27th Mar 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=33 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

Reuters British companies have scaled back sharply their hiring and investment plans amid the growing turmoil around Britains exit from the European Union a survey showed on Wednesday. More firms were downbeat about the outlook for jobs and investment than were optimistic for the first time since the Recruitment and Employment Confederation began its surveys in June 2016 the month of the Brexit referendum. Nearly three years on it remains unclear how when or even if Brexit will happen. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-economy-jobs/brexit-turmoil-hits-uk-firms-hiring-plans-rec-idUKKCN1R802T?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=businessNews 27th Mar 2019

Jobs at Risk

The Register PC and Laptop Sales into the retail market sunk 25 during Jan and Feb... UK PC volumes via distributors fell 7 per cent to 538000 for January and February business machines went up 4.5 per cent to 361000 but those to consumers declined 25 per cent to 176000. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/03/26/brexit_shakes_hit_uk_pc_sales/ 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/26/brexit-would-cause-considerable-damage-to-irish-economy 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Belfast Telegraph ESRI report said The persistent uncertainties with respect to the form of the UKs withdrawal from the EU Under the most severe scenario of a disorderly nodeal domestic real GDP is estimated to rise by just 1.2 in 2019 and 2.4 in 2020. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/brexit-to-hit-irelands-economic-growth-according-to-report-37955246.html 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

The Times A disorderly Brexit would derail the Irish governments efforts to post a budget surplus for the first time since the financial crash a decade ago and shave 50000 jobs off employment growth over five years a report suggests.The study carried out by the Department of Finance and the Economic and Social Research Institute the countrys main think tank found that if Britain crashed out of the EU Irish GDP growth would be 2.4 per cent lower by the end of 2020. The economy would still grow but at a much slower pace. Ireland is also projected to post a budget surplus this year for the first time since the economy collapsed in 2008. A disorderly Brexit would lead to a 0.3 per cent deterioration in the finances of the exchequer over the short term and push the budget balance back into the red the study said. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/no-deal-brexit-will-cost-50-000-jobs-say-officials-t9pcpjmjt 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian Brexiters might argue the bad news from the European economy is reason enough for Britain to distance itself from the EU as much as possible. Eurozone GDP is on course to expand by just 0.2 for the first quarter marginally weaker than the UK. Italy is suffering from its fifth recession in two decades while Germany only just avoided recession at the end of last year with growth close to zero. However the EU accounts for almost half of UK exports while there has been little adjustment to nonEU trade since the Brexit vote. Bad news for the EU is still bad news for Britain. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/26/how-has-brexit-vote-affected-the-uk-economy-march-verdict 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Given that spread of possibilities some companies are leaving their exposures unhedged to the greatest extent possible hoping that the way in which sterling eventually moves will be to their benefit. Some companies continue to believe that it will all be fine. But...going into Brexit naked is very dangerous says Jonathan Pryor head of FX sales at Investec. https://www.ft.com/content/061ab340-4ed0-11e9-9c76-bf4a0ce37d49 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian Watching Brexit developments from 3000 miles away in the US has been surreal. Fareed Zakaria the host of a CNN show recently wrote in the Washington Post that Britain famous for its prudence propriety and punctuality is suddenly looking like a banana republic. I never thought I would read anything like this about the country of my birth. Britains international reputation has been trashed. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/26/uk-economy-remains-afloat-despite-brexit-shenanigans 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

