"Red tape caused a “steep decline” in the number of trading relationships after January 2021, according to a study by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics. The number of buyer-seller relationships fell by almost one-third, it found. "

https://www.ft.com/content/7a209a34-7d95-47aa-91b0-bf02d4214764?shareType=nongift

"The European Commission has recommended that Ukraine and Moldova should be granted European Union candidate status, a first step in the long process of accession."

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-georgia-moldova-eu-candidates/31902263.html

""We had a system where if someone [from the EU] dropped out from our team they would introduce a friend or relative to take their place. That's no longer possible and that's caused the problems we're seeing today."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-61568286

"A €9-a-month ticket scheme is to be introduced from 1 June allowing travel on all modes of city and regional transport. The ticket will apply nationwide and will be available for three months until the end of August."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/20/germany-public-transport-boost-9-euro-month-ticket

"The delegation’s arrival is being seen as a significant intervention by the US, which is acting as co-guarantor of the 1998 Good Friday agreement."

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/20/us-delegation-to-fly-to-uk-over-northern-ireland-tensions

"The European Commission has raised the spectre of an economically damaging trade war with the UK, pledging to respond with “all measures at its disposal” if Liz Truss presses ahead with a plan to rewrite the Northern Ireland protocol."

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/17/eu-raises-spectre-trade-war-if-uk-rewrites-northern-ireland-protocol

"Thinktank finds ‘clear and robust impact’ of Brexit on rising food prices, adding to cost of living crisis"

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/apr/27/post-brexit-trade-barriers-increase-price-of-food-imported-from-eu-report

"UK’s Brexit losses more than 178 times bigger than trade deal gains"

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-trade-deals-australia-new-zealand-b1959478.html

Ukraine has joint the European Energy Union, meaning that their grid is now connected and they can directly receive and provide energy.

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1504091172196823042

The British government faces paying a hefty charge to the EU after the European court of justice ruled it had been negligent in allowing criminal gangs to flood European markets with cheap Chinese-made clothes and shoes.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/08/uk-faces-fine-eu-chinese-imports

Georgia and Moldova apply for EU-Membership

https://www.dw.com/en/georgia-formally-applies-for-eu-membership/a-61001839

"Brexit: 71% of UK exporters say government’s Brexit trade deal is bad for business"

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/brexit-uk-businesses-exports-bcc-b2016926.html

"UK goods into Germany down 8.5% in further sign of Brexit damage"

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/09/uk-goods-into-germany-down-further-sign-brexit-damage?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

"Northern Ireland minister orders halt to Brexit agri-food checks"

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/feb/02/northern-ireland-minister-orders-halt-to-brexit-agri-food-checks

"Brexit and pandemic have cost UK businesses £250bn each but EU departure tally now rising faster than Covid disruption"

https://www.cityam.com/brexit-and-pandemic-have-cost-uk-businesses-250bn-each-but-eu-departure-tally-now-rising-faster-than-covid-disruption/

When lorry queues in Dover become so permanent that they show on google satellite something is not going well.

One in three UK business owners fear their company won’t exist anymore in a year as Brexit onslaught intensifies

https://www.cityam.com/one-in-three-uk-business-owners-fear-their-company-wont-exist-anymore-in-a-year-as-brexit-onslaught-intensifies/

So, effectively from Saturday companies in the US can save 25% buying steel from the EU instead of the UK.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/29/uk-steel-industry-braces-for-slump-in-trade-as-us-eu-tariffs-abolished

Brexit: The economic impact a year on
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-59741804

Groundhog Day ..
"Liz Truss to hold Brexit talks with EU over NI protocol"

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/dec/21/liz-truss-to-hold-brexit-talks-with-eu-over-northern-ireland-protocol

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/23/post-brexit-scheme-to-lure-nobel-winners-to-uk-fails-to-attract-single-applicant

Brexit is a slow bleed for the City of London

https://www.ft.com/content/218e34b3-3e3e-4655-920e-a475862a9d21

The hospitality industry is facing a staffing crisis as restaurants and pubs say that up to a quarter of those employed before the Covid-19 pandemic will not return.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/01/uk-restaurants-pubs-brexit-staff-covid

