Monthly Archives: February 2022

It is time to take a break from writing articles about why Boris Johnson should resign. I have written several of those in recent weeks and he still has not done so. Maybe one more denunciation would do the trick, but I might give it a week.

Instead, let us have another look at Brexit.

Monday 31 January marked the second anniversary of our departure from the EU. The government took the opportunity to publish a paper, The Benefits of Brexit, which sets out how the UK is taking advantage of leaving the EU. Wherever you stand on the wisdom of Brexit, the response has been much the same: is that it?

It is no surprise that those of us who were sceptical about the case for leaving the EU are underwhelmed by the benefits set out. Reintroducing our iconic blue passports, reviewing the EU ban on imperial markings and sales and enabling businesses to use a crown stamp symbol on pint glasses were among the highlights. I doubt many Remainers will reconsider their positions on the basis of these achievements.

Of more interest has been the response of those who supported Brexit. My old friend Daniel Hannan was a central figure in the Eurosceptic movement and in Vote Leave. Having read the governments paper, he asked on the ConservativeHome website: Two years after Brexit, and a year after the end of the transition, how are we doing? He is not encouraged. Overall, Im afraid, the document is thin, watery, tasteless gruel.

Hannans argument is that the government is too cautious, too beholden to vested interests, too frightened of the hard work and short-term unpopularity that change involves. Officials get much of the blame but Hannan also says that ministers must accept collective responsibility here.

He points out that he favoured a softer, Swiss-style Brexit to avoid the high price of the rows we went on to face over Northern Ireland but that he was content to go along with absolute regulatory freedom.His difficulty, however, is that it is idiotic to pay that price and then not use the freedoms it bought.

Hannan is not alone. The former Brexit minister David Frost has been making similar noises and there are many Conservatives MPs who, to use the shorthand, favoured the Singapore model for the UK who are disappointed. If many of them conclude that the fault lies with the Prime Minister this may have significant implications for his future. But the responsibility for failing to pursue Brexit as the second act of Thatcherism does not fall on Johnsons shoulders but on the political and practical realities.

Neither the 2016 referendum nor the 2019 general election was fought on the basis that Brexit would usher in a brave new world of deregulation. Ever since Margaret Thatchers 1989 Bruges speech, Conservative Euroscepticism has viewed the EU as a soggy, corporatist, social-democratic project. But that was not the argument that were put before the British people. Instead, both the 2016 and 2019 campaigns reassured the public that employment and environmental protections would be maintained. To the extent that deregulation was mentioned, it was generally in the abstract and not the specific.

The coalition of support that backed Brexit in 2016 and Boris in 2019 was not formed on the basis of a unified view on economic matters but on cultural issues such as immigration. The consequence is that it is now harder for the Conservatives to pursue the free-market economic policies that Hannan demands. Hannan complains (rightly, in my view) that the Prime Minister overruled the Trade Remedies Authority recommendation to repeal some EU steel tariffs seemingly at the behest of some MPs in steel-producing constituencies. Well yes, that was always more likely to happen once the Conservatives focused on winning industrial seats by appealing to nationalist voters.

As for the practical issues, regulatory divergence comes at a cost. Let us take data protection, for example. It is perfectly reasonable to argue that the EU system can be improved upon but if our system diverges, the EU may conclude that our protections no longer provide the equivalent of theirs at which point British businesses will face additional administrative burdens.Absolute regulatory freedom in reality is inevitably constrained by the fact that businesses operate across borders.

Hannan highlights financial services as a potential area of reform and, to be fair, there are few equivalence arrangements to lose. There may be useful reforms that could be undertaken but very few in the sector think such reforms will be transformative. It turns out that most EU regulations (often heavily influenced by the UK when we had a seat at the table) are really not that bad.

The lesson of the last two years is that for all the grand talk of deregulatory opportunities in the abstract, pursuing such an agenda in the specific usually comes with significant risks but with a very limited upside.

This point will be of particular relevance if we have a Conservative leadership contest. No doubt there will be candidates promising a bold deregulatory agenda.This time sceptics and enthusiasts alike should demand that such promises are clear and specific and face proper scrutiny.

In the meantime the country pays a high price for regulatory freedom as events in Northern Ireland continue to demonstrate but the benefits continue to disappoint even the most ardent of Brexiteers.