MSN The pound rebounded on Tuesday supported by comments from Jacob ReesMogg indicating that a nodeal Brexit is off the table. In an interview the chairman of the European Research Group ERG said it was difficult to see the UK leaving the EU without a deal leaving two choices the Prime Ministers deal or no Brexit. The pound rose following his comments before pulling back slightly. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsbirmingham/pound-sterling-rises-after-jacob-rees-mogg-makes-this-brexit-claim/ar-BBVg6fk 26th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Financial Times Sterling remains in thrall to the twists and turns of Westminsters Brexit politics. As the odds on an orderly departure from the EU improve the pound is rising as are UK stocks earning revenue at home. The pound turned higher on Tuesday as investors measured the implications of a move by MPs to seize control of the Brexit process with signals from influential Eurosceptics that they could support Theresa Mays Brexit deal. https://www.ft.com/content/f02e06f6-4f5e-11e9-b401-8d9ef1626294 27th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Drugs company Sanofi has plans to fly supplies of flu vaccine into the UK if other transport routes are disrupted after the country leaves the EU. Hugo Fry the managing director of its UK arm told BBC Radio 5 lives Wake Up To Money that the flu vaccine was one it was not possible to stockpile. We prepare in different ways and have prepared many different routes into the UK he said. If we have to in the end we will airlift it in. He added We are eating the cost of that but patients and citizens are our primary concern so were quite happy to take that cost and make that planning. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47704164 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC Up to 140 police officers a day could be drafted into Kent to deal with the impacts of a nodeal Brexit. Police are preparing for gridlock on the roads if anticipated delays at the Port of Dover and Folkestone create long queues of lorries on the M20. Officers are also ready to tackle any protests or disorder that occur Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Peter Ayling said. The Home Office has so far given the force 4.3m to pay for preparations. Additional officers could be mobilised from other forces in the UK according to Mr Ayling a member of emergency planning group the Kent Resilience Forum. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-47713512 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Staff sickness and uncertainty caused by Brexit have worsened NHS staffing shortages. A recent NHS staff survey showed that just under 40 are unwell with stress the highest that we have seen in five years. And with health and social care relying heavily on staff from the EU Brexit has the potential to compound our existing recruitment and retention problems. According to a report last week the shortfall in GPs in England will almost triple from 2500 to 7000 by 202324. There are already 1300 fewer family doctors than in 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/26/my-gp-practice-struggling-brexit-worse-staff-shortages 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Across UKs universities it is the same story. Leading EU academics in climate policy and economics and most disciplines are worried about how grant funding from the EU will be replaced. They have had enough of hostility and in many cases they are off https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/25/gender-pay-gap-expert-among-top-professors-quitting-brexit-britain 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Isle of Wight News Giving evidence to the Commons Brexit Select Committee Portsmouth City councillor Gerald VernonJackson said preparations for a nodeal EU Brexit plan had been hampered by poor engagement from the DfT and thered been systematic refusal from the DfT to engage in any way. https://onthewight.com/no-deal-brexit-mitigation-plans-hampered-by-poor-dft-engagement-select-committee-told/ 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Yahoo! A 1942 report into the UK says The average European he writes in an accompanying note has a rough and ready perception of the Englishman who is among other things inclined to lecture other people for not doing things as Englishmen would do them although quite ignorant of the reasons why others act differently from us. Europeans also perceive a country that cannot be depended on because we wont say what we really want or what we are going to do. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/myth-british-good-humour-resilience-094956058.html 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times Logistics and warehousing group Clippers expansion expansion into Sheffield is an example of how brexit is impacting on the labour market as labour shortages force companies to change tack and to search for staff to fill the roles previously carried out in many cases by EU migrants https://www.ft.com/content/7b13ac3e-3c41-11e9-b72b-2c7f526ca5d0 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

British GQ Last year the British fashion industry contributed some 32 billion to the British economy. Whats more at last count it employed some 890000 people. The last thing that we that I want to see is our industry retract due to Brexit. Rather we want to see British fashion continue to provide opportunity and engagement to inspire young people to be creatives and entrepreneurs and for British Fashion to be continued to be recognised as global leaders in creativity innovation and business. https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/no-deal-brexit-british-fashion-impact 26th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Express.co.uk The first picture of a new driving licence has been unveiled as the DVLA steps up preparations for the increasing fear of a no deal Brexit. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1105724/brexit-news-driving-licence-european-union-dvla-government-advice 27th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

