UK Politics Thread

[Jimbuna]

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have "agreed the importance" of finding a post-Brexit trade deal, Downing Street has said.

They agreed progress has been made in talks between the EU and UK but "significant gaps" remain, No 10 said.

Both have instructed their chief negotiators to "work intensively" in order to try to bridge those gaps.

Negotiations between the UK and EU broke up without agreement.

Both sides are calling on the other to compromise on key issues, including fishing and government subsidies.

Mr Johnson and Mrs von der Leyen spoke during a phone call on Saturday and agreed to speak on a regular basis.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the two had agreed on the importance of finding an agreement "as a strong basis for a strategic EU-UK relationship in future."

The UK's chief negotiator, Lord Frost, tweeted that work to resolve differences between the UK and EU "begins as soon as we can next week".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54397942

So, in real terms, no substantive progress has been made yet.

[Jimbuna]

Jobseekers will be offered coaching and advice on moving into "growing sectors" as part of a £238m employment programme, the government has said.

Job Entry Targeted Support is aimed at helping those out of work because of Covid-19 for three months.

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said it would give people "the helping hand they need".

But Labour said the scheme "offers very little new support" and it was "too little too late".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54412574

Far too inadequate, a mere drop in the ocean.

[Moonlight]

Four suspected illegal immigrants have been detained at Dover, after being found stowed away in the back of a lorry.
It seems as if the authorities are getting their act together, that’s the good news over with and now for the bad news.
The four men weren’t arriving at Dover, they were attempting to leave the country. You couldn’t make this crap up. Priti Patel should rename herself pretty pathetic

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/a...ver-leave.html

[Jimbuna]

The question on a great many peoples lips here in the UK atm...

Will Margaret Ferrier remain an MP after breaking COVID rules?

Nicola Sturgeon repeated her call for Ms Ferrier to quit - and in an unfortunate slip of the tongue referred to her as "Margaret Covid".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54424360

[Jimbuna]

[Jimbuna]

Boris Johnson defended the government's response to local lockdowns and virus infections on university campuses.

Sir Keir Starmer pressed the PM to publish the science behind the decision to enforce a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon is expected to announce further restrictions aimed a slowing coronavirus infections.

UK's Chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost and cabinet minister Michael Gove will appear in front of a select committee later.

MPs will hold a retrospective vote later to approve lockdown restrictions which were introduced in some parts of England last week.

Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey has told the BBC the union will cut its funding to the Labour party by 10%

Council leaders have warned the government that plans to relax planning rules could lead to fewer new affordable homes being built.

[Jimbuna]

European Council President Charles Michel has said it is "time for the UK to put its cards on the table" over a post-Brexit trade deal.

He tweeted the comment after a call with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier on Wednesday.

Formal talks between the two sides ended last week, but officials are still trying to come to an agreement.

No 10 said, during the call, the PM had "reiterated that any deal must reflect what the British people voted for".

Mr Johnson also said that "businesses and citizens needed certainty very soon on the terms of our future relationship".

Earlier, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the negotiations gave him "cause for steady optimism".

But the UK's chief negotiator, Lord David Frost, said "big gaps" remained between the teams - namely on government subsidies for businesses and fishing rules - with fishing "the most difficult issue" left.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54452619

[Jimbuna]

Michel Barnier has arrived in London for the latest round of talks on the UK's post-Brexit trading relationship with the EU.

The EU's chief negotiator will sit down with UK counterpart Lord Frost, with less than a week to go until the UK's deadline for agreeing a trade deal.

It comes after European Council President Charles Michel said the sides were approaching "the moment of truth".

The main sticking points are fishing rights and state help for businesses.

The UK's post-Brexit transition period, during which its trading relationship with the EU has remained the same, is due to end in December.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the two sides should "move on" if nothing is agreed before the EU summit starting next Thursday.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54464086

They are cutting it fine now

[Jimbuna]

Conservative MPs in northern England seats are launching a campaign to ensure Boris Johnson sticks to his promise to boost their regions.

The PM has made "levelling up" - spreading money and power around the country - one of his key priorities.

But the 35-strong Tory group say they want to ensure the government delivers.

It includes several MPs who won seats in traditional Labour heartlands - the so-called "Red Wall" - at last year's general election.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54484053

I suspect Boris may have already lost the short-lived support of the North.

[Jimbuna]

MPs could get £3,000 pay rise under new proposals.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54481234

Absolutely absurd in the current climate of massive job losses across the country.

[Jimbuna]

Margaret Ferrier is still hanging on.............. it's now claimed she also went to a Church mass while infected...... and the Virus affects the way you think.......

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54496759

How does the Government expect anybody to follow the rules if people like her, Cummings, Corbyn, Ferguson don't ?

[Jimbuna]

Margaret Ferrier is still hanging on.............. it's now claimed she also went to a Church mass while infected...... and the Virus affects the way you think.......

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54496759

How does the Government expect anybody to follow the rules if people like her, Cummings, Corbyn, Ferguson don't ?

[Catfish]

"English villages wake up to find they're Brexit's new border"

Some concrete plans https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...er/ar-BB19VWGs

Article From AP

[Jimbuna]

Reality Check
Brexit trade deal: What are the sticking points?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/52937766

[Jimbuna]

Brexit trade deal: What do the UK and EU want?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/51357589