Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a showdown in Westminster today after officials warned he would call for a snap general election on 14 October if MPs succeed in seizing control of Commons business. Continue reading A huge day for democracy as Johnson ups the ante
The UK Government has launched a new public information campaign, ‘Get Ready for Brexit’, which will run across television, social media, billboards and other platforms. Continue reading Get Ready for Brexit campaign launched
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to take part in protests this Saturday against the Boris Johnson’s move to suspend parliament and ram through his Brexit agenda. Continue reading STOP THE COUP: Thousands of protesters expected to hit the streets today
PM Boris Johnson’s controversial decision to prorogue (suspend) Parliament yesterday has prompted a furious backlash from politicians and opponents of a no-deal Brexit, who believe the move is both unconstitutional and undemocratic.
The government was given the Queen’s assent to suspend Parliament when MPs return to work next week, effectively meaning that they are unlikely to have time to stop the Prime Minister taking the UK out of the EU without a deal on 31 October.
Leader of the Opposition, Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, responded: “I am appalled at the recklessness of Johnson’s government, which talks about sovereignty and yet is seeking to suspend parliament to avoid scrutiny of its plans for a reckless No Deal Brexit. This is an outrage and a threat to our democracy.
“That is why Labour has been working across Parliament to hold this reckless government to account, and prevent a disastrous No Deal which parliament has already ruled out.
“If Johnson has confidence in his plans he should put them to the people in a general election or public vote.”
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow described PM Johnson’s move as a ‘constitutional outrage’, saying: “However it is dressed up, it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of prorogation now would be to stop parliament debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country.
“At this time, one of the most challenging periods in our nation’s history, it is vital that our elected parliament has its say. After all, we live in a parliamentary democracy.
“Shutting down parliament would be an offence against the democratic process and the rights of parliamentarians as the people’s elected representatives.
“Surely at this early stage in his premiership, the prime minister should be seeking to establish rather than undermine his democratic credentials and indeed his commitment to parliamentary democracy.”
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday was a dark day for democracy in the UK. She said: “Boris Johnson’s bid to shut down Parliament to force through a No-Deal Brexit is an outrageous assault on basic democratic principles.
“In doing so, he is acting no better than a tin-pot dictator – not the Prime Minister of what is still supposedly a parliamentary democracy. It is an outrageous bid to ram through an outcome that would do massive damage to jobs, investment and living standards across the whole of the UK.
“And, make no mistake, it is an attempt to force an outcome that no-one voted for. A No-Deal Brexit was not on the ballot paper in 2016.”
The leader of Britain and Ireland’s largest union, Unite accused prime minister Boris Johnson of a no deal Brexit coup. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Boris Johnson’s plan to shut parliament is nothing short of a no deal Brexit coup which imperils the livelihoods of millions of workers and the future prosperity of communities across our nations.
“With the future of places such as Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant hanging by a thread, wrapping the suspension of parliament up with empty promises on education, police and the NHS is an insult to voters desperate for decent public services and a reversal of austerity.
“Johnson knows full well that a no deal Brexit will devastate our public finances and whole swathes of the economy. Have no doubt it will be Johnson and his friends in the wealthy elite who will be sitting pretty in the event of a catastrophic no deal Brexit, while working class communities pay the price.
“Whichever way people voted in the Brexit referendum, they did not vote for our democracy to be shut down and to lose their jobs. The prime minister should call a general election rather than silencing parliament to push through a disastrous no deal Brexit. I urge all sensible politicians from all parties to stand up and come together behind Jeremy Corbyn to block this no deal Brexit coup.”
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This outrageous manoeuvre has been made to silence all opposition in the most dictatorial way. Our parliamentary democracy is the envy of the world, but it’s being stamped upon and disregarded by a Prime Minister who’s not gone near a public vote.”