uSwitch.com Roaming charges could make an unwelcome return in the wake of a no deal Brexit with the European Union confirming that rules governing the cost of using smartphones while travelling will not apply in the UK. In new guidance the EU said Companies providing mobile communications services such as voice calls text messages or data will no longer be bound by EU roaming rules when operating in the UK. https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/news/2019/03/roaming-charges-could-return-in-event-of-no-deal-brexit/ 27th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News I am told that the cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill and the attorney general Geoffrey Cox informed Cabinet that if at the end of the Letwin process MPs pass a motion mandating the PM to pursue a new route through the Brexit mess perhaps a referendum or membership of the customs union or some other softer future relationship with the EU the PM and government would be in breach of the ministerial code and the law if they fail to follow MPs instructions. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-26/prime-minister-would-break-the-law-if-she-ignores-letwin-result/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8726700/tories-urge-pm-quit-conservative-committee/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/26/tory-rebels-asked-by-no-10-if-they-would-back-brexit-deal-if-theresa-may-quit 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/26/tory-brexiters-want-may-resignation-date-in-order-to-back-deal 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/theresa-may/news/102830/theresa-may-set-make-or-break 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-brexit-eu-deal-negotiations-philippe-lamberts-a8840541.html 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8726700/tories-urge-pm-quit-conservative-committee/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Loyalist ministers have urged Theresa May to suspend all Tory MPs who refuse to vote for her Brexit deal in a preemptive strike for an upcoming party civil war. Under the nuclear move the PM would threaten to withdraw the Conservative whip from any Brexiteers who defy her again. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8726925/pm-suspend-mps-refuse-brexit-vote/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/dup-won-t-back-toxic-deal-unless-backstop-threat-is-neutered-a4101091.html 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Belfast Telegraph DUP Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson has said that his party would rather see a oneyear delay to Brexit than support Prime Minister Theresa Mays withdrawal deal. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/dup-prefers-oneyear-delay-over-mays-toxic-brexit-deal-says-wilson-as-reesmogg-signals-shift-37952701.html 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6853561/Key-Eurosceptic-Jacob-Rees-Mogg-says-Theresa-Mays-deal.html 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

HuffPost UK Jacob ReesMogg has indicated he is ready to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal after admitting eurosceptic MPs do not have the numbers to secure their perfect exit. In a boost for the prime minister the head of the European Research Group ERG of proBrexit Tory MPs said it appeared he would have no choice but to vote for the agreement. The prime minister will not deliver a nodeal Brexit he told ConHomes Moggcast podcast on Tuesday. I have always thought that nodeal is better than Mrs Mays deal but Mrs Mays deal is better than not leaving at all. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/jacob-rees-mogg-suggests-he-is-ready-to-vote-for-theresa-mays-brexit-deal_uk_5c99f730e4b0d42ce36080d4 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/revoke-article-50-labours-chief-14186844 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

ChronicleLive Labour chief whip Nick Brown has said it would be better to cancel Brexit than to leave the EU without a withdrawal agreement. It follows warnings that a nodeal Brexit would be catastrophic for employers in the North East particularly manufacturers and exporters. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/brexit-news-theresa-may-amendment-16025207 25th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail Boris Johnson has signalled he could be willing to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal but only if there is a path to then negotiate his preferred Super Canada future trading relationship with the EU. Speaking at an event hosted by the Telegraph the former Foreign Secretary said he was not there yet on backing Mays deal but admitted that there was a risk Britain wont leave the EU at all if MPs voted it down for a third time https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6851149/Mogg-leads-new-Brexiteer-climbdown-late-save-Brexit.html 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Express After months of threats MPs finally seized control of the Commons agenda last night enabling them to stage their own debates and votes on Brexit. The constitutionally unprecedented move means MPs have fundamentally taken control over Brexit from Theresa May. Exact rules and parameters for the Commons debates and votes are likely to be outlined today with the established options to be debated tomorrow with a final decision made on Monday https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1105498/Brexit-latest-soft-Brexit-no-deal-odds-indicative-votes-remain-EU-news 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Record Ps will take part in a series of paper ballots on Wednesday in a bid to work out what kind of Brexit has a chance of winning the support of the House of Commons it has been confirmed. Members must put forward their preferred options by the end of Tuesday with Commons Speaker John Bercow selecting those to be put to a series of indicative YesorNo votes over the course of half an hour the following evening. Further debate and votes on the most popular alternatives will be staged on Monday to try to whittle the list down. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-indicative-votes-held-mps-14189964 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

