Brexit: 'Clearly a sham' Boris slammed as immigration to UK set to 'rocket' this year
BORIS JOHNSON has been slammed for claiming he is "taking back control" of Britain's borders after it emerged that more British nationals are expected to come to the UK this year than before Brexit.
Boris Johnson unveils plans to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda
An organisation that often "sounds an alarm over mass immigration" told the Telegraph that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to take back control of Britain's borders with a new post-Brexit points system was "clearly a sham". Its comments come as the number of non-EU people granted visas has already more than doubled since the Brexit vote in 2016. This number is only going to further increase with Ukrainian refugees and Hong Kongers on British National Overseas visas. Alp Mehmet, the chairman of Migration Watch, said the "rocketing" figures show that the government must deliver the "sustained reduction in numbers that they promised." Mr Mehmet continued: "The loose system that they introduced 16 months ago does the opposite."
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Brexit victory at the airport
A Twitter user has expressed joy at two Britons at Madrid airport who refused to go to “all other passports” queue, as they insisting that as they didn’t vote for Brexit.
Ms Bullock wrote that they got away with it.
Hats off to the two young British guys at Madrid airport just now who refused to go to \u201cAll other passports\u201d, insisting that as they didn\u2019t vote for Brexit , they were still Europeans \u2026 and they got away with it !
\u2014 Susan Bullock \ud83d\udc99\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@susanbu1) April 25, 2022
Hated deal faces being SCRAPPED in historic court showdown as row erupts
The hated Brexit deal faces being entirely scrapped after unionists won a battle to challenge its lawfulness in the Supreme Court.
Senior judges have identified thee legal points of public importance for consideration, granting leave to appeal to the UK's highest court.
The court has been asked to consider issues relating to the Northern Ireland Act and the Act of Union.
Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan confirmed: “We have considered the papers, and in the circumstances of this case we are going to grant leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.”
The Northern Ireland Protocol was implemented at the start of 2021 to prevent harsh border controls in Ireland.
‘Saving unnecessary expenses’ Brexiteer celebrates blocking of ‘absurd EU law’
A Brexiteer has hailed the blocking of an “absurd EU law” which is set to save Britons an “unnecessary expense”.
A law forcing ride-on lawnmowers to be covered by car insurance was blocked in Parliament yesterday, on April 25.
The bill to scrap the EU’s Vnuk motor insurance law passed and will now go on to receive royal assent.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described the blocking as a Brexit victory.
He noted: “Leaving the EU was always about doing what’s best for Britain, freeing ourselves from nonsensical laws and taking back control.”
Businessman and former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib agreed that this as a “great example” of how Brexit can be used to Britain’s advantage.
He told Express.co.uk: “This is a great example of how Brexit could be made to work for the UK.
“All regulations have an associated cost. By cutting red tape we can save our businesses and people unnecessary expense.”
Mr Habib added blocking the law would help Britons amid fears of rising living costs.
He said: “Savings are vital as we grapple with the cost of living crisis.”
The two Brexit choices facing Boris - inside the new law that could supercharge Article 16
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are believed to have in principle given the green light for plans to submit a Northern Ireland bill at the start of next month’s parliamentary session.
The development has come about owing to concerns from within Downing Street about how the upcoming elections in Northern Ireland could impact relations in Britain.
The plans would see ministers awarded unilateral powers to renege on key parts of the protocol.
Of these abilities, MPs would be able to switch off border checks on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Articles five to 10 of the protocol - which make up its legal heart - would be disengaged altogether in a move which would likely infuriate European Union (EU) politicians.
The legislation is being discussed before May’s crucial Northern Ireland Assembly elections, which are predicted to be dominated by the nationalist Sinn Fein party.
Northern Ireland’s Government is currently controlled by its mainly protestant and Unionist parties who have all opposed the current protocol.
Ministers hope that a new law will provide more favourable terms for the parties and entice them into an agreement.
A Government spokesperson confirmed to the FT that “no decisions” had yet been taken and that the “overriding priority continues to be the protection of peace and stability in Northern Ireland”.
UK and US disagree over Northern Ireland says expert
Brexit Britain win as City most popular choice for foreign investors
Brexit Britain's capital is staying top of the pecking order when it comes to foreign investment, with London dominating the competition.
According to figures published by the City of London Corporation, the governing body of London’s financial district the Square Mile, 114 investments totalling nearly £600 million were made in first from both financial and professional services.
This means London is beating strong competition from Singapore, New York and Paris.
A third of the investment was made up of financial technology firms, while nearly a fifth went to technology companies that support them.
The closest competitor was Dubai, whose financial and professional services received 104 investments.
This is compared to 103 for Singapore, 54 in New York and 53 in Paris.When comparing countries as a whole for financial and professional services investment, Britain is second only to the largest economy in the world, the US.UK-based firms attracted £1.3 billion in investment last year, with Belfast and Manchester particularly attracting investors.
UK’s Brexit losses more than 178 times bigger than trade deal gains
According to analysis by The Independent and the University of Sussex UK Trade Policy Observatory, the free trade agreements which have come into play following Brexit have “barely scratch the surface of the UK’s challenge to make up the GDP lost by leaving the EU”.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has said Brexit losses have amounted to more than £1,250 per person over the coming years.
