Breakthrough looms as UK can make best of EU exit with simple visa change
DUP leader says stability must not come at cost to Northern Ireland
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
Under the Home Office’s Tier 2 skilled workers scheme, India accounted for more than 40 percent of the 103,819 visas granted in the year up to June 2021.
But while easing visa costs “makes sense”, under “a streamlined Tier 2 skilled visa process”, distinguishing between ‘skilled’ and ‘low skilled’ work does not, according to Ryan Bourne, writing in The Telegraph.
Mr Bourne said a migration system with “crude wage thresholds” can “ignore all the unobservable or potential skills a migrant might have if they were afforded the opportunity to actually live here in Britain”.
He writes: “By all means, we should aim to make trade and job-matching freer between the two countries through a trade deal that reduces the costs and complexities for Indians who meet the Government’s existing criteria.”
FOLLOW BELOW FOR UPDATES…
KEY EVENTS
‘Gross failure of responsibility’ Letter from Boris’ teacher goes viral after party row
A letter from Boris Johnson’s former teacher at Eton has gone viral in the wake of the row over Downing Street parties.
The letter was written by Martin Hammond, Mr Johnson’s former classics master, to his father, Stanley Johnson in 1982. Mr Hammond claimed that Johnson believed he “should be free of the network of obligation that binds everyone else”
He also criticised the 17-year-old for appearing “affronted when criticised for what amounts to a gross failure of responsibility”.
.
The
letter was written by Martin Hammond, Mr Johnson’s former classics master, to his father, Stanley Johnson in 1982. Mr Hammond claimed that Johnson believed he “should be free of the network of obligation that binds everyone else”.
Sturgeon poised to cash in as Rees-Mogg scores Scottish independence own goal – ‘Madness’
Nicola Sturgeon is predicted to receive a boost in her quest for Scottish Independence after Jacob Rees-Mogg labelled Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross a “lightweight figure”.
Mr Rees-Mogg made the comments on BBC Newsnight on Wednesday in response to Mr Ross’s demand for Boris Johnson’s resignation.
Senior Tories have labelled Mr Rees-Mogg’s comments as “bonkers “and “blue and blue madness” accusing him of playing into the SNP’s hands.
One Tory told The Telegraph that Mr Rees-Mogg, the Leader of the Commons, should “just shut the —- up, frankly”.
Blow to ‘untenable’ Boris as brexiteer Tory MP submits no confidence letter over partygate
Boris Johnson has been dealt another blow, as a Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister and condemned a “moral vacuum at the heart of Government”, a news report has claimed.
Mr Bridgen, who supported Mr Johnson in taking over Britain’s leadership in 2019 told The Telegraph’s Chopper’s Politics podcast he should stand aside within three months.
Bridgen is the fifth Conservative MP to publicly call for the Prime Minister to quit this week after Douglas Ross, Sir Roger Gale, William Wragg and Caroline Nokes.
Should more than 54 Conservative MPs submit a letter of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee, Boris could be ousted and a vote on the leadership held.
Brexit betrayal: Boris ‘ashamed of leaving EU’ as ‘Remainer civil service given free pass’
Boris Johnson has been accused of being “ashamed” of Brexit and acting as if nothing more needs to be done, by a leading anti-EU campaigner.
Jayne Adye warned the Prime Minister that to “get Brexit done” properly, and secure his legacy, he needs to get his “head out of the sand” and demonstrate to everyone around him that the process is not yet complete.
It comes as Mr Johnson is under increasing pressure following his apology in the Commons for attending a “bring your own booze” party in the Downing Street Garden in May 2020.
However, the director of the Get Britain Out campaign said this is no excuse for him to take his eye off the ball.
Gina Miller rips into Boris as she launches new party… but just THIRTEEN people turn up
Brexit-bashing activist Gina Miller has launched her new political party, lashing out at the “elective dictatorship” in Westminster.
The former City trader, who rose to prominence after challenging the Government on Brexit in court, said she wanted to rip up the political consensus.