“Boris Johnson is treating the future of the UK like the plot of a far-fetched political TV drama. The country must be asked for its view on Brexit right now. That’s the only way.”“He is setting a timebomb for the NHS. The promises of more cash for the health service made during the referendum were just empty words. No deal will instead leave the NHS gasping for breath, creating chaos for the hard-working staff and spelling potential disaster for patients.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is inflicting unnecessary economic damage on an already vulnerable UK economy, the CEO of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisation warned yesterday.
Nigel Green, chief executive and founder of deVere Group, commented: “It could be argued that Boris Johnson’s decision to ask the Queen to suspend parliament, and therefore to prevent democratically elected representatives of the people doing their job, is deeply unconstitutional and has the hallmarks of a tin-pot dictator.
“However, it could also be argued that it is Mr Johnson fulfilling, one way or another, the will of the British people who voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.
“It is likely to be a tactic to spook negotiators into making concessions to the Withdrawal Agreement. Whether it will work remains to be seen. It will almost certainly be challenged in the courts.”
He added: “What we do know for sure though is that this step will inflict further unnecessary economic damage on an already extremely vulnerable UK economy.
“Depressingly, recession is looming for Britain and Johnson’s highly controversial tactics seriously increase the uncertainty which will further drag on investment and trade.
“In addition, it will further batter the beleaguered pound, which reduces people’s purchasing power. Weaker sterling means imports are more expensive, with rising prices typically being passed on to consumers.”
Mr Green added: “The situation in the UK is deteriorating. As such individuals as well as businesses will, inevitably and quite sensibly, be looking to grow and safeguard their wealth by moving assets out of the UK through various established international financial solutions.
“Brexit has plunged Britain into an existential crisis that will last for generations.
“It has also already cost billions upon billions of pounds. Indeed, it has cost the UK economy a staggering £66bn in just under three years, according to S&P Global Ratings.
“But perhaps even worse is the haemorrhaging of opportunity and confidence in the UK that will continue far beyond the Halloween deadline.”
The deVere CEO concludes: “Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament will have far-reaching economic effects, many of which will not be known for years to come.
“Domestic and international investors in UK assets need to watch the situation carefully and ensure that their portfolios are best-positioned to deal with the growing uncertainties.”
An online petition launched yesterday has already attracted more than one million signatures.
In other political news …
The UK Government must provide clarity on the economic impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit to let the Scottish Government plan for the potential consequences, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has said.
During a meeting with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak in London today, Mr Mackay will also seek a “cast-iron guarantee” that all EU funding lost to Scotland will be replaced in full by the UK Government.
Mr Mackay said: “With just weeks to go until we are due to leave the EU, we remain deeply concerned about the impact of a ‘no deal’ Brexit and the severe impact it threatens to have on our economy and jobs, as well as the loss of vital EU funding to Scotland.
“The actions of the UK Government in attempting to shut down Parliament to force through a ‘no-deal’ outcome means that the UK stands on the cusp of an economic crisis. I will be making absolutely clear to the Chief Secretary that the UK Government must stop pursuing a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
“As a responsible government we are continuing to do all we can to stop a ‘no deal’ Brexit. With a ‘no deal’ scenario looking increasingly more likely, it is essential that the UK Government sets out openly and honestly what the economic consequences will be to enable the Scottish Government to prepare for the additional pressures we may face.
“It’s also vital that the UK Government sets out what support they intend to make available for companies who may struggle to survive in a No Deal situation. The Scottish Government’s analysis shows 100,000 jobs could be at risk. If the UK Government is determined to take us out of the EU and cause this economic harm, then it must set out what it will do to mediate these impacts.
“I will also press the Chief Secretary to provide a cast-iron guarantee that all EU funding lost will be replaced by the UK Government in full, including supporting our farmers by matching all existing support available through the Common Agricultural Policy and finally passing on the £160 million of convergence funding that has been withheld from Scotland for no reason.”
