Another day, another drama at Westminster yesterday. The Government attempted to bring forward a “yes” or “no” vote on its Brexit deal but was rebuffed by Speaker John Bercow (above), who said it would be “repetitive and disorderly” to debate it again. Continue reading Brexit Bill: Opposition, Scotland and Wales all want more time to have their say
So we have a deal. Maybe.
News of the Brexit breakthrough came through before lunchtime. ‘A great deal for our country’, proclaimed PM Boris Johnson. But will the deal – ‘this excellent deal’ get the green light from MPs at a special sitting of parliament on Saturday? It doesn’t look like it: Labour, the SNP, the Lib Dems and – crucially – the government’s DUP partners have all said they will oppose the deal.
PM Boris Johnson held a press conference at the EU Council following the announcement of a new Brexit deal in Brussels:
“I particularly thank Michel Barnier and his team. I thank Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the Commission, for all the personal effort that he has put in to getting this deal done. And I want to stress that this is a great deal for our country, for the UK.
“I also believe it is a very good deal for our friends in the EU. And what it means is that we in the UK can come out of the EU as one United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, together, and it means we can decide our future together, we can take back control, as the phrase goes, of our money, our borders, our laws, together.
“And we will be able to do free trade agreements around the world. We can also build now, after three and a half years, we can build now on our relations with our friends and partners in the EU.
“And it’ll be a very exciting period now, as it were, to get to the positive side of that project – the extraction having been done, the building now begins.
“And I’m very confident that when my colleagues in Parliament study this agreement, that they will want to vote for it on Saturday, and then in succeeding days.
“This is our chance in the UK as democrats to get Brexit done, and come out on October the 31st. This is our chance to focus on our priorities, the people’s priorities, the NHS, putting 20,000 police on the streets, lifting up funding of education across the country, the biggest expansion of the living wage.
“Those are the things I think the people of our country want us to be focusing on in addition to Brexit. We have been at this now, as I say, for three and a half years.
“It hasn’t always been an easy experience for the UK. It has been long, it has been painful, it has been divisive, and now is the moment for us as a country to come together.
“Now this is the moment for our parliamentarians to come together and get this thing done, and, as I say, to begin building a new and progressive partnership with our EU friends, with whom, of course, we share so many priorities.”
EC President Jean-Claude Juncker responded: “Good to see you and good to see the Prime Minister, my friend Boris Johnson. We have a deal. And this deal means that there is no need for any kind of prolongation.
“This is a fair and balanced agreement. It is testament to our commitment to finding solutions.
“It provides certainty where Brexit creates uncertainty. It protects the rights of our citizens and it protects peace and stability on the island of Ireland. There will be no border on the island of Ireland. And the Single Market will be protected.
“This deal is not about us, the deal is about people and peace.
“And I look forward to continue my conversations with Boris, because we will start the negotiations on the future relations immediately after the deal will have been approved.
“We will start our debates on 1 November, without delay.
“Tonight, together with Michel Barnier, I will explain the deal to the 27 Heads of State or Government.
“And of course, it is for both our Parliaments to have the final say. It is not only Westminster having to approve the deal – the deal being in fact a Treaty – it is also up to the European Parliament to do the same.
“So thank you, Boris for – I have to say – the excellent relations we had throughout the last weeks.
“I have to say: I am happy about the deal, but I am sad about Brexit.”
Commenting on the new Brexit deal, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “This deal would be a disaster for working people. It would hammer the economy, cost jobs and sell workers’ rights down the river.
“Boris Johnson has negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May. All MPs should vote against it.”
And many of them assuredly will.
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “From what we know, it seems the Prime Minister has negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May’s, which was overwhelmingly rejected.
“These proposals risk triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections: putting food safety at risk, cutting environmental standards and workers’ rights, and opening up our NHS to a takeover by US private corporations.
“This sell out deal won’t bring the country together and should be rejected. The best way to get Brexit sorted is to give the people the final say in a public vote.”