She promised to clean up politics and push for a constitutional overhaul.
Speaking at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre this morning, she unveiled the plans for the new True and Fair Party.
Brexit crisis about to smash EU: Voters urged to ‘take back control’ –Frexiteer masterplan
A group of leading Frexiteers in France revealed they plan to make a documentary to urge Europeans to “take back control”.
Since leaving the EU, Brexit Britain has signed lucrative trade deals with countries around the world with the latest forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) having the UK economy outperform the EU’s top economies and that of the Eurozone as a whole this year and next.
The group of Frexiteers are joining forces to film a documentary to ramp up momentum for their campaign, exploring whether Brexit has been the big disaster Remainers and the Project Fear campaign have made it out to be.
Read more here.
‘Call the Eu’s bluff’- Anne Widdecombe tells Truss
Ann Widdecombe is urging Liz Truss to “call the EU’s bluff” and trigger Article 16.
The former Tory minister said the move would “change the ball game” in Brexit talks as it would show Brussels that Britain means business.
Ms Widdecombe told Express.co.uk Ms Truss has “all the same attitudes that Frost had”.
She added: “But I think sooner or later we’ve got to call the EU’s bluff and I think she will do that.
“Let her get on with it.
Read more here.
Brexit Britain carried out 160 sanctions
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has published it Annual Sanctions Report revealing that the UK has carried out 160 sanctions across 13 regimes since the end of the transition period.
Sanctions are used to maintain international security, support foreign policy and national security, and prevent terrorism.
Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, described the UK as a “network of liberty and defender of human rights.”
Read more here.
Maros Sefcovic takes a tumble
Maros Sefcovic helped ease tension ahead of Thursday’s Brexit talks as he slipped over an icy step.
Liz Truss was pictured open-mouthed as she watched the European Commission vice president just avoid falling over.
The pair met at Chevening in Kent for negotiations on the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Mr Sefcovic was able to compose himself before posing for pictures with Ms Truss Minister of State for Europe Christopher Heaton-Harris and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis.
Brexiteer blasts ‘Brexit isn’t done’
Former Brexit Party MEP June Mummery said “Brexit isn’t done” as EU ships continue to plunder the UK’s waters at the expense of the British fishing industry.
Despite Boris Johnson pledging to take back control, the UK remains a net importer of fish from the EU.
Ms Mummery said: “1,700 EU vessels 8 of which are supertrawlers plundering our ocean on a daily basis.
“After transition period we’re still handcuffed to the EU, tariffs, energy, aviation.”
Read more here.
Negotiations with India one of the most ambitious talks post-Brexit
Boris Johnson said negotiations on free trade with India will take the two nations to “the next level”.
International trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan met with India’s minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal in New Delhi on Thursday for one of the most ambitious post-Brexit negotiations.
Ms Trevelyan told reporters: “This is the first of my important agreements this year as Britain sets out on her independent journey post-Brexit,
“This is an opportunity that we must seize to steer our partnership along the track of mutual prosperity for the decades to come.”
India seeks to create greater opportunities for Indians to live and work in Britain.
Goyal said: “Nothing is necessarily a deal-breaker in this agreement.
“And I will not think there is any way for anybody to worry about issues which are sensitive to any country, because both sides have agreed that sensitive issues are not our priority.”
Report shows more ‘significant’ impact of Protocol for business
The number of firms “currently struggling with new processes” in the Irish Sea is down from 41.3 percent reports show.
A survey by Manufacturing NI shows that 23.9 percent of its members are “struggling” with the Northern Ireland protocol requirements.
Peter Foster of the Financial Times said the data “does point to business adapting” adding that things are “moving in the right direction, it seems”.
The report, which will be published on Friday also found the number of firms reporting an increase in business from the Protocol has risen from 6.4 percent to 20.4 percent.
Mr Foster added: “The data are also a reminder that the discussion about the Protocol should be anchored in the real world; not where bits of the UK Govt (and ERG) and sections of Unionist politics have got themselves.
