Daily Archives: July 21, 2020

Britain warned the Brussels bloc it was not prepared to give up our rights on sovereignty, laws and fishing after Mr Frost and Mr Barnier shared a poignant moment. Mr Barnier tweeted that he and Mr Frost paused together in front of a war memorial following dinner on Monday in Westminster.

He said: "At the occasion of the working dinner with my counterpart David Frost at Carlton Gardens, a brief moment remembering our shared European history."

There continue to be a number of key sticking points in the way of agreeing a post-Brexit deal before the transition period ends in January.

The points of dispute - the "level playing field" of measures designed to ensure fair competition between the UK and EU, fisheries and the governance of any deal - will be on the agenda in Tuesday's sessions.

Ahead of the talks, Downing Street acknowledged significant differences remained between the two sides and reminded the EU it is "not asking for a special, bespoke or unique deal".

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: In terms of the discussions that we have been having throughout the intensified process, they have continued to be constructive but significant differences still remain on a number of important issues.

Our position on our sovereignty, laws and fisheries is clear - we will not give up our rights as an independent state.

"We will continue to engage constructively with the EU on these key issues and will work hard to reach the broad outline of an agreement.

"But as we have been clear all along, we are not asking for a special, bespoke or unique deal."

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READ MORE:EU blasted for absurd and contradictory Brexit demands

5.31pm update:Brexiteers laud UKs exit as EU strides towards country called Europe

The European Union took another huge step towards a full-blown superstate on Tuesday after five days of bitter wrangling over a coronavirus rescue fund ended in a deal.

After a record-breaking summit negotiation marred by controversy, EU leaders finally agreed on a 750 billion spending plan for the blocs regions and industries worst hit by the pandemic. To pay for the aid, the European Commission was granted unprecedented borrowing, taxation and spending powers to run up 390 billion in joint debt to be handed out as grants rather than loans.

Conservative MPs said the pact showed Britain had quit the EU in the nick of time.

Former Brexit minister David Jones said: Had we still been a member, wed end up taking the second-largest share of bailing our countries right across the continent.

Fortunately were not and I think in hindsight more or less everybody, whether they voted to leave or not, will realise Britain has had a lucky escape on this occasion.

This is another step towards an increase in powers for the European Commission and reduction in power for the national government. Its a further step along the road to a creation of a country called Europe.

4.22pm update:Peers clash over post-Brexit farm support system

Peers have clashed over a new support system for farmers as the UK moves away from Europe's Common Agricultural Policy.

Liberal Democrat Lord Teverson called for a cut in the transition period to payments under new environmental land management schemes (ELMs).

But other peers warned, in committee stage debate on the Agriculture Bill, that a shorter transition period could hit farm incomes.

Lord Teverson told the Lords said it was better to introduce the new ELMs in five years rather than the seven proposed in the Bill.

But Tory Baroness McIntosh of Pickering said the transition period from direct payments should remain at seven years.

Lady McIntosh said it was the biggest change faced by farmers for a generation and a delay would give the Government time to develop a good scheme, rather than a "half-baked" one.

3.12pm update:Merkel accused of interfering in 2017 general election over Brexit

Angela Merkels Germany was accused of trying to influence the 2017 general election by undermining former Prime Minister Theresa May over Brexit talks, unearthed reports reveal.

According to a 2017 report by The Telegraph, senior officials in the German government and in Brussels openly mocked Theresa May in what was described as an attempt to undermine the former Prime Minister.

Ahead of the general election in June 2017, Mrs Merkel claimed Britain had illusions over what it could hope to achieve from Brexit.

Weakening Mrs Mays mandate with the electorate tilted the balance in favour of the EU negotiators, and Conservative sources suggested she was the victim of a coordinated plot.

Emily Ferguson is taking over live reporting fromRebecca Perring

2.25pm update: PM is confident Brexit was fair

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is confident the 2016 Brexit referendum result was fair, his spokesman said on Tuesday.

Asked in the light of a parliamentary report into Russian influence in Britain whether Johnson thought the outcome of the referendum was fair, the spokesman said: "Yes, absolutely."

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1.56am update: Pompeo hails 'constructive' Brexit talks with Boris

Mike Pompeo said it was a constructive visit after he met Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He said: "Our two countries' long-standing, strong bilateral relationship has laid the foundation for today's candid discussion on issues ranging from 5G telecommunication to our negotiations for a US-UK free trade agreement.

1.15pm update:Farage takes on EU again as Italexit campaign praises him for freeing UK from 'EU cage'

Nigel Farage is making his mark yet again in his battle against the EU after it emerged he has helped inspire the man behind Italys Italexit campaign.

Prominent Brexiteer and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has been hailed a true British patriot who sent away the technocrats from Brussels by anti-EU campaigner Gianluigi Paragone, a former senator for the anti-establishment 5Star Movement in Italy.

Mr Paragone revealed he had met with Mr Farage just before launching his Italexit campaign 'No Europe for Italy, which will take place on Thursday, July 23.

12.44pm update: Brexit will split financial markets - BoE

Brexit will make markets less efficient but it won't be disastrous for Britain's economy, an appointee to the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said on Monday.

Jonathan Hall told the Treasury Select Committee that Brexit represented a longer term risk of increased fragmentation and complexity in financial services.

He said: "This would increase friction costs for the economy, the supervisory burden."