Rather interesting read on how the Brexit process and the UK/EU relationship evolved during Theresa May's premiership:

https://ukandeu.ac.uk/brexit-witness-archive/philip-hammond/

Nothing to add to the title, really.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/23/brexit-hit-firms-advised-government-officials-set-up-shop-in-eu

Interesting
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/westminster-news/erasmus-programme-scotland-wales-brexit-6923272

Michel Barnier has said a trade and security deal with Boris Johnson’s government by the end of the year appeared “unlikely”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/23/considerable-gaps-remain-brexit-talks-says-uk-negotiator-david-frost

Very interesting that according to the article, Gove thinks that the northern Ireland protocol is still being worked out, despite that the Withdrawal Agreement is in place.


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/apr/29/brussels-and-uk-at-odds-over-proposed-eu-office-in-belfast

Don't take my word for it, the government says so. If that's not worth all the downside..
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/02/uk-says-it-will-not-lower-standards-to-strike-trade-deal-with-trump

Note: The EWRS is the EU's pandemic warning system.

https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/early-warning-and-response-system-after-brexit-1-6540034

The UK government is now outlining what they are trying to achieve in negotiations with the EU, and frankly I do not see any chance they can get what they want.
Some interesting points:


- Competition and subsidies should not be subject to the final agreement’s dispute resolution mechanism..
Note: I see no way the EU is prepared to exclude such a crucial part from the resolution mechanism.


- A separate agreement on fisheries that would allow for annual negotiations

Note: That would set up a fight over fishing every year.


- An agreement on equivalence on financial services to be decided before the end of June.


Note: Again I do not see how that can work without the UK commit to a long term regulatory environment that mirrors the EU or is in sync with EU regulators, especially in regards to tax havens.


https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/27/uk-says-it-will-consider-walking-away-from-brexit-talks-in-june

So much for the legend of "frictionless trade" ... He also calls for businesses to "get ready", which is a bit difficult considering that details of all this won't be known by businesses before autumn earliest.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/10/checks-on-eu-bound-goods-inevitable-gove-tells-business-leaders

"Control the language, break reality" by Ian Dunt

From the article:
"Johnson also appears intent on banning the word 'Brexit' itself from government communication. "Brexit is completed," the directive says. "So do not use the term 'Brexit' save as a historical event that took place on 31 January 2020."
https://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2020/02/07/week-in-review-control-the-language-break-reality

Posting that mainly because I have the feeling some EU politicians are now, after Brexit Day, seem to want to make a point that there are lots of issues ahead for the UK, including Gibraltar and Scotland.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/02/donald-tusk-eu-would-be-enthusiastic-if-scotland-applied-to-rejoin

A little listening tip for people who want to stay tuned on Brexit/EU matters:

Self-description: "REMAINIACS is the no-bullshit Brexit podcast for people who won’t just shut up and get over Brexit. Every week we take an honest look at the unfolding shambles that is Britain’s departure from the EU."
https://www.remainiacs.com/

So what do non-Brexiters do on Friday night?
Here is a first list of ideas, though I might just get drunk with some German Whisky.
https://scramnews.com/all-the-ways-remainers-can-mark-31st-january/
More Ideas are welcome.

I though I share a marketing email I received the other day (see image).

The email had the subject "Let's celebrate our Britishness with wine" Hilariously according to the email, it's all about "England" though, not Britain.

Good summary by Ian Dunt

https://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2020/01/23/brexit-2020-everything-you-need-to-know-about-johnson-s-trad

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/16/boris-johnson-will-amend-brexit-bill-to-outlaw-extension
While technically a stunt (he could obviously pass another law to extend the transition with his majority) it is also incredible sillyd from the perspective of negotiations. Probably a good hint he will go for any off-the-shelf solution the EU will offer and does not really care.
Additionally, MPs will not get any oversight over negotiations anyway.

