‘Action imminent!’ French fishermen break away from EU in direct threat to UK
Andrew Marr grills Šefčovič on Lord Frost's proposals
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France and Britain have been at loggerheads for months over how many licences French fishermen should get as part of a post-Brexit deal, with France accusing Britain of not handing out enough permits and Britain saying it is respecting the deal. But with talks dragging on, fishermen have decided to take matters into their own hands according to Olivier Lepretre, president of the business body that represents fishermen’s interests in northern France.
Mr Lepretre said: “Action is imminent.” Without going into details of what form the action will be taken, he made clear that it would affect trade, saying: “Britain wants to get access to the European market? They should give us the licences. If not, we will cut their access.”
Speaking yesterday, French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune hinted patience was wearing thin.
He said: “We still have all options on the table, including these measures, we will prefer to have it on the EU level but if nothing happens at the EU level we will take French measures. But I don’t want to go into that.
“If we want to work together on defence, and security, and foreign policy, and crises like the one we see in Belarus, or maybe in Ukraine, in the Balkans, which is a big concern for the UK as well, you need trust and to be true to your words.
“If we have doubts, it’ll never work. So I say to the UK again, this is in your best interest to settle this.”
Additional reporting by Luke Hawker and Ciaran McGrath.
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KEY EVENTS
Several consecutive polls ‘turn against’ SNP plot
Nicola Sturgeon’s bid to pull Scotland out of the UK is struggling to gain public support, with seven major consecutive polls suggesting the majority of Scots would prefer to stay in.
The SNP leader has taken almost every opportunity presented to her to tout the benefits of Scotland going off on its own, including at the COP26 conference, held in Glasgow, where world leaders were focused on discussing the need to tackle climate change.
But polling suggests this activism is not paying off, with the majority of Scots stating again and again they would prefer Scotland remaining in the UK.
The latest poll, conducted by Panelbase for the Sunday Times, saw 47 percent of respondents return “No” to the question: ‘How would you vote in a Scottish independence referendum if held now? (asked after the EU referendum).’
Forty-five percent of respondents said ‘Yes’, while just eight percent indicated they ‘don’t know’.
READ MORE.
British Government should ‘remain neutral’ in future Irish border referendum says Labour MP
Demand for a border poll in Northern Ireland has grown since Brexit.
This led GB News presenter Darren McCaffrey to grill Ms Louise Haigh, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on where the Labour Party would stand on a United Ireland referendum.
Ms Haigh dismissed notions she would act as a “persuader for the Union” in the event of a referendum on Irish unification in the future.
An Irish border poll has not yet been triggered but can be called by the Northern Ireland Secretary at any point if they feel public opinion has shifted in favour.
Ms Haigh told GB News: “I think the first and most important principle is the principle of consent is still very much intact.
“It’s only for the people of Northern Ireland to determine their own constitutional future.
“And polls still suggest that there is a very firm majority in favour of remaining in the United Kingdom.
“It’s not my job to be a persuader for the Union.”
READ MORE.
Furious EU farmers lose it over hated rules – ‘disgrace’
The European Parliament is expected to give its final green light on Tuesday to the new CAP, which is designed to “green up” EU agriculture policies, despite opposition from the Greens and some on the left who denounce “green-washing”.
After months of difficult talks, negotiators agreed on the new Common Agricultural Policy, which will apply from January 2023.
It has a budget of €387billion until 2027 – almost a third of the EU’s multiannual budget – of which €270billion is direct aid to farmers.
France remains the main beneficiary country.
READ MORE.
EU’s proposals on NI Protocol could cause surge in medicine costs says industry chief
Writing in trade publication Chemist and Druggist on Tuesday, Mark Samuels, chief executive of the British Generic Manufacturers Association (BGMA) warned that “implications from the Protocol pose a real threat to the generic medicine supplies now”.
Generic medicines make up four out of five products prescribed in the UK, including Northern Ireland.
They are unbranded versions of patented drugs, that are often cheaper and more widely available.
Mr Samuels wrote: “Almost all of Northern Ireland’s medicines come from Great Britain, and a sting in the Northern Ireland Protocol hurts the supply chain.”