A spokesperson for the Department for International Trade said: “Our Global Trade Outlook – published in September – shows the centre of gravity on global trade is moving away from Europe and towards fast-growing markets in Asia-Pacific.
"Our strategy is latching the UK economy to these markets of tomorrow, and seizing the huge economic opportunities as an agile, independent trading nation."
Good afternoon
Good afternoon I'm Rachel Hagan, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on Brexit for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: rachel.hagan@reachplc.com
Twitter: @rachelhagan_
POLL: Does Brexit mean we're finally in control of our borders?
Brexit was meant to see Britain "take back control" of its borders and immigration.
An analysis published by British Future, a think tank which specialises in immigration and integration, showed that more non-EU foreign nationals are expected to come to the UK this year than before Brexit.
The study showed the number of non-EU workers, students and families granted visas has already increased by more than 50 percent since the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016.
'Thanks to Brexit'- Brits to enjoy £50 off insurance bills
Motorists in Britain have been handed a £50 Brexit bonus on their insurance bills thanks to historic EU "lawn mower directive" red tape being scrapped.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the news after legislation was passed to cancel an EU directive made before Brexit was completed.
The directive would have forced insurance to be paid on vehicles on private land and would have included driven lawn mowers and chapters.
Mr Shapps posted a video about the move which cancelled EU law made as a result of an accident by a Slovenian farmer called Vnuk in 2007 when he was knocked off his ladder.
Brexit: Shapps hails removal of Vnuk law from UK
Northern Ireland Protocol could be scrapped in court battle
The Northern Ireland protocol could be entirely scrapped after unionists won a battle to challenge its lawfulness in the Supreme Court.
Senior Judges identified three legal points of public importance for consideration, granting leave to appeal to the UK's highest court.
The court has been asked to consider issues relating to the Northern Ireland Act and the Act of Union.
Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan confirmed: “We have considered the papers, and in the circumstances of this case we are going to grant leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.”
Government helping 'businesses of all sizes' with trade
The Government said it is doing everything to ensure "businesses of all sizes" are supported to enable them to trade effectively.
As we have been reporting, a recent study found that imports to the EU have fallen 25 percent post-Brexit.
A Government spokesman said the Export Support Service is a "landmark strategy" and they are seizing new opportunities and striking trade deals around the world.
They added: "Given the impact of Covid-19 on global supply chains, we have been introducing import controls in phases throughout 2022 in order to give businesses more time to prepare.
"Through our targeted multimedia campaign and a series of sector-based webinars, businesses are also signposted to the relevant import information and support to help them."
Brexit Britiain's bonfire of red tape held back by ‘huge cost’
Britain's red tape is being held back by the "huge cost" of net-zero, Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned.
The Brexit opportunities minister said the Government needs to "face-up" to the issues of climate red tape and efforts must not rely on "endless regulation".
Mr Rees-Mogg is leading efforts to scrap 1,500 Brussels rules as the Government plans to get rid of £1billion of EU red tape.
European Court of Justice to begin broadcasting hearings
The Court of Justice of the European Union will begin broadcasting some of its hearings, it has been announced.
It will broadcast the delivery of judgments and advocate general opinions from the Grand Chamber for the first time.
The Luxembourg-based court said it "will allow citizens to follow hearings under the same conditions as if they were physically present".
Professor Alberto Alemanno, an advocate for the shift said the court is "embracing openness".
Post-Brexit drop in imports is 'remarkable'
Researchers say it is "surprising" and "remarkable" that imports were hit harder than exports during the first year of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)
The TCA was introduced at the start of 2021 and analysis by the Center for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics and Political Science revealed that imports have fallen 25 percent.
Co-author Thomas Prayer said: "The drop in the number of products the UK exported to its smallest European partners following the introduction of the TCA is remarkable.
"It appears the UK simply stopped selling a lot of products to smaller countries in the EU.
"The UK's departure from the EU's single market and customs union at the start of 2021 caused a major shock to UK-EU trade."
Katya Adler warns Brexit tension not over
BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler has warned that Britain's relationship with France "will not be a smooth ride" now Emmanuel Macron has been re-elected.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast she said the relationship has been "difficult" since Brexit.
She said: "Emmanuel Macron played the role among EU leaders during the Brexit negotiations of Brexit bad cop, he was the tough one and he quite enjoyed that role.
"Since then, there's been lots of sparring between the two sides over fishing rights, and also immigration – people who are trying to cross the Channel between France to get to the UK and accusations in the Government that France hasn't always done it's best to stop boats crossing."
Major shock as EU imports fall by a quarter
Post-exit trade agreements with the EU have fallen 25 percent in imports in the first year.
The Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at the London School of Economics and Political Science found the fall in their most comprehensive study since Brexit.
The study did find, however, that exports to the bloc avoided such a dramatic fall, with a smaller and temporary drop.
It said trading was hit with a "substantial reorientation" after the introduction of the UK-EU Yrade and Cooperation Agreement at the start of 2021.
It described the shift as a "major shock".
Good morning
Good morning I'm Francesca Edwards, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on Brexit for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: francesca.edwards@reachplc.com
Twitter: @FrankieLEdwards