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Why Brexit is disappointing even its supporters - The New Statesman

A piece in the Swiss German-language paper heralds Brexit Britain flexing its muscles against Russia as tension around the Ukrainian border mounts - while bemoaning the hesitation and mixed messaging of EU states. The paper states Boris Johnson is now positioning the UK as a forceful international player.

Journalist Niklaus Nuspliger argued Mr Johnsons trip to Kiev on Tuesday to visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was part of a broad initiative with which Brexit-Britain is trying to position itself as a bold international player in the Ukraine crisis.

This ran contrary to many critics interpretations of the trip as little more than an effort to distraction from the scandal surrounding alleged Downing Street parties.

Partygate also took Mr Johnson away from engaging with Ukraine last Monday, reports Mr Nuspliger.

He argues the Prime Minister would have wanted to call Russian President Vladimir Putin, but was instead stuck in a debate" about alleged lockdown parties.

Brexit Britain has stood contrary to many EU states in the firmness of its military signals to Putin.

Even as early as mid-January, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace castigated Putin's "ethno-nationalist ambitions".

The UK then sent around 2,000 anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, along with specialised soldiers to guide their Ukrainian counterparts.

While these troops will not fight alongside the Ukrainians in the event of war with Russia, Britain remains one of the few countries who have sent defensive arms.

READ MORE:'Blood everywhere' ISIS boss killed in US strike - six children dead[BREAKING]

Mr Nuspliger argues that, unlike EU counterparts, Boris Johnson is seeking to be closer to Washington and is shaping an image of Brexit Britain that strives for open trade routes worldwide, but also resolutely advocates democratic values.

On Monday, Liz Truss expanded the British sanctions policy.

The expanded policy will allow the Government to use measures such as blocking visas or accounts not only to punish people who are directly involved in the Ukraine crisis, but also "all individuals or companies with economic or strategic importance for the Kremlin".

Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg

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'Brexit Britain flexing its muscles!' European papers celebrated tough UK while EU dithers - Daily Express

The Prime Minister is under pressure after a rough ride in the Commons on Monday after the publication of an update related to civil servant Sue Grays report into various lockdown-busting Government events - including at least one which he attended. However, he is seeking to get back on the front foot with the publication of the document, which sets out a series of wide-ranging national "missions" - from improving public transport to ensuring access to 5G broadband - to be enshrined in law.

Ministers are also vowing to provide more power to Britains regions in a "devolution revolution" with the offer of a London-style deal for any area of England that wants one.

Matt Vickers, who was elected to the traditionally safe Labour seat of Stockton South in 2019, said the White Paper was evidence of Mr Johnson making good on the promises he made prior to the general election in which he won an 81-seat majority.

He said: On Teesside we are experiencing Levelling Up first-hand. Whether it be the largest freeport in the country or reaping the rewards of being the epicentre of the green energy revolution, business on Teesside is booming like never before and we are fast becoming the glowing advertisement of this Governments Levelling Up agenda.

This Conservative government was elected in 2019 to break the deadlock and get Brexit done in order to deliver a radical shakeup of our entire economy and spread equal opportunity and prosperity to every region of the UK.

The aforementioned freeport was a perfect example of the way in which the nation was taking advantage of the opportunities available to it as a result of quitting the bloc, Mr Vickers stressed.

He added: We are opening up to the world and making ourselves more competitive globally. Teesside is now open for business."

This White Paper is an important and concrete step to delivering that pledge.

Gone were the days when what he called "London-centric government policy ruled the roost, claimed Mr Vickers.

READ MORE:Brexit LIVE - Border row solved? Breakthrough

He explained: The levelling up agenda is the only and best way to enrich every region of the country through higher employment, productivity and pay and a focus on infrastructure and welfare in our most left-behind communities.

I am extremely pleased to see the rollout of even more powers away from Westminster and to local leaders.

Referring to the Tory Mayor of Tees Valley, Mr Vickers said: Ben Houchen and other Metro Mayors around the country have proven to be successful champions of their region, attracting jobs, growth and investment. Replicating this winning model everywhere can only be a good thing.

Under Labour, our economy would still be reeling from their pandemic policy and their attempts to drag us back into the EU.

