Reeves: Chancellor ‘gambling’ with new energy scheme

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has laid out plans to spread the costs of rising energy prices for “80% of homes in England”.  Sunak told the House of Commons today that it would be “dishonest” to pretend we do not have to adjust the energy price cap, which will rise to £1,971 from April..  The Chancellor faced […]

The Political Agenda – Sarah Olney MP (Brexit Special)

On the 30th December 2020, parliament was recalled to vote through the Brexit trade deal that signalled the end of the transition period of the UK leaving the EU. The vote symbolised the closing of a key chapter in Brexit’s history, four long and divisive years after the 2016 referendum. One year on, Chris Lomas […]

Brexit Minister Lord Frost resigns in further blow to Johnson’s leadership

Lord David Frost, who negotiated Britain’s departure from the EU as Brexit Minister, resigned from his position as Brexit minister last night with “immediate effect”. Known within Government as “Boris’s Brexit brain”, Lord Frost led the UK’s negotiations with the EU on a free trade agreement during the transition period, and headed the government team […]

The Brexit trade deal – big problems for small businesses – Sarah Olney MP

On Christmas Eve 2020, in typical boosterish fashion and with great fanfare, Boris Johnson announced his trade deal with the EU.The message was clear. Brexit would bethe great enabler of opportunity and freedom for British business. However, after several months, the reality is that the deal is creating widespread issues for our exporters. Johnson made […]

Irish minister warns of ‘fragile’ situation in Northern Ireland ahead of UK-EU talks

Ireland’s European Affairs minister has today warned that the situation in Northern Ireland “is clearly very fragile”, as the UK-EU talks over the deal governing the region post-Brexit, as talks rumble on with little sign of breakthrough. His comments come ahead of another scheduled meeting between Lord Frost and the EU Commission’s vice president Maroš […]

Government says trawler at centre of French row still impounded, after minister claimed otherwise

The government has said the trawler at the centre of the fishing row with France remains impounded, after minister claimed otherwise. Environment minister George Eustice told reporters earlier today that the fishing trawler impounded by French authorities last week had been released. “I understand that vessel has now been released and I think there’s going […]

Truss gives France 48 hours to retract fishing row threats

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has today reaffirmed previous suggestions that the UK could pursue legal action against France amid its ongoing row over fishing licenses. The minister told the Sky News Breakfast programme this morning that the UK could sue French authorities if they do not “stop threatening [British] fishing vessels”, saying: “This issue needs […]

France urges EU to demonstrate the ‘damage’ of Brexit ahead of fishing row talks

Downing Street confirmed yesterday that the PM will hold “brush by” talks with the French President at the G20 on Sunday. Yesterday evening POLITICO revealed a private letter sent by French Prime Minister Jean Castex to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen, that read: “It… seems necessary for the European Union to show its […]

Truss summons French Ambassador for talks amid ongoing fishing dispute

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has summoned the French Ambassador Catherine Colonna to meet with Britain’s Europe Minister Wendy Morton this afternoon, amid an ongoing fishing licenses row. This latest flashpoint was triggered overnight on Wednesday, when France detained a British trawler and verbally warned another off the coast of Le Havre, and the French government […]

Priti Patel dubs French government ‘disappointing’ amid fishing license row

Home secretary Priti Patel has described France’s decision to detain a British trawler and verbally warn another as “disappointing”. When asked today whether she was in talks with her French equivalent, she told journalists: “It is disappointing, and we as a country fulfilled all our obligations under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA). “But at […]