This week the newly-formed UK Trade & Business Commission, according to a tweet, will be “taking evidence from a range of voices, representing all four UK nations and both sides of the Brexit debate, to ensure a thorough and balanced review of the government’s trade policy.” Guido wouldn’t advise anyone interested in their evidence to expect any balance, however; despite their innocent name the UK Trade & Business Commission is merely a front for the old remain Best for Britain campaign. In the small print is an acknowledgement that “the Secretariat is provided by Best for Britain”.Their launch was topped off with a fawning Peter Foster puff piece…

The ‘Commission’ is headed up by a usual raft of anti-Brexit MPs, including Hilary Benn, Claire Hanna, Roger Gale, Stephen Hammond, Caroline Lucas and Layla Moran. The 2 Tory MPs should know they are joining forces with Best for Britain, who are still pumping out graphics describing the PM as “an international stain on our reputation”…Guido’s especially interested in the name of this Remainer campaign, given there are rules that prevent businesses from referring to themselves as a “commission”. While the registered company name remains Best for Britain, it’s new face clearly against the spirit of the rules – especially given Dan Hannan had to rename his new outlet a few years ago, from the Institute of Free Trade to the Initiative for Free Trade, due to the same company naming laws. Guido predicts most will be sensible enough to ignore Benn’s latest vanity project…

Jacob Rees-Mogg has dealt a final blow to Remainer posturing after he blocked a request from Hilary Benn to extend the life of his Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union. Benn had requested that his committee be allowed to continue beyond its current expiry date of the 16^th January, for a further six months. A letter from Rees-Mogg seen by Guido, however, sets out:

“There will be plenty of opportunities for questions, statements and debates, as well as the detailed analysis of the House select committees in the months ahead.

Whilst this is ultimately a matter for the House, it is the view of the Government that your Committee’s work should come to an end in line with the current temporary Standing Orders, which were agreed by the House.”

There are plenty of routes for MPs to debate and scrutinise Brexit in Parliament as it is – Benn’s extension request would merely have given him a permanent outlet for posturing. And, lest we forget, Committee chairs receive an extra £16,000 of salary top-up to their £81,932 MPs’ wage…

UPDATE: It’s being asked, in light of the above, what is to come of Bill Cash’s much longer standing European Scrutiny Committee given Britain will no longer be the recipient of handed down EU laws. Guido understands its fate has not yet been decided on by the Leader of the House…

Labour MP and Chair of the Brexit Select Committee Hilary Benn told Times Radio that the idea of an “Australian-style deal” was nonsense:

“There isn’t such a thing as an Australian–style deal because it’s just trading on World Trade Organisation terms, you might as well call it a Somalia style deal or an Afghanistan style deal. It’s nonsense.”

In fact, there are – according to the EU database – 86 treaties with Australia. Some on specific issues, others cover broader areas like human rights. The UK has already made agreements to cover aviation, haulage, nuclear matters and other areas. Australia’s 86 EU treaties are not nonsense, they’re a rational basis for international relations. Hilary really should know better.