Brexit

Parts of manufacturing industry face “extinction” unless Britain remains in a customs union with the EU, the president of the CBI has said. Paul Drechsler, who is standing down from his role in the business organisation, said politicians were not focusing on the economics of Brexit. He told the BBC: “If we do not have […]

Relations between the Scottish and UK governments have reached a new low as furious SNP leaders threatened to withdraw their cooperation with Westminster, accusing Conservatives there of forcing through a Brexit “power grab” by the backdoor. Scottish Government ministers and SNP MPs were outraged when amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill related to devolution were […]

Labour is avoiding answering questions on Brexit, says Liberal Democrat candidate for Lewisham East LUCY SALEK. We need a final say on the Brexit deal This week MPs vote on the Brexit bill. The people of Lewisham East also have a vote and a choice, either they send me to Parliament, safe in the knowledge […]

Nobody said it was easy, sang Coldplay. This lot did “All of this is going to be bloody difficult to do,” the UK’s former ambassador to the EU, said of Brexit today as he gave evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee. “If you take Brexit seriously, which I do, you can’t say you […]

A “major crunch” is looming over Britain’s post-Brexit customs arrangements with Brussels, the UK’s former ambassador to the EU has said. Sir Ivan Rogers raised serious concerns about the two trading options which have split the Cabinet as he gave evidence to the Commons Home Affairs Committee. Senior ministers have been divided between a maximum […]

A Conservative minister has been criticised for “oddly dark” comments about hanging following a plea for unity over Brexit from Theresa May. It followed a meeting of the backbench 1922 committee this evening ahead of a series of crunch Commons votes in which Mrs May told MPs to consider the signal that would be sent […]

Theresa May has begged Tory rebels not to undermine her negotiating position with the EU by backing amendments to Brexit legislation made by the Lords. Addressing a meeting of the backbench 1922 committee this evening ahead of a series of crunch Commons votes, the beleaguered prime minister told MPs to consider the signal that would […]

The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association has become the first trade union affiliated to the Labour Party to back a People’s Vote on Brexit. Union delegates at their conference in Leicester voted overwhelmingly in favour of a fresh referendum on the final Brexit deal. The union also voted to support remaining a member of the EU […]

Theresa May’s appeal for a show of unity from her warring MPs “must fall on deaf ears”, a leading anti-Brexit campaigner has said. The prime minister is seeking to avoid a series of damaging Commons defeats on the government’s centrepiece Brexit legislation. The EU (Withdrawal) Bill returns to the Commons on tomorrow with ministers seeking […]

Richard Porritt, Steve Anglesey and Geri Scott return to review another wild week in post-common sense Britain Richard and Steve tackle hard man David Davis and ponder ‘exactly what is the point of Jeremy Corbyn?’ … answers on a postcard. And, as usual, another bonkers Brexiteer of the Week is crowned.

Brussels will not be “intimidated” by Britons who try to blame the EU for their inability to secure the Brexit deal they want, chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said. Mr Barnier was speaking as he said that Theresa May’s proposals for a backstop customs arrangement in Northern Ireland raise a series of “difficult” questions. Speaking […]

Anti-Brexit campaign group Best for Britain today set out its road map for a People’s Vote on the final deal. The group is calling on MPs to force a referendum on the deal secured by prime minister Theresa May, with an option on the ballot paper of keeping the UK in the European Union. It […]

A Hard Brexit would wipe £5bn off the Welsh economy, says Plaid Cymru MP JONATHAN EDWARDS. Wales can’t afford this stormy outcome The bad weather in the first quarter of 2018 has certainly had a dampening effect on the UK economy, but boiling it all down to the weather ignores the red, white and blue […]

Theresa May and David Davis have been accused of a fudge after agreeing any “backstop” arrangement to prevent the return of a hard border in Ireland after Brexit should not continue for more than a year after the end of the transition period. A government technical note said the UK expected permanent customs arrangements to […]

TIM WALKER sees the Lib Dems put up a spirited fight in a Labour stronghold The Lib Dems may be starting a long way behind in Lewisham East – 4.4% of the vote against Labour’s 67% in last year’s general election – but the party is taking the race extremely seriously. Sir Vince Cable’s frequent […]

Brexit secretary David Davis has been urged to quit as Theresa May battles for government unity on her backstop proposals for the Irish border. The prime minister is facing a tough response from Brexiteers over plans to allow a time-limited deal which would see the UK stay within parts of the EU customs union as […]