The SNP was also scathing about the new deal: “Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal clearly ignores Scotland’s wishes and interests, and means that Scotland is being treated unfairly compared to other UK nations.
“That is unacceptable and SNP MPs will vote against it.”
The Liberal Democrats said: “It seems Boris Johnson has managed to cobble together yet another disastrous Brexit deal.
“It remains to be seen if he can get the deal passed by the House of Commons, but we already know two things for certain:
“We will not stop fighting to stop Brexit.”
And the Democratic Unionist Party, who have been propping up the Conservative government:
“Following confirmation from the Prime Minister that he believes he has secured a “great new deal” with the European Union the Democratic Unionist Party will be unable to support these proposals in Parliament.
“The Democratic Unionist Party has worked since the referendum result to secure a negotiated deal as we leave the European Union. We have been consistent that we will only ever consider supporting arrangements that are in Northern Ireland’s long-term economic and constitutional interests and protect the integrity of the Union.
“These proposals are not, in our view, beneficial to the economic well-being of Northern Ireland and they undermine the integrity of the Union. Our main route of trade on an East –West basis will be subject to rules of the European Union Customs Union, notwithstanding that Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK Customs territory.
“All goods would be subject to a customs check regime regardless of their final destination. The default position, even for goods travelling from one part of our country to another, is that they are considered under the EU Customs code unless otherwise agreed. We recognise that only those goods ultimately destined for the Republic of Ireland would be subject to tariffs but the reality remains that the EU would have a veto on which goods would be exempt and which would not under the Joint Committee arrangements. This is not acceptable within the internal borders of the United Kingdom.
“Consumers in Northern Ireland would face the prospect of increased costs, and potentially less choice due to checks being implemented in order to facilitate the European Union. Throughout all the discussions on these issues we have been clear that Northern Ireland should not be subjected to administrative burdens which will be entrenched for the future.
“On VAT Northern Ireland will again be bound into arrangements that the rest of the United Kingdom will not. There is a real danger that over time Northern Ireland will start to diverge across VAT and Customs and without broad support from the democratic representatives of the people of Northern Ireland.
“While some progress has been made in recognising the issue of consent, the elected representatives of Northern Ireland will have no say on whether Northern Ireland should enter these arrangements.
“The Government has departed from the principle that these arrangements must be subject to the consent of both unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland. These arrangements would be subject to a rolling review but again the principles of the Belfast Agreement on consent have been abandoned in favour of majority rule on this single issue alone.
“These arrangements will become the settled position in these areas for Northern Ireland. This drives a coach and horses through the professed sanctity of the Belfast Agreement.
“For all of these reasons it is our view that these arrangements would not be in Northern Ireland’s long term interests. Saturday’s vote in Parliament on the proposals will only be the start of a long process to get any Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the House of Commons.”
With friends like these …
Mr Johnson does have some support, however ….
But parliament to ‘come together’? Dream on, Boris!
Remember the phrase: ‘I’d rather be dead in a ditch than delay EU exit’? Unless Mr Johnson can persuade all of the above to change their minds – and diplomacy isn’t his most obvious skill – the odds are our PM will be sending out that letter to seek an extension at the weekend.
Brexit. It’s far from over yet.
A joint letter from Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer has been issued to health and social care professionals providing them with further advice on ensuring medicine supplies in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, new controls on the entry of goods from the EU into the UK will need to be introduced. This is likely to cause delays at ports of entry and a slow-down in the flow of medicines and medicine supplies into the UK.
The letter outlines what steps are being taken in Scotland to ensure continuity of supply of medicines and medical devices and to support prescribers if shortages arise.
Commenting on the letter, Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman said: “Brexit is a crisis created by the UK Government, made worse by their refusal to rule out a disastrous ‘no deal’ exit. The reality is the supply of medicines and medical devices to Scotland will be impacted if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, meaning there is a risk of shortages.
