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Why Johnson won’t ask for a Brextension

By Jannike Wachowiak, courtesy of the European Policy Centre   By running down the clock and refusing to ask for an extension, Boris Johnson’s hope seems to be to secure concessions from the EU at the last minute. This form of brinkmanship is likely to backfire and increases the chance of no deal. Why an […]

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Does “Singapore on steroids” appeal to northern voters?

“‘Getting Brexit Done’ and financial services” By Prof. Sarah Hall, courtesy of UK In a Changing Europe   2020 will bring questions of trade and trade policy to the foreground of the Brexit process.   Following his election victory, Boris Johnson has made clear that he intends to take the UK out of the EU […]

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Tory agenda is more statism, Queen’s Speech shows

    “Queen’s Speech focused on increasing ‘state intervention,’ not plans to make people freer” By Mark Littlewood, courtesy of the Institute of Economic Affairs   The Queen’s Speech makes clear the government’s commitment to negotiate and secure free trade agreements with the European Union and the rest of the world. The plans set out […]

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UK election: after Conservative sweep, what’s next for Brexit and beyond?

  “What does the Conservative election victory mean for Brexit?” By Dominic Walsh and Stephen Booth, courtesy of Open Europe   Boris Johnson’s Conservatives secured a comfortable parliamentary majority in yesterday’s general election. With just one seat left to declare, the Conservatives have 364 seats – a majority of 78. Labour have won just 203 […]

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There are actually two possible “no deals”

  “What would a ‘No Deal’ after the transition period look like?” By Dominic Walsh, courtesy of Open Europe   How ‘No Deal’ could happen after the transition period   The revised Withdrawal Agreement agreed by Boris Johnson’s Government replaced the UK-wide ‘backstop’ with a new Protocol that applies only to Northern Ireland. Unlike the previous deal, […]

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Pro- and anti-Brexit electoral alliances start to take shape

“Pro- and anti-Brexit electoral alliances start to take shape” By Stephen Booth and Anthony Egan, courtesy of Open Europe   The UK’s general election campaign is yet to get into full swing. A few more details have emerged regarding the Brexit policies of the major parties but the most significant developments are how the parties […]

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“Brexit is not going to be the only game in town”

  “What matters to voters and who do they trust in this election?” By Professor Anthony Heath, Dr Lindsay Richards and Dan Snow, courtesy of UK In a Changing Europe   Historically, the state of the economy in the run-up to an election has been one of the best predictors of the outcome, and so it is not usually thought wise […]

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Election is all about — wait for it — Brexit

  “This is the Brexit General Election” By David Shiels, courtesy of Open Europe   A General Election in the UK has been confirmed for 12 December. The Early Parliamentary General Election Act 2019 received Royal Assent yesterday, and the campaign will formally begin after the dissolution of Parliament next week.   Although there is […]

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Even after Brexit deal and election, UK will face hard questions

  “Even with a deal, even with an election, these Brexit questions will still need to be answered” By Helen Parr, courtesy of UK In a Changing Europe   Brexit seems deadlocked after the House of Commons voted in favour of Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement, but against the timetable to push the legislation through before 31 […]

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EU leaders giving up on possibility of Brexit deal

                      They always said it was the sensible one — no more!  The UK’s whacky spin round the political bend continues, with all all manner of unprecedented nonsense threatening to undermine its unwritten constitution, and the continued volatility is causing its interlocutors in Brussels to […]