Category Archives: Brexit

BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland, June 28 (Reuters) - Irwin Armstrong, a former chair of Boris Johnson's Conservative Party in Northern Ireland, has a simple message for the British Prime Minister when it comes to the province's unique post-Brexit trade rules: Don't ruin a good thing.

The founder of rapid test diagnostics maker CIGA Healthcare, who campaigned for Britain to leave the European Union six years ago, has described the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol as a gamechanger for manufacturing businesses like his.

Under the protocol, part of Britain's withdrawal agreement from the EU, Northern Ireland effectively remained in the EU's single market for goods as the rest of the United Kingdom (UK) departed last year.

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Since then, CIGA has won business from British exporters tied up in paperwork, expanded into new EU markets and doubled sales across the open border with EU-member Ireland.

"My message to Boris Johnson on the protocol is 'sort out what needs to be sorted out and leave the rest alone'," Armstrong said at his Ballymena factory, calling the arrangements "a win-win-win situation".

The protocol is far from universally popular, however.

Its aim was to avoid a land border with the Irish Republic that many would see as contravening the spirit of a peace deal 24 years ago that ended three decades of violence between mainly Catholic nationalists seeking unity with Ireland and Protestant unionists wanting to remain part of the UK.

But the perception that, by placing an effective border in the Irish Sea, the protocol is eroding Northern Ireland's place in the UK has sparked anger among many pro-British unionists, which Britain says is also undermining the 1998 peace pact.

Johnson has pledged to do away with large swathes of the protocol within months if he cannot convince the EU to remove checks on goods moving into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. read more

Northern Irish business groups have urged London not to act unilaterally, fearing the trade war it could unleash with the EU will take away the newfound competitive advantages firms such as Armstrong's enjoy. They want both sides instead to agree to ease the checks affecting other more consumer-facing firms. read more

Pre-protocol it took Lynas Foodservice, a major supplier of food in Northern Ireland, seven days to order a product like mozzarella cheese from their usual British supplier. Now it can take up to 14 and require eight different pieces of paperwork.

Longer lead times mean the Coleraine-based wholesaler has to hold more working capital - 11 million pounds versus 10 million before. With British suppliers also charging more per pallet for the hassle at their end, costs are being passed on to retailers.

Lynas has stopped trading with 13 of the around 200 British suppliers it previously relied on, and is sourcing more goods from Ireland and shipping others through Dublin to avoid some of the bureaucratic trade hurdles.

"I'm okay in a business of 650 staff to add that cost and work with our customers but I think for a lot of smaller businesses it's definitely been more difficult," Managing Director Andrew Lynas said.

Recent data showing that, alongside London, Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK where economic growth has surpassed pre-pandemic levels have led to some suggestions of a protocol-fuelled economic bounce.

Ulster Bank Chief Economist for Northern Ireland, Richard Ramsey, says it is not that straightforward as the economy went into the COVID-19 pandemic in a weaker state than the rest of the UK and benefited disproportionately from record government spending with one-in-four people employed in the public service.

"The protocol is presented as almost binary, it's either extremely good or it is terrible and needs to be done away with," Ramsey said. "The reality is there are good parts and there are a lot of grey areas which are still to be ironed out."

For now this has created a two-speed economy, he says, with sectors such as food manufacturing and pharmaceuticals booming at a time when economic surveys for May suggest the cost of living crisis is hitting Northern Ireland harder than most UK regions.

In the small town of Maghera, Crushing Screening Parts (CSP) owner Michael McGrath says the "good parts" of the protocol are directly responsible for a 32% year-on-year jump in revenues and plans to further add to his staff of eight.

Glancing at a screen showing potential customers from Poland and Germany are browsing the CSP website, which emphasises the benefits of the protocol in capital letters, McGrath says he can deliver a part to them by the next morning while it can take a rival British supplier at least two to three days.

As a result, the proportion of sales the maker of spare parts for the quarry sector has going to the EU have more than trebled to 33%. For McGrath the solution to the protocol riddle lies in the famous words of Bill Clinton 30 years ago: "It's the economy stupid".

"For Northern Ireland to be successful, it's all about the economy," he said. "The economy can really do well if the protocol is implemented correctly and to a level that we can all live with it."