“I can see why they bitterly regret the deal, but it was the agreed solution.”
‘If Boris goes, Brexit goes’- rejoiner makes bold claims
The chairman of the largest pro-European organisation in the UK has made some bold claims.
Lord Andrew Adonis took to Twitter this morning to simply say: “If Boris goes, Brexit goes.”
It comes amid calls for Boris Johnson to resign over lockdown parties at Downing Street.
Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said the Prime Minister will accept the “facts” of the investigation being carried out by senior civil servant Sue Gray.
Read more here.
Good afternoon
Good afternoon I’m Francesca Edwards, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on the …… for the next eight hours.
Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @FrankieLEdwards
Truss says she is ‘delighted’ to welcome Sefcovic to the UK for talks
Liz Truss has said that she is ‘delighted’ to welcome her EU counterpart Maros Sefcovic to the UK for two days of talks on the Northern Ireland protocol.
In a tweet, the Foreign Secretary said: “Delighted to welcome @MarosSefcovic for two days of talks on Northern Ireland and the wider UK-EU relationship. My priority is defending the Union and protecting the peace. I will be putting forward constructive proposals to help communities and businesses in NI.”
Truss calls on EU to take ‘pragmatic approach’ to end EU deadlock
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has called on the EU to take a pragmatic approach to resolve the issues surrounding the Northern Ireland protocol.
Ms Truss said: “There is a deal to be done that protects peace in Northern Ireland, defends our Union, and maintains the integrity of the United Kingdom and EU.
“But it will require a pragmatic approach from the EU.
“I will be putting forward practical, reasonable solutions starting from these fundamental principles, with a view to agreeing a plan for intensive negotiations.
“The EU has a clear responsibility to help fix the myriad problems caused by the protocol and protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement.
“As fellow believers in liberty and democracy, we should be capable of reaching an agreement that delivers for Northern Ireland and allows us to unleash the full potential of our relationship”.
Maros Sefcovic echoes Liz Truss’s objectives in key talks
Maros Sefcovic has echoed Liz Truss’s objectives for their talks today which are taking place in Chevening House, Kent.
Mr Sefcovic said: “In December, we delivered on medicines. Now we have an opportunity to do so on other issues, building on the EU’s far-reaching proposals. My objective: stability, predictability in Northern Ireland.”
Liz Truss gears up to throw DUP under the bus in Tory leadership powerplay
Liz Truss is poised to throw the DUP under the bus in the name of a negotiated Northern Ireland (NI) Brexit deal.
The Foreign Secretary and newly appointed chief Brexit negotiator is set to take a tough line in fresh Brexit negotiations with EU Commission vice president Maroš Šefčovič when they meet today in Chevening House, Kent.
As a favourite to succeed Boris Johnson, taking a tough line with Brussels on the NI protocol would serve her well among the Tory faithful in a leadership battle.
The Irish government has suggested February as a provisional deadline.
If Ms Truss is successful, she could succeed Mr Johnson as PM and get the new NI deal wrapped up before the NI Assembly elections in May – putting the DUP in a difficult position, not for the first time.
Liz Truss gasps as Maros slips on ice
Chief Brexit negotiator Liz Truss gasped as European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic slipped on an icy step ahead of a meeting at Chevening House.
‘Secretive’ EU ‘doomed’ as plot to ‘punish Britain’ backfires
The European Union is “doomed to weakness” and “incapable” of securing its own frontiers, a writer has said.
Robert Tombs, author of Sunday Times bestseller This Sovereign Isle, asserts that the EU will remain largely impotent for the foreseeable future in geopolitical terms.
He insists that EU politicians rely on the European Court of Justice, Central Bank and “secretive” European Council to build an unaccountable technocracy, having given up on winning popular support.
He writes: “Such a shallow system is doomed to weakness… We have an interest in a stable, secure and confident EU.
