30th Apr 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=55 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

Financial Times Brexit is likely to threaten the pounds status as a global reserve currency according to a survey of central bank money managers who say Britains departure from the EU will alter their views on sterling. The pounds history as one of the most important global currencies has meant central banks have long held assets denominated in pounds that can be sold quickly to help curb swings in their own currencys exchange rates. But a poll by Central Banking Publications a trade journal suggests its status will be endangered by Brexit with threequarters of reserve managers predicting that central banks will collectively alter and in all likelihood cut their sterling holdings. More than onethird of 80 people surveyed managers working at central banks that hold 7tn in assets indicated that they would reduce the sterling holdings they personally control. https://www.ft.com/content/a9e5ddc2-6845-11e9-a79d-04f350474d62?sharetype=blocked 29th Apr 2019

Economic Impact

Reuters British car output fell for the tenth month in a row in March hit by a slowdown in key foreign markets and the sector stands to suffer a lot more if the country leaves the European Union without a deal an industry body said on Tuesday. Output tumbled by an annual 14.4 percent to 126195 cars in March the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said. Exports which account for nearly four out of every five cars made in Britain were down by 13.4 percent. The SMMT said analysis it had commissioned predicted output would fall this year to 1.36 million units from 1.52 million in 2018 assuming London can secure a transition deal with the EU. If Britain has to rely instead on World Trade Organization rules for its trade with the bloc which include import tariffs output is forecast to fall by around 30 percent to 1.07 million units in 2021 returning to mid1980s levels the SMMT said https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-economy-autos/uk-car-output-falls-14-in-march-worse-seen-if-no-brexit-deal-idUKKCN1S52AK 30th Apr 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian Britains economy is trapped in no mans land by Brexit and the next decade could be the weakest for growth since the second world war a former senior Bank of England policymaker has warned. Andrew Sentance a former member of the central banks interest ratesetting monetary policy committee MPC said The UK economy will be limping on for a while until Brexit negotiations are fully resolved. I can see the UK being in this limboland for quite a while certainly until the late 2020s. The warning comes as the Guardians Brexit dashboard reveals robust growth at the start of the year fuelled by a dramatic rise in stockpiling before the original Brexit date of 29 March now postponed until the end of October. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/29/how-has-brexit-vote-affected-the-uk-economy-april-verdict 30th Apr 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian Howard Archer the EY Item Clubs chief economic adviser said Delays to Brexit a difficult domestic economic and political backdrop and slower global economic activity have resulted in a weaker outlook for UK GDP growth this year. The report said the Bank would probably leave interest rates at 0.75 where the base rate has been set since August last year throughout 2019. However it added that a 25 basis point hike over the summer to 1 could not be ruled out if the economy continued to show resilience and the labour market strengthened further. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/apr/29/brexit-will-slow-uk-economy-for-rest-of-2019-forecaster-warns 29th Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Reuters British consumers were unruffled by the latest twists and turns in the countrys Brexit drama and companies have dialled down their worry levels two surveys published on Tuesday showed. The GfK consumer confidence index which was conducted mostly in the runup to a Brexit deadline that was eventually pushed back the second such delay since March held steady for a third month at 13 in April. Spending by Britains consumers has helped soften a slowdown in the overall economy thanks to a combination of low unemployment rising wages and modest inflation. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-economy-consumersentiment/uk-consumers-unfazed-by-brexit-storm-firms-more-upbeat-surveys-idUKKCN1S52B7 30th Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Workplace Insight Despite the governments pledge to keep and strengthen workers rights in a postBrexit world research from the CIPD has revealed that over a quarter 26 percent of British employees have expressed job anxiety. Simultaneously a recent article from the Guardian also states that 64 percent of people believe the stress caused by Brexit is bad for their mental health. https://workplaceinsight.net/employee-anxiety-peaks-despite-governments-pledge-to-uphold-workers-rights-post-brexit/ 30th Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent The number of UK businesses in critical financial distress jumped 17 per cent over the year to the end of March with a significant deterioration seen in the first quarter of 2019 as Brexit uncertainty deepened. Research by insolvency firm Begbies Traynor found that almost half a million businesses one in seven of all UK companies were in significant financial distress in the first three months of 2019. The number of significantly distressed companies in the property sector jumped by 13 per cent to 48182 for the quarter from 42512 in the same period a year ago. Property was the worsthit sector for the second quarter in a row and was hurt by people holding off making big purchases including new homes. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/brexit-latest-uk-business-financial-distress-economy-begbies-traynor-a8891451.html 30th Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent In the case of my mother she was suffering from PTSD from the war and followed my father who had promised her a better life to the UK. When I ask about the time she spent in the Netherlands she says she doesnt quite remember with fresh memories of the war looming over her she cared simply about providing for her children. Since then she has lived and worked in Britain for well over a decade. She has in all respects although I personally dislike the connotations of this word integrated into British society. Now my mother feels a sense of anxiety whenever Brexit is mentioned. I also hold Dutch nationality but my fears do not run as deep as hers. She has asked me numerous times if she will be forced to move again and worries because her memory of the Netherlands is hazy due to her suffering from shock at the time. It may seem like the least of politicians worries at the moment but we need to treat the mental health of these former refugees more carefully. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-eu-citizens-immigration-somalia-migrants-home-office-javid-a8889841.html 30th Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

iNews Education ministers are looking at hiking fees for EU students at universities in England. Education Secretary Damian Hinds wants the new system in place for courses starting in the 202122 academic year. Under EU membership EU nationals studying in the UK currently pay the same tuition fees as home students. https://inews.co.uk/news/education/government-looking-to-charge-eu-students-more-to-attend-english-universities-after-brexit/ 30th Apr 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The government will ask for assurances from the European Union on what happens to British citizens living in the bloc and EU citizens in the UK in the case of a nodeal Brexit. Tory MP Alberto Costa and campaign groups met the Brexit Secretary on Monday calling for protections to be ringfenced whatever Brexits outcome. MPs supported an amendment to the PMs Brexit deal in February to secure citizens rights. But the EU has rejected the plan. European Commission spokeswoma Mina Andreeva said they would not negotiate minideals and the best way to protect citizens rights was through the deal negotiated between the EU and UK. Around 1.3m UK citizens live in one of the other 27 EU member states while the UK hosts about 3.2m EU nationals. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48099903 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News Sources close to the Labour leader believe the emergency NEC meeting on Tuesday which determines the Labour manifesto for the EU elections will agree a formula that is a restatement of the partys equivocal and prolix party conference resolution of last September. But a senior trade union source tells me that if Unison GMB and Usdaw are bulldozed on Tuesday if their demand for Labour to commit to a confirmatory referendum on any Brexit deal is simply ignored Corbyn and his colleagues are being delusional about the likely consequences. The wellplaced trade unionist added They have no idea whats going to hit them and the scale of the backlash they will face which captures for you how emotions are running very high. And given that Unison the GMB and Usdaw are respectively the first third and fourth biggest trade unions in the UK they can certainly cause trouble for Corbyn if so minded. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-29/will-labour-commit-to-referendum-on-any-brexit-proposed-by-this-government/ 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Express.co.uk Margaritis Schinas the European Commissions chief spokesman said Brussels would not speak of Brexit until London says there have been significative developments. He said There is nothing else we can do there is nothing else we can say. I will not speak on Brexit again unless there are developments in London. It is universally known that we are on a Brexit break. Crossparty talks between the Government and the Labour Party are resuming today after the Easter break. The talks between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have entered the fifth week. But Downing Streets official spokesman has announced Labours and Tories still have to find a way forward on how to reach a compromise on Brexit. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1120246/brexit-latest-news-theresa-may-boris-johnson-local-elections-tory 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian In next weeks local election StokeonTrent faces a curious paradox it is being closely watched as a bellwether for national trends but at the same time no one directly involved in the battle seems able to predict what could happen or what lessons might be learned. In the most simple terms whether or not Labour can regain control of the Staffordshire city would seem a fairly basic test of the partys electability under Jeremy Corbyn and failure to do so would be a blow. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/28/this-not-about-brexit-labour-faces-credibility-test-stoke 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters Brexit has provided the militant Irish nationalist group that admitted killing journalist Lyra McKee with a chance to further its campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland the Sunday Times quoted its leadership as saying. The New IRA one of a small number of groups that opposes Northern Irelands 1998 peace deal has said one of its members shot the 29yearold reporter dead in Londonderry last week when opening fire on police during a riot McKee was watching. The killing which followed a large car bomb in Londonderry in January that police also blamed on the New IRA has raised fears that small marginalised militant groups are exploiting a political vacuum in the province and tensions caused by Britains decision to leave the European Union. Brexit has forced the IRA to refocus and has underlined how Ireland remains partitioned. It would be remiss of us not to capitalise on the opportunity the newspaper quoted one of its members as saying https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nireland-violence/new-ira-says-brexit-has-provided-it-with-opportunity-sunday-times-idUKKCN1S4079 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home The general secretaries of Unison the GMB and Usdaw have thrown their weight behind the move as a crunch meeting of the partys ruling national executive committee looms. Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson and Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer are pushing for a clear promise that any Brexit deal approved by the House of Commons should be put to the country in a socalled confirmatory ballot. Reports on Sunday suggested that Unison boss Dave Prentis had give the Labour leader assurances that he would support his more equivocal stance that a second referendum should only be held to stop a Tory Brexit or the UK leaving without a deal. But PoliticsHome understands that Mr Prentis has joined forces with GMB boss Tim Roache and Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis in backing Mr Watson and Sir Keir. Labours NEC will meet on Tuesday to finalise the partys position in what promises to be a defining moment. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/103485/excl-unions-urge-jeremy-corbyn-put 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BuzzFeed News The government risks being seen as against young people a former Tory education minister said on Monday amid a cabinet row over plans to hike university tuition fees for EU students after Brexit. Sam Gyimah who was Theresa Mays universities minister until he resigned in November last year said the plans revealed by BuzzFeed News on Saturday meant the government was undermining the university sector and taking steps that would make it more difficult for young people in this country to live work and study abroad. https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/tory-education-eu-students-brexit-cabinet-row 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The challenge we face in the forthcoming European elections is not whether Labour should back a confirmatory vote or a public vote on a Tory deal or any of the other variations on these themes circulating in Westminsters WhatsApp world. The real challenges we face are those described by the phenomenal Greta Thunberg and the rise of the far right. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/29/labour-members-referendum-campaign-remain-momentum 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News Crossparty talks to break the Brexit deadlock have moved on to the nuts and bolts after the latest positive set of meetings. Sue Hayman Labours shadow environment secretary emerged from the Cabinet Office on Monday to declare the days negotiations with senior government ministers as very constructive. There is still a lot more to discuss she added but suggested the government had shown willingness to drop some of its red lines. https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-compromise-talks-to-end-deadlock-move-on-to-nuts-and-bolts-11707265 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Labours governing body will meet on Tuesday to discuss whether to call for a public vote on Brexit as part of its European election manifesto. The National Executive Committee is split between holding a referendum on any deal holding one with caveats or rejecting the idea altogether. The party is also holding talks with ministers to try to agree a Brexit deal and break the deadlock in Parliament. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48099901 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Talks with senior shadow ministers and officials are likely to continue this week including on key areas of previous disagreement that had previously been swerved including a customs union single market alignment and dynamic alignment of workers rights and environmental protections. It is understood no new offer from the government has been put on the table but participants emerged with a new optimism about a change in tone and a feeling that there were grounds to continue discussions a marked contrast to last weeks talks. Mays spokesman said crossparty talks would continue as long as there was still a prospect of reaching a single position to put to parliament but added that the prime minister would then look to bring forward a small number of votes to try and find a way through parliament. Asked whether that would be votes on new options for a Brexit deal or on legislation the spokesman said Im referring to options. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/29/mps-could-vote-again-on-brexit-options-if-talks-break-down 30th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home Continuing to back a second referendum a sleightofhand position which by nudging and cajoling incrementally really only has one definitive intention to revoke the 2016 referendum and remain in the EU. It will send a message of a tineared Labour Party unconcerned by the views of the heartlands it needs to hang on to in order to form a Government. Any decision about the Labour Party fully endorsing a second referendum on any deal must be made not on the basis of bolstering potential future leadership ambitions but in the full knowledge of the impact that decision will have on the future electability of Labour as a potential Government whether that is in 2022 or later this year. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/opinion/house-commons/103476/melanie-onn-mp-labour-must-stop-its 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK Staying in the EU should not be on the ballot paper of any fresh Brexit referendum Labours representative for young people has declared. Ahead of a crunch vote by the partys ruling National Executive Committee NEC on Tuesday Lara McNeill said that it would not be wise to commit to putting Remain on any ballot paper in another public vote. McNeill a final year medical student is one of the 39strong body due to decide Labours European manifesto policy as the partys senior figures gather ahead of the May 23 elections. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/remaining-in-eu-should-not-be-an-option-in-any-new-brexit-referendum-young-labour-nec-rep-warns_uk_5cc727a7e4b05379114918a7 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News Conservative MP David Lidington has confirmed that the prospect of a confirmatory referendum has been discussed as part of the crossparty Brexit talks. Labour policy is to have a second referendum on any agreed Brexit deal but Mr Lidington is cool on the idea. Weve always known this is part of Labours policy platform so its something I would have expected them to raise at these meetings and they have Mr Lidington said when asked about a second referendum after Mondays talks. Equally they know this is not something that is government policy and the last couple of time it has come before the House of Commons it has been defeated. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-29/second-referendum-part-of-cross-party-brexit-talks-says-david-lidington/ 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Labour is braced for a showdown over whether to back a referendum on any Brexit deal when the partys governing body meets to agree its draft European elections manifesto on Tuesday. Party sources suggested the party was likely to agree a compromise option where it would support a referendum in order to prevent Theresa Mays Brexit deal or leaving without a deal describing that wording as the path of least resistance. However a public drive for a stronger line has been led by the partys deputy leader Tom Watson who has urged remainsupporting members to write to the national executive committees members including Jeremy Corbyn. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/29/brexit-labour-urged-to-resolve-second-referendum-crisis 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC No decision has been made about whether to charge EU students more to study at English universities after Brexit the government has insisted. They currently pay the same as those from the UK but it has been reported fees could rise from 2021. Labours Angela Rayner accused the government of building walls between top British universities and the EU. Lib Dem Tom Brake warned the EU would likely reciprocate meaning only the richest from the UK could study abroad. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48096278 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Labour is planning a revolution for the UK economy John McDonnell has told the BBC. The shadow chancellor was speaking to Newsnight for a series of reports to mark 40 years since the election of Margaret Thatcher. He said he saw parallels between today and 1979 when Mrs Thatcher swept to power in a major political seachange. Things arent working for people so theyre looking for change Mr McDonnell said. Asked whether Labours plans represented evolution or revolution he said OK it will be a revolution. Transformative because we are going to change society and thats whats demanded of us now. He added And do you know I think most people accept that now. Well do it by taking people with us. But it will be done on a very pragmatic basis. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48094621 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Der Spiegel Help apparently isnt just coming from Germany. Davis has found countless photos among the AfD posts that come from Russian image databases leading him to wonder if perhaps the party is getting some social media assistance from Moscow. The AfDs spokesperson rejects this claim at least when it comes to the accounts run by party headquarters. He said he cant be sure about the other accounts. In intelligence circles analysts believe such a scenario to be plausible. Experts believe that support for the AfD is consistent with Moscows strategic intention of destabilizing Western democracies by strengthening extremist forces. Just a few weeks ago DER SPIEGEL revealed just how close Russias relationship is with some AfD politicians. https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-afd-populists-dominate-on-facebook-a-1264933.html 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

@Haggis_UK Nigel Evans We have a 50billion trade surplus with the U.S. @adamboultonSKY While were still a member of the EU.. so being a member is not actually holding us back. PeoplesVote FinalSay alloutpolitics https://twitter.com/Haggis_UK/status/1122782574261227520 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

@NedSimons ExWTO director Pascal Lamy has an opinion on Iain Duncan Smiths Brexit plan. https://twitter.com/nedsimons/status/1122829905811714049 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Mays spokesman said crossparty talks would continue as long as there was still a prospect of reaching a single position to put to parliament but added that the prime minister would then look to bring forward a small number of votes to try and find a way through parliament. Asked whether that would be votes on new options for a Brexit deal or on legislation the spokesman said Im referring to options. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/29/mps-could-vote-again-on-brexit-options-if-talks-break-down 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The latest talks between ministers and Labour to try to end the Brexit impasse were positive and productive the PMs de facto deputy has said. Speaking afterwards David Lidington said he was encouraged by a sense from both sides about the need to inject greater urgency into the talks. He said there would be further meetings between the parties this week. Labours shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman said there had been really constructive discussion on Monday. She said the two parties were getting much more into the nuts and bolts of the detail and that she believed the government was open to moving forward in our direction. Crossparty negotiations have been taking place for a number of weeks after Theresa Mays Brexit deal with the EU was effectively rejected for a third time by MPs. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48090950 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