(This story refiles to add dropped word in headline)

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Northern Ireland post-Brexit 'protocol' hurting some, a boon for others - Reuters UK

The BBC saw a 20 percent point drop in trust among viewers since 2018 as Ofcom this week directed the corporation to address a series of complaints about its management of complaints and lack of impartiality. While the broadcaster emerged as one of the most trusted news providers in the UK in a recent Press Gazette analysis, the company has been facing persistent criticism for its coverage of key issues, including the Brexit debate. BBC viewer John Huw Jones took particular issue with the perceived bias the BBC has towards Brexit supporters.

Writing to BBC Newswatch, Mr Jones said: "Since the 2016 referendum, I have been totally dismayed by the BBC bias against supporters of Brexit.

"The BBC was once renowned for its impartiality, but alas no more."

The corporation has been facing criticism about its coverage of the Brexit issue since the referendum campaign began in 2016.

Both the Remain and Leave camps have at times accused the broadcaster of being either too pro-Brexit or anti-Brexit.

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But lack of impartiality over Brexit was not the only issue raised over the past week, with one BBC viewer lamenting the lack of balance in the coverage of the US Supreme Court's reversal of the Roe v Wade decision recognising American women's right to abortion.

BBC viewerJanet Fillingham said: "I didn't keep a stopwatch record of balance but wish I had done.

"Perhaps you felt the shock value of the Supreme Court ruling was self-evident, and that balance wasn't needed?"

Former BBC Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer however rejected claims of impartiality, insisting that overall the BBC did a "good job" in ensuring impartial news coverage despite the large daily output.

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Responding to Ofcom's finding, a spokesperson for the BBC cited independent research to hit back at claims Britons lack trust in the corporation.

They said: "Although we are never complacent, our own independent research shows that we saw a boost to perceptions of BBC News trustworthiness and impartiality during the pandemic.

"And BBC News is the source adults in the UK are most likely to turn to for impartial news on the biggest news stories of the day.

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'Bias against Brexit supporters! BBC viewer totally dismayed' over end of impartiality - Express

European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic criticised Britain for the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill currently passing through Parliament. Calling the legislation "illegal", he said the Prime Minister was undermining UK-EU relations in the middle of the Ukraine war.

His remarks will do little to ease tensions between London and Brussels.

The new Brexit legislation will give ministers the power to overrule aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol, introduced as part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement in 2019.

Ministers say they have been left with no choice but to take action to protect the integrity of the United Kingdom in the face of issues caused by the treaty.

Lashing out at the Government, Mr Sefcovic said this morning: "Given the challenges we face, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rising energy prices and pressures on the cost of living, it is more important than ever to strengthen Western unity.

READ MORE ON OUR BREXIT LIVE BLOG

"Stable, positive, even strategic relationship based on international agreements we have signed and ratified is in our mutual interest.

"We need co-operation and action to strengthen our bond and bring it to the qualitative level it deserves."

His comments were made on the same day the UK offered Ukraine a further 1billion in support to help fight Russia, bringing the total military and economic support to 3.8billion this year.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly praised Britain for its leadership in standing up against Putin and the Kremlin.

He said earlier this month: "The war highlights who is our friend or friends as not just strategic friends, but real friends now. And I believe Great Britain is a friend.

"Arms, money, and sanctions, these are three things in which Great Britain consistently demonstrates its leadership."

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The Northern Ireland Bill was backed by MPs in its second reading in the House of Commons earlier this week.

MPs voted by 295 to 221 in favour of the legislation continuing to move forward in Parliament despite some Conservative backbenchers, including former prime minister Theresa May, joining Labour in parroting the EU's criticism of the plan.

They said the UK would be breaking international law by unilaterally changing the implementation of the Protocol and urged ministers to resume negotiations with Brussels.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has rejected the allegations saying there is "strong legal justification" for the legislation in the face of the problems being caused by the treaty.

The UK has been holding talks with Brussels since October on trying to find a negotiated solution to the Protocol but has failed to find a breakthrough.

Ms Truss said on Monday that the UK remained committed to trying to find a compromise with the EU and that the European Commission needed to be more accommodating in talks.

Mr Sefcovic today accused Ms Truss of failing to return to negotiations and said there was "serious concern" in Brussels about the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

"This was done despite our offer to return to the discussion table and seek joint solutions, which has been met by radio silence from the UK since February," he said.

"Such unilateral action is quite simply illegal.

"It is a breach of international law and is extremely damaging to mutual trust and respect between the EU and the UK.

"It is not for London to unilaterally change the game."

MPs are next set to debate the Protocol Bill on July 13.

