25th Feb 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=11 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

Wired UK https://www.wired.co.uk/article/honda-swindon-factory-japan-brexit 24th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian A new Japanese consensus has formed. The Conservative party and its leaders cannot be trusted. They ignore warnings break their word and do not understand business personified by Old Etonians Boris Johnson and Jacob ReesMogg. Brexit is a firstorder disaster striking at the heart of how Japanese companies organise themselves as lean manufacturers. As Hondas Patrick Keating its European government affairs manager briefed a meeting in Swindon in September Brexit is likely to interrupt the justintime delivery of 2 million parts a day a fifth of which come from EU suppliers. Those suppliers would have to fill out 60000 customs declaration forms a year he warned. One in five of its UK workforce are EU nationals. The world of tarifffree barriers access to the EUs freetrade agreements with other countries and ability to move staff between countries promised by Thatcher has evaporated in front of Hondas eyes. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/24/japan-brexit-honda-nissan-liam-fox?CMP=share_btn_tw 24th Feb 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian The real gap that Brexit will widen yet further is not just between financial services and trade in food and manufactures. It is between London and the rest of the country. Already the Treasurys staggering 4.2bn for Brexit preparations is tipping jobs into the capital. The greatest irony is that London and the southeast of England which voted overwhelmingly for remain will emerge from a hard Brexit richer than ever. It is the provinces that voted leave that will suffer. Manufacturing will slide towards recession while Londoners smile all the way to the bank a bank for which Brexit will not exist. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/22/city-free-port-brexit-deal-bankers 22nd Feb 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian Austerity policies from the Treasury have resulted in slower growth in every year since 2010 and left each household 300 a month worse off as a result a thinktank has said. The New Economics Foundation said its analysis of the impact of tax and spending changes since the Conservatives came to power first as part of a coalition with the Liberal Democrats had left the economy 100bn smaller than it would otherwise have been. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/21/uk-economy-100bn-smaller-because-of-austerity-thinktank 21st Feb 2019

Economic Impact

The Telegraph The adverse effects of Brexit will be frontloaded and the benefits backloaded. It is difficult to find even the most devoted of Brexiteers arguing that things will start to improve immediately after Brexit. So this issue has something of the characteristic of an investment decision immediate costs in order to secure longterm benefits. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/02/24/clear-brexits-teething-troubles-2020-could-boom-year-uk2/ 24th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Huffington Post UK Emergency plans to tackle nodeal Brexit chaos at UK ports are so very basic transport chiefs stand accused of using Google Maps to draw them up. Richard Ballantyne chief executive of the British Ports Association made the startling allegation to HuffPost UK as he slammed simplistic proposals the government has drawn up for maritime chiefs. Bosses at Dover and Portsmouth are braced for potential ferry gridlock amid fears crashing out of the EU on March 29 could lead to food and medicine shortages. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/councils-kept-in-the-dark-over-no-deal-brexit-ports-planning_uk_5c6ff377e4b06cf6bb24d111 22nd Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