CNN British lawmakers are preparing to take control of the House of Commons agenda for two days in an unprecedented move that will test support for alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa Mays deadlocked Brexit plan. A landmark vote placed Wednesdays parliamentary timetable in the hands of lawmakers after Mays repeated failure to pass her deal raised the chances of Britain crashing out of the EU in chaos. MPs now plan to add a second day of debate on Monday. A motion published by the Labour MP Hilary Benn one of the MPs leading the charge to seize control of the Brexit process disclosed that lawmakers will vote simultaneously on a menu of options on Wednesday evening local time. These socalled indicative votes will reveal which of the various alternatives command the most support. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/26/uk/brexit-indicative-votes-two-days-gbr-intl/index.html 27th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters British Prime Minister Theresa May will address her Conservative lawmakers on Wednesday possibly to set out a timetable for her departure in a last throw of the dice to win support for her twicerejected Brexit deal in parliament. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu/uks-weakened-pm-may-still-hoping-to-push-her-brexit-deal-through-idUKKCN1R70VH 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Squabbling politicians have rushed to carve up Brexit as 16 alternatives to Theresa Mays deal were tabled for a historic Commons showdown on our EU divorce. Remainer ringleader MP Nick Boles has gloated Im going to wake up with a broad grin on my face after Brexitwreckers seized control of Commons. The Tory told The Sun Its a great feeling to be finally off to the races and see whether this horse will run. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8727255/remainer-mp-nick-boles-brexit-wreck-commons-control/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The head of the senior civil servants union has said direct rule will be necessary in Northern Ireland in the event of a nodeal Brexit. Dave Penman the general secretary of the FDA said public sector employees in the province could not be expected to make increasingly political decisions with major security and economic implications if the UK crashed out of Europe. His words follow Theresa Mays comments on Monday when she told the House of Commons that some direct application of powers might have to be imposed on Northern Ireland in a nodeal scenario. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/26/no-deal-brexit-would-require-direct-rule-in-northern-ireland 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

CNN There were audible gasps in the UK Parliament on Monday night as lawmakers voted to seize control of the Brexit process from embattled Prime Minister Theresa May the first time in over a century that MPs have taken over the parliamentary timetable from the government. It was a pivotal moment in what has already been a rollercoaster few weeks in the Brexit process dealing what could well be the final blow to Mays premiership and paving the way for a Brexit lawmakers can at last agree on. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/26/uk/brexit-what-happens-next-gbr-intl/index.html 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The Scottish Parliament is expected to formally back calls for Brexit to be cancelled in a vote later on Wednesday. MSPs will be asked to support a motion calling for Article 50 to be revoked if it is not possible for another EU referendum to be held. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-47707247 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent If we want the public to sort out our political deadlock on Europe then we need to ask them a question about Europe. We know from the latest polling and analysis by Sir John Curtice that there has been a shift in sentiment. Were on balance proRemain now given the disastrous talks. There is a small switch in opinions but proportionally more potential Remain voters say they would vote now than was the case back in 2016. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-general-election-referendum-jeremy-corbyn-theresa-may-a8840131.html 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC EU governments know well enough by now that Wednesdays votes may not end up providing a clear picture of Brexit. Even if they did European Commission chief JeanClaude Juncker will point out that the EUs only interlocutor or opposite number remains Her Majestys government led by Theresa May and not UK MPs. Would she be willing to shuttle as a gobetween on behalf of Parliament which has chosen to ignore her negotiated Brexit deal Not likely. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47708977 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@fabianpicardo I agree @Peston. Whichever side of the debate you are on revoking Art50 is the best way to TAKE BACK CONTROL of BREXIT. If MPs wont support the WA revoke then plan to leave in a managed way. Alternatively carve a legit route to remain via the 3Rs REVOKE REFERENDUM REMAIN. https://twitter.com/FabianPicardo/status/1110607729230516224 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The options for Brexit are narrowing Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said after MPs voted to seize control of the parliamentary timetable. The PM was dealt a fresh blow as the government was defeated by 27 votes on Monday on a plan designed to find out the kind of deal MPs would support. Thirty Conservative MPs rebelled including three ministers. Mr Hancock said the government would listen to MPs but cant precommit to following whatever they vote for. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47704451 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters UK British voters appear to be changing their minds about leaving the European Union Britains leading polling expert said on Tuesday but not to a degree that would make a different result in another referendum a safe bet. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-natcen/britons-backing-away-from-brexit-but-no-safe-bets-pollster-idUKKCN1R716B 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Shadow minister suggests party will whip along Labour Party policylines ahead of upcoming indicative votes https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/26/labour-considers-backing-common-market-20-soft-brexit 26th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times The May administration is disintegrating before us. It looks less like a government than a gruesome reality TV show. Cabinet rows are leaked before the meeting is even over collective responsibility has collapsed leadership contenders take public positions to boost their ratings with the party selectorate. Welcome to Hate Island press 1 for Boris Johnson press 2 for Dominic Raab press 3 for Jeremy Hunt. https://www.ft.com/content/fde0618c-4ee0-11e9-b401-8d9ef1626294 25th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Express.co.uk https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1105807/Brexit-news-Theresa-May-EU-exit-Ministers-threaten-resign-second-referendum-article-50 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