Thanks to this Conservative government, the UK is witnessing a stunning recovery and a solid plan to boost every region of this country as we emerge from the pandemic.

Introducing his blueprint, Mr Johnson hailed it as the "most comprehensive, ambitious plan" of its kind that the country had ever seen.

He said: "From day one, the defining mission of this Government has been to level up this country, to break the link between geography and destiny so that no matter where you live you have access to the same opportunities.

"The challenges we face have been embedded over generations and cannot be dug out overnight, but this White Paper is the next crucial step."

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Brexit victory: Boris' plans hailed as 'concrete' proof of benefits of quitting bloc - Daily Express

Political Commentator Dr John Coulter warned the risk of invasion in Ukraine could spark the Northern Ireland protocol being dropped by the European Union due to priorities in their agenda. Speaking to GB News, Dr Coulter said: "I think that Lord Frost and Liz Truss, you could say there were having a full-frontal assault on the Northern Ireland protocol.

"What we're seeing here with Edwin Poots is a stab in the back to the protocol.

"He claims that he has legal go ahead to do this here and this has major implications.

"I think what we've really got to take into consideration is how this all plays out with the Ukrainian situation.

"Basically, four member states border Ukraine and if President Putin decides to invade Ukraine then Ukraine moves to the top of the EU's agenda.

READ MORE:Huge row erupts after Truss rocked by move on hated Brexit deal

"The EU isn't really known for multitasking in terms of political crises.

"It will have one at a time, that means that the protocol moves to the bottom of the agenda and ironically, this could be to Northern Ireland's advantage.

"If the protocol moves to the bottom agenda, this is a way of getting rid of the protocol via the backdoor.

"The whole of Ireland and the UK must keep an eye on what is happening in Ukraine because Ukraine could have a major implication for the future of the protocol."

The source said Mr Givan's resignation would be effective from Thursday.

The latest twists in the protocol controversy are playing out as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic are due to meet on Thursday to discuss progress in their ongoing negotiations aimed at reducing the Brexit barriers on Irish Sea trade.

The resignation of the First Minister would automatically remove Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill from office.

In those circumstances, other ministers in the administration could still remain in place. However, the Executive could not meet or make any significant decisions.

That would prevent the coalition from agreeing a three-year budget - a spending plan that is currently out for public consultation.

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'Get rid of protocol via backdoor!' EU multitasking failure to help deliver better Brexit - Daily Express

Published: Thu 3 Feb 2022, 3:28 PM

Last updated: Thu 3 Feb 2022, 3:29 PM

Climate targets, the CAP, Brexit, rising input costs and work permits were the topics the IFA president Tim Cullinan and An Tnaiste Leo Varadkar discussed when they met yesterday. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Martin Heydon, also attended the meeting.

Afterwards, Mr Cullinan said everyone understands the need to work towards achieving thsector emissions ceiling of between 16 to 18 mega tonnes of carbon, which is a reduction of between 22% and 30% however, that should be achieved by continued research work to reduce methane output per animal not by using a blunt instrument to limit output, he said.

The IFA oppose any imposed limits on production, he said.

The Tnaiste was clear that there has been no discussion at government level about restricting output at farm level in any sector, he said.

As set out in Food Vision 2030, we must strike the right balance between the three pillars of sustainability - environmental, economic and social.

The emphasis must be on reducing methane output per animal. We need to allow time for what are promising scientific solutions to take effect. We cannot use a blunt instrument to address our environmental challenges, which would have significant economic and social consequences, Mr Cullinan added.

Pointing out that costs have surged on farms this year and farmers cannot afford to have further restrictions placed on them, he said: On CAP, we made it clear that a cohort of our most productive farmers are going to have their incomes decimated. The Government must come up with additional funding to support the beef, sheep and tillage sectors.

On Brexit, we reminded the Tnaiste that there were still serious threats to Irish farming and that some sectors are already suffering the consequences. The Brexit Adjustment Reserve must be available for our sector.

There are also labour shortages in farms and in the processing sector. While there has been an allocation of work permits for the sector, there are significant backlogs in the processing of permits which is causing great frustration, he said.

Published: Thu 3 Feb 2022, 3:28 PM

Last updated: Thu 3 Feb 2022, 3:29 PM

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IFA discuss Brexit and work permits with Varadkar - Westmeath Examiner