BBC The government has agreed contracts worth 104m for outside help on Brexit according to analysis for the BBC. Since the EU referendum Whitehall has hired companies to do consultancy work to prepare for the UKs EU exit. Companies with the most valuable Brexit contracts include Boston Consulting Group PWC and Deloitte according to analysis firm Tussell. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47338534 22nd Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Daily Mirror Ireland has warned its residents that UK driving licences will no longer be valid in a no deal Brexit. Drivers who live in the Republic are being urged to exchange their UK licences urgently for an Irish one before March 29. The announcement came this week from Irelands National Driver Licence Service NDLS. A statement by the NDLS said UK residents who visit from time to time on holidays will still be able to use their UK licence. NDLS rules also make clear visitors can drive on a foreign licence for up to a year providing it is current and valid. But people who live in Ireland have been told Your UK driving licence will not be valid to drive here in Ireland. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-ireland-warns-citizens-uk-14038392 22nd Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Reuters UK Im sure that the United Kingdom will be giving us a phone call to make sure that in the first few days or few weeks of any particular hard Brexit that there is a joint effort on behalf of the UK and the European Union to mitigate the damage to the citizens of the UK in relation to food Hogan told Reuters on the sidelines of the Paris farm show. I dont think they will want a situation where they will have a logistical problem at their ports that they will have food shortages and food prices going up in the shops Hogan added. The EU would prefer a soft Brexit with a transition period as set out in last years withdrawal agreement agreed by May and the other 27 EU countries but was ready for the worstcase scenario Hogan said. https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-food/eu-expects-uk-request-to-help-avoid-food-shortages-under-hard-brexit-idUKKCN1QC0RS 23rd Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Telegraph More than a million selfemployed people and small business owners will be hit by a burdensome new taxreporting regime to be introduced just days after Britain leaves the EU. From April 1 the Governments Making Tax Digital MTD rules will force small business owners with a turnover above the 85000 VAT threshold to keep all records digitally and submit them to HMRC using approved software. Selfemployed people including local shop owners barristers and landlords will be among those who must comply with the new regime when businesses are likely to be under severe strain and adapting to new trading conditions post Brexit. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tax/self-employed/one-million-self-employed-braced-digital-tax-burden-days-brexit/ 23rd Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Politico In Calais and Dover no new infrastructure has been built to prepare for customs checks should controls be required. London has yet to provide exporters and importers any clarity around its proposed trading regime with countries outside the EU. And companies from supermarket chains to big food processors such as Nestl say they have no idea what labeling requirements will be in place should no deal be reached. Obviously as importers of food its really important that we know if there will be tariffs applied and if so what that is going to look like said Andrew Opie director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium which represents supermarkets in the U.K. There are a number of countries such as Iceland Norway and Mexico important for imports of food where we are still uncertain what the trading arrangements will be on day one of a nodeal Brexit. https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-food-supply-under-threat-from-no-deal-brexit/ 23rd Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Britains old reputation as an attractive place for economic migrants to come and work now lies in tatters. The message is clear we want your money but not your people. Eastern Europeans no longer flock to Britain quite the reverse. Figures last week showed that 76000 EU workers left last year while the number of nonEU migrant workers rose by 159000. Fresh statistics expected on Thursday are likely to show the decline continuing. However evidence indicates that such immigration has been beneficial for the economy and in the long run we will be the losers https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/24/poles-return-east-higher-wages-job-uk-lose-brexit 24th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian A new Japanese consensus has formed. The Conservative party and its leaders cannot be trusted. They ignore warnings break their word and do not understand business personified by Old Etonians Boris Johnson and Jacob ReesMogg. Brexit is a firstorder disaster striking at the heart of how Japanese companies organise themselves as lean manufacturers. As Hondas Patrick Keating its European government affairs manager briefed a meeting in Swindon in September Brexit is likely to interrupt the justintime delivery of 2 million parts a day a fifth of which come from EU suppliers. Those suppliers would have to fill out 60000 customs declaration forms a year he warned. One in five of its UK workforce are EU nationals. The world of tarifffree barriers access to the EUs freetrade agreements with other countries and ability to move staff between countries promised by Thatcher has evaporated in front of Hondas eyes. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/24/japan-brexit-honda-nissan-liam-fox?CMP=share_btn_tw 24th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Sunday Times Many British companies will find it impossible to do business in Europe in the event of a nodeal Brexit leaders have warned due to waiting times of up to six months for work permits. If Britain leaves without a withdrawal agreement on March 29 free movement of UK nationals to the remaining 27 EU nations will immediately cease. The time it takes to process an application for a work permit varies from about a month in Holland to six months in Italy. However immigration experts say the existing application system for shortterm visas and work permits could be overwhelmed with demand. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bosses-alarm-over-eu-visas-rgt78cnf7 24th Feb 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian The government is expected next week to spell out its plan to mitigate a potential 9bn foodprice shock from a nodeal Brexit as analysts predict the cost of staples such as beef cheddar cheese and tomatoes could soar. With just over a month until the Brexit deadline the Department for International Trade is expected on Monday to publish a list of new import taxes or tariffs that will apply to 5200 products including food and clothing should the UK crash out of the EU without a deal. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/23/uk-food-imports-from-eu-face-9bn-tariff-bill-under-no-deal-brexit 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/24/theresa-may-postpones-meaningful-vote-on-final-brexit-deal 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-may/another-delay-may-promises-brexit-vote-in-parliament-by-march-12-idUKKCN1QD0JB 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home The Prime Minister told reporters en route to a summit in Egypt that the next major Commons showdown on her deal would take place by 12 March less than three weeks before Britain is due to leave the EU. She said My team will be back in Brussels on Tuesday. As a result of that we wont bring a meaningful vote to parliament this week but we will ensure that that happens by 12 March. It tees up a major class with Mrs Mays Ministers who have threatened to vote to take No Deal off the table https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/news/102059/theresa-may-risks-cabinet-fury-she-delays 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Yahoo! https://uk.news.yahoo.com/independent-group-mps-could-keep-164919039.html 22nd Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-eu-independent/uk-independent-lawmaker-says-would-likely-support-pm-may-in-confidence-vote-idUSL5N20J0AA?feedType=RSS&ampfeedName=marketsNews&amprpc=56 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent The new Independent Group of MPs has agreed to back Theresa May in any vote of no confidence one of its most prominent members has said. In an exclusive interview with The Independent former Conservative MP Heidi Allen said the group which also consists of eight Labour MPs had decided not to do anything that would facilitate a general election. Her words go further than previous comments that the group might support Ms May in a confidence and supply arrangement if she agrees to soften her Brexit stance. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/independent-group-may-vote-no-confidence-support-heidi-allen-a8792841.html 22nd Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