He added: “If you examine the latest proposals put forward from the EU, you could be mistaken for thinking progress is being made.
“Its latest plan rowed back on an earlier insistence that quality control laboratories need to be duplicated on the ground in Northern Ireland. That is a big tick.”
READ MORE.
Lord Frost warned about ‘adverse effect’ of NI protocol controversy on Belfast Good Friday Agreement
Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, 48, and a group of US delegates met with Britain’s Brexit team, including Minister Lord David Frost, 56, in London yesterday.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Murphy said: “Thanks to @USAmbUK and the whole team at Embassy London for hosting me to talk with British officials about bipartisan congressional concern that the Northern Ireland Protocol debate will adversely affect the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.”
Before arriving in the UK, the Democratic Senator penned a letter with Republican Pat Toomey, 60, calling on Boris Johnson, 57, to “communicate the strong interest from Congress in ensuring that the Good Friday Agreement is protected in any future arrangements”.
READ MORE.
Self-labelled ‘Blonde Brexit-loving bombshell’ says she receives ‘vile abuse’ from Labour voters
Emily Hewertson said the main culprits who instigate the online abuse against her are middle-aged women. Today she took to Twitter and said: “I have been told to kill myself numerous times by people who think they are morally superior because they vote Labour. It’s time to stop judging people by who they vote for and instead on their character.”
The Tory supporter added: “I was told by one troll that if they saw me on the street, they would throw acid in my face.
“By another that they would burn my house down with all my family inside.”
READ MORE.
French fishermen across Atlantic ready for clash against ‘poor English’
French fishermen across the Atlantic coast are preparing action against the UK in the latest development in the row over fishing licenses. French radio station Europe 1 spoke to Olivier Leprêtre, president of the regional fisheries committee in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Their report notes: “From Brest to Dunkirk, all the fishermen from the Atlantic coast, the English Channel and the North Sea will be involved in the operation.”
Read more: Time to strike! French fishermen across Atlantic ready for clash against ‘poor English’
‘Started at a disadvantage’ Boris Johnson defended over Brexit stalemate
Boris Johnson’s handling of Brexit has been defended by former Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers.
Theresa Villiers has rallied around the Prime Minister over the Northern Ireland Protocol and slammed the legacy of Theresa May on Brexit.
Ms Villiers told GB News Mr Johnson “started at a disadvantage” due to the deal struck with Brussels by the former Prime Minister.
The Conservative MP added that she believed Mr Johnson would never have wanted to sign up to the Protocol, given the choice.
UK fishermen told to prepare for upcoming rule change
British fishermen have been told to prepare for changes to the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU.
Seafood exporters will be required to comply with new food standards regulations from next year.
Firms that export fish and other aquaculture products for human consumption to the EU must fill out an Export Health Certificate (EHC) from January 15, 2022.
Kate Higgins, a special advisor to Nicola Sturgeon on rural affairs, food, islands and transport, issued the reminder on Twitter.
She wrote: “Brexit just keeps giving to our hard pressed exporters but as a responsible government @Scotsgov is working hard to help them get the message about changes and giving them time to prepare.
“If you export farmed or caught seafood, please follow the link and share too.”
Former MEP insists scrapping of protocol last step to freedom
Former Brexit party MEP Ben Habib insisted Brexit has yet to be fully delivered because of the close relationship the Northern Ireland Protocol forces the UK to have with the European Union.
Brexiteer and former politician Ben Habib insisted the protocol is one of the last obstacles the UK still faces before Brexit is fully delivered.
Mr Habib argued several aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the European Union, including fisheries, need to be renegotiated to ensure Brexit Britain is fully independent.
The post-Brexit fishing deal with France is one of the many issues of contention that the UK Government is having as French vessels continue to reclaim the right to fish in UK waters.
READ MORE: ‘Haven’t had Brexit yet!’ Former MEP insists scrapping of protocol last step to freedom
Barnier says immigration ‘out of control’ in France
Michel Barnier, the former European Union Brexit negotiator and now a challenger for the French presidency, said France had lost control of immigration.