Who is on Question Time tonight and where do they stand on Brexit? Here’s your guide… The BBC’s flagship current affairs programme tonight comes from Reading’s Concert Hall, which later this year hosts An Evening With Sir Michael Parkinson. He was attacked by Emu – but how likely are tonight’s panel to attack the EU? […]

The Labour leader’s moves on the Lords amendments show he has no interest in halting Brexit Jeremy Corbyn attracted positive reviews for his prime minister’s questions performance yesterday, although it is telling that, against an opponent as unthinking on her feet as Theresa May it is considered a triumph if he takes to his despatch […]

The UK government must withdraw a contentious part of key Brexit legislation after the Scottish Parliament refused to grant consent, Scotland’s Brexit minister has said. Michael Russell said if UK ministers failed to remove the clause, regarding the issue of Scottish Parliament consent over devolved powers returning to the UK following Brexit, against the wishes […]

Quitting the European Union without a deal would cost Britain £20bn, the head of HM Revenue and Customs has warned. Jon Thompson had faced criticism over claims in May the customs plan favoured by Brexiteers would hit businesses by the same amount if it is implemented. But the customs boss defended the figure when he […]

One of Britain’s largest private sector unions today overwhelmingly backed a ‘people’s vote’ on the final terms of Brexit. An emergency motion was passed at the union’s national conference in Birmingham calling for democratic oversight of the Brexit process. The vote makes Prospect one of the largest trade unions to officially support a vote on […]

Theresa May has been accused of “holding the country hostage” as it emerged she has abandoned plans to publish a detailed blueprint of her government’s Brexit plans. Downing Street announced last month that the government was producing a white paper on its proposed future relationship with the EU, expected to be published ahead of a […]

Disagreement with Britain’s decision to quit the European Union has reached its highest point since the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to a new poll. The YouGov survey found 47% of voters thought the decision to leave was wrong, against just 40% who said it was the right thing to do – the widest margin since […]

It’s time for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour to show true leadership, put people first and back remaining in the single market, says JOHN LEHAL Considering the overriding imperative to maintain legal continuity post-Brexit, and with less than 10 months to go until Brexit day, it is staggering the government has lost yet another four weeks waiting […]

David Lammy has accused the Conservatives of “contempt for Parliament” after it emerged all 15 Lords amendments to the EU withdrawal bill will be debated in one marathon session next week. A letter sent to Conservatives MPs today by government chief whip Julian Smith announced that the amendments would be debated and voted on a […]

Arlene Foster has been forced to threatening the prime minister over Brexit, insisting she did not think Theresa May would even consider a deal which would treat Northern Ireland differently. Weekend comments by the DUP leader about the party’s “red line” on customs arrangements post-Brexit were interpreted by some as a veiled threat to pull […]

Any lack of security cooperation post-Brexit will be the fault of “the government’s pigheaded negotiating strategy”, home secretary Sajid Javid was told today. Mr Javid today issued a stark warning about the risk of weakening UK-EU ties on security, saying it would be “wrong and reckless” to advocate any “unnecessary reduction” in co-operation. He described […]

Britain could stay in the European VAT area after the Brexit transition period, according to reports – a move which would see one of Theresa May’s so-called “red lines” crossed. According to the Financial Times (click for link), Britain is taking an ‘active role’ in shaping new EU VAT regulations for the 2020s, suggesting the […]

As the Mamoudou Gassama incident adds to Emmanuel Macron’s accumulation of glowing publicity, BARNABY TOWNS challenges some Brexit myths about the UK’s supposed superiority to our southern neighbour Another day, another picture-perfect photo opportunity for President Emmanuel Macron, this time thanking Mamoudou Gassama — the undocumented immigrant who saved a child dangling from a balcony […]

Sadiq Khan has heaped pressure on Jeremy Corbyn by urging Labour MPs to be “brave” and vote to retain close ties to the EU. The Mayor of London urged MPs to defy their leader when controversial Lords amendments to the government’s flagship EU legislation return to the Commons. Mr Khan – Labour’s most senior elected […]

The UK will be “fully prepared” for leaving the EU without a deal, Downing Street insisted today, after reports civil servants have been drawing up scenarios for a “Doomsday Brexit” that would leave the country short of medicine, fuel and food. Prime minister Theresa May still believes that “no deal is better than a bad […]

A cross-party group of MPs have signed an open letter calling for a final vote on any Brexit deal with an option to remain in the EU. The signatories include Labour MPs from all wings of the party, along with Liberal Democrats. The letter has been coordinated by the anti-Brexit Best for Britain campaign group, […]