11.49am update: 'Brexit was always gift to Putin'

Guy Verhofstadt, chief Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, tweeted following the release of the Russia report: "Brexit was always a gift to Putin because it weakened the European Union & left Britain divided, isolated. The #RussiaReport shows just how many questions remain unanswered."

11.25am update: Italy could follow in UK's Brexit footsteps

Italy will officially launch a campaign to unshackle itself from the EU on Thursday as the Mediterranean country looks to follow in Britain's Brexit footsteps.

The EU has another crisis on its hands after Italian politician Gianluigi Paragone, a former senator for the anti-establishment 5Star Movement, said it was time for Italy to launch its Italexit campaign ' No Europe for Italy' on Thursday, July 23. He said Italy would no longer be "blackmailed" by the Brussels bloc.

10.32am update: Russia meddled in Scottish referendum but unclear on Brexit - report

Russiameddled in the 2014 Scottish referendum and the British government failed to ask for a deep assessment of possible Kremlin-directed interference in theBrexitvote, the British parliament's intelligence and security committee said.

The report said: "There has been credible open source commentary suggesting thatRussiaundertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014"

It said there were open source indications thatRussiasought to influence theBrexitcampaign but that the British government had not sought deep evidence of meddling.

The report castRussiaas a hostile power which posed a significant threat to the United Kingdom and the West across a range of fronts, from espionage and cyber to election meddling and laundering dirty money.

It added: "It appears thatRussiaconsiders the UK one of its top Western intelligence targets."

9.46am update: Pound Sterling enjoys rise

The pound briefly rose above $1.27 for the first time in six weeks on Tuesday.

The currency had enjoyed its best day in three-weeks on Monday, lifted by the generally buoyant market mood which allowed investors to overlook poor British economic data and lack of concrete progress on Brexit trade talks.

9.35am update:Nigel Farage lashes out at Remainers over Russia report

Nigel Farage has demanded serious apologies after an investigation reportedly found that Russia did not attempt to meddle in the Brexit vote.

The Brexiteer hit out after a long-awaited probe into alleged Russian interference in British democracy, due to be published later today, found nothing to suggest Russia played any part in the 2016 EU referendum, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Mr Farage tweeted: So, no evidence of Russian interference in the referendum. Some serious apologies are due.

8.48am update: US Mike Pompeo to meet Boris

As Britain toughens its stance on China due to its handling of the coronavirus and a crackdown in Hong Kong, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit is an attempt to stiffen Boris Johnson's resolve and dangle the potential reward of a post-Brexitfree trade deal, diplomats say.

Mr Pompeo will discuss ways to tackle the growing might of China when he meets Mr Johnson on Tuesday, just a week after London ordered a purge of Huawei gear from the 5G network.

President Donald Trump lauded Mr Johnson's ban on Huawei, though he also claimed he had forced London's hand due to concern over China, which he considers to be the US' main geopolitical rival of the 21st century.

8.15am update: Policing minister says he doesn't know if Russia meddled in Brexit

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said he does not know if Russia meddled in the Brexit vote or the Scottish independence referendum.

Asked on BBC Breakfast why it has taken so long for the report to be published, he said there has been a general election, adding: "And the fact that this report is the property of the committee itself and they make a decision about its publication.

"The fact that the committee took a little time to get going after the general election probably delayed it too.

"But it'll be here in, you know, a couple of hours, and we'll be able to read it and digest it."

Asked if he thinks Russia tried to influence the Scottish and EU referendums, he said: "I don't know. I haven't read the report. I'll have to wait and see what they have to say."

8.02am update:Taoiseach welcomes Brexit EU fund

Micheal Martinwelcomed a 5 billion reserve fund to support countries worst affected by the impact of Brexit.

It comes after the EU agreed on a 1.82 trillion budget and coronavirus recovery fund.

Micheal Martin said it is a strong deal which includes a substantial and significant package of measures.

The budget and recovery fund was finally agreed in the early hours of Tuesday after a marathon four-day summit in Brussels.

7.50am update: EU fishermen demand SAME access to UK waters in Brexit deal as system working well

Brexit trade talks with the EU will resume on Tuesday, but a breakthrough is not expected as the bloc is still adamant European fishermen must have the same access to UK waters - something British negotiators are keen to avoid.

Gerard van Balsfoort, Chairman of the European Fisheries Alliance, has told Michel Barnier to insist fishing rights remain the same after the conclusion of the Brexit transition period this year.

The EU's chief negotiator was told losing access to the waters could be disastrous for many EU states.

Mr van Balsfoort told the Telegraph: Loss of access to fishing grounds, to markets for fish or the return of overfishing will ultimately harm all of us.

"Michel Barnier knows this."

7.39am update: Brexit deal is possible but ambitious - Germany

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Tuesday: "The aim of reaching an agreement between Britain and the European Union on future ties between the two by October is ambitious but achievable.

An agreement on the basis of the Political Declaration is sporty but still possible."

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Brexit LIVE: UK sends EU dire ultimatum - before rivals share 'poignant moment' in London - Daily Express

The UK government announced its plans for a new 705m post-Brexit border infrastructure but the EU is poised to step in to stop trade after the transition period is over if they detect unfair competition, it has been revealed.Last week Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said the Government had been laying the groundwork for months to help Britains borders after the end of December.

But concerns have been raised about how the EU could stop trade between the UK if they think there is not a level playing field.