Good luck with that, Derek …
Hundreds of people attended a People’s Vote Let Us Be Heard rally in The Meadows yesterday. Labour MPs Jess Phillips and Ian Murray, and SNP MP Joanna Cherry were joined by a stellar line-up of comedians from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
As well as the MPs, speakers included top comics Andrew Maxwell, Grace Campbell and Fred MacAulay as well as the renowned ‘Brexit Graffiti Granny’, Hazel Jones. Continue reading ‘Brexit is based on lies’: hundreds call for People’s Vote
THIRD SECTOR CHIEF WARNS OF ‘PERFECT STORM’
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has issued an open letter to all UK Parliament party leaders demanding action to stop a no-deal exit from the European Union. Continue reading Work together to stop No Deal Brexit, SCVO urges party leaders
The Government has signed into law legislation to repeal the Act of Parliament which set in stone Britain’s EU (EEC) membership in 1972.
The 1972 Act is the vehicle that sees regulations flow into UK law directly from the EU’s lawmaking bodies in Brussels. Continue reading END GAME: Brexit Secretary signs order to scrap 1972 Brussels Act – ending all EU law in the UK
The Scottish and Welsh Governments have raised serious concerns about the impact of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit on the popular Europe-wide international student exchange program Erasmus+.
In a letter to Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson, Scottish Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead and Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams have argued the case for continued participation in the exchange programme.
They say leaving the EU without a deal – and without the UK Government reaching an alternative Third Country agreement or other arrangement – would see universities, colleges, and schools across the UK ineligible to submit applications to participate in the final year of the current Erasmus+ programme in 2020.
Between 2014 and 2018, more than 15,000 students and staff from Scotland reaped the benefits of the EU-led scheme, which allows funded temporary study overseas as part of the their Scottish courses.
Mr Lochhead said: “Thousands of Scottish students benefit from Erasmus+ yearly, proportionally more than from any other country in the UK. The Scottish and Welsh Governments are clear that we must remain a full participant in Erasmus+.
“I am also alarmed to hear the UK Department for Education could be considering an Erasmus+ replacement programme for England only – with potentially no consequential funding for Devolved Administrations (DAs) to put in place their own arrangements. That’s why we have written to the UK Government calling for urgent action and assurances that Scottish students won’t miss out.
“It is the Scottish Government’s preference to remain in the EU, but in the event of a damaging ‘no-deal’ Brexit, students could now see the door to this fantastic cultural and educational exchange slammed shut.
“It is unacceptable that with less than 12 weeks left until the UK Government plans to take the United Kingdom out of the EU without an agreement in place, there is still no plan for alternative arrangements.”
The results of the impact studies show Erasmus+ significantly benefits students’ career prospects and personal development. The programme can act as a guide for students to discover what they want to do after their studies – making for a happier career; Erasmus+ has also been shown to drive innovation and social inclusion in higher education.
Every year, more than 300,000 students study or train under the Erasmus+ umbrella – over five million students have directly benefitted since the launch of the programme in 1987. The Higher Education Impact study found that 80 percent of Erasmus+ graduates are employed within three months of graduation, with 72 percent stating their Erasmus+ experience helped them land their first job. Nearly half of Erasmus+ trainees were offered a job in the company where they trained.
More than two-thirds of Erasmus+ students and trainees gained new insight about their career choices through studying or training abroad. This added awareness has allowed students to better orient their studies and training to match their career ambitions – leading to both happier careers and expanded professional opportunities.
The studies have also highlighted how Erasmus+ builds a sense of European identity and social cohesion. 90 percent of Erasmus+ students feel the programme has improved their ability to collaborate with people from different cultures, and are more positive about the role of the EU in society.
Erasmus+ mobility also supports the growth of innovative learning and teaching practices – as well as the expanded use digital technologies. Nearly 80 percent of academics reported their experience abroad has led to the development of more modern and innovative teaching practices and curricula in their faculties.
The impact study on Erasmus+ Higher Education Strategic Partnerships and Knowledge Alliances found that Erasmus+ has spurred equality in education – with nearly two-thirds of universities stating projects under Erasmus+ have increased social inclusion and non-discrimination in higher education.
