Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq was trotted out this morning to tell viewers the news that Starmer is looking to achieve “more of a stronger Brexit deal” in Paris today. Guido was more surprised by the claim that the Brexit deal “is a bit too thin, if you look at countries like New Zealand and Canada, they’ve actually got a stronger Brexit deal … which makes it easier for businesses to cut red tape.” Really?
Last time Guido checked Canada and New Zealand still trade over tariff barriers with the EU and will continue to even when their long-feted individual agreements come into force. The Kiwis will have export duties removed on some food and drink products while Canadian agricultural products, for example dairy and poultry, will still be subject to tariffs even after CETA is ratified by EU member states. The UK has a tariff free Brexit deal. Someone needs to do their trade agreement homework…
At the time of going to pixel, Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner are still at each other’s throats over the Russell Brand allegations published this weekend. Pierce is absolutely furious at Turner for claiming Brand is a “hero“, and is calling her invitation for Brand to appear on the pair’s GB News show “shameful“. As Guido writes this, he has just called Turner an “idiot“. Watch five minutes of fisticuffs above…
GB News presenters descended on Downing Street today to deliver a petition related to their “don’t kill cash” campaign. The petition, which is just shy of 300,000 signatures, calls for legal protection of the status of physical cash. No doubt Ofcom will find something to say about it…
UPDATE: Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith, responds:
“GB News has it spot on – access to cash is incredibly important to many. It’s a choice that we are going to protect. “People shouldn’t have to trek for hours to withdraw a tenner to put in someone’s birthday card – nor should businesses have to travel large distances to deposit cash takings. That’s why we are acting now to protect access to cash in law and laying out that this means fee-free withdrawals and the availability of cash facilities within a reasonable distance.”
Victory!
Jacob Rees-Mogg took a break hosting the mail-in section from his daily show at the end of last week, handing over to his son, Alfred, for the night. The younger Rees-Mogg certainly didn’t hold back…
Alfred bought up some home truths with his father, asking bluntly “Are you enjoying “working from home?”” – Guido is pleased to see a budding co-conspirator in the Rees-Mogg household. Jacob responded that he was enjoying the break from office life, before his son then confronted him with a correction from Rachel Boycott. A long list of broadcasters could learn Alfred’s hard-hitting interview style.