiated with the EU next week. If they do not the EU will back a shorter delay until 12 April allowing the UK time to get the deal through or to indicate a way forward. Mrs May said there was now a clear choice facing UK MPs who could vote for a third time on her deal next week. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47660019 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/21/cabinet-ministers-believe-risk-of-no-deal-brexit-now-very-real 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Channel 4 News One Cabinet Minister tells me his central expectation now is that the vote fails and the EU in the interests of giving itself a breather before no deal and not in expectation of any progress towards a deal in Westminster grants a temporary extension to April when the European Parliament elections arrangements need to be locked in stone. The logic runs that theyd be doing that in the hope that some management of the difficulties of no deal can be advanced in the interim. A new cliff edge is born but the look on this Cabinet ministers face suggested he thought it was the final one. The chances of no deal are now real and rising the Cabinet minister said. https://www.channel4.com/news/by/gary-gibbon/blogs/cabinet-minister-no-deal-brexit-possibility-real-and-rising 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror The Labour leader was hopeful that a crossparty group of MPs would agree a Norway Plusstyle alternative this week if Mrs Mays plan is defeated again to prevent a No Deal. I think Parliament will come to an agreement next week to stop that happening and we will do everything we can to help them he said. The dangers of a chaotic exit are huge on supplies investment jobs and everything else. Labour will support MPs getting a say over the way forward on Brexit on Monday. The party will then back a crossparty amendment focused on the UKs future trading relationship with the EU as well as workers rights. But it remains unclear whether there is a consensus in Parliament around a softer Brexit. The smaller opposition parties including the SNP and the Lib Dems are opposed to leaving the EU in any form and want a second referendum instead. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/jeremy-corbyn-meet-theresa-monday-14169982 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News Sky News can reveal that the government has taken out hundreds of gagging orders as part of its preparations for a nodeal Brexit. The orders formerly known as nondisclosure agreements NDAs are legally binding contracts to stop confidential conversations being talked about in public. They are typically used to maintain secrecy around corporate deals or to protect intellectual property. However we have discovered that the use of these NDAs has become prevalent across great swathes of the UK government. https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-hundreds-of-gagging-orders-taken-out-by-government-11671933 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC And if Donald Trump had wandered last night out from the Oval Office to the adjoining West Wing dining room where he has installed a 60 inch flat screen TV along one wall and watched the Theresa May speech he might have found himself giving a knowing nod of the head. Maybe she had listened after all. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47656236 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times In the early hours of Wednesday morning Theresa May made a momentous choice. After a day of acrimonious debate in her cabinet and inner circle the prime minister decided that she was willing to take Britain out of the EU without a deal. At Thursdays European Council meeting in Brussels EU diplomats wondered whether Mrs May was bluffing but those close to the prime minister said if she cannot secure her Brexit deal she is determined the UK should embark on a nodeal exit. Since announcing on Wednesday that she would ask EU leaders for a short extension to the blocs Article 50 process to delay Brexit from March 29 to June 30 people who have spoken to the prime minister said she is reconciled to the implications of what happens if the UK parliament continues to reject her withdrawal agreement. The mood has hardened on no deal said one person close to the prime minister. One Eurosceptic Conservative MP who met Mrs May on Wednesday night said She didnt seem concerned about leaving with no deal. https://www.ft.com/content/c1bb68fa-4bed-11e9-bbc9-6917dce3dc62 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Boris Johnson has received another 15000 from the proBrexit digger maker JCB figures show part of a mass of donations to potential Conservative leadership contenders with the expectation that Theresa Mays time in office is coming to an end. The former foreign secretary a likely standard bearer for proBrexit Tories received 31000 in donations in the past month the register of MPs interests shows and has been given almost 140000 in money or other support since late last year. Others to receive new donations in recent weeks include Dominic Raab the former Brexit secretary who has made no secret of his leadership ambitions. He has been given more than 50000 in cash and other donations this month alone. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/21/jcb-backs-boris-johnson-leadership-conservatives-gift 21st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The EU has handed Theresa May two weeks grace to devise an alternative Brexit plan if her deal falls next week after the prime minister failed to convince the bloc that she was capable of avoiding a nodeal Brexit. After a marathon latenight session of talks the EUs leaders ripped up Mays proposals and a new Brexit timeline was pushed on the prime minister to avoid the cliffedge deadline of 29 March next Friday. Under the deal agreed by May Britain will now stay a member state until 12 April if the withdrawal agreement is rejected by MPs at the third time of asking. The government will be able to seek a longer extension during that period if it can both indicate a way forward and agree to hold European elections. In the unlikely event that May does win the support of the Commons when the Brexit deal goes to MPs again on Tuesday the UK will stay a member state until 22 May to allow necessary withdrawal legislation to be passed. The 12 April is the new 29 March an EU official said. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/21/mays-appeal-falls-flat-as-eu-seizes-control-of-brexit-date 22nd Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