“It would be a better neighbour, able to accept Brexit and build a positive future relationship.
“But its own uncertainties make it want to punish Britain ‘pour encourager les autres’.
“It seems unable to accept its limitations and try to function as an economic union of sovereign states. It pursues an illusory federalism without democratic consent.”
Lord Frost lays into Johnson’s Covid policy -‘That’s why I resigned’
Lord Frost has laid into Boris Johnson for not implementing the correct lockdown measures as the country battles with one of the worst variants of COVID-19.
Lord Frost who had recently resigned from the Government’s core team after raising concerns over the country’s “direction of travel” said that the lockdowns were a “serious public policy mistake.”
Speaking on The Telegraph’s Planet Normal Podcast, the former Brexit secretary said lockdowns should be ruled out in the future.
UK can reap the rewards of Brexit! Road map to British success laid out
Britain can “reap the rewards” of Brexit if it puts digital trade the heart of its strategy, an expert has claimed as she laid out the roadmap for future success.
Alice Calder, a political commentator and economics PhD candidate at the University of New South Wales, said trade deals signed last year with the likes of Australia and Singapore aim to put the UK in the “strongest possible position to trade with technologically advanced and rapidly advancing markets”.
The digital economy is expected to grow to be worth 24.3 percent of global GDP by 2025, according to one recent report.
According to Ms Calder, the UK is “ramping up its digital policy” to meet the challenge of this growing market.
‘Best advert for Boris to stay!’ Lord Adonis’s tweet on Brexit spectacularly backfires
Lord Adonis’s tweet has backfired after the Europhile claimed that if Boris Johnson goes it will be the end of Brexit.
The Labour peer took to Twitter after the Prime Minister apologised for attending a “bring your own booze” event in the garden of Downing Street during lockdown.
Lord Adonis, who is campaigning for the UK to rejoin the EU, gleefully said: “If Boris goes, Brexit goes.”
Voters urged to ‘take back control’ –Frexiteer masterplan
A new Brexit crisis could be about to hammer the European Union after a group of leading Frexiteers in France revealed they plan to make a documentary to urge Europeans to “take back control”.
Now a group of Frexiteers in France are joining forces to film a documentary to ramp up momentum for their campaign, exploring whether Brexit has been the big disaster Remainers and the Project Fear campaign have made it out to be (Front Populaire).
The documentary is being produced by eurosceptic French magazines Front Populaire and Ruptures that will aim to tell “the true story of Brexit, against the tide of media ready-to-think”.
It will involve interviews with “ordinary British people” from a number of different backgrounds and professions about the benefits of Brexit and will be directed by “war reporter and seasoned director” Nicolas Cotto.
‘There is a deal to be done,’ says Truss
Liz Truss commented that “there is a deal to be done” ahead of a fresh wave of negotiations with EU chief negotiator Maros Sefcovic.
She said: “There is a deal to be done that protects peace in Northern Ireland, defends our Union and maintains the integrity of the United Kingdom and EU.
“But it will require a pragmatic approach from the EU.
“The EU has a clear responsibility to help fix the myriad problems caused by the protocol and protect the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.
“As fellow believers in liberty and democracy, we should be capable of reaching an agreement that delivers for Northern Ireland and allows us to unleash the full potential of our relationship.”
The foreign secretary and newly appointed chief Brexit negotiator will meet her European counterpart at Chevening House in Kent on Thursday.
‘My priority is peace in Northern Ireland,’ says Truss
Newly appointed chief Brexit negotiator Liz Truss has said she looks forward to welcoming her EU counterpart, Maros Sefcovic, for constructive talks today.
“My priority is protecting peace in Northern Ireland and the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement,” she stressed.
Liz Truss and Maros Sefcovic meet for first time
European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič will today meet Liz Truss at for dinner at Chevening House in Kent.
While the two spoke over the phone in December, this will be their first face-to-face meeting, after talks on the Northern Ireland protocol paused over Christmas.
Source: Read Full Article