ITV News Theresa May conveyed no ... to find a solution to the Brexit mess. She has been warned by MP Anne Milton that there could be 20 resignations from junior ranks of government to add to the three on Monday if she does not allow a free vote. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-26/theresa-may-faces-resignations-brexit-free-vote/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Nor could other MPs discern a plan. One Conservative MP told The Times about a conversation with their whip. The MP asked the whip what they were voting in this week. Dont know they were told. Then they asked if the meaningful vote was coming back. Dont know they were told. They asked if the indicative votes would happen and got the same response. The whip then asked But will you support the government https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/there-is-no-secret-plan-admits-minister-ghvzsbt7d 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Scotsman EU leaders were scathing about the Prime Minister last week but they were equally angry with the Brexiteers whose campaign led us to this chaotic point. In this climate do these Maymustgo members of cabinet really think that sending someone new to the next summit in Brussels is going to create further concessions in the United Kingdoms favour If they do then we fear they are deluding themselves. https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/leader-comment-replacing-may-will-not-solve-the-humiliation-of-brexit-1-4894890 25th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror As a number of Brexiteers are indicating they could cave and back the deal to avoid no Brexit the DUP are holding firm. On Tuesday they insisted they still preferred leaving without a deal to Theresa Mays deal. But their Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson went one step further and suggested that an extension was better than the PMs deal. He said Even if we are forced into a oneyear extension we at least would have a say on the things which affect us during that time and would have the right to unilaterally decide to leave at the end of that oneyear period through the simple decision of not applying for a further extension. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-dup-deal-killer-blow-14188730 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Its like rats in a sack on the WhatsApp group today says one glum Tory Brexitbacking MP. Everyone is turning on each other. Another described the mood as extremely bitter and very depressed among many more mainstream Eurosceptic Conservative MPs who fear they are on the brink of losing the hard Brexit that was almost in their grasp. Their ire is directed mainly at the 70 proBrexit hardliners who refused to back Mays deal on the second attempt. The holdouts won approval from their Conservative members who want nothing less than a nodeal Brexit and will be decisive in picking the next party leader. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/26/bitter-tories-fight-like-rats-in-a-sack-to-hang-on-to-hard-brexit 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Former Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt who resigned to vote against the government over Brexit told the BBCs political editor Laura Kuenssberg that he expects more ministers to resign over Mrs Mays policy plans for reintroducing her Brexit Withdrawal Agreement https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-47694356/former-minister-says-others-may-also-resign-over-brexit 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The far right Tory Bruges Group regards changing the EU leaving day from the29th March as moment of national surrender https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/26/one-true-brexits-standard-bearers-stand-firm-in-bonkers-battle 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Brexit is today in the hands of Parliaments most blunderprone Tory buffoon. Its hard to imagine how things could get worse. But Oliver Letwin will find a way. MPs voted for this diehard Remainer and Old Etonian twit to take charge of votes on mainly soft Brexit alternatives. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8727541/brexit-tory-buffoon-oliver-letwin-opinion/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Chemist+Druggist Pharmacy minister Steve Brine resigned from the government last night March 25 to vote against Theresa May over Brexit. https://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/pharmacy-minister-steve-brine-resigns-government-over-brexit 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times From Beijing where I now am the UK looks small. It also looks as if it has fallen into the hands of lunatics engaged in an astonishing act of national selfharm. But this Brexiters will say is an illusion. The UK is going to take back control. The slogan was brilliant. But it was the biggest delusion of all. Control is different from sovereignty. As I argued during the referendum campaign the UK was already sovereign it could if it wished vote to leave the EU. It did so but promptly discovered that while it was sovereign it was not very powerful. Yet control is about power. https://www.ft.com/content/473bd2ae-4ee5-11e9-b401-8d9ef1626294 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian For many Brexiters the European Union was not an institutional arrangement that eased trade immigration and political disputes it was nothing short of a conspiracy to sap money from the United Kingdom to Brussels construct an EU army or help spread Islam across the continent. This thinking underlies the political project to leave the EU. As they are not grounded in truth these narratives have produced Brexits lengthy saga of political ineptitude. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/26/the-guardian-view-on-brexits-revolution-eating-its-own 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian EU citizens living in the UK would be stripped of their freedom of movement housing and social security rights by Home Office legislation introduced to regulate immigration following Brexit a parliamentary report has warned. Despite repeated government reassurances that their privileges will be protected a study by the joint committee on human rights JCHR concludes that more than 3 million Europeans living in Britain would be left in legal limbo. The crossparty committee whose members are drawn from the Commons and the Lords argues that EU citizens rights should be protected by primary legislation rather than reliant on statutory instruments approved by ministers at a later date. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/26/warning-of-legal-limbo-for-3m-eu-citizens-living-in-uk-after-brexit 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The British government has rejected a petition calling for Brexit to be stopped which gathered more than 5.8 million signatures. The petition is due to be debated by MPs on 1 April after breaking the 100000 threshold for consideration and becoming the bestsupported proposal in the history of the House of Commons and governments epetitions website. Rejecting the oftrepeated claim that EU withdrawal is the will of the people it calls for the revocation of the Article 50 letter informing the European Council of the UKs intention to leave. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/27/government-rejects-petition-to-cancel-brexit-signed-by-58-million-people 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Draw near true believers for these are dark days for the ERG Brexit ultras. The Fellowship of the Ringpieces finds itself divided on their next move and may yet be bitterly sundered as they ponder the big question could they honestly have played it worse https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/26/brexit-indicative-votes-grand-wizards-ultras 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