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EU launches astonishing attack claiming Boris is helping PUTIN with his Brexit demands - Express

Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has warned Britain has "no chance" of signing a trade deal with Joe Bidens administration if the issues arising from the Northern Ireland conundrum are not solved with the European Union.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News Beth Rigby, he said: "Weve got to do is repair our trading relations. If we cannot repair our relations with Europe and America, were at war with both of them if you like for different reasons but all related"

Sky News Beth then cut him off, asking: "Why are we at war with America?"

"Well, were at war with America over Ireland because they will not sign a trade treaty as long as we cannot sort out the issues related to Ireland", Mr Brown said.

Sky News Beth Rigby interrupted, saying: "Actually, President Biden, I asked him about this explicitly last year, last September. And he said he thought the two things were separate. That there was a trade deal and that there was the Good Friday Agreement."

Gordon Brown hit back: "Well, he may think that. But the American Congress will not think that. Theres no chance of a trade deal between Britain and America unless we can sort out the problems that arise in Ireland."

And of course, theres no chance of getting better trade relationships with Europe unless we can sort these problems out, as well. And thats very much part of our future because if we cannot export to the leading markets in the world and cannot this successfully with these new industries and new technologies, then the cost-of-living crisis will be with us for years and not just temporarily," Mr Brown said.

Boris Johnsons Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has tried to fix the Northern Ireland conundrum with a Northern Ireland Protocol bill that will scrap the Irish Sea checks border.

The border issue came on top of the agenda when the DUP party refused to form a coalition with Sinn Fein after Mays election on the grounds the Irish Sea border would exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis in Northern Ireland and distance the province from Great Britain.

Liz Truss then unilaterally introduced the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which she succeeded in passing in the House of Commons.

Under Liz Truss Protocol bill, goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland would go through a green lane whereas goods destined to the EU would go through checks via a red lane while still leaving companies the option to abide by whichever rules they want.

READ MORE:'No chance of trade deal' Brown warns as Britain at 'war with US'

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'No chance of trade deal' Gordon Brown warns as Britain at 'war with US' over Brexit bill - Express

Prime Minister of New ZealandJacinda Ardern told Lorraine that she has recently signed a free trade agreement with the UK that could sound success for Britains future business. While Brexit negotiations remain complicated with the European Union over the Northern Ireland protocol dispute, an agreement with New Zealand will be welcome news. Ms Ardern joked that the trade should ensure more New Zealand wine on British supermarket shelves.

Lorraine said: Youre meeting Boris Johnson to talk trade because thats important, isnt it?

Ms Ardern said: Yeah, it is. We have recently signed a free trade agreement with the UK.

We are just waiting for the UK parliament to tick all of that off. And then New Zealands goods will be able to move more easily into the country.

She added, smiling: So, hopefully, you will see even more New Zealand wine on your shelves.

International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan and New Zealand minister for trade and export growth Damien OConnor signed the deal at the end of February this year.

The principle parts of the deal were worked out last October, with negotiators working tirelessly since then to finalise the deal.

According to the Government website, the trade relationship is expected to appreciate in value by almost 60 percent as a consequence of the deal.

In 2020, trade between the two nations was worth about 2.3 billion, meaning the future value will be more than 3.5 billion.

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The announcement said: Under the new deal, tariffs will be eliminated on all UK exports to New Zealand, including current tariffs of up to 10 percent on clothing and footwear, 5 percent on buses, and up to 5 percent on ships, bulldozers, and excavators.

They added: Smaller businesses will also find it easier to break into the New Zealand market as a result of modernised customs procedures, such as digital documents and customs clearance as quick as six hours.

The import market into New Zealand is also predicted to grow by roughly 30 percent as British exporters will receive more flexible rules of origin regulations on goods.

The deal should afford UK exporters an advantage over international rivals in the New Zealand market.

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Brexit Britain on brink of trade win as Ardern says deal signed 'Waiting to tick all off' - Express

The politician spoke to host Dan Wootton amid concerns of a second vote on Brexit becoming a key issue in the next general election. Ms Widdecombe argued that Mr Johnson must push forward with bold policy changes that will encourage voters to support Brexit.

She said: Boris could take enormous advantage of Brexit.

He could scrap VAT on fuel and nobody, as Ive observed before, is going to want to vote to put it back again.

So that on its own would turn people against reopening the Brexit question.

The Reform UK member exasperatedly asked: What is the matter with Boris?