“As a responsible government we are doing all we can to prepare as much as possible for the consequences of ‘no deal’. The joint letter from our Chief Medical Officer and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer sets out clearly what preparations have been made to mitigate as best we can and provides our health and social care professionals with as much reassurance as possible.
“If the UK leaves the EU without a deal and some shortages occur, the NHS will manage the situation and, if necessary, provide advice on suitable alternatives or other treatment options while supply is restored to normal levels.”
Letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer
Information on the mygov.scot/eu-exit website is also available.
Back in August, the UK Government announced that the Department of Health and Social Care was to strengthen its Brexit preparations with a £25 million contract to set up an express freight service to deliver medicines and medical products into the country.
The department is leading a procurement exercise for an express freight service as part of the government’s plans to support continuity of supply when the UK leaves the EU on 31 October.
The service is intended to deliver small parcels of medicines or medical products on a 24-hour basis, with additional provision to move larger pallet quantities on a 2- to 4-day basis. The service will be available to the whole of the UK.
While the majority of goods will be standard medicines and medical products, the express freight service can also deliver temperature-controlled products if needed.
The contract will run for 12 months, with a possible further 12-month extension.
The service will provide an additional level of contingency as part of necessary preparations to leave the EU on 31 October whatever the circumstances, supported by an additional £2 billion from the Treasury across government.
This money includes £434 million to help ensure continuity of vital medicines and medical products through freight capacity, warehousing and stockpiling.
The new service will support existing plans already in place, including:
UK Health Minister Chris Skidmore MP said on 15 August: “I want to ensure that when we leave the EU at the end of October, all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure frontline services are fully prepared.
“That’s why we are stepping up preparations and strengthening our already extremely resilient contingency plans.
“This express freight service sends a clear message to the public that our plans should ensure supply of medical goods remains uninterrupted as we leave the EU.”
The Tory Government announced their legislative plans in the Queen’s Speech at Westminster today – but the Scottish Government says it will withhold consent motions until the UK Goverment gives Brexit assurances. Continue reading Queen’s Speech: getting on with governing?
The Scottish Government has requested £52 million from the UK Government’s EU Exit Operational Contingency Fund ahead of 31 October to help prepare for a ‘no deal’ exit from the EU.
Restating the Scottish Government’s opposition to a Brexit of any kind, and in particular to a ‘no deal’ Brexit, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay called on the UK Government to cover all additional costs associated with preparing to leave the EU, including those beyond 31 October.
The UK Government has indicated that funding is available where Scotland faces disproportionate costs.
Requests include funding to support:
Mr Mackay said: “The UK Government now seems to be actively pursuing a ‘no deal’ outcome which is utterly unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs.
“We have requested £52 million from the UK Government’s fund to help us prepare for a ‘no deal’ outcome. This is the minimum requirement for operational activity but the real costs of a ‘no deal’ Brexit will massively outweigh these and further funding will be required.
“Exiting the EU was not Scotland’s choice and the Scottish Government has been clear that any related costs must be covered by the UK Government. The Scottish Government should not have to cut spending on public services to fund Brexit preparations.
“As a responsible government, we are already taking steps to protect jobs and our economy from a ‘no deal’ Brexit and we will set out those plans to Parliament shortly but we are facing additional and disproportionate costs to mitigate the impact of such an outcome.
“We will continue make the case for staying in the EU and will stand firm against efforts to take us out against our will.”
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers has this week met members of the Scottish fishing, farming and food and drink industries as part of a two-day visit to Moray and Aberdeenshire. Continue reading Environment Secretary meets Scottish farmers
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
Aspiring journalists got the chance to grill the Prime Minister after he surprised them during a special ‘children’s lobby’ earlier this week.
Boris Johnson joined the mini press conference as 13 schoolchildren, aged nine to 14, were quizzing his deputy press secretary Lucia Hodgson in No10 Downing Street. Continue reading PM surprises young journalists at special ‘children’s lobby’
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 …
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