Speaking toExpress.co.ukNick Witney, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said: My suspicion is we will end up with a deal which provides minimal legal cover for shipping goods in either direction without quotas but with the British side not actually ready to implement any new system of vetting goods for regulatory requirements.

Mr Witney explained there are concerns Britons will start exporting goods to Europe which are subsidised providing unfair competition for European producers.

He said: More initially in the short term the EU is worried that the possibility of all sorts of people from around the world could sell stuff into Europe via the UK and undercut European producers.

Or send stuff into Europe that is not the right standards.

He added how Europeans will be poised to step in and stop things coming if they detect any reason to think that its unfair competition which would be a very messy situation to live with for months and years.

Mr Witney said the UK and EU will end up with a compromise by the end of the year rather than a breakdown.

He thinks this will happen because of two reasons, firstly the British side will not be ready at the end of December for trade between the EU.

READ MORE:EU blasted for absurd and contradictory Brexit demands

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, feared the new border arrangements with the EU will not be ready in time for January.

Her leaked letter addressed to Rishi Sunak and Mr Gove highlighted four key areas of concern about the Governments Brexit border plans.

Mr Witney said: I think we are way behind the curb and that will certainly increase the internal pressure on the Government to find a way not to have an absolute breakdown at the end of the year.

Ms Truss raised concerns that UK ports will not be prepared to carry out full import checks when they come into place in July next year.

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She also warned that some ports could be exposed to smuggling from January.

Mr Witney also highlighted how the brand knew IT system to help check goods heading to the EU from the start of January has not been tested yet.

When Britain leaves the European Single Market in January, the Government has planned to put a new IT system in place to manage the additional border checks that are needed.

The system, known as Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS), requires those transporting goods to have a GVMS reference number before being able to leave for the EU.

The reference numbers will be checked by customs officials at locations which are unspecified at the moment.

HMRC is not planning to test the new system until November, a month before Britain will leave the EU Single Market.

Mr Witney said the most critical thing to ensure is that on the 1 January goods can continue to move in both directions without tariffs and quotas.

He added: I suspect that the EU will be prepared to cut some provided that theyre convinced were sincere in wanting to get our plans properly in place.

And provided that they will reserve to themselves the right to step in at any particular point and say no were not having any more of whatever it is because were not happy.

The UK is set to leave the transition period at the end of December.

However, if a trade deal is not agreed by the end of the year the UK will face the prospect of tariffs on exports to the EU.

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Brexit shock: EU poised to stop trade with UK when the transition period ends - Express

The EU Commission has agreed to undertake mass borrowing for the first time in a landmark recovery deal. The talks, lastingover 90 hours and stretching over five days, saw tensions flaring and emotions run high between the blocs leaders. Charles Michel, the European Council president announced that the deal had been reached on Twitter at 5:30am in Brussels. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the news, and called the agreement a historic day for Europe. THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSED. Click HERE for today's latest Brexit updates

The recovery deal is centred on a 390 billion programme of grants to financially weakened member states.

The COVID-19 recovery plan also contains 360 billion in loans, and is attatched to a1.074 trillion seven-year budget, bringing the totalfinancial package to anabsurdly high 1.82 trillion.

The talks saw EU leaders struggle through negotiations partially due to the "frugal" members, those beingAustria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden,resistingthe idea of permitting the bloc to borrow money and hand it out as budgetary expenditure for member states.

In response to those nations concerns over grants to financially weak members, they were offered rebates, withAustrias annual reduction being doubled to 565 million a year, and the Netherlands rebates set to rise to 1.92 billion from 1.57 billion.

The budget talks were just hours shy of breaking the record for the longest ever EU leaders meeting, which remains the 2000 Nice summit.

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7.37am update:THIS BLOG IS NOW CLOSE. ClickHEREfor today's latest Brexit updates

6:04am update: EU leaders reach unprecedented 1.82 trillion budget deal

After five days of bitter negotiations, EU leaders have agreed on their new seven-year budget.

The 1.82 trillion deal includes 750 billion for coronavirus relief measures, including 390 billion in grants and 360 billion in loans for financially weakened countries.

European Council President Charles Michel announced news of the agreement on Twitter, with a one-word post saying Deal!

4:42am update: EU emergency budget talks conclude with a deal

The EU has agreed to terms for a seven year budget, plus funds for coronavirus relief

4:40am update: Day 5 of EU budget talks near conclusion, green policy to be slashed

A final negotiating document on an emergency budget has been shared with EU delegates, according to POLITICO.

The budget sees a reduction in the Just Transition Fund, designed to help EU countries move to cleaner energy, by a huge 20 billion.

3:30am update: Report on Russian interference in UK releases today

The Russia report from the UK parliaments intelligence and security committee is set to be released today.

Its release comes nine months after Prime Minister Boris Johnson blocked its publication ahead of the 2019 general election.

Publication of the document comes after the committee rejected Mr Johnsons choice of former minister Chris Grayling as the new chairman.

Members voted by five to four to support the veteran Conservative Julian Lewis instead.

12:00am update:Belgian socialists warn of new election if no coalition formed

Paul Magnette, leader of Belgiums Socialist Party, has warned the country could face another election if a coalition government is not formed in the next 50 days.

After the King tasked him with looking for a possible coalition, Mr Magnette said: We have about 50 days to find a solution, failing which we will have to call a new election.

