The dead tree press has caught up with Guido’s reporting on the ill-fated smoking ban. It violates the Windsor Framework through its imposition in Northern Ireland…
Now seven EU nations have put in formal submissions of concern about the legislation, which goes to report stage in the Lords today at about 4 p.m. Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia…
British authorities have so far refused to publish any guidance of theirs which proves the ban won’t violate the Framework. A legal ‘discussion’ will take place with the EU and could result in formal action from the bloc if single market rules are deemed to have been breached. The British government will attempt to avoid this – it is so far remaining bullish. The DHSC says:
“We have provided a comprehensive response to the European Commission on the detailed opinions received, setting out the reasons why our smoke-free generation policy is fully compatible with our international treaty obligations in Northern Ireland.”
In November a government spokesperson said: “The Bill is not blocked, it’s not delayed, and we expect it to apply to the whole UK.” ‘Expect’…
Former Treasury minister and adviser to Burnham in the Makerfield campaign Lord Jim O’Neill, who has turned down a role in his government, said Burnham’s first statement Commons was:
“The last thing investors wanted to hear… gilt yields have risen by a 0.25% in one day, which is a lot. We’ve not had that since Liz Truss days… If your country is under the focus of ‘can they come up with a sensible fiscal strategy’ on a day when the markets think ‘well no, you’re not showing any sign of it’ you’re going to have a tough day…if it stays like this your mortgage rate is going up.”