RTE.ie https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/0223/1032310-brexit-delay-cabinet-ministers/ 23rd Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Brexit should be delayed if Parliament does not approve a deal in the coming days three cabinet ministers have warned publicly for the first time. Ahead of crucial votes in the Commons Greg Clark Amber Rudd and David Gauke told the Daily Mail they would be prepared to defy Theresa May and vote for a delay. Downing Street said the trios views on no deal were scarcely a secret. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47336501 23rd Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Reuters Theresa May signalled on Sunday she wanted to press on as prime minister saying there was still more to do to live up to her promise when she took office to make Britain work for every one of us. May told her governing Conservatives in December last year she would not lead the party into the next election part of a message to ease concerns among her MPs before they mounted and then lost a no confidence vote against her. But she has so far refused to give a date for her departure and despite reports some of her ministers want her to step down after local elections in May she said she wanted to pursue not only Brexit but what she called her domestic agenda https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-may-fighton/may-signals-she-is-ready-to-fight-on-idUSKCN1QD0WB 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

PoliticsHome.com Liam Fox has warned that a Commons plan to kill off a nodeal Brexit would fundamentally weaken our position just a day after three of his Cabinet colleagues broke ranks to back the proposal. In a direct rebuke to his Cabinet colleagues Dr Fox took aim at the plot to push for an Article 50 extension. He told the Sunday Telegraph Taking nodeal off the table would be to remove the single strongest card that we have in our negotiation with the EU itself and would therefore fundamentally weaken our position ... While I do not want to see a nodeal scenario the risk of failing to deliver on Brexit itself is too great to be contemplated. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/102054/liam-fox-slaps-down-cabinet-colleagues-over-plan-halt-no 25th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable has said his party will next week make a fresh drive to give MPs the chance to back a second Brexit referendum. Sir Vince asked members of the new Independent Group for support as he sought backing for a motion aiming to lock a new public vote into law. As it stands it is unclear whether any other group will try to bring forward or support a bid for a fresh referendum this Wednesday when MPs will have another opportunity to table alternative proposals for the next steps in the Brexit process. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-deal-latest-liberal-democrats-vince-cable-referendum-final-say-independent-group-a8793261.html 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Deep divisions in the cabinet over how to manage Brexit burst into the open this week with three ministers Amber Rudd David Gauke and Greg Clark warning in a statement published in the Daily Mail on Saturday that if a breakthrough could not be achieved in the next few days then the article 50 notice period for leaving the EU must be extended. May is now promising to bring her deal back to parliament for a second meaningful vote on 12 March just 17 days before Britain is due to leave the EU. But Rudd Gauke and Clarks comments suggested they were ready to join the string of ministers who have signalled that they are prepared to defy party whips in order to back the CooperLetwin amendment. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/24/theresa-may-brexit-vote-delay-what-does-it-all-mean?CMP=share_btn_tw 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail Amber Rudd was last night at the centre of claims that she was part of a cynical plot to force the capitulation of Tory Brexiteers over Theresa Mays deal with Brussels. The Work and Pensions Secretary faced fury after she joined fellow Remainer Cabinet Ministers Business Secretary Greg Clark and Justice Secretary David Gauke in signalling publicly that they would force a delay to Brexit to stop a disastrous No Deal. While some leading figures in the proBrexit European Research Group ERG said the three Ministers should resign as they were in breach of Cabinet collective responsibility others said they suspected it was a ruse to scare MPs into backing Theresa Mays deal. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6738173/Amber-Rudd-accused-cynical-plot-force-Tory-Brexiteers-backing-Mays-Brexit-deal.html 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

