Farage accuses Government of being embarrassed by Brexit over Big Ben farce
Arch-Eurosceptic Nigel Farage has accused the Government of being “embarrassed” by Brexit over its failure to back the bid for Big Ben to chime on January 31.
Brexit
Free trade agreement ‘very difficult if UK does not comply with EU standards’
A free trade agreement will be “very difficult” to secure if Britain does not sign up to honouring Brussels’ rules on standards, according to Guy Verhofstadt.
‘Big Ben must bong for Brexit’ campaign raises more than £150,000
An online fundraising campaign seeking to have Big Ben chime to welcome in Brexit at 11pm on January 31 has raised more than £150,000.
Thousands of donors set for disappointment over Big Ben Brexit bong bid
Thousands of people who have donated cash to a fund to get Big Ben to ring to mark Brexit look set to be disappointed.
EU commissioner warns full trade deal by end-of-year ‘just not possible’
Boris Johnson’s ambition to get a full trade deal negotiated with Brussels by the end-of-year deadline is “just not possible”, the EU’s trade commissioner has said.
Almost 2.5m EU citizens given right to remain in UK after Brexit
More than 2.45 million EU citizens have been told they can live and work in the UK after Brexit, while six “serious or persistent” criminals have been refused.
Big Ben bong bid set for defeat as PM focuses on official Brexit celebrations
Boris Johnson appears to have admitted defeat in his battle for Big Ben to bong for Brexit.
Applications for EU Settlement Scheme hit 2.7m
Some 163,300 EU citizens applied last month to live and work in the UK after Brexit.
New laws to reward farmers for boosting wildlife and tackling climate change
Farmers will be paid for “public goods” such as protecting water and air quality, boosting wildlife and tackling climate change under new laws for agriculture.
New protections for threatened seabirds announced
New protections for the breeding and feeding grounds of tens of thousands of threatened seabirds are being announced by the Government.
Sir Patrick Stewart brands Brexit ‘the grimmest thing’
Sir Patrick Stewart has described Brexit as “the grimmest thing” to have happened to him in his political life.
Calls for Gibraltar and Falkland Islands to elect MPs to Westminster post-Brexit
A former Cabinet Office minister said British overseas territories such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands should be able to elect MPs to Parliament after Brexit.
Irish premier calls for ‘level playing field’ over Brexit negotiations
Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said that there has to be a level playing field in the Brexit negotiations to ensure the single market and customs union are “not diluted”.
Lewis attacks trade deals that ‘don’t give a damn about climate’
Former Labour leadership hopeful Clive Lewis said corporations are “raping our planet”, and Brexit is about “trade deals that don’t give a damn about climate”, in an attack on the Government’s green credentials.
US markets beat records amid China trade pact
Markets pushed higher on Wednesday as traders waited for the US and China to sign a first-stage trade deal to bring their long-running trade war to an end.
Brexiteer MP predicts success for Big Ben Brexit bong campaign
A Brexiteer Tory has predicted that the £500,000 needed to get Big Ben to ring for Brexit will be raised within days.
Muted crowdfunding support for ‘Bung a bob for a Big Ben bong’ on Brexit night
Boris Johnson’s “bung a bob for a Big Ben bong” proposal to get the bell to ring on Brexit night is attracting muted support on crowdfunding websites.
Stock markets tread water as US-China trade deal in focus
Stock markets struggled to make headway on Tuesday as gloomy Chinese data sparked renewed global slowdown fears and as traders awaited the imminent US-China trade deal.
What issues will dominate the 2020 Irish General Election campaign?
As the start of the 2020 General Election campaign gets under way, two major issues are expected to dominate political battle.
‘Bung a bob for a Big Ben bong’ on Brexit night under Government plans
Britons may be able to “bung a bob for a Big Ben bong” on Brexit night under plans being drawn up by the Government, Boris Johnson has said.
Boris Johnson confirms Britain will begin parallel trade talks after Brexit
Britain will begin negotiating new trade deals with countries outside the European Union once it has left the bloc on January 31, Boris Johnson has confirmed.
House of Commons Commission rules out Big Ben bonging for Brexit
Big Ben will remain hushed for Brexit due to financial and logistical issues, it is reported.
Varadkar – Ireland and UK to beef up co-operation after Brexit
Ireland and Britain will “beef up” co-operation after Brexit, the Irish Taoiseach said.
Business optimism ‘flatlined’ following general election – report
Business optimism has “flatlined” following the general election as firms wait to see the impact of the new Government and its policies, a study suggests.
EU will not be rushed into striking a Brexit deal – Coveney
Passing law to prevent the extension of Brexit negotiations will not force the EU to rush into a deal, Ireland’s deputy premier has warned.
Peers accuse PM of reducing Parliament to ‘passive observers’ with Brexit Bill
Peers have accused Boris Johnson of attempting to reduce Parliament to “passive observers” while he negotiates a trade deal with the European Union.
US not after NHS in Brexit trade talks, says ambassador
America is not seeking to “buy” the NHS in a post-Brexit trade deal, US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson has insisted.
Business leaders optimistic as Brexit worries subside
Brexit is no longer the chief concern for British finance directors for the first time since the 2016 referendum, according to a survey from Deloitte.
Peers warned not to hamper Brexit Bill progress after it clears Commons
Peers have been told to listen to the will of the country and back legislation paving the way for Brexit on January 31 after MPs voted overwhelmingly to pass the measure.
UK moves step closer to Brexit after Withdrawal Agreement Bill clears Commons
The UK’s exit from the European Union moved a step closer after Boris Johnson’s Brexit Bill cleared the Commons.