Currently the country is governed by Sophie Wilms, who was given emergency powers for six months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Wilms, leader of the Reformist Movement party, took over as caretaker Prime Minister due toBelgium'sinconclusive 2019election results.

Dylan Donnelly takes over from Richard Percival

9:30pm update:MPs defeat Tory backbench attempt to guarantee parliamentary approval of post-Brexittrade agreements

Ministers resisted a Tory backbench attempt to give Parliament a definitive say on post-Brexit trade deals as flagship legislation appeared in the Commons this evening.

Concerns were raised that politicians in Westminster would be unable to prevent the Government reneging on commitments to protect the NHS and maintain animal welfare and food standards under the current terms of the Trade Bill.

But the Government stressed UK law offers such protections and any changes would have to come before Parliament.

They rejected new clause four by 263 votes to 326, majority 63.

8pm update: US gets involved in Brexit talks

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the United Kingdom on Monday to discuss China, 5G and a Brexitfree trade deal with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Pompeo, who did not speak to reporters on the plane, was due to be greeted by US Ambassador Woody Johnson shortly after landing.

The US State Department said ahead of his visit: "While in London, Secretary Pompeo will meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to discuss global priorities, including the COVID-19 economic recovery plans, issues related to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong, and the US-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations."

6.30pm update: Sterling reaches highest rate against Euro

The Pound recovered from an early-morning 20-day low against the stronger euro, but investors remained bearish as Britain's bleak economic outlook andBrexitrisks weighed on the currency.

Against the Euro, the pound was at 90.375 pence per Euro, similar levels to last Monday's close

With a new round ofBrexitnegotiations between Britain and the EU beginning on Tuesday, hopes for a trade deal in time for the year-end expiry of the transition period following Britain's departure from the bloc are fading fast.

Kaspar Hense, a portfolio manager at Bluebay Asset Management, said: "There will be a deal but it will be a hardBrexit, probably worse than a Canada deal."

5.30pm update: Scottish Secretary urges united approach on UK internal market after Brexit

Different regulations on goods between Scotland and the rest of the UK will cost consumers, the Scottish Secretary has warned.

Alister Jack has urged the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government on the establishment of the new internal market.

In the past week, a row has developed between Holyrood and Westminster over what the Scottish Government has called a "power grab" using the new Internal Market Bill.

Mr Jack said: "For me, it's fantastic these powers will no longer be exercised in Brussels.

"But it brings a risk that different standards, rules and regulations set in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland could emerge, creating barriers to trade and extra costs for business and consumers.

"That's in no-one's interests."

4.30pm update:Brexitwill split financial markets says Bank of England

Brexit will make markets less efficient but it won't be disastrous for the UK economy, an appointee to the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee has said.

Jonathan Hall, told a confirmation hearing in Parliament's Treasury Select Committee this afternoon: "It will cause fragmentation, it will cause inefficiency, there will be problems with regulation, but it's not going to be disastrous... for the economy."

3:30pm update: Concerns on Government commitment to a Green Brexit

Environmentalists have raised concerns that the Government is "watering down" its appetite for a greenBrexitand recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Environment Secretary George Eustice used a speech to environmental groups this afternoon to insist that the approach to green regulation after the UK quits the EU system will help boost nature.

During the speech, he also stressed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Government want to see a green recovery for the UK as it emerges from the COVID-19 crisis.

But RSPB chief executive Beccy Speight, who was also speaking at the online conference organised by think-tank Green Alliance, voiced the concerns of many in the sector over the gap between the Government's rhetoric and action on the environment.

She said: "We're seeing patterns that show a kind of watering down around the appetite for a greenBrexit, a watering down of the appetite of a green economic recovery."

Ms Speight stressed that we "would want to see more ambition, more heart and certainly more investment in nature" in order to deliver a real, green recovery, warning that what has been announced for nature so far "did not touch the sides" of what is needed.

1.37pm update: 'We will not give up our rights as an independent state' - Downing Street

Britain will continue to engage "constructively" with the EU on a post-Brexit trade deal, but is refusing to give up its rights as an independent state, a spokesman for Boris Johnson has warned.

The spokesman told reporters: "Our position on our sovereignty, laws and fisheries is clear, we will not give up our rights as an independent state.

"We will continue to engage constructively with the EU on these key issues and will work hard to reach the broad outline of an agreement, but as we have been clear all along we are not asking for a special, bespoke or unique deal."

Both sides will resume talks on Tuesday after the UK's chief negotiator David Frost hosts EU counterpart for dinner on Monday evening.

12.39pm update:EU told to do Brexit deal in bid to avoid global unemployment spike like Great Depression

Liam Fox has warned of a possible spike in global unemployment higher than anything since the Great Depression.

During an interview with Sky News, Dr Fox urged the UK and European Union to agree a good open trading relationship post-Brexit.

The former International Trade Secretary stated that a deal between Britain and the EU would give a boost of confidence to the global trading system when it is desperate need of a positive signal.

Mr Fox said: "We want to see Brexit done, I still hope we will see a good open trading relationship between Britain and the European Union.

"I think that now goes beyond the bilateral relationship.

"It is obviously good for Britain and our European partners to have open liberal trade between us.

"I think now the global trading system is slowing down because of COVID, we have the COVID emergency on top of that.

"We may well be seeing problems with global unemployment, a spike higher than we have seen since the Great Depression.

"It is very important that all countries understand that they need to do even more to keep trade moving.