London Evening Standard Labour is moving closer to supporting a second Brexit referendum and may officially back one as soon as this week senior members of the party have said. Asked whether this would be the week Labour comes out in support of a second referendum the partys deputy leader Tom Watson told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show It might be... we are getting closer to that point. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-news-latest-senior-labour-mps-say-party-could-back-second-referendum-this-week-a4075001.html 24th Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

Evening Standard McDonnell argues there is progress. They are backing the CooperLetwin amendment which would delay Brexit if a deal isnt approved by March. Although Corbyn is perceived to be antiPeoples Vote McDonnell is not. He volunteers that were moving towards a referendum and is warm about the initiative by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson which would offer the Prime Minister support for her deal so long as it was put to the people for a vote. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/shadow-chancellor-john-mcdonnell-exclusively-reveals-how-luciana-berger-was-let-down-by-labour-a4073906.html 23rd Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News Theresa May has vowed to Tory grassroots activists that she will not allow the referendum vote for Britain to leave the EU to be frustrated. Northern Minister John Penrose warned taking nodeal off the table could undermine Mrs Mays efforts to secure concessions on the backstop. It could torpedo Brexit completely leaving us in a Hotel California Brexit where wed checked out but could never leave he said in an article for The Sunday Telegraph. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-02-23/theresa-may-insists-brexit-must-not-be-blocked/ 23rd Feb 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Former First Minister Carwyn Jones has called for a fresh referendum on Britains EU membership. Before standing down in December Mr Jones the AM for Bridgend argued that Labour should seek a general election first. But speaking S4C debate show Pawb ai Farn on Thursday evening Mr Jones said It makes sense to me settle the question now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-47329344 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Irish Independent Ireland shouldnt hold its breath for a seachange in UKs broken politics according to the Irish Independent. The emergence of a breakaway group of proEU MPs at Westminster may be too little too late for Ireland as UKs broken political system jogs on towards a No Deal Brexit which hurts us all https://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/eilis-ohanlon-ireland-shouldnt-hold-its-breath-for-a-seachange-in-uks-broken-politics-37847172.html 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Michel Barnier has said he is more concerned than ever after a week of talks with Theresa May and the British negotiators that has left Brussels fearing an accidental nodeal Brexit in five weeks. But he told a French radio channel Today I am more worried than before over the talks adding that the UK needed to make decisions fast. The EU official also told ambassadors privately after the negotiations with the UKs Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay and a visit by May to Brussels that the chances of an accidental nodeal Brexit were high. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/22/michel-barnier-says-there-is-high-chance-of-accidental-no-deal-brexit 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Momentum founder Jon Lansman has admitted that parliaments new Independent Group of MPs is a threat to Labour as his organisations Corbynbacking activists mobilise in a bid to force byelections in defectors seats. In an exclusive interview with The Independent Mr Lansman said that while he believes the new group is guaranteed to fail under its own shortcomings Momentum will seek to minimise the political cost to Mr Corbyn by accelerating its downfall. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/independent-group-labour-split-momentum-campaign-jon-lansman-corbyn-a8792076.html 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Foreign secretary visits Slovenia hoping to win friends and influence people over Brexit before being labelled arrogantly insulting after telling his hosts they were once subservient to Russia when they were actually part of a fiercely independent Yugoslavia https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-hunt-slovenia-gaffe-soviet-vassal-state-brexit-negotiations-foreign-secretary-diplomatic-a8793471.html 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The Brexit vote must not be frustrated and the government needs to maintain an absolute focus on delivering it Theresa May has said. In a speech to Tory activists the PM said as her negotiations with the EU reach their final stages the worst thing we could do is lose our focus. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47346630 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico Without signs of progress some ministers and officials believe the unravelling of the party system started by the 12 MPs who resigned from Labour and the Tories last week could accelerate. A sizeable chunk of government ministers are threatening to resign to vote for backbench proposals designed to stop a nodeal Brexit. The result would be a further destabilizing of British politics just weeks before the U.K.s scheduled departure from the EU on March 29 opening up the prospect of a general election second referendum or even a redrawn coalition government replacing Mays ailing administration. https://www.politico.eu/article/the-independent-group-labour-tories-mp-brexit-what-uks-political-crack-up-means-for-brexit/ 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Byline Times Opening its session this week the committees chair Charles Walker MP asked key Opposition MPs Do you think the Government has a leg to stand on when it came to keeping requested information out of the hands of elected representatives. SNP MP Joanna Cherry QC SNP said she did not believe that the Government has a leg to stand on if MPs requests for factual information particularly on Brexit are stonewalled. They have to accept that they are a minority government she said before adding that Parliament is operating in exceptional circumstances that are at least equivalent to those before the Iraq War. This issue strikes at the heart of what the public should have a right to know. https://bylinetimes.com/2019/02/24/contempt-committee-theresa-mays-government-has-not-a-leg-to-stand-on-withholding-information-from-parliament/ 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

