In other reshuffle moves: Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith and Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom have been sacked Housing Minister Esther McVey and Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers are also out of the government Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, who attended cabinet, was asked to resign by the PM
Rjd2 wrote: » Smith is a big loss for the North especially as we don't know what mediocrity will replace him. No idea what he did to merit getting binned.
strandroad wrote: » The original meaning of expat is someone sent temporarily abroad (expatriated) by their company or institution to serve in its local branch, be it a global bank or an embassy. Usually living in a compound or villa with next to no contact with local daily life, children educated privately in dedicated schools etc. Part of a clearly defined milieu with people coming and going as their contracts end. Anyone else claiming to be an expat, whether it's an Essex plumber in Spain or a TEFL teacher from Limerick in South Korea is just a bog standard immigrant with notions...
Joe_ Public wrote: » Was he a remainer in 2016? I think he was anyway. Very petty to use that as a basis for removing him, considering he has backed brexit ever since, but i cant think of any other logical explanation.
54and56 wrote: » BoJo's happy clappy cabinet reshuffle has descended into farce with Sajid Javid resigning in protest at being told to sack all his advisers because Dominic Cummings didn't like them. These are the guys who are going to do several FTA's with larger countries/trading blocks with better equipped and more experienced negotiating teams. What could possibly go wrong? The wheels are beginning to come off earlier than I had expected given the majority BoJo has to play with. Taking back control eh?
Enzokk wrote: » Here is a link to the story about Javid and the others who have been sacked.Cabinet reshuffle: Sajid Javid resigns as chancellorhttps://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1227889633834524674?s=20 Suella Braverman tipped to become new AG. Edit: Here is the potential new AG talking about Project fear and the Divorce Bill.https://twitter.com/bbcquestiontime/status/850110198752591872?s=20 There seems to be no qualms appointing knowing liars to cabinet as the biggest liar is in the biggest job of all.
Rjd2 wrote: » He was but then voted for every Brexit deal he could and from all accounts was quite ruthless trying to get the May deal through. Like Gyimah, Gauke and Stewart another competent decent ministers gone. The jury out on Javid but he is obviously more qualified than Sunak. Give the job to Liz Truss, **** it. :rolleyes:
Joe_ Public wrote: » Liz "pork markets" Truss! Yikes! Smith did back brexit but he was one of the most prominent voices against leaving with no deal - certainly on the front bench anyway - and I'm guessing that is the root of his sacking. Not sure if that goes for cox too.
Sam Russell wrote: » I heard a line that Smith's lack of opposition to the trials of ex-soldiers being tried for a few of the murders in NI might have something to do with it.
Thargor wrote: » Wow Cox went to bat for Boris plenty of times, defended proroguing and all that in parliament when Boris was in hiding, you'll remember his cringe inducing attempts at a John Bercrow style theatrical voice, and he still got canned, wonder what that's about. Probably Cummings just didn't like him. I missed the drama in this thread! I thought we'd be waiting a few months more.
Brexit trade talks are getting off to an acrimonious start in Brussels, with the UK accusing the EU of “cherry-picking” and being too tough before negotiations have even begun in earnest. Angry British officials have said the EU is trying to impose conditions on the UK that go far beyond the standard of a normal free trade agreement – after the European parliament overwhelmingly backed a no-nonsense negotiating mandate on Wednesday.
But after MEPs followed member states in backing the approach at a sitting of the European parliament on Wednesday, a UK government source said: “Half the time the EU is telling us they are surprised we are not more ‘ambitious’ and the other half of the time they are saying we’re looking for too much. “It’s now the EU who are cherry picking, suggesting ambition only where it suits them and adding obligations that go beyond a standard FTA. We are clear and consistent about what we want – not a bespoke or special FTA, but similar to the one the EU already has with Canada.” The EU’s trade agreement with Canada, known as Ceta, does not abolish all tariffs and quotas with the EU, as the UK has said it is seeking – though it does get rid of most. But the agreement took years to negotiate, while Boris Johnson has said he wants to conclude an agreement by the end of the year.
Enzokk wrote: » As for the new Chancellor, well he is a former hedge fund manager
sondagefaux wrote: » A practical example of what leaving the EU is going to mean for UK business:https://www.dragoneurotrade.com/shipping This Dutch wholesaler has a minimum order of €750 for Switzerland, whereas it's only €100 for the EU. In addition, its shipping charges to Norway (in the Single Market, not in the Customs Union) is €35.00, plus a €30.00 clearance fee, compared to only €12.50 for shipping to Sweden. Similarly, shipping charges to Switzerland are far higher than for EU countries: €29.50 plus a €30.00 clearance fee for Switzerland, compared to only €11.95 for shipping to Poland. Even if there's a trade deal between the UK and the EU, the requirement to make a far higher minimum order, and to pay far higher delivery charges (currently only €9.50 to the UK) than now, will mean that some UK businesses won't be able to import from this company. Result? Less choice for UK consumers, less competition, higher prices.
wexfordman2 wrote: » Here is hoping we in Ireland don't get included in said costs, what with a lot of our current goods coming via or from suppliers in the UK. Its important that we start switch to eu suppliers , even for our every day to day internet purchases etc.
The environment bill, agriculture bill and fisheries bill replace the EU’s comprehensive framework directives, common agricultural policy and common fisheries policy. All three bills contain major flaws that undermine the government’s claims. They leave gaps, fail on enforcement and oversight, open loopholes for future ministers to quietly backslide from existing standards, and turn what is currently a coherent system of long-term, stable regulation into a patchwork of competing and sometimes contradictory proposals.
The government believes the changes will not fall foul of the UK's obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights, which outlaws signatory nations imposing longer sentences than those "applicable at the time the criminal offence was committed".
Capt'n Midnight wrote: » EU environment standards being watered down.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/12/these-three-post-brexit-bills-bulldoze-a-hole-through-environmental-protections