Cooperation projects under Erasmus+ have also allowed students, higher education staff and other stakeholders to develop vital innovation and business skills. Over one in four projects under Erasmus+ contribute to strengthening entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurship – with nearly a third of these projects resulting in start-ups and spin-off enterprises.
Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer for July 2019 shows:
Continue reading Rock bottom: Business confidence takes a battering
First Minister warns a ‘no deal’ exit will “inevitably cause disruption”
The Scottish Government will do everything in its power to stop a deeply damaging ‘no deal’ Brexit, the First Minister has confirmed.
At a cabinet meeting ministers also agreed to step up preparations for a ‘no deal’ after the UK Government’s refusal to enter into negotiations with the EU made such an outcome more likely.
The First Minister will chair a meeting of the Government’s Ministerial Group on EU Exit Readiness next week.
The First Minister said: “In its first week the UK Government has shown it is willing to risk a ‘no deal’ Brexit. Taking Scotland out of the EU in any way is deeply undemocratic but the Prime Minister’s refusal to engage with the EU has dramatically increased the prospect that we will face a deeply damaging ‘no deal’ Brexit.
“If the Prime Minister continues with this approach Scottish jobs will be lost and our economy seriously damaged and it will be entirely the UK Government’s responsibility.
“Having assessed the actions of the new UK Government our work to prepare for ‘no deal’ will intensify in the coming weeks and months. But even with the best possible preparations, leaving the EU without a deal will hurt Scotland’s businesses, disrupt trade and impact on all aspects of society. There is simply no way to mitigate every impact that ‘no deal’ will have, no matter how hard we try.
“The willingness of the UK Government to pursue this approach, against all the evidence, shows why we must continue to make preparations for a referendum that will give people the right to decide Scotland’s future, instead of being dragged out of the EU against their will.”
Despite the Scottish Government’s concerns a No Deal Brexit is looking increasingly likely. The EU is not minded to renegotiate an agreement and the Westminster government’s rhetoric suggests that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, deal or no deal.
Yesterday, Communities and Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (above) said local councils should be fully prepared to leave the European Union by the end of October, as he ramped up preparations.
Mr Jenrick thanked councils for all the work they have already done, but said they must step up vital preparations and committed £20 million for councils across England to prepare for delivering Brexit on 31 October, whatever the circumstances.
He has asked each council to designate a Brexit lead to work with central government and oversee teams in every community who will work with stakeholders in their area to plan intensively for Brexit.
The new funding comes in recognition of the central role councils will play to make sure their residents are ready for Brexit, and is expected to support a range of activity including communications, training and the recruitment of staff.
Mr Jenrick will continue to talk to local council leaders to give them the opportunity to discuss preparations and the opportunities of Brexit ahead.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “From Whitehall to town halls – everyone needs to be ready to fulfil our democratic mandate to leave the European Union by the end of October.
“Local government has a vital role in helping to make Brexit a success and it is absolutely right that together we intensify preparations in every community.
“And to do this successfully I have asked every council (in England – Ed) to appoint a Brexit lead to work with government. We’ll be providing £20 million for councils to support the major step up in preparations.
“I want all of us – central and local government – to be fully prepared for leaving the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances. I know that we can achieve this, by continuing to work side by side with renewed national focus and intensity.”
The UK government recognises that certain areas face more acute pressures. It is currently considering how best to allocate funding to ensure that those areas where greater impacts are expected, such as high impact ports of entry, get the funding they need in order take appropriate steps.
At his first meeting with senior leaders from English local authorities since becoming the Communities and Local Government Secretary earlier this week, Mr Jenrick told representatives that the government will support them to ensure they are ready to leave the EU in just under 90 days’ time.
Departments will continue to assess and, if appropriate, fund any potential new requirements of local authorities as part of Brexit work they are undertaking.
In January the UK Government committed £58 million of funding to support local authorities in their preparations for Brexit.