GMB Union Two and a half years later what is unfolding is an epic shambles that could very soon spell disaster for our nation. Every day that goes by businesses and public services are spending a fortune trying to prepare for a no deal scenario which would be an unprecedented selfinflicted disaster for our country. Businesses are hurting delaying investment paying skyhigh prices for stockpiling and not committing to providing the decent permanent jobs we need for the future. https://www.gmb.org.uk/long-read/final-say-on-brexit 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/24/brexit-could-be-delayed-until-2021-eu-sources-reveal 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Bloomberg The European Union is considering telling Theresa May that if she cant get her Brexit deal through Parliament and wants to delay the departure date the country will have to stay in the bloc until 2021. Three European officials speaking on condition of anonymity said senior EU figures and several governments back an extension of as much as 21 months beyond the scheduled March 29 exit day. The idea will enrage proBrexit lawmakers in Mays party who will probably see it as a tactic to get them to back Mays deal. A fourth European official also said it looked like a scare tactic. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-24/eu-is-said-to-mull-idea-of-proposing-brexit-extension-to-2021 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

@JonSnowC4News Institute of Directors issue statement saying they have lost faith in the political process after May postpone yet another vote on a Brexit deal https://twitter.com/jonsnowC4/status/1099712734336352256 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Huffington Post UK In the footage the British Prime Minister admits shell be hopeless as shes handed the cue. Youll have to show me how she adds unsure of the mechanics of the game. Conte lets May onto the table after failing to pocket. Clearly hoping to help his boss while shes caught in a tricky situation Gavin Barwell her chief of staff shows her how to use her hand as a bridge and how to hold the cue. Put your thumb and finger like that he suggests. Sadly the video cuts out just after she hits the cue ball so well probably never know if shes a natural. https://m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/theresa-may-pool_uk_5c731640e4b06cf6bb2729e4?utm_hp_ref=uk-news 24th Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror The former Labour PM wants to postpone Britains jump from the EU and avoid hurtling over a cliff edge by gathering evidence from people across the country to tell if they want a second referendum on the move https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown-calls-mps-vote-14042810 23rd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian If Corbyn breaks his promise on a second referendum or more characteristically pretends to support a peoples vote while quietly sabotaging it more MPs will go. Theres talk of Tom Watson the nearest the modern Labour movement has to a Bevin forming a real Labour party. Whether its more than talk I cant say. One thing is certain the question do you think Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be prime minister has the same answer it always had. I dont know how much longer the bulk of the parliamentary Labour party can avoid delivering it. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/23/buoyed-by-freedom-rebels-now-follow-their-consciences 23rd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Some of Labours most influential figures are urgently warning Jeremy Corbyn to change his approach to antisemitism Brexit and factional infighting as more senior politicians reveal they have already decided to quit the party. Figures across the party say that a major exodus of MPs peers and councillors will be triggered over the next few weeks unless the demands for change are met with some already poised to go. One senior parliamentarian told the Observer I have decided that I am going to have to leave. For me its just a question of when. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/23/corbyn-told-change-course-before-its-too-late-for-labour-michael-savage 23rd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Herald Scotland https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17454373.letters-scotland-must-not-be-dragged-down-by-the-uks-european-truculence/ 23rd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico.eu Writing in The Times Rogers labeled Britains political class a group of fantasists for taking offense at the EU wanting to enforce the rules of its trading club in Brexit negotiations. Rogers also faulted the EU for not thinking strategically about the longterm relationship it wants with what will be its most important nonEU economic and security partner. Rogers reserved his greatest astonishment for that the fact that British businesses to have no idea about their terms of trade in five weeks time I can think of no parallel for this in the postwar annals of developed countries he wrote. https://www.politico.eu/article/ivan-rogers-slams-u-k-ministers-again/ 23rd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The Observer has spoken to Labour MPs peers and supporters who are all on the verge of quitting. I know personally there are up to 20 MPs sitting on the cliff edge said one MP. The interesting thing is of the 20 its whether they jump or are kicked off. Another said 100 more will go. Several peers are also considering their position. In many cases theyve had 50 or 60 years of membership said one. It is a wrench. However there are people in the not if but when mode. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/23/20-more-mps-on-brink-of-quitting-parties-labour-tories-independent-group 23rd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Irish Times There are politicians for whom a wellinformed public on Brexit is now the enemy. These distortions of the political situation in the UK are having a cumulative impact. They are creating a looming disconnect between the UK public and the consequences of leaving the EU. Those in favour of Brexit are doing their best to ensure that remains so. May has suppressed reports from her own civil service that concluded that immigration makes a positive contribution to the UK economy. When a UN envoy wrote a damning report about the level of poverty that exists in the UK surely an argument for having as soft a Brexit as possible instead of using the information gathered the Conservative Party rejected it as outright lies. From Isis brides to offhand comments from EU politicians anything that can be thrown into the mix to obscure the truth is being used. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/the-british-public-is-disconnected-from-the-reality-of-brexit-1.3803145 23rd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun It is believed negotiations include a joint review mechanism that could end the backstop within 12 months of it being triggered. One proRemain minister told The Sun The PM knows she has to come up with something fast before next week to keep us onside. But the development sparked an angry backlash from Brexiteer Tory MPs European Research Group who warned of another major rebellion. A senior ERG source said It is highly likely that both sides in Brussels are about to commit another catastrophic misjudgement. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8483140/brexit-deal-theresa-may-dumbing-down-demands/ 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European The Brexiteer MP and Vote Leave leader has been accused of abusing public trust through the inaccurate claims made about the money sent each week to the EU. Claims about 350m sent to Brussels featured prominently on a big red bus during the Brexit campaign and on literature sent to voters despite the chair of the UK Statistics Authority writing to tell Johnson his claims were untrue. A study carried out last year found that almost half of voters still believe the claim. Now private prosecutor Marcus J Ball has filed papers at court claiming three offences of misconduct in public office against Johnson. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/marcus-ball-lodges-papers-against-boris-johnson-1-5903840 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