"I think a good agreement between Britain and the EU would give a boost of confidence to the global trading system at a time when it very much needs one."

11.51am update: Liam Fox exposes key 'incentive' for EU to agree quick trade deal

Brexit negotiations could benefit from a new "incentive" the coronavirus pandemic has exposed, according to former International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox.

The UK and EU have been struggling to find common ground to secure a final trade agreement as both sides remain firm over their red lines.

But according to former International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox the coronavirus pandemic has exposed a new "incentive" that could push Brussels into a deal.

Speaking to Times Radio, he said: "I think there is an added incentive now for Britain and the EU to come to a good trade agreement.

"Weve got not only a slowing down of the system but weve got the emergence of COVID.

"Weve probably got an incipient global financial crisis on our hands, or certainly an economic crisis.

"The world lacks one thing at the moment and that is confidence. If we can manage to come to a good trade agreement with the European Union I think that will give a good boost to the international system."

10.55am update:Three quarters of UK hauliers could be shut out of EU if no trade deal agreed

Up to three quarters of British hauliers could be shut out of the EU if a post-Brexit trade deal is not agreed, triggering new fears over shortages of food and other goods.

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) warned permits would be made available for only 2,088 businesses from January - significantly down from the 8,348 that were registered for journeys last year.

The trade group warned companies are already under financial pressure because of the coronavirus crisis, and need a resolution within weeks as it prepares for its "Christmas peak".

The FTA's European policy manager Sarah Laouadi said: If you learn whether you have the right to continue operating as a company on Dec 28 and the only fallback plan is the ECMT system, which requires applications and allocations for permits, it will be too late."

10.38am update: Brexit talks could COLLAPSE as stubborn EU digs in heels - UK told to cave over fishing

Brexit talks are in danger of completely collapsing and a no deal scenario becoming increasingly probable, with EU member states digging their heels in on fishing and the level playing field - the UK's red lines.

The UK and EU are resuming talks on a post-Brexit trade deal in London today as the two sides desperately try to thrash out an agreement and overcome a number of hurdles.

Negotiations began in March but following several rounds of talks, both sides have lamented the lack of progress and significant differences that still exist.

This means Britain's future relationship with the bloc remains undecided - more than four years after the UK voted to leave the EU in a historic referendum.

Now allies of Boris Johnson say he believes Brexit talks could completely collapse over the next few weeks as EU member states take an increasingly tough stance against British demands.

Those close to the Prime Minister have warned he is prepared for leaders of the EU27 pulling out next month because of what one source described to The Times as a chasm between the sides.

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Brexit LIVE: EU budget talks conclude with leaders to spend billions on COVID-19 relief - Daily Express

This is staggering the UK doesn't know if Russia interfered in the Brexit vote because it never sought to ask!

For years ministers have consistently batted off questions about whether Vladimir Putin's regime attempted to meddle in the EU referendum, saying that there was no evidence of "successful interference".

We now know why.

They had never specifically instructed MI5, MI6 and GCHQ - the intelligence and security agencies tasked with protecting the UK - with looking at precisely this issue.

It is a damning finding from a report by the powerful Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) that Boris Johnson ensured did not see the light of day until long after the last election in December.

Kevan Jones, a Labour member of the intelligence watchdog, who also sat on the previous ISC that compiled the report, called it a "scandal".

It is hard not to disagree, especially as it is not as though there were no warning bells for the previous Theresa May and David Cameron governments.

The report noted there was ample publicly available evidence of Russian attempts to use disinformation, fake news and social media bots to amplify the messages of pro-Scottish independent voices during the independence referendum in 2014.

Splitting off Scotland from the rest of the UK is exactly the kind of action President Putin's regime is alleged to seek in its efforts to weaken Western unities and democratic alliances.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Britain tearing itself apart over whether or not to leave the European Union would also be supported by Moscow, regardless of the result - it left the UK significantly distracted for the past four years. Job done.

MPs say blame lies at the foot of ministers, but questions might also be raised about why MI5, MI6 and GCHQ did not try harder to grip what the report describes as the "hot potato" that is defending the UK's democratic processes.

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'Staggering' Russia report reveals why government batted off Brexit interference claims - Sky News

MPs have defeated an attempt by Tory backbenchers to ensure parliament has a vote on any post-Brexit trade deal.

An amendment to the Trade Bill currently going through the Commons would have given MPs and peers a say on any new agreement signed by the government.

Jonathan Djanogly, the Conservative MP who led the rebellion, had argued that the US congress approves similar deals.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

He accused the government of taking a position of less scrutiny than we did as a member of the EU, because EU trade deals are subject to a vote in the European Parliament.

Although his amendment was supported by Labour and the Liberal Democrats it failed to attract enough Tory rebels to pass.

The clause was rejected by 263 votes to 326, a majority of 63.

During the debate, shadow international trade minister Bill Esterson said the lack of scrutiny threatened to leave the health service "wide open to pharmaceutical giants" and to "undermine" farmers and consumers.

International trade minister Greg Hands insisted the government was "committed to transparency" when it came to the scrutiny of international agreements. During the debate on the Trade Bill, an MP was forced to apologise after he said food in shops had to be affordable for the "housewife to buy".

The DUP's Paul Girvan, the MP for South Antrim, was arguing in favour of retaining the UKs high food standards.

But he added that the UK should aim to ensure that we have a product which is still viable and still economically possible for the housewife to buy.