@Peston Senior ERG Brexiter lawyer MPs Cash @SuellaBraverman Tomlinson and Jones accuse PM of unlawful use of Royal Prerogative in agreeing with EU a postponement of Brexit day without first changing UK law. It is the symbolism of ERG attacking the PM which matters because no... https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1110594775919534080 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph For many Brexiteers Olly Robbins Theresa Mays chief Brexit negotiator is something of a hate figure. But whatever the rights and wrongs of his Withdrawal Agreement his analysis of the way events would pan out as articulated in a Brussels hotel bar is proving pretty much spot on. When it came down to it he was overheard saying some months ago the choice would be between Mrs Mays deal and a lengthy extension. Everything else would fall by the wayside. The second of these options is where we now seem to be heading. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/03/26/olly-robbins-right-one-thing-least-either-mays-deal-lengthy/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph It is hard to think of a more humiliating moment for a sitting Prime Minister than what happened in Parliament yesterday. MPs from across the House including ministers voted to take matters out of her Governments hands into their own taking control as they put it because they do not trust Theresa May to get a grip and find a workable response to Brexit. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/26/government-crisis-makes-parliament-think-can-do-better/ 26th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

ITV News Here is the nightmare for Theresa May. If as seems highly likely MPs instruct the prime minister to negotiate a Brexit or noBrexit outcome that conflicts with government policy she and her ministers would be degraded into ciphers and puppets of MPs. There are two big reasons why it cannot happen. First is that the two main parties are irredeemably split over Brexit. Labour and the Tory Party would find it impossible to craft a manifesto with a policy on leaving or notleaving the EU for which all their respective MPs could campaign. So an election could not end the torture for the UK and EU of the uncertainty about our Brexit or noBrexit future. Second I have not found a single Tory MP who think it would be a good idea for Theresa May to lead her party into another election such is the degree to which they have lost confidence in her and she of course has pledged not to do that. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-26/robert-peston-general-election-brexit/ 26th Mar 2019