If you're voting tactically (ie. not for your first choice), then why not amplify your vote by swapping who will vote for your preference in a seat where it'll make more of a difference. For example, if you're a lib dem voting tactically in Battersea for Labour, try and find a lab voter in a Con/Lib fight like Richmond Park, Lewes or St Ives. It's almost a 2 for 1 remain deal, do it! https://www.swapmyvote.uk/

Considering what's at stake, strange. Not a single canvasser bothered to come to our house. Only Labour put leaflets through the door, funny enough mainly about Brexit and how much Helen Hayes will fight to remain in the EU. The Leaflet didn't bother to explain Labours "we get a better deal and then do referendum where we might stay neutral" policy.
Anyway, nothing from any other party, not even Greens who are strong around here.
I kind of expected party members to bang at my door every day.

Good morning to you all,

I’m a stranger and I don’t understand anything about

to this whole affair:

a) What does BJ hope to have more than what Teresa May had already obtained?

b) is the suspension of the British Parliament legal or can it be likened to a "coup d'état"?

Does anyone know how to explain this to me in a few words?

Thank you .

Hi everyone,

https://www.scooploop.com/groups/sw-london-remainers-group-for-tactical-voting-and-vote/

Hello everyone, I've set up this new group because I wish to explain and encourage both tactical voting and vote swapping in my community. I'm terrified that if party tribalism prevails and people don't think very carefully about whether their vote is wasted in our first past the post system, then we'll end up with 5 years of liar Johnson and a horrendous Brexit. For example, I'm a natural Lib dem voter but don't think they can win in Battersea, so I have swapped my vote for big remainer Marsha de Cordova for a Lib dem vote in Lewes (by a Labour voter and climate activist down there), which hopefully results in two remain seats in Parliament.

I've also spoken to several of my family who are in seats where only the tories will win, so they need to vote swap too, and you can use this site https://www.swapmyvote.uk/.

What I did was find a seat where Lib dems are the only chance to unseat Tories (there are many in Devon/Cornwall I believe) but I happen to know Lewes well. I joined a local facebook group, made my offer of a swap and found a lady I trust completely. It's really quite straightforward and if enough people think about doing this, we can STOP BREXIT! Thank you and I hope you will join and invite your friends in the neighbourhood.

If you have already decided to vote tactically but would also like to express your true political inclination, then you might want to put one of these up in your front window, or the back of your car!

There is also a similar group on Next Door for those of you who are also on that platform. you need to logged in to your ND account for this link to work. https://nextdoor.co.uk/g/gwghqi36q/?is=nav_bar

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/25/johnson-sowing-seeds-of-biggest-brexit-crisis-yet-warns-sir-ivan-rogers
This. Johnson's "get it done" policy will mean years of "cliff edge ahead".

Wasn’t the party line to stay neutral just two days ago?

Whoever is responsible, I hope it persuades a few former Tories to vote tactically to get them out 👊🇪🇺👌

What a drama ... and does anyone have any predictions what will happen now?

So Oliver Letwin ( Ex Tory ) has tabled an amendment for today's vote which basically says this:
- Any vote on the Brexit deal is not a legal approval until all necessary legislation for Brexit has passed.
Despite Letwin being a bit of an odd fellow ( he would vote for Brexit ) this is extremely clever, because if it is accepted it means the Benn Act is still in place ( Brexit Deal has not been approved ) and Johnson needs to ask for an extension this weekend.
It also closes the ERG loophole of voting for the deal today ( hence disabling the Benn Act ) and then next week torpedoing the Withdrawal Agreement to crash out with no deal.

So there we are, Saturday is the day.
Funny enough, if Brexit is not going to happen, we will have mainly to thank the DUP (of all people), however, if enough Labour MPs support Johnson we will get a pretty hard Brexit, another cliff-edge/no-deal at the end of 2020 and even more so probably another 5 to 10 years of Johnson government.
Thoughts?

So the current situation looks like this:
- BJ will (maybe) bring forward a deal which pretty much looks like what May proposed originally ( separate custom union membership for NI ) , something the ERG and DUP opposed heavily.
- It's unclear how the DUP and ERG will respond this time
- up to 20 Labour MPs might vote for that nevertheless
- Many MPs will try to attach an amendment for a referendum on it, but Corbyn still demands an election first
- This could mean that BJ gets his deal through parliament ( IF he gets DUP on his side ) with some Labour help, most likely ending with him winning the next GE ( as the man "who got Brexit done, somehow ) and Labour going into some form of party-internal war.
Thoughts?