Mr Barnier is one of five candidates seeking the nomination for the centre-right Les Republicains party.
The 70-year-old said: “Immigration is out of control.
“Our security is no longer guaranteed. There is a sense of impunity and insecurity throughout the country.”
‘Leave it to Frost!’ Meddling ministers told to back off from crunch negotiations with EU
Meddling ministers have been told to back off from crunch negotiations with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Housing Secretary Michael Gove have been accused of undermining Lord Frost when they said that Britain is unlikely to trigger Article 16 before Christmas.
This came after Lord Frost had repeatedly said that it could be triggered at any point, a threat that appeared to be a key part of his negotiating strategy.
Hitting out at the ministers’ intervention, Express.co.uk readers said they should “leave the negotiating tactics to Frost
EU using NI as a political weapon! Britons shame Brussels over stubborn Brexit battle
Brussels is using Northern Ireland as a “political weapon” to punish the UK for Brexit, Express.co.uk readers have said in the wake of remarks by Maros Sefcovic.
On Sunday the European Commission vice-president insisted the EU was doing “everything possible” to try and deter Britain from triggering Article 16, therefore suspending the Northern Ireland Protocol.
However, Mr Sefcovic also dismissed any possibility of the bloc removing the European Court of Justice’s role as an arbiter in disputes related the Protocol, the controversial mechanism aimed at preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland.
Referring to fresh proposals by Brexit Minister Lord David Frost, Mr Marr challenged Mr Sefcovic, asking him: “What could you possibly object to?”
Writing in Express.co.uk’s comments section, Out-Now posted: “The EU don’t want a solution.
“They want to keep using NI as a political weapon over the UK so anything the UK puts forward the EU will try and dismiss the only way out of this is A16.”
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‘Trans-Channel traffic will be blocked’
But Stephane Fournier, one of the dozens of fishermen awaiting a licence, said fishermen across the region had been informed that the action would take place from Friday.
He warned: “All trans-Channel traffic and all freight in all the ports of France will be blocked.”
French fishermen have previously taken matters into their own hands, including, in April, blocking trucks carrying fish from British waters to processing centers in France.
In May, the British Royal Navy sent two patrol boats when French boats blockaded the Saint Helier harbour in Jersey.
Last week, France’s maritime minister Annick Girardin drew the ire of fishermen and a French minister seemingly hinting at defeat after she proposed compensation of 60 million euros for fishermen who will not receive a licence, a move interpreted as an admission of defeat.
President Emmanuel Macron has since said France “will not yield”.
‘Action is imminent,’ warns French fisherman
French fishermen are planning protest action against Britain’s refusal to grant them more licences to operate in UK territorial waters, a fishing representative said on Tuesday, threatening to cut Britain’s access to the EU’s single market.
France and Britain have been at loggerheads for months over how many licences French fishermen should get as part of a post-Brexit deal, with France accusing Britain of not handing out enough permits and Britain saying it is respecting the deal.
But with talks dragging on, fishermen have decided to take action said Olivier Lepretre, president of the business body that represents fishermen’s interests in northern France.
Mr Lepretre said: “Action is imminent.”
Without going into details of what form the action will take, he made clear that would affect trade, saying: “Britain wants to get access to the European market? They should give us the licences. If not, we will cut their access.”
‘Come to your senses’, Germany urges the UK in Brexit intervention
Germany urged Britain on Tuesday to come to its senses by respecting its commitments under the Brexit divorce agreement with the European Union and resolve differences over Northern Ireland.
London has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16, an emergency brake in the Northern Ireland protocol, if talks about the British province’s trading position fail. Such a move could trigger a trade war between the EU and Britain.
German European Affairs Minister Michael Roth told reporters before a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels: “Dear friends in London and in Great Britain, come to your senses please.”
Roth said the situation was “not a game”.
“We want, damn it, to work together as partners and friends.
We don’t want to permanently argue about what we actually have agreed,” he continued.
The European Commission’s chief negotiator Maros Sefcovic said on Sunday that the European Union and Britain had made progress in talks, and that solutions could be found if London redoubled its efforts.
