Starved of attention, John Bercow returned to our screens last night to bemoan Brexit on Question Time. He was soon white with fury after Robert Jenrick dared point out the former Speaker’s incessant efforts to frustrate Brexit. Responding to Jenrick’s claim that he “used every device and opportunity” to make Brexit more difficult, Bercow ranted:
“It’s called standing up for the rights of the democratic legislature, Robert, I’ll introduce you to the concept. And a tutorial on the subject would be of great advantage to members of her majesty’s government!”
Last night’s performance is a clear example why convivial Farage is proving far more popular with politicos on Cameo…
The integrity of the union has been strengthened today, as Kent has finally rejoined the UK after a four month secession. Back in December, the government announced that hauliers would require access permits to pass through Kent and cross the Channel, allegedly to prevent the county’s roads becoming congested once EU custom controls were reimposed after the Brexit transition. The Kentish independence project quickly gained momentum, with the county’s new presidential candidate Nigel Farage claiming “we, the warrior county, can thrive by taking back control. Michael Gove will replace St Thomas Becket as our saint. And presidential glory awaits the lucky winner”.
Yet following a dark winter in exile, the Garden of England has now returned, with the Kent Access Permit scheme scrapped as of this morning and lorries now able to leave the county without the added paperwork and threat of a £300 fine. As expected, any trade disruption was short-lived, and the scheme is now surplus to requirement. Guido has reached out to the Farage campaign for comment…
Despite endless rumours that Nissan planned to close its Sunderland manufacturing plant, today its chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta instead raved over the opportunities provided by the Brexit trade agreement, celebrating its potential impact on the British car industry. Telling The Telegraph:
“Brexit for Nissan is a positive. We’ll take this opportunity to redefine the auto industry in the UK. In certain conditions, our competitiveness is improved. For some of the cases, it is at par. It depends on which car, but competitiveness is definitely improved in electric vehicles.”
Gupta also claimed the agreement would protect 75,000 jobs across Britain and Europe, and allow Nissan’s Sunderland plant to double its pre-Covid capacity to meet demand. Despite Brexit, Nissan expects UK car sales to outpace Europe’s in future …
“Still negotiating“, yet everything is moving quickly. A deal is very much on.
Any pundit immediately telling you this is a sellout or the best deal in history without having had time to read the thing is either an idiot or a liar. Probably both.
A new poll by JLL Partners has attempted to settle the question of which former PM in the last half century would have been best at dealing with today’s twin crises of Covid and Brexit. Perhaps surprisingly for many, Margaret Thatcher leads among every age cohort bar 25-34 year olds. Even those aged 18-24 put Maggie first, as do every social grade and region – including Northern England and Scotland. Being not for turning pays…
Sir Keir led his PMQs questioning this afternoon with a startling accusation that the Prime Minister lied about having a Brexit deal, using the tired Labour line that “the Prime Minister told us we had an oven ready deal” – then going further by saying “the Prime Minister said he had a deal. He didn’t.” Sadly for Sir Keir, there was a time when he didn’t pretend to not know the difference between an Exit Deal and a Free Trade Agreement.
Back in 2017, before the General Election when Labour was still pretending to want to deliver Brexit, Sir Keir made an anti-second referendum argument at a staple speech that clearly set out how an exit deal (Withdrawal Agreement) comes first, and free trade arrangements could then later be agreed, after the UK has left the EU. Very odd of him to feign ignorance in his questioning today…