Another concern aside from that of a second Brexit vote is that Boris Johnsons reputation with the public will also play against the Tories in a future election, as was seen in the by-elections in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton.

In Wakefield Labour won the by-election, and the Liberal Democrats stole Tiverton and Honiton which previously had a 24,000 plus majority for the Conservatives.

GB News host Mr Wootton waded in on the discussion saying: I think if the British public genuinely know that there is a risk of the biggest democratic mandate in our history being overturned at the next election, its a good thing for the Tories, it will get their base to rally around them.

It will get the red wall to think twice.

He added: When you think about Starmer being propped up by the EU-loving Lib Dems and the SNP and the Greens, I mean I cant come to any other conclusion.

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Meanwhile former Prime Minister Tony Blair argued that though he supports a second referendum on Brexit, I understand weve done it.

Speaking at his think tank in London he added: Weve done it legally, weve done it politically and its not going to be reversed any time soon lets say any time in this generation.

Ms Widdecombe conceded that an election at this point would mean the Conservatives would be at a disadvantage due to the personal campaign against the Prime Minister.

Ms Widdecombe said: I think that because of the personal campaign against Boris, the Tories if they entered a general election soon would be very weak indeed and thats why I say that the ball is in Boris court.

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Hes still got two years and he can still do a tremendous amount that people will not want to reverse and not want to risk by closer ties with the EU.

The politician argued that voters are weary of the Brexit argument and added, I wish Boris would just get on with it.

Hes not taking any advantage of Brexit.

He says its a bonfire of regulations here but when you actually put that against what he could be doing. Big, bold measures and he just funks it every time.

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GB News: Ann Widdecombe slams PM for funking Brexit - 'What is the matter with Boris? - Express

The veteran broadcaster claimed the former prime minister is "already on manoeuvres" as he highlighted the Future of Britain event organised by the Tony Blair Institute earlier this week. Mr Neil said that the aim of the "convocation of Remainers" was to "begin the process of drawing up a new agenda for the centre and centre-Left" which would likely reopen the question of Brexit "somewhere down the road" despite Sir Tony's insistence that it would not.

The journalist added that while the ex-Labour leader is "realistic enough" to know he can never return as prime minister, that "doesn't mean he can't once again play a pivotal role in British politics".

Writing for the Daily Mail, Mr Neil said: "That was clear from Thursday's Future of Britain centrist jamboree, organised by the Tony Blair Institute.

"It was very much a convocation of Remainers from the centre-Left and Right, but Blair was astute enough to emphasise that its purpose could not be to re-open the Brexit issue, even if that is what most would really like to do and will likely attempt somewhere down the road.

"Rather, its aim was to begin the process of drawing up a new agenda for the centre and centre-Left.

"Nothing of substance was decided at this first gathering indeed it never got beyond the blandest generalities and vague subject headings demanding attention.

"But Blair and his institute aim to put flesh on its bones."

Speaking on Thursday, Sir Tony - an opponent of Brexit - insisted the UK's departure from the EU would not be reversed "any time soon".

He said: "It is not going to be reversed any time soon, let's say, any time in this generation.

READ MORE:Remainers are HAPPY with foreign courts ruling Britain

"The fact that we have got exports down and the pound devalued and business investment down is doing us damage."

The former prime minister also insisted his new project was not going to morph into a political party nor was he putting together a "manifesto".

He said: "You have got two main political parties. I don't see that changing."

Sir Tony added: "I want to build a strong policy agenda and then it is there for reasonable people, whether they are Conservative Party, Labour Party, Lib Dems, whatever, to take it up and at least you get people debating how to change the country in a way that bears some resemblance to the reality of the challenge we face."

The ex-Labour leader rejected the suggestion, in the face of the rise of the far-left and the far-right in France, that voters did not want so-called "centrist" politics anymore.

But he admitted: "It is a fight. There is going to be a big struggle."

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'Already on manoeuvres' Andrew Neil unveils new Tony Blair plot to reverse Brexit - Express

Danny, 56, Pontypool

Occupation Prison, drug and alcohol caseworker

Voting record Previously Labour; hasnt voted in recent years

Amuse bouche Danny was homeless as a teenager

Occupation Has recently left her job in an opticians after 20 years because of caring responsibilities

Voting record Labour, all the way

Amuse bouche Jolene has recently discovered that she is autistic and has ADHD

Danny I hadnt thought about what Jolene might be like, just that as long as we were both nice, it should be OK.

