EU keeps demands on level-playing field as it publishes mandate ahead of trade talks February 25, 2020 The EU has stressed there must be no reduction in “common” standards on food, environment and labour laws as it publishes its negotiating mandate for the second stage of Brexit. The mandate, published after being signed off by the EU 27, says a deal will be dependent on both sides agreeing to maintain the level [...]
Lord Steel quits after report finds authorities ‘turned a blind eye’ to Westminster child abuse claims February 25, 2020 Liberal Democrats peer Lord Steel has quit today, after an inquiry criticised him for failing to report child sex abuse claims against the late MP Cyril Smith. The former Liberal party leader said he would retire from the Lords “as soon as possible”, after the report accused Steel of an “abdication of responsibility” for failing [...]
Brexit: UK to prioritise sovereignty over business continuity in EU trade talks February 24, 2020 Britain will prioritise “sovereignty and independence” over business continuity when it comes to trade talks with the EU, Number 10 has said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his ‘XS’ committee – made up of frontbenchers such as Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and foreign secretary Dominic Raab – is expected to sign off the negotiating [...]
Minister James Brokenshire says he would eat chlorinated chicken in UK February 24, 2020 A Home Office minister has refused to rule out eating chlorinated chicken if it were sold in the UK after Brexit’s transition period ends. Security minister James Brokenshire did not reject the idea that he would eat chlorine-washed chicken, if authorities in the UK gave it the green light, telling LBC he was “not a [...]
Starmer refuses to comment on return to frontbench for Corbyn February 24, 2020 The frontrunner in Labour’s leadership contest Keir Starmer has refused to comment on whether the man he hopes to replace would have a role in the next shadow government. Speaking to the BBC this morning about whether Jeremy Corbyn could have a seat on the frontbench, Starmer stressed he had “not discussed that team with [...]
French minister warns against London ‘blackmail’ as second stage of Brexit talks near February 24, 2020 France will not be “blackmailed” into a rushed trade deal between the UK and EU, an Elysee minister has warned, as Brussels prepares to publish its negotiating mandate for the next stage of Brexit talks. Amélie de Montchalin, France’s secretary of state for European affairs, told France24 this morning she would be bringing a “clear [...]
Exclusive: Did someone say chicken? UK preparing to break with EU on food safety at WTO meeting February 20, 2020 Downing Street is considering taking an independent stance on food safety at an upcoming WTO summit, in yet another breach of transition rules within the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. The stage will be set when the US formally welcomes the UK as an independent member of the WTO during a meeting about sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) [...]
Downing Street poised to axe business councils February 20, 2020 Downing Street is planning a major shake-up of the way it deals with the business community, with officials planning to scrap the system created by Theresa May. Number 10 officials are poised to axe the five business councils set up by the former Prime Minister around business lines, including one for financial and professional services. [...]
US presses Downing Street again in ‘frank’ talks over Huawei February 20, 2020 A senior US official has met with Boris Johnson’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings in the hope of getting the government to change its mind over Huawei’s involvement the UK’s 5G network. Donald Trump’s acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney today met with Cummings and the Prime Minister’s chief strategic adviser Eddie Lister in what sources [...]
Chart attack: EU and UK at war over misleading stats in Brexit trade talks February 20, 2020 A row has erupted between the UK and EU over both sides’ misleading use of charts to score political points in Brexit trade talks. Yesterday the European Commission published a series of new slides arguing why the UK should not be granted the same kind of trade deal as Canada. Read more: EU ‘fails to [...]