@Peston Sources close to the Labour leader believe that tomorrow the emergency NEC meeting which determines the Labour manifesto for the EU elections will agree a formula that is a restatement of the partys equivocal and prolix party conference resolution of last September. BUT... https://twitter.com/Peston/status/1122905308345643008 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters UK The British government has yet to find a way forward in talks with the Labour Party on how to reach a compromise Brexit deal Prime Minister Theresa Mays spokesman said on Monday. The spokesman said the talks would continue later on Monday. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-talks/mays-spokesman-no-way-forward-yet-in-brexit-talks-with-labour-idUKKCN1S50UY 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Over 700 Labour party members and trade unionists call on the partys NEC to make an explicit commitment to a public vote on any Brexit deal with an option to remain. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/29/labours-nec-must-commit-to-a-public-vote-on-any-brexit-deal 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror We came up with a compromise that sought to pass the Brexit deal through Parliament provided it was put to the British people in a confirmatory ballot. I am the Leave half of the KyleWilson compromise Peter is the Remain half. Our approach with the support of parliamentary colleagues from across the House twice came top in the indicative voting process held recently in Parliament but unfortunately it fell short of an overall majority. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/constituents-backed-brexit-right-say-14970135 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home The party will demand on Wednesday that the country acts with urgency to slash global emissions by 45 from 2010 levels by 2030 reaching net zero before 2050 according to the Observer. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said the recent climate change protests were a massive and necessary wakeup call and that Parliament backing the partys bid would make it the first national legislature to declare a climate emergency. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/environment/environmental-protection/news/103477/labour-set-force-commons-vote-declaring 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Labours deputy leader has stepped up calls for his party to promise a referendum on any Brexit deal in its European elections manifesto. Tom Watson urged party members to message Labours ruling national executive committee to call for a confirmatory ballot pledge. The NEC meets on Tuesday to decide on Labours campaign manifesto. But frontbencher Barry Gardiner said a referendum on any Brexit deal would be a change in Labour policy. The shadow international trade secretary told BBC Radio 5 Lives Pienaars Politics that the partys policy agreed at last years conference was to go for a referendum to stop a nodeal or a bad Tory Brexit. He added If we are being pushed into a nodeal by this government we will have a second referendum. But we want to try and thats why were in there with the government now trying to deliver on what people voted for. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48085237 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

This is Money The AAs finance boss has quit after five years so he can devote his time to antiBrexit party Change UK. Martin Clarke has stepped down immediately and does not have another job. He previously worked for private equity companies where his robust approach earned him the nickname the sledgehammer. https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-6973517/AA-finance-boss-nicknamed-sledgehammer-quits-support-anti-Brexit-party-Change-UK.html 29th Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home Ms LongBailey has been among the top team involved in crossparty talks alongside colleagues Mr Starmer and John McDonnell in a bid to break the deadlock over Britains departure from the bloc. However when asked if a second Brexit referendum was a red line for the opposition in the talks the Shadow Business Secretary said I wouldnt couch it in terms of a second referendum but our party policy has always been that firstly we want to get a Brexit deal that puts our economy and living standards first and protects our environmental protections workplace protections health and safety standards. We want a customs union arrangement in order to keep our borders open so that our manufacturing industry isnt detrimentally affected and we keep the movement of goods flowing as freely as possible. And we want a strong single market relationship. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/news/103483/labour-split-shadow-cabinet-minister-suggests 28th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Nigel Farage will end up helping Jeremy Corbyn get into No10 Jacob ReesMogg warned today. The top Tory Brexiteer claimed the Brexit Party risked splitting the Conservative vote and letting Labour get in. And he insisted that any Tory MPs or councillors who vote for Mr Farages new party should be automatically fired. Mr ReesMogg vowed to stay loyal to Theresa May even though his own sister has defected to the Brexit Party. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8961731/nigel-farages-brexit-party-jacob-rees-mogg/ 30th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Nigel Farages new Brexit Party plans to capitalise on its poll ratings with a tilt at a Westminster seat. It will stand in Peterborough if a byelection is triggered later this week by a recall petition against the disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya. The former Ukip leaders new group has startled the main parties after polls put it on course to win the European parliament elections on May 23. Surveys have also suggested that large numbers of Conservative activists and even Tory councillors plan to vote for the Brexit Party. Mr Farage has urged voters to use the European elections to send a clear message to Westminster which he says is blocking Brexit. A spokesman for the Brexit Party said that if a byelection was called in Peterborough it is highly likely we will stand. We would be fighting Peterborough to win it. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/farag-s-brexit-party-eyes-seat-of-disgraced-ex-labour-mp-fiona-onasanya-z3gqj8pk5 30th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Reuters Brexit has provided the militant Irish nationalist group that admitted killing journalist Lyra McKee with a chance to further its campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland the Sunday Times quoted its leadership as saying. The New IRA one of a small number of groups that opposes Northern Irelands 1998 peace deal has said one of its members shot the 29yearold reporter dead in Londonderry last week when opening fire on police during a riot McKee was watching. The killing which followed a large car bomb in Londonderry in January that police also blamed on the New IRA has raised fears that small marginalised militant groups are exploiting a political vacuum in the province and tensions caused by Britains decision to leave the European Union. Brexit has forced the IRA to refocus and has underlined how Ireland remains partitioned. It would be remiss of us not to capitalise on the opportunity the newspaper quoted one of its members as saying https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nireland-violence/new-ira-says-brexit-has-provided-it-with-opportunity-sunday-times-idUKKCN1S4079 30th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Express Former foreign secretary Mr Johnson is a firm favourite to replace Theresa May as leader of the Conservative party. But Prisons Minister Rory Stewart has suggested he would quit if Mr Johnson became leader according to The Sun. Mr Stewart told the BBC I would find that difficult if he were campaigning for a No Deal Brexit. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1120189/brexit-news-latest-boris-johnson-theresa-may-leave-EU-tory-leadership 30th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Channel 4 News We spoke to Chris Patten who was the last British governor of Hong Kong. We talked about a range of pressing issues including Brexit the Tories and Huawei but first we asked him what his reaction was to the sheer size of the protests in Hong Kong. https://www.channel4.com/news/chris-patten-on-voting-conservative-in-euro-elections-i-can-certainly-think-of-some-candidates-i-couldnt-conceivably-vote-for 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Jacob ReesMogg has responded to criticism from former taoiseach Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern over his knowledge of the Irish border. In remarks made on Sunday Mr Ahern said the Conservative MP had admitted not knowing what the Irish border was. Responding on Twitter Mr ReesMogg a highprofile supporter of Brexit said the criticism was quite funny but regrettably untrue. Perhaps Ireland had a comedian as its leader before Ukraine he said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-48097790 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Allow me to sketch you a portrait of a political leader. Even by the lax standards of the powerful he is Englands greatest living hypocrite. He courts popularity by warning that tens of millions from the dole queues of Europe are coming to take British jobs while employing his German wife as his secretary. He denounces the political class for living like princes at the taxpayers expense while pocketing every taxpayerfunded allowance he can claim for himself his wife and his colleagues. He says he represents ordinary people. But he is a public schooleducated former banker whose policies will help him and his kind. He claims he is the voice of common sense while allying with every variety of gayhater conspiracy crackpot racist chauvinist and pillock. The only sense he and his followers have in common is a fear of anyone who is not like them. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/26/nigel-farage-phoney-scrutinise-him-ukip 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The indy100 Nigel Farage has refused to say who the big donor to the Brexit Party is. On Iain Dales LBC show Farage was asked directly who was funding the party and revealed that there was one big donation from an unnamed person. But when Dale asked him who that donor was Farage dodged the question by claiming it was not fair to reveal the name without asking them for permission first. https://www.indy100.com/article/nigel-farage-brexit-party-donation-funding-bannon-banks-8891131 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The Queens Speech will be delayed until Brexit is delivered Theresa May has said despite no sign of a breakthrough at Westminster to end the stalemate. The prime ministers spokesperson said a new session of parliament due to get under way in June would not begin until the withdrawal agreement had been ratified. That is part of the current Queens Speech cycle and we need to finish that work he said admitting there was no specific date for a new session. The determination to deliver Brexit first opens up the prospect of no Queens Speech until the autumn at the earliest even if the prime minister survives that long. Although talks with Labour will restart today both sides are gloomy about progress after trading accusations that neither is prepared to make any meaningful compromises. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/queens-speech-delay-brexit-extension-theresa-may-parliament-commons-a8891006.html 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Entire streets in Oldham are split along racial lines Nigel Farage has claimed in a speech in the United States. The leader of the Brexit Party said that blacks lived on one side and whites on the other with no assimilation between the two. He told students at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania that the town in Greater Manchester was a divided society in which resentments build and grow. In 2015 Ukip the party that Mr Farage then led failed to unseat Labour at a byelection in Oldham West Royton. He later claimed that the vote was bent and blamed people who do not speak English. Mr Farage 55 told the audience at Lock Haven Let me take you to a town called Oldham in the north of England where literally on one side of the street everybody is white and on the other side of the street everybody is black. The twain never actually meet there is no assimilation. Whole streets in Oldham are of people who have lived in my country for over 30 years who dont speak a single word of the English language. These folks are divided societies in which resentments build and grow. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/british-streets-split-by-race-farage-tells-us-audience-hgqrb60dc 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/29/damian-green-suggests-modelling-social-care-provision-on-state-pension 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent People over the age of 50 could be forced to pay more than 300 more in national insurance each year in to fund social care under plans that have been branded a tax on getting old by Labour. Senior Tory MP Damian Green has proposed a major shakeup to funding for care arguing that it should follow the state pension model where everyone is entitled to basic support but individuals top up the pot through their own savings. The former cabinet minister who was given the task of drawing up the longawaited green paper on social care for England when he was in government suggested a 1 per cent rise in national insurance for the over 50s as a last resort to fill the 2.75bn funding gap in the system. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/social-care-nhs-damian-green-national-insurance-hike-tory-a8890236.html 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Theresa May has become the first Tory leader in 185 years to face an emergency grassroots vote to oust her. The PM is to be hauled in front of a snap meeting all 800 constituency chairmen and senior activists in June who will decide whether to demand her resignation for failing to deliver Brexit. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8966455/theresa-may-first-tory-leader-185-years-emergency-grassroots-vote-demanding-resignation/ 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Like most people who have been an MP I will never forget the day I was elected to Parliament. For one thing it was snowing in the Yorkshire Dales that cold February day in 1989 and the bleak landscape seemed to match the political fortunes of the Thatcher administration at the time. More significantly I was able to win a byelection the last Tory to do so while the party was in government for a quarter of a century because my opponents could not agree on a joint candidate. Together the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Democrats received many thousands more votes than I did but they were so neatly divided that I beat both of them. This mattered the SDP disintegrated soon after this event https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/04/29/remainers-have-blown-eu-elections-increased-chance-no-deal-brexit/ 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Wired.co.uk While Westminster remains mired in endless Brexit deadlock over on the Brexit Wikipedia page things are even less amicable. Editors are parrying death threats doxxing attempts and accusations of bias as the crowdsourced epic has become the centre of a relentless tugofwar over who gets to write the history of the UK as it happens. Originally posted in January 2014 what began life as Proposed referendum on United Kingdom membership of the European Union has bloated into a 11757word behemoth. But the articles vast size is the least of its problems. In private and on discussion pages editors tell tales of turf wars sock puppet accounts and anonymous figures hellbent on stuffing the article with information that supports their point of view. I was heavily involved with the Brexit page but gave up more than a year ago because the level of bias on it proved impossible to address and the aggravation of trying to deal with that was not worthwhile says EddieHugh a Wikipedia editor who has made 186 edits on the Brexit page making them one of its most prolific contributors. Since leaving the page behind EddieHugh now specialises in editing entries about obscure midcentury jazz musicians. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/brexit-wikipedia-page-battles 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Robin McAlpine Director of the Common Weal think tank says the politics of the Brexit debate in England are rightwing xenophobic antiEuropean. He says the more affluent south is feeling challenged by multiculturalism while northern England is challenged by the weak economics of Britain. He told BBC Debate Night this has not been happening in Scotland Wales or NorthernIreland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-48088300/robin-mcalpine-england-s-brexit-debate-is-xenophobic 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Express.co.uk The mood is dark. The public are frustrated. They are fed up I think more widely with politics and the way in which Brexit has been handled and in particular the fact that as many people say to me in my constituency they expected us to leave effectively on March 29. This has not happened. Ms Patels gloomy depiction of the mood in the country and especially in Leave constituencies reflects analysis by pollster and Tory peer Robert Hayward who predicted the Conservative Party could lose more than 800 seats in the May 2 elections. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1120445/brexit-news-local-elections-2019-theresa-may-brexit-delay-priti-patel-eu-elections-poll 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Speaking to the Institute for Government thinktank Mr Blair insisted a second EU referendum was the only way to decide Brexit. The exPM said The truth is there are different varieties of Brexit and you have to choose one. And when you choose one it then becomes apparent what your problem is. Because your problem is there is a downside to whatever option you choose. So when members of Parliament are forced to come to a choice then I think at that point they will say OK this what I think but Im not going to take the full responsibility so Im going to share responsibility with the people and that allows a referendum to be a healing process. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8964883/tony-blair-second-brexit-referendum/ 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Times Educational Supplement News The Augar review apprenticeships policy and the spending review are hostages to the Brexit impasse writes David Hughes https://www.tes.com/news/how-brexit-uncertainty-hurting-colleges 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Kezia Dugdale the former Scottish Labour leader is expected to quit frontline politics after becoming increasingly disillusioned with the partys stance on Brexit. It is understood that Dugdale who headed the Scottish party for two years until suddenly resigning in 2017 after months of tension with UK leader Jeremy Corbyn has found another job outside politics. She is expected to confirm her decision within the coming days the Sunday Times reported and to formally quit as an MSP at the end of the current Scottish parliament session in June. Dugdale a member of Labours centrist wing has made little secret of her unhappiness with Labours stance on EU membership and has demanded Corbyn campaigns for a second vote on any Brexit deal. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/28/kezia-dugdale-set-to-leave-politics-over-labour-brexit-stance 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European Anger over Brexit could cause one in five Conservative councillors up for election to lose their seats in next weeks local elections revealing polling data has showed. Analysis presented by Professor Michael Thrasher from the University of Plymouth on Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday showed that the Tories could lose as many as 1100 seats when the vote is held across the country next Thursday May 3. Prof Thrasher said the fact the Conservatives won so many seats in the 2015 local elections the last time the seats up for election on Thursday were voted on means that The Conservatives are defending a high position. There is a lot of stake for them. The baseline is 2015 and since the youd expect the Conservatives would lose ground from there. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/conservatives-local-elections-2019-potential-massacre-1-6020567 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian In this respect it was always baked into Farages rhetoric that if the public voted to leave the elite would seek to thwart their wishes. The truth again is quite otherwise. The political class has strained every tendon to find a way of delivering the undeliverable of extracting the UK from a 46year relationship without wrecking its prosperity security and access to the wider world. Brexit has failed because the squarecircling task is impossible. We must stay or accept a grievous cost that is the choice now. But Farage appeals to a primal social instinct the sensation that the few are yet again cheating the many of their unsullied dream. It is not the dream that is at fault you understand but those who sabotage it. Just as Marxists insist true communism has never been tried so Brexiteers declare that their simple plan has been wrecked by weaklings quislings and fools. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/29/nigel-farage-betrayal-myth-brexit-elite-people 29th Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Boris Johnson has begged voters not to punish the Tories over Brexit in this weeks local elections in a lastditch attempt to prevent a bloodbath. Experts predicted that the PM could lose 800 councillors this week as furious voters desert her for failing to leave the EU. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8960649/boris-johnson-begs-voters-not-to-punish-tories-over-brexit-in-local-election-bloodbath/ 29th Apr 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Financial Times Although uncertainty about Brexit persists London remains eager to prioritise a USUK free trade agreement when it eventually leaves the EU. In October last year Robert Lighthizer the US trade representative notified Congress of the administrations intention to open trade negotiations with Britain. And this year the UK and the US agreed to continue the mutual recognition agreement that ensures their goods meet appropriate regulatory standards in each market. This covers about 12.8bn of trade in sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to telecoms equipment. Coupled with similar agreements the UK has signed with Australia and New Zealand the US deal shows Britain is entirely capable of negotiating its own trade pacts. The Brexit negotiations are the outlier as the UK has followed the US in running into seemingly insurmountable resistance from the EU. https://www.ft.com/content/3ed38590-5493-11e9-8b71-f5b0066105fe 30th Apr 2019