He added: "I've used the wrong term, I apologise, but those that are buying in their basket, their basket of food in the supermarket, they will definitely be able to get the best value for it."

The rest is here:

Brexit: Tory backbenchers defeated in attempt to put any future trade deals through parliament - The Independent

The UK stood its ground and told the EU it was not willing to give up our rights on sovereignty, law and fishing in the latest Brexit development. Neither side can find a solution to the main points of contention access to UK fishing waters, governance of a future deal and a so-called level-playing field. There are smaller issues too which have caused grievances for both parties, such as the installation of an EU base in Northern Ireland.

This was suggested by Brussels back in May, as Northern Ireland will be in a unique position in the UK.

The Northern Ireland Protocol states it will remain in the customs union and single market but will not be part of the EU or able to contribute to its rules, according to the agreement reached by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year.

Yet, cabinet minister Michael Gove rejected the idea of a permanent EU base in Belfast in May, claiming there was no need for a mini embassy in that part of the UK.

He conceded that there would be ad hoc visits by Brussels officials but no permanent area was needed.

His comments stirred up discontent in the Irish Dil, when the Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin now the rotating Taoiseach until 2022 accused the Government of showing bad faith.

According to The Irish Times in May, he said that the decision not to allow an office in Belfast is both of concern and in my view potentially highly divisive.

READ MORE:How surprise nation has moved to back Ireland after UK departure

Mr Martin continued: The extraordinary position of London that no European Union office would be agreed for Belfast appears like a demonstration of bad faith concerning the operationalising of what has been agreed relating to Northern Ireland.

It may be some form of negotiating tactic, the logic of which remains hidden.

He added that there was nothing positive about London citing a concern with community divisions in Northern Ireland, which has not existed before.

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He concluded: No one in Northern Ireland appears to object to the idea that there'll be any European Union office in Belfast.

Mr Martins words followed complaints from the leaders of pro-Remain parties within Northern Ireland, who also accused Wesminster of bad faith.

Deputy First Minister and Vice President of Sinn Fein Michelle ONeill, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long and Green Party leader Clare Bailey wrote a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this year.

According to The Irish News report in April, it read: You are aware that under the terms negotiated by your Government, EU representatives have a right under law to be present during any activities relating to the protocol implementation.

It is also for the EU to determine the extent to which it wishes to exercise these rights, including the opening of an office in Belfast staffed by EU representatives who can carry out their functions without interruption by the Westminster Government.

The letter added that it was necessary for liaising with Downing Street, and to oppose the opening of it represents an act of bad faith by your Government and a breach of trust.

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Micheal Martins fury with UK for showing bad faith in Brexit demands - Express

LONDON Russia sought to meddle in the 2014 Scottish referendum and intelligence agencies should produce an assessment of potential interference in the Brexit referendum, a report by the British parliaments intelligence and security committee said.

There has been credible open source commentary suggesting that Russia undertook influence campaigns in relation to the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, the report, which was finished in March 2019, said.

The report was leaked ahead of its publication time by the Guido Fawkes website. Russia has repeatedly denied meddling in the West, casting the United States and Britain as gripped by anti-Russian hysteria.

When discussing the EU referendum, the U.K. parliamentary report is heavily redacted.

In response to our request for written evidence at the outset of the Inquiry, MI5 initially provided just six lines of text. It stated that ***, before referring to academic studies, the redacted version reads.

It is nonetheless the Committees view that the U.K. Intelligence Community should produce an analogous assessment of potential Russian interference in the EU referendum and that an unclassified summary of it be published, the report said.

Read the rest here:

Russia meddled in Scottish vote, but unclear on Brexit: UK parliamentary report - The Japan Times

The Government failed to fully assess the impact Russian state-run media and troll accounts could have had on the EU referendum, the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has found.

In its report on Tuesday, the committee said open source studies had pointed to the prevalence of anti-EU or pro-Brexit stories on the RT and Sputnik news networks as evidence of Russian attempts to influence the process.

But the ISC said it was surprising that such material may not have been fully taken into account by the Government and security agencies prior to the referendum in 2016.

Both RT and Sputnik are funded by the Russian state.

In a heavily redacted report, the committee said it was only when Russia carried out a hack and leak operation against the Democratic National Committee in the US, where emails were made public one month after the EU referendum, that the Government belatedly realised the threat posed.

Had the relevant parts of the intelligence community conducted a similar threat assessment prior to the referendum, it is inconceivable that they would not have reached the same conclusion as to Russian intent, which might then have led them to take action to protect the process, the committee said.

Intelligence agencies had the capabilities to stand on the shoulders of open source coverage and look behind suspicious anti-EU social media bot and troll accounts to uncover their operators, the ISC said.

The committee which scrutinises the work of Britains spies said MI5 initially replied with just six lines of text when it sought to establish if there was intelligence built on the open source studies.

The written evidence provided to us appeared to suggest that HMG had not seen or sought evidence of successful interference in UK democratic processes or any activity that has had a material impact on an election, for example influencing results, the committee said.

The ISCs report found the Government did not properly consider whether Moscow could interfere in the Brexit referendum until after the event.

And while the Government said there was no evidence of successful Russian interference in the vote, the ISC suggested that there was no proper investigation.

Following the reports publication, Guy Verhofstadt, chief Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament, tweeted: Brexit was always a gift to Putin because it weakened the European Union & left Britain divided, isolated. The #RussiaReport shows just how many questions remain unanswered.

