Today in the Chamber, MPs spent most of an urgent questions session debating the visibility of the camera in Matt Hancock’s Sajid Javid’s office, and the broader implications for privacy and security. Apparently a few ministers are now a bit worried…
Guido’s had a look at the evidence. He’d hardly describe that camera as “hidden”…
The European Commission (EC) has ruled that the UK’s data protection laws are secure enough to allow personal data to continue flowing freely between the UK and the EU for at least another four years. Another Brexit myth busted, then…
Despite repeated scaremongering from the Twitterati that the EC wouldn’t give approval (and therefore businesses and trade would go into meltdown), the announcement that the UK has retained its ‘adequate’ security status means life will, as most sane people predicted, go on as usual. Although the European Parliament still insisted there be a four-year sunset clause in the decision, which means it’ll have to be re-reviewed at that point…
The EC’s vice-president for Values and Transprency, Věra Jourová, said:
“The UK has left the EU but today its legal regime of protecting personal data is as it was… Because of this, we are adopting these adequacy decisions today.”
Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden added:
“After more than a year of constructive talks, it is right the European Union has formally recognised the UK’s high data protection standards.”
Why did anyone think in a sane world it would be any different?
It appears the Batley by-election has forced an awkward u-turn from Keir’s Starmer’s Labour party. As Guido first revealed this morning, Kim Leadbeater is now posting dog-whistle leaflets accusing the Prime Minister of being “silent on human rights abuses in Kashmir”, which seems a world away from 2020 when Starmer faced an onslaught from the left over accusations of him being neutral on the issue.
In April last year, Sir Keir – according to a Labour Party press release – took the “first steps to rebuild links with the Indian community“, in which he said he was “committed to working closely with Labour Friends of India to rebuild trust.” The same Labour Friends of India who have now slammed Labour for the leaflet and told them to withdraw it…
Starmer continued:
“We must not allow issues of the sub-continent to divide communities here”
Exactly what Labour is now doing in Batley. Guido can’t help wondering what Lisa Nandy – who in April told the Commons of her own personal connection to India, and how aware she was of the closeness of our two countries – must think of Labour’s latest cynical campaigning message…
The TMF Group analysed the regulations, tax rates, penalties and compliance issues of 77 countries, and concluded that the UK is one of the simplest countries to do business in – whilst France is one of the most complicated.
The UK’s also been ranked the 20th easiest place to do business, ahead of Norway and Sweden. The report suggests that new international trade agreements, such as the Australian trade deal secured by Liz Truss, as well as the conclusion of Brexit, brings increased “clarity and stability” to the UK.
France, on the other hand, has been ranked the second-most complicated place to do business – only behind Brazil – due to the complexities in its accounting and tax processes, and heavily employee-centric HR regulations. Another slap in the face for Macron…
Additionally, all accounting in France is subject to local language requirements, which can prove challenging to non-French speaking businesses. Oh là là…
It seems Rishi’s not just willing to tell the public that freedom day will come on July 19th – without any further extensions – he’s putting his optimism into practice. This afternoon Tory members in his Richmond constituency received an invite to an “End of Lockdown celebration with Rishi Sunak MP”, scheduled for the 23rd July. It seems Rishi’s association are much less optimistic than their MP however…
At the bottom of the email invitation, North Yorkshire Tories are informed it’s “possible that COVID restrictions may be extended beyond 19 July”, in which case the celebration could be cancelled.
“* It is possible that COVID restrictions may be extended beyond 19 July. If this happens a decision will be taken as to whether the event can go ahead with restrictions or whether it should be cancelled.*”
Presumably Rishi’s sleek communications operation fell short of proofing the messaging coming out of his own constituency branch…
The farce up in Batley & Spen continues. Now, Labour’s former Mayor of Kirklees, councillor Gwen Lowe, has been accused along with her husband of tearing down George Galloway posters in the constituency – to which the pair claim was a retaliatory measure against the Galloway team for removing posters of Kim Leadbeater. Three days till the by-election, if you can hold on just a bit longer…
In the video above, the pair can be seen bellowing at the Galloway supporter who caught them in the act, with Lowe restraining her furious husband before both storm down the street. A source tells Guido the incident has now been reported to the police…