CNN Members of Parliament could vote the deal down. At this point the UK would be forced to do some soul searching as it must decide by April 12 whether to take part in the European parliamentary elections which begin on May 23. If it decided not to participate in those elections Britain could simply not remain in the EU. Without approval for a withdrawal deal May 22 would become the new March 29 a cliffedge over which the UK would be obliged to hurl itself. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/21/uk/eu-theresa-may-brexit-lifeline-intl-gbr/index.html 22nd Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Theresa May was under intense pressure to name a date for her resignation as Tories panned her blistering attack on Parliament. Amid uproar in Westminster backbenchers Anne Marie Trevelyan and Tracy Crouch were among a large number who told whips she had to go. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8692880/theresa-may-resignation-pressure-brexit-speech/ 22nd Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics.co.uk Mays previous speeches have often managed to turn otherwise sympathetic European leaders against her. They dont appear to be any better behind closed doors than they are in front of cameras. In both instances they lack charisma or intellectual content or even a hint of personal responsibility. She cannot think creatively about problems. She cannot lay out a convincing case for how to proceed with them. All she can do is blame other people the EU opposition parties the House of Lords or the institution of parliament itself for her own failings. Expecting her to live up to the historical moment is like asking an old Casio calculator to log on to the internet. http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/03/21/black-thursday-britain-humiliated-on-global-stage-as-it-begs 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Metro Theresa May is facing backlash from angry MPs who said they have been subjected to death threats after her controversial speech blaming them for the Brexit deadlock. MPs from all sides lined up to condemn her remarks warning that they had put them in danger of physical attack by angry members of the public. Anna Soubry the proRemain MP who recently quit the Tory Party to join the Independent Group said she was unable to travel home this weekend after receiving very very serious death threats. https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/21/mps-likely-reject-mays-deal-blamed-brexit-deadlock-8975595/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Express Speaking on Channel 4 News host Matt Frei quizzed an Irish MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament Mairead McGuinness about a no deal Brexit becoming the most likely outcome. The MEP replied Two points there in terms of the internal issues in the Conservative Party. David Cameron tried with the referendum to heal the rift and perhaps the Prime Minister is also trying to hold her party together. There are bigger issues than that in my view because Brexit would be such a sundering if it goes wrong of relationships and bad for everybody. I think it is unthinkable that we would allow that to happen. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1103607/Brexit-news-uk-eu-Theresa-May-European-Union-no-deal-Article-50-extension 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

iNews Luxembourg PM Mr Bettel responded with some emphasis We didnt force the United Kingdom you decided to leave we shouldnt exchange roles. You want us to be the bad guy. You decided. You decided. We have to just find a deal and we negotiated the deal we found the best possible deal and we are not in a souk where we are going to bargain for the next five years. https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/brexit-latest-theresa-may-european-council-xavier-bettel-video/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Scotsman A colossal failure of statecraft a collapse of trust between voters and parliament a desperate and divided government split all the way up to the Cabinet Brexit has proved an epic shambles and by far the worst political crisis in 70 years. https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/brexit-this-united-kingdom-is-as-good-as-gone-bill-jamieson-1-4893041 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Foreign Policy May cannot demand an extension but has to request one because according to Article 50 of the EU treaty the power to grant one is at the EUs discretion. The remaining 27 EU members have the right to reject the British requestand they should.The remaining 27 EU members have the right to reject the British requestand they should. They should reject a short extension as May has requested because the pressure of time is the only thing that will prevent British lawmakers from continuing to demand the impossible. An extension of a few weeks merely postpones the day of reckoning. But they should also reject a long extension if they care about the survival of the EU. https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/03/21/why-europe-should-reject-theresa-mays-brexit-extension-macron-tusk-parliament-eu-uk/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times Brexiters may dream of a clean break from the EU. But no deal would be the opposite of clean. It would be a horrible and longlasting economic and political calamity. https://www.ft.com/content/49e058d0-4a4a-11e9-8b7f-d49067e0f50d 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Three years Brexiters have had to sort this. Might I suggest that if youre mad at Bercow for following parliamentary rules you might reserve a teensyweensy bit of anger for a government whose only plan with 10 days to go was to show up with the same rejected scrap of paper wearing a false moustache. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/20/nine-days-brexit-clue-extension-liechtenstein 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The DUPs Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson says his party will not be threatened into voting for the governments deal. On Wednesday Theresa May blamed MPs for the failure to ratify an agreement in order for the UK to leave the EU on 29 March. Sammy Wilson said he believed the PM was trying to threaten Parliament. But he said it had not worked and his party would not back the deal if it remained unchanged. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47652775 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Conservative MP for Clwyd West David Jones who has voted against the deal said Its very clear from speaking to colleagues that nothing has changed today. If anything MPs have been irritated by the hectoring tones of Donald Tusk and the EUs intransigence. They are also disappointed that the PM sought to put the blame on MPs for there being no agreement when the fact is that the deal is disliked by parliamentarians of all colours whether Leave or Remain. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47646775 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The Kennedy Bill has two clauses. But only one counts the other is a formality and extends the bill across all the nations making up the UK. Clause 1 is simple and effective. Under the heading Revocation of notification of intention to withdraw from the European Union it states 1 Subsection 2 applies if it appears to the prime minister that a withdrawal agreement is unlikely to be ratified by the United Kingdom before exit day. 2 The prime minister must in that case before exit day notify the European Council that the notification given by the United Kingdom under Article 502 of the Treaty on European Union of its intention to withdraw from the European Union is revoked. The bills simplicity is its genius https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/theresa-may-brexit-no-deal-article-50-revoke-house-of-lords-kennedy-bill-a8834141.html 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home It was possibly the most constitutionally illiterate speech ever made by a British prime minister. Standing in front of two Union Jacks in Downing Street the prime minister told the people that Parliament has done everything possible to avoid making a choice. She claimed that motion after motion and amendment after amendment has been tabled without Parliament ever deciding what it wants. She declared that you the public have had enough. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/government-and-public-sector/house/house-magazine/102716/analysis-theresa-may-needs 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Remain ministers have warned the Prime Minister that they are prepared to quit unless she gives them a free vote on a new backbench bid to stop no deal. A crossparty group of MPs is on Friday expected to table a new amendment that will force the Prime Minister to accept a longer extension to Article 50 if her deal fails. The amendment which will be voted on next week will mean that if Mrs Mays deal is defeated Parliament rather than the Prime Minister will decide whether to accept any offer of a longer extension of Article 50 from Brussels. A group of eight Remain ministers met Julian Smith the Chief Whip on Thursday to demand a free vote on the amendment to avoid the threat of mass resignations https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/21/remain-ministers-warn-theresa-may-will-quit-blocks-free-vote/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Theresa May has been told by the most senior Tory backbencher that MPs want her to stand down because of her handling of Brexit The Telegraph can reveal. Sir Graham Brady the chairman of the 1922 committee of Tory MPs visited the Prime Minister in Downing Street on Monday afternoon and made clear that a growing number of Tories believe she has to go. The visit by Sir Graham to Downing Street on Monday came after he was bombarded with text messages by colleagues and urged to confront the Prime Minister with demands that she should quit. Sir Graham imparted their calls in a neutral manner in his role as chairman of the 1922 committee during the meeting in Downing Street. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/21/exclusive-theresa-may-told-chairman-1922-committee-tory-mps/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The sense of anger is hard to adequately put into words. Yesterday in the toxic climate that now defines British politics the prime minister took to a Downing Street podium to place the blame for this national crisis on MPs. She pitted parliament against the people deploying an inflammatory rhetoric reminiscent of farright populists whose influence is steadily growing in Britain America and across the world. Reckless doesnt do it justice. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/21/theresa-may-prime-minister-democracy-mps 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Arab News An important paper by the Washingtonbased Petersen Institution for International Economics lays out a stark Brexit prognosis. The papers authors ran 12 economic simulation models that examined the impact of Brexit on the UK and virtually every one came out negative. Two simulations came out with a potential positive impact but the authors concede that those scenarios were based on unrealistic assumptions. Just about every major academic study shows similar results. Its hard to find a longterm forecast that demonstrates a bright postBrexit future. http://www.arabnews.com/node/1470301 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sharecast https://www.sharecast.com/news/brexit/cbi-and-tuc-call-on-may-to-change-course-on-brexit--3802053.html 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Britains foremost business lobby group and trade union body have joined forces to demand Theresa May urgently changes her approach to Brexit warning the country now faces a national emergency. Writing a joint letter to the prime minister the heads of the Confederation of British Industry CBI and Trades Union Congress TUC said a plan B needed to be drawn up as quickly as possible to avoid a nodeal departure as early as next week. Frances OGrady the general secretary of the TUC and Carolyn Fairbairn the CBIs directorgeneral wrote in the letter published before the crunch EU summit in Brussels Our country is facing a national emergency. Decisions of recent days have caused the risk of no deal to soar. Firms and communities across the UK are not ready for this outcome. The shock to our economy would be felt by generations to come. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/21/heads-of-tuc-and-cbi-write-to-may-pleading-for-a-brexit-plan-b 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Farmers Weekly A Shropshire MP Daniel Kawczynski has indicated he will now support Prime Minister Theresa Mays EU withdrawal agreement if it is put to the vote next week having been convinced by farm unions that a nodeal Brexit would be a disaster for the farming sector. https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/eu-referendum/farmer-pressure-persuades-mp-to-back-mays-brexit-deal 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-revoke-article-50-theresa-may-resign-eu-a8833491.html 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico https://www.politico.eu/article/petition-to-cancel-brexit-crashes-uk-parliament-website-theresa-may-twitter-house-of-commons-eu/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC A petition calling for Theresa May to cancel Brexit by revoking Article 50 has passed two million signatures. Parliaments petitions committee tweeted that the rate of signatures was the highest the site has ever had to deal with after the website crashed. EU leaders in Brussels have reached agreement on a plan to delay Brexit beyond 29 March. Downing Street said the prime minister has said many times she will not countenance revoking Article 50. The PMs spokesman added The PM has long been clear that failing to deliver on the referendum result would be a failure of democracy and a failure she wouldnt countenance. Revoke Article 50 has been trending on Twitter as people were urged to sign it. At one point the petitions committee said there were nearly 2000 signatures a minute. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47652071 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Yorkshire Post A microcosm of the UKs Brexit divide played out in a pub car park as the March to Leave passed through Yorkshire only to be greeted by Remainsupporting counterprotesters who taunted wheres Nigel https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/uk-s-brexit-divisions-play-out-in-pub-car-park-as-march-to-leave-passes-through-yorkshire-1-9664944 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun The former Tory leader William Hague predicted Conservative MPs could bring down the Government if she fails to push her deal through next week. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8690890/brexit-chaos-snap-election-william-hague/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Spectator The Spectators Douglas Murray attacks the UK government for its failed Brexit strategy and poses the question as tyo whether well still have a United Kingdom after Brexit https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/03/douglas-murray-will-we-have-a-country-left-after-brexit/ 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Amber Rudd has been accused of making a notsosubtle dig at Theresa Mays handling of Brexit in a letter about the uncertain future of Hastings pier. The letter focuses on overshooting a March deadline for reopening the seaside attraction. The work and pensions secretary said she cant support any scenario in which the pier remains closed indefinitely. While she is the MP for the area Ms Rudd has little power to intervene as the pier is privately owned. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-amber-rudd-theresa-may-hastings-pier-letter-a8834431.html 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Express.co.uk BBCs Katya Adler appeared in dismay as she warned Brexitcast listeners Brexit will now be resolved in a matter of hours but it is difficult to predict where the UK is going to be in a week time. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1103267/BBC-News-Brexit-news-Katya-Adler-Brexitcast-Theresa-May-deal-EU-summit 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore have drawn the scrutiny of investigators looking into possible Russian interference in the 2016 referendum vote. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/21/arron-banks-andy-wigmore-brexit-supporters-trump-guests-mar-a-lago 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Prime Minister Theresa May must change course on Brexit before it is too late Nicola Sturgeon has said. Mrs May is in Brussels for talks over an extension to the Brexit deadline having laid the blame for the delay squarely on MPs in a public statement. The Scottish first minister said Mrs Mays comments were deeply irresponsible and failed to accept her own responsibility for the mess. Ms Sturgeon said that if all else fails MPs should revoke Article 50. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-47653463 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Hospitals have been ordered not to tell the public about any damage they expect to suffer from Brexit because it would hurt commercial interests. Requests for information about the impact on the supply of goods and services and on EU staff numbers should be refused the department of health and social care has said. Releasing the information could cause trusts premature financial harm and so possibly put public wellbeing at risk hospital bosses were told. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-hospitals-brexit-impact-eu-staff-numbers-trust-services-matt-hancock-a8834061.html 21st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror 96yearold World War Two veteran Brigadier Stephen Goodall tells why he is travelling 200 miles from Devon to go on the Peoples Vote march https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/i-fought-second-world-war-14169506 21st Mar 2019