Frost calls for ‘flexible’ approach to Northern Ireland Protocol

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The dispute over the Protocol has led to a trade war on the horizon, as the dispute between the UK and the European Union has heightened during negotiations.

But Mr Johnson has now promised that a compromise will be reached to bring an end to the dispute.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg News’s editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, Mr Johnson said: “Is there a problem with the Northern Irish protocol? Yes there is – but we’ll fix that.

“I don’t think that’s going to be the end of the world.”

The upbeat comments from the Prime Minister suggests that an end is in sight regarding the dispute.

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Russia will not ‘rescue’ Europe from the gas crisis they face says legislator

Russia has humiliated the EU after exposing its tight control over the European gas market by signalling it won’t pump more gas into the continent – until its pipeline is approved.

Along with a cold winter and weak winds to power turbines, a large part of gas shortages has been a result of Vladimir Putin’s gas squeeze on the bloc as he awaits approval of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Mr Putin previously denied claims he is using Nord Stream 2 as a geopolitical tool, denying he held some responsibility for Europe’s gas crunch.

Speaking to a major energy conference, he said: “Even during the hardest parts of the Cold War, Russia regularly has fulfilled its contractual obligations and supplies gas to Europe.”

Konstantin Kosachyov, pro-Kremlin legislator in the upper house of parliament, agreed with Mr Putin.

He said: “We’re fulfilling all our contracts, all our obligations. Everything on top of that should be