Macron and Draghi unveil new EU alliance after France snubbed by UK and US
Emmanuel Macron and Mario Draghi are attempting to forge closer ties between their respective European nations amid strategic alliances between the US, UK and Australia.
The French President will sign a “friendship treaty” in Rome later this week between France and Italy, a collaboration originally conceived in 2017 between Mr Macron and former Italian leader Paolo Gentiloni.
It will be known as the ‘Quirinal Treaty,’ named after the presidential palace where it will be signed, and recalls a previous treaty from 1963 between France and Germany.
It will have industrial and strategic cooperation between the two European nations at its heart, covering everything from culture to foreign policy.
Gleeful Irish TD taunts Brexit Britain over ferry routes bypassing UK: ‘More to come!’
Brexit Britain has been brutally taunted by an Irish politician who posted a visual of ferry routes bypassing the UK.
In a post on his social media, Neale Richmond, Teachta Dala for Dublin Rathdown, posted a picture showing ferry routes heading for Ireland’s capital and bypassing the UK.
Accompanying the tweet to his followers, he wrote: “Powerful visual from Ireland’s development office of the ever-growing state of direct shipping to our largest market, continental Europe, post-Brexit. More to come…”
Since the UK left the EU, Ireland has become an outspoken critic of how Britain has handled negotiations and its threat to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol.
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‘Comeback!’ Nigel Farage considers return to frontline politics in threat to Boris Johnson
Nigel Farage is considering a return to frontline politics in a new threat to Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party.
Ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage, 57, could make a return to British politics less than nine months after he handed over the leadership of the rebranded Brexit Party to Richard Tice, also 57.
Mr Farage, who joined GB News back in June, is considering making the move following the Government’s failure to tackle the ongoing migrant crisis.
Recent figures from the Home Office show three times as many migrants have reached British shores in 2021 than did so in 2020 – with the overall figure exceeding 25,700.
HGV chaos at Dover ‘imminent’– new EU rules threaten to wreak ‘continual’ havoc at UK port
New EU rules which force drivers to leave their vehicles for ID checks will lead to huge queues and “continual” traffic chaos, MPs and port of Dover authorities have warned.
The rules, which are due to come into force in April, apply to vehicles entering the EU’s passport-free Schengen Area.
The biometric checks involve electronic gates – meaning that drivers are forced to leave their vehicles rather than remain in their cars or lorries, as they are currently able to do with a simple passport check.
Responding to the announcement, Kent MPs wrote a letter to the Government warning that there was a danger of “large scale traffic disruption in Kent … on a continual basis”.
George Eustice denies issues with lorries being held at borders
Castex tests positive for Covid
French Prime Minister Jean Castex has tested positive for COVID-19.
Mr Castex confirmed he had contracted the virus, along with his 11-year-old daughter, just hours after meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who is also self-isolating.
During a joint press conference, Mr Castex warned France was ready to force Britain to “respect” the deal it had signed with the EU in relation to fishing rights for French ships.
Last month he wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging her to make it clear “leaving the Union is more damaging than remaining in it”.
Spain’s British expats ‘going back to UK’ post-Brexit after ‘living under the radar’
Some British expats in Spain are “going back to the UK” post-Brexit after “living under the radar”, a British councillor in the country has claimed to Express.co.uk.
Thousands of Britons who call Spain home have seen their situations change dramatically post-Brexit.
More than 360,000 UK nationals are residents in Spain; however, thousands more British nationals are believed to live in the country unregistered.
Before the UK left the EU, British nationals living in the country for more than three months were expected to apply for residency.
France begs EU for help after threat to ban UK trawlers from ports
France is begging Brussels to intervene in the increasingly bitter row over fishing access to UK waters – and has ominously warned it is ready to act unilaterally if necessary.
Clement Beaune, a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, said all options remain on the table, with his country ready to impose tighter checks on imports and a ban on British trawlers landing catches in French ports.
Speaking on Monday, France’s Europe Minister said: “We still have all options on the table, including these measures, we will prefer to have it on the EU level but if nothing happens at the EU level we will take French measures. But I don’t want to go into that.
“It would be a mistake to think you can have quick wins, or short-term wins, with your neighbours.
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