21 September 2017 Boris Like Marmite A shambles, a clever tactic or an unacceptable, disloyal attempt at a power grab? By Lynda Goetz Boris does seem to have the same effect on people as Marmite – you either love him or hate him. His 4,200 word ‘speech’, actually delivered as an article in the Saturday… Continue reading Issue 121: 2017 09 21: Boris like Marmite (Lynda Goetz)
Tag: EU
Issue 118: 2017 08 17: Week in Brief: UK
17 August 2017 Week In Brief: UK Brexit TRANSITION: Philip Hammond and Liam Fox have published a joint article confirming that Britain will leave the customs union and the single market in 2019 and that, although there may be transitional provisions, they will not be used as a way of remaining in the EU by… Continue reading Issue 118: 2017 08 17: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 115: 2017 07 27: Week in Brief: UK
27 July 2017 Week In Brief: UK Brexit BREXIT NEGOTIATIONS: Last week’s round of talks ended with little agreement. Points at issue include whether EU citizen should be able to bring their families to the UK without restriction, whether the European Court of Justice should have any jurisdiction in the UK, whether the British people… Continue reading Issue 115: 2017 07 27: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 114: 2017 07 20: Week In Brief: UK
20 July 2017 Week In Brief: UK Brexit BREXIT BILL: The Government has published the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill which will repeal the European Communities Act 1972, the statute which gives EU legislation effect in the UK. The bill, which has the effect of freezing the law as at the date of Brexit so that… Continue reading Issue 114: 2017 07 20: Week In Brief: UK
Issue 114: 2017 07 20: Tick Tock (Robert Kilconner)
20 July 2017 Tick Tock Mr Barnier’s clock moves on. By Robert Kilconner Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. In Mr Barnier’s room in Brussels, replete with the luxuries appropriate to the leader of the EU negotiating team, there stands a clock. At least I suppose there does, because he claims to hear it ticking… Continue reading Issue 114: 2017 07 20: Tick Tock (Robert Kilconner)
Issue 104: 2017 05 11: Pledges and Promises (John Watson)
11 May 2017 Pledges And Promises The fun will shortly begin. By John Watson “Sweet lovers” may love the spring, but the public’s enthusiasm for general election campaigns is rather more muted. And yet they have something in common. In spring, as the buds burst open, we see the renewal of much with which we… Continue reading Issue 104: 2017 05 11: Pledges and Promises (John Watson)
Issue 103: 2017 05 04: EU to win in France? (John Watson)
04 May 2017 EU To Win In France? Nemesis in numbers. By John Watson Whew! The sigh of relief can be heard from Finland to Spain. It is going to be all right after all. M Macron is still well ahead in the polls and it would take a political earthquake to bring Le Pen… Continue reading Issue 103: 2017 05 04: EU to win in France? (John Watson)
Issue 103: 2017 05 04: Week in Brief: UK
04 May 2017 Week in Brief: UK Brexit JUNCKER’S DINNER: German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine carries reports that a dinner at Number 10, which Mr Juncker described as “a constructive meeting”, was in reality nothing of the sort. Rather, it is suggested that the occasion was fractious with “megaphone diplomacy” and that it left him sceptical… Continue reading Issue 103: 2017 05 04: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 102: 2017 04 27: The Distortion Of The Political Process (John Watson)
27 April 2017 The Distortion Of The Political Process The election – just too simple. By John Watson No one likes shortages. The worst, of course, are of food or wine. There is nothing more irritating than to arrive at the shop and find that the treat you had promised yourself has already left the… Continue reading Issue 102: 2017 04 27: The Distortion Of The Political Process (John Watson)
Issue 100: 2017 04 13: The Luck of Mrs May (Robert Kilconner)
13 April 2017 The Luck Of Mrs May A fairy tale. By Robert Kilconner “I feel sorry for Mrs May”. The speaker was a wise friend who is usually right and to whom I always listen. Naturally, I nodded in agreement and felt sorry for Mrs May too. It must be awful, when you think… Continue reading Issue 100: 2017 04 13: The Luck of Mrs May (Robert Kilconner)
Issue 98: 2017 03 30: Week in Brief: UK
30 March 2017 Week in Brief: UK Westminster ARTICLE 50: Britain has served notice under article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, beginning the two year countdown to its exit from the EU. LABOUR: Shadow Brexit secretary Kier Starmer has set out six conditions which his party will require if they are to back the… Continue reading Issue 98: 2017 03 30: Week in Brief: UK
Issue 98: 2017 03 30: Full Circle (Robert Kilconner)
30 March 2017 Full Circle Should the EU go for a fighting retreat? By Robert Kilconner Just occasionally absentmindedness can be a good thing, particularly if the result is that you forget to go to the bookshop. “No thriller this week” you think glumly. None of those Booker shortlisters will be gracing your bedside table. … Continue reading Issue 98: 2017 03 30: Full Circle (Robert Kilconner)
Issue 98: 2017 03 30: The Brexit Negotiations (John Watson)
30 March 2017 The Brexit Negotiations A matter of timing. By John Watson Okay then, what happens next? The press is full of guidance as to the steps which follow the giving of notice under Article 50. Today there will be a White Paper. Tomorrow Mr Tusk will send out guidelines regarding the structure of… Continue reading Issue 98: 2017 03 30: The Brexit Negotiations (John Watson)