Liberal Democrat acting leader Sir Ed Davey accused Boris Johnson of refusing a cross-party call to launch an inquiry because he is worried about what it might find.

This is a green light for Russia to interfere with our democracy in future, knowing there will be no consequences, he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tweeted that some serious apologies were due, claiming there was no evidence of Russian interference.

Read more:

Impact of Russian media and 'troll' accounts on Brexit vote 'not fully assessed' - expressandstar.com

Well, I think we can see why Boris Johnson was worried about the Intelligence and Security Committee report. Even with redactions, it is utterly damning, not just of him and this government, but of the actions and inactions of the two Prime Ministers he helped remove, David Cameron and Theresa May.

National security is right up there in the list of responsibilities of a Prime Minister. They have played fast and loose with it, putting their own and their partys interests before the national interest. They didnt want to look for Russian interference in our democracy because they knew they would find it. And for Johnson in particular, who got to the top on the back of a Brexit long seen by the Russians as an important strategic goal, that was a stone best left unturned. Far better to spend his time raising money for the Tory Party by playing tennis with oligarchs and their wives than look into how the millions from the Putin kleptocracy might be undermining our democratic processes.

The report was shocking, but also unsurprising, for it is all of a piece with his character and his record. In the interest of his own ambitions, he has allowed our politics, for all its faults admired and respected around the world, to be corrupted.

Some of you will be aware of the so-called Nolan Principles, drawn up by Lord Nolan at John Majors request after the so-called cash for questions affair in 1994.Honesty. Openness. Integrity. Transparency. Accountability. Selflessness. Leadership by example.

Johnson and Co break one or all of those every day of the week. It used to be a resigning offence to lie at the despatch box. Johnson cant get through a PMQs without transgressing on that one. The Patel bullying. The unexplained Johnson holidays. The Jenrick/Desmond affair. The hounding out of senior civil servants to be replaced by cronies. The awarding of multi million contracts to friends and family without a proper tendering process. If this was an emerging market in Africa, we would be dusting off the banana republic clichs of Johnsons journalist past.And plenty of the Nolan seven have been breached by the governments handling of the Russia Report, which had to be dragged kicking and screaming into daylight.

As the committee members were addressing the press conference, Russia and China will have been laughing at a country in decline. America, due to its current Adminstration, where America First means just that, and where Donald Trump has drunk the Putin Kool-Aid, is indifferent. Europe, the third real global power, is bemused. All of them, however, are united in seeing the UK as a country that has chosen its own decline. Johnson as Prime Minister, and Brexit as his governments main priority, are two very large symbols of that.

At the weekend the BBC played some of the best moments of the London 2012 Olympic Games. I found I couldnt watch. It was just too sad, too depressing to recall the mood of the country then, and to look at Britain today. Whatever the opposite of the Olympic spirit may be, that is what we have now.

Those were two of our best weeks in living memory and then came another two with the best attended and most lauded Paralympic Games of all time. It truly was a wonderful time to be alive, and to be British. The nation felt as united as I can recall it, as happy too. The image projected to the world was one of a country that was competent, confident, at ease with itself.All that has gone.

The Games were a success for British organisation and also for British politics. They were secured and developed under one government, that of Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, and delivered under another, led by David Cameron and George Osborne. Unlike Prime Minister Johnson, who casts any and all critics and opponents to one side, Prime Minister Cameron made sure that Tessa Jowell, Labours Olympics minister, remained centrally involved and the whole operation became an all party success. Johnson, then Mayor of London, added to the gaiety of the nation, and the strength of his own profile, with a series of photo stunts, most memorably on a zip wire.

Now he is Prime Minister, we have gone from internationalist to nationalist. From outward looking to inward looking. From open and welcoming to closed. A source of respect and fascination back then, increasingly today seen as rather eccentric and frankly a bit disturbed. And all pointing to a dramatic decline in relevance, and therefore power.

Boris Johnson is a thread running through the whole sorry story. London Mayor at the time of London 2012. The chief beneficiary of David Camerons catastrophic decision to call a referendum which Johnson exploited to win the fight for a Brexit he never really believed in, but which successfully ensured Camerons demise and Johnsons elevation to Foreign Secretary under Theresa May. Diplomats describe him as the least informed and least wanting to be informed Foreign Secretary of all time. He was more interested in undermining Mrs May who, eventually, made way for him. He secured the position he had always coveted. Then he landed the general election he wanted fighting for Brexit and against Corbyn and he was home and dry.

But after a year in office, what has he achieved? Got Brexit done? Up to a point, in that we are out, but the future remains uncertain and the form of Brexit about to be foisted upon us bears no relation whatever to the many shades of Brexit that were promised, either at the Take Back Control referendum or the Get Brexit Done election.

The most ardent Brexiteers will have looked on at the recent EU Summit, seeing the wrangles and the disagreements over the economic revival plans, and enjoyed a feeling of schadenfreude. But they reached a deal among 27 countries, something the UK has so far failed properly to do over Brexit, despite Johnsons election claims to have an oven-ready deal. Also, step back a bit from the nationalism and the jingoism, study the waves lapping round the geopolitical waters, and the sense of splendid isolation so beloved by ideological Brexiteers is not one that should give us any comfort at all.