Jolene As soon as he walked in, I felt comfortable. I was expecting some snotty-nosed Tory racist person. I love people, so I still would have been interested.

Danny Im vegan. The starter had loads of different peas in it. That was stunning.

Jolene I was quite nervous. The waiter said, Ill get you a gin and tonic and I thought, How did you know thats what I needed?

Jolene He was not a Nigel Farage-type Brexit person, so that was nice. He talked about the old Labour arguments against the EU, from years ago. I still cant completely understand his reasons. I said: Tell me a tangible benefit to Brexit I never got one.

Danny I voted out on a Bob Crow vibe the late trade union leader. Its not about vilifying people who are coming over, trying to better themselves. Its about freedom of movement driving down wages. The systems been set up so were fighting against each other. People should be angry about the distribution of wealth.

Jolene My partners a truck driver, so when there was a massive labour shortage, his money went up. But it was never low because of foreign workers that was about the government allowing people to be paid crap wages. Then their answer was, Well let lorry drivers work more hours but he already worked crazy hours.

Danny I dont think Brexit is going very well, but thats because of the government weve got at the moment. And the beauty is, we can vote them out. In the EU, we werent able to vote those people out.

Jolene But it feels impossible to get rid of the Tories, and I cant see how well get back the money weve wasted.

Danny We spoke about the Labour party and how much we both liked Corbyn, how the country missed a trick in not electing him.

Jolene We could see the qualities in him, and why he brought so many young people into the party, which was great. I was still a Labour member in 2020, so I did vote for Keir Starmer for leader. I believed in his promise to unite the party. But hes done the opposite of that: hes waging a war on the left. So I do regret that.

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Danny Corbyn seemed a bit meek. The establishment and the corporations needed someone stronger to take them on.

Jolene Im not completely against the Labour party now. I love Angela Rayner. Shes such a strong woman.

Jolene We talked about neurodiversity, how hard it was to get diagnosed with ADHD and autism, and how, once its been missed, you go through trauma after trauma. That was a really interesting conversation, because of the work he does with prisoners and addiction. Something like 25% of the prison population has ADHD.

Danny Ive seen this in the Prison Service and the army theres a lot of ex-servicemen in prison. When I was in the army, there were certain things I couldnt do, couldnt fathom. Then I really struggled when I came out of it. My marriage split up, I couldnt get a grip for a while. To be fair, prisons are pretty good with autism now. In the old days, youd have just been labelled a nuisance or a pain in the arse.

Jolene Im rediscovering myself since Ive been diagnosed. The things Ive struggled with, the ups and downs, the sensory things I have so much more compassion for myself now. Its liberating.

Danny I did say to Jolene, lets not fall out about anything. Its just my opinions, Im not saying its true. And she was lovely, really nice.

Jolene Generally I feel as if I made a friend. I hope I didnt talk too much.

Additional reporting: Naomi Larsson

Danny and Jolene ate at Gem 42 in Newport

Want to dine across the divide? Find out how to take part

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Dining across the divide: He was not a Nigel Farage-type Brexit person, so that was nice - The Guardian

Its an economic truth too little remarked upon that a country cannot indefinitely live beyond its means.

To do so it must rely on the kindness of the markets, overseas investors who have sufficient faith in the ability of the UK economy to prosper so mightily in the future that it can indeed pay its debts. If not, then they will shun sterling assets and the value of the pound will fall. That makes imports more expensive, exports cheaper, and redresses the trade imbalance over time.

One of the main mechanisms driving that adjustment is the way higher import prices drive inflation higher and reduce the real value of wages, which comprise roughly 70 per cent of the cost base of the British economy. Thus do living standards become squeezed, and workers and managers on behalf of the owners of capital come into conflict.

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Politics Explained: How Brexit may still yet deprive Johnson and the Tories of power - The Independent

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks on as he is welcomed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured), to the G7 Summit at Bavaria's Elmau castle, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, June 26, 2022. Brendan Smialowski/Pool via REUTERS

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LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that other leaders at a G7 summit had hardly raised the issue of a proposed Northern Ireland trade law allowing Britain to scrap some of the rules on post-Brexit trade.

Asked whether his government's plans to act unilaterally to change its Brexit deal had made other leaders take Britain less seriously, Johnson said: "The most interesting thing about last few days is how little - contrary to some of the suggestions there have been in the in the UK media or UK politics - how little that issue has been raised, if at all."

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Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William James

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UK PM Johnson says other G7 leaders have hardly raised Brexit issues - Reuters