ITV News The latest YouGov poll for ITV Wales suggests that Welsh voters are now more likely to vote remain if there was another EU referendum. But if the only choice is Theresa Mays deal or No deal theyd vote for the May Deal https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2019-02-22/polls-shows-welsh-voters-prefer-mays-brexit-deal-to-leaving-eu-without-a-deal/ 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

Business Insider The more familiar British people become with the details of Brexit the less they like it according to one of the UKs leading pollsters. There is now a ninepoint majority that believes leaving the European Union was wrong YouGov found. Its the biggest majority against Brexit since the poll was instigated. A majority would vote Remain if a second referendum was held. Morgan Stanley now predicts Brexit will be delayed possibly opening a window to a second vote. https://www.businessinsider.com/yougov-poll-brexit-regret-remain-second-referendum-2019-2 22nd Feb 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Theresa May has vowed to block rightwing entryists from joining the Conservative Party in an attempt to stem further defections.Anna Soubry Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen said local Tory associations were being infiltrated by a Eurosceptic purple Momentum when they joined the new Independent Group of MPs on Wednesday. In a letter to the trio Mrs May said she did not accept the comparison between the Conservative grassroots and the influx of leftwing activists into the Labour Party since Jeremy Corbyn became leader. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ill-stop-brexit-extremists-infiltrating-our-party-theresa-may-assures-tories-q3lwbsmwv 22nd Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Sun Downing Street is delaying a bombshell announcement on No Deal tariffs to avoid uproar before a crunch Brexit vote next week. Cabinet sources last night said that longawaited details of import duties on areas such as food and ceramics will only come next Thursday or Friday https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8483841/downing-street-no-deal-brexit-report/ 21st Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

The Independent Philip Hammond risked reopening a cabinet rift with Gavin Williamson by suggesting the defence secretary damaged UK relations with China by suggesting that the UK would deploy an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea just prior to a drive to open trade deal talks https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/philip-hammond-gavin-williamson-china-south-sea-defence-military-cabinet-a8790656.html 22nd Feb 2019

Trade Deals/Negotiations

Euronews Britain would go to the bottom of the international pecking order in the case of a nodeal Brexit a former Director General of the World Trade Organisation has said. Pascal Lamy likened a hard exit to jumping off a cliff without a parachute. What happens in the next days is you move down from first league to fourth league and you have to apply tariffs borders controls and Im not talking about specific arrangements of airlines capital markets nuclear safety. Its not ready nobody is ready for a no deal which is by the way the reason I think it will not happen. People are wise enough not to jump off the cliff without a parachute Lamy said. https://www.euronews.com/2019/02/22/no-deal-brexit-like-jumping-off-cliff-without-parachute-says-former-wto-leader 22nd Feb 2019