At a time of genuine concern for the future of the world, we have lost strength, and though it might not seem like that from a still all too UK-centric media, that is how the rest of the world sees it. We have lost allies and we have lost clout. At a time of grave economic uncertainty, we are leaving the biggest and most successful single market in the world, and ministers rejoice in securing trade deals with countries at the other end of the world that will not even begin to fill the gap.

Coronavirus will be used by the government to try to explain away any and all problems ahead: economic, political, social and cultural. But the path was set by Brexit before any of us knew our Covid from our Cummings. The course was of British isolation and exceptionalism. It is the bed we made with the Brexit vote and with the failure to secure a second referendum on the outcome of the negotiations. Now we have to lie in that bed.Every government on the planet believes it means decline for the UK.

Meanwhile, the Johnson/Gove/Cummings axis has near unbridled power and appears determined to use it to drive through changes that were never specifically offered, or fought for at the ballot box. Any and all institutions are up for grabs, from the civil service to the BBC, the military and the security services, the independent judiciary, schools that Gove and Cummings damaged badly enough when the former was in charge of our schools. Now Cummings wants to do more.

Johnson has the majority and many of the MPs on his side feel they owe their place in large part to him. So he does as he pleases. It can only endure however if it works for the country. Eventually he will need to show he can govern as well as campaign. Thus far the signs are not good. He has failed on his big ideological challenge, Brexit, which now more than ever is exposed as a fraud. He has failed on his big crisis challenge Covid. And now we know he has failed on one of the main responsibilities as Prime Minister national security. He wont last. The only question is how much irreparable damage he does to the UK while he is there.

See the original post here:

Brexit, PM Johnson, the Russia Report evidence of Britain in decline - TheArticle

When parliamentary committees produce reports with recommendations, the government is obliged to publish a considered response, explaining whether or not the recommendations are being accepted. This can take months, and generally responses are a bit waffly. Because a recommendation is an implicit criticism, instead of saying no, governments prefer to say not necessary, because we are already doing X, Y and Z.

But today we got the official response (pdf) to the ISC report within an hour or so of it being published. And it was more blunt than these documents normally are. Here are eight claims or recommendations in the report that have been rejected by the government.

1 - The government has rejected the ISCs call for an inquiry into Russian interference in the Brexit referendum. See 11.38am for the full quotes.

2 - The government has rejected claims it badly underestimated the threat from Russia. The committee said:

Until recently the government had badly underestimated the Russian threat and the response it required.

In response, the government said:

The government has long recognised there is an enduring and significant threat posed by Russia to the UK and its allies, including conventional military capabilities, disinformation, illicit finance, influence operations, and cyber-attacks. As such, Russia remains a top national security priority for the government.

3 - The government does not accept that responsibility for countering the threat from Russia is unnecessarily complicated. Referring to how responsibility is allocated, the committee said:

There are a number of unnecessarily complicated wiring diagrams that do not provide the clear lines of accountability that are needed.

But the government said:

There is a clear line of accountability for HMGs policy on Russia: the Russia and Ukraine NSIG [national security implemention group] reports to the national security adviser and to ministers on the national security council. Ultimate ministerial oversight is provided by the prime minister.

4 - The government does not accept that MI5 needs to work more closely with the police on the threat from Russia. The committee said:

It is our view that while MI5 already works with the police regional counter-terrorism units (which have responsibility for hostile state activity) there is scope for them to work more closely together in this area.

But the government said:

MI5 has already developed closer working with police and Home Office partners in tackling the threat posed by hostile state activity, including working together closely on a number of hostile state activity cases.

It cited the response to the Salisbury novichok attack as a good example.

5 - The government rejected claims it needed better channels of communication with Russia. The committee said these were needed to reduce the risk of miscommunication and escalation of hostilities. The government said channels of communication were in place.

6 - The government refused to commit to giving the Electoral Commission more powers. The committee said:

We have already questioned whether the Electoral Commission has sufficient powers to ensure the security of democratic processes where hostile state threats are involved: if it is to tackle foreign interference then it must be given the necessary legislative powers.

But the government said:

The government notes the committees comments on the Electoral Commission and we continue to consider the recommendations from the Electoral Commission itself to enhance their powers. The commission has civil sanctioning powers that apply to referendums and elections. More serious criminal matters can and are referred to the police, and then considered by a court of law.

(Many Brexiters in government would rather abolish the Electoral Commission than give it extra powers. It is one of their least favourite government bodies, not least because of its investigation into Vote Leave.)

7 - The government refused to commit to toughening the Sanctions Act. The committee said:

The NCA also underlined that there are several ways in which the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 is too restrictive. The NCA outlined changes they would wish to see to the legislation:

- including serious and organised crime as grounds for introducing sanctions; and

- providing for closed material proceedings to protect sensitive intelligence in the granting of, and any appeal against, sanctions (the special immigration appeals commission procedures offer a useful model for this).

But the government said the act already had relevant provisions that would allow for sanctions in the interests of national security, in the interests of international peace and security and to further a foreign policy objective of the government.

8 - The government rejected claims it had unreasonably delayed publication of the report. The ISC delivered the report to No 10 in time for it to be published before last years general election. In its news release the committee said that it was a matter of great regret that the report was not published in November, and at the press conference the Labour MP and committee member Kevan Jones said the excuses given by No 10 for the delay were untrue. (See 11.22am.) No 10 has denied this. (See 2.42pm.)

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Government rejects ISC's call for inquiry into Russian interference in Brexit referendum live news - The Guardian