Tag Archives: European Union

BREXIT: British Companies Stockpile Holiday Booze

The Guardian reports: Companies across Britain have begun stockpiling beer, wine and spirits to keep the alcohol flowing at Christmas as concerns grow that Brexit could disrupt supplies over the festive period. Rushing to bring forward their imports, firms warn that the Brexit deadline on 31 October stands to clash with the run-up to Christmas, when import volumes rise, temporary …

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Boris Johnson Loses Second Bid For Snap Election

The Washington Post reports: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s dreams of an election that would clear his path to Brexit by the end of October were decisively dashed after midnight Tuesday morning, leaving him with no obvious means of making good on his vow of a “do or die” exit from the European Union. The latest obstacle to Johnson’s plans …

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British Firms Bolt For Netherlands Ahead Of Brexit

Courthouse News reports: The Netherlands has seen a fivefold increase in British investments as the deadline approaches for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, according to the Dutch government. Following the Brexit referendum in 2016, wherein the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, British investment in Dutch businesses has increased sharply. The U.K. is set to …

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BRITAIN: Johnson Cabinet Member Quits Over Brexit

The BBC reports: Amber Rudd has quit Boris Johnson’s cabinet, with an outspoken attack on the government’s approach to Brexit. The ex-work and pensions secretary said the government was having no “formal negotiations” with the EU about a new deal, only “conversations”. Instead, 80-90% of Brexit work was spent preparing for an “inferior” no-deal option, she said. In her resignation …

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The Economist: Brexit Stockpiling On The Rise Again

The Economist reports: When the food riots start, says Linda, a university administrator from Brighton, “I plan to watch them on TV enjoying a nice puttanesca whipped up from the Brexit cupboard.” Often included on no-deal-Brexit recipe lists, the fiery pasta dish from Naples requires nothing fresh. From her stash of tins and frozen veg, Linda is self-sufficient for up …

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Boris Johnson’s Anti-Brexit Brother Resigns As MP

The BBC reports: Jo Johnson, the younger brother of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, is resigning as an MP and minister, saying he is “torn between family loyalty and the national interest”. The business minister and Tory MP for Orpington, south-east London, cited an “unresolvable tension” in his role. Mr Johnson voted Remain in the 2016 EU membership referendum, while his …

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BRITAIN: Pound Hits 34-Year Low Over Brexit Fears

The Scotland Herald reports: The pound has slumped to its lowest level against the US dollar since 1985, surpassing a previous 2017 low to be worth less than 1.20 dollars. The present weakness has been caused by jittery markets as MPs return from summer recess and the chances of a general election rising, causing more Brexit uncertainty and angst. Rebel …

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Johnson: Chances Of Brexit Deal Are “Touch And Go”

The BBC reports: Boris Johnson has said the chances of a Brexit deal are “touch and go” – having previously said the odds of a no-deal Brexit were “a million to one”. In a BBC interview at the G7 summit in France, he said it “all depends on our EU friends and partners”. When pressed on the chances, he said: …

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Leaked Brexit Docs Predict Food, Medicine Shortages

The Guardian reports: The UK will be hit with a three-month meltdown at its ports, a hard Irish border and shortages of food and medicine if it leaves the EU without a deal, according to government documents on Operation Yellowhammer. The documents predict severe extended delays to medicine supplies and shortages of some fresh foods combined with price rises as …

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BRITAIN: Pound Continues Slide Over No-Deal Brexit

The Independent reports: The pound fell again on Friday after shock figures revealed UK economy shrunk for the first time since 2012 as the country lurches closer to recession and a calamitous no-deal Brexit. Sterling was down 0.3 per cent against both the dollar and the euro on the back of news that GDP unexpectedly contracted 0.2 per cent in …

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Brexity: Tories Allocate Billions To Stockpile Medicines

Reuters reports: Britain is doubling spending on preparations for a no-deal Brexit this year as Prime Minister Boris Johnson sets his sights on leaving the European Union with or without a divorce deal at the end of October. Johnson’s finance minister Sajid Javid has set aside an extra 2.1 billion pounds of new spending to stockpile medicines, hire more border …

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British Pound Tumbles Over No-Deal Brexit Fears

Reuters reports: The British pound tumbled on Tuesday as investors bet Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit brinkmanship with the European Union could trigger a messy divorce that would sow chaos through the world economy and financial markets. Sterling crashed through trading barriers, falling to a low of $1.2120 in overnight trade, the lowest since March 2017. The pound has lost …

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Trump: The EU Was Created To Pick America’s Pockets

Trump today doubled-down on what he claimed last month: “Europe treats us worse than China. Europe is—believe me, you know, look — I come from Europe. We come — you [Maria] come from Europe, okay? You’re of one—you’re of the European nations. European nations were set up in order to take advantage of the United States,” he told Fox host …

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Boris Johnson “Turbo-Charging” No-Deal Brexit Plan

The Guardian reports: Boris Johnson is “turbo-charging” preparations to leave the EU without a deal on 31 October as his government’s number one priority, according to several senior cabinet ministers. The new prime minister sent out cabinet ministers for interviews across newspapers and broadcasters this weekend as part of a publicity blitz about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. Their …

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Boris Johnson Promises “New Golden Age” For Britain

The BBC reports: Boris Johnson has promised the “beginning of a new golden age”, as he made his first Commons statement as PM. Speaking to MPs, Mr Johnson said his government would throw itself into Brexit negotiations with energy, while Michael Gove would lead on no-deal planning as a “top priority”. He also said EU citizens living in the UK …

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Deal Or No Deal: Johnson Vows Brexit On October 31st

Reuters reports: Boris Johnson used his first speech as prime minister to vow to lead Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 “no ifs or buts”, warning that if the European Union refused to negotiate then there would be a no-deal Brexit. Johnson, who has been hailed by U.S. President Donald Trump as Britain’s Trump, is sending the …

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Brexit Party Dominates In EU Parliament Election

CNBC reports: Britain’s newly-formed Brexit Party comfortably beat the country’s two main parties in European Parliamentary elections, early results showed Monday, as voters expressed their frustration over the Brexit deadlock. The results are coming in after Conservative Party leader Theresa May announced her resignation as prime minister on Friday morning. It is expected that U.K. MEPs (Members of the European …

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BREAKING: Theresa May To Resign On June 7 [VIDEO]

The BBC reports: Theresa May has said she will quit as Conservative leader on 7 June, paving the way for a contest to decide a new prime minister. In an emotional statement, she said she had done her best to deliver Brexit and it was a matter of “deep regret” that she had been unable to do so. Being prime …

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BRITAIN: MPs To Vote On Second Brexit Referendum

The Guardian reports: Theresa May has offered MPs votes on a second referendum and a temporary customs union in her last attempt to get a Brexit deal through parliament. Amid widespread expectation that the withdrawal agreement bill will be heavily defeated early next month, and reports of serious rows in cabinet, the prime minister used a hastily arranged speech to …

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Brexit Talks Collapse Again, Clock Ticks On PM’s Exit

The Guardian reports: The government and Labour have sought to blame each other after cross-party talks to find a compromise Brexit plan collapsed, leaving any remaining hopes of an imminent solution to the impasse in tatters. While both sides insisted the discussions had taken place in good faith, Theresa May said a sticking point had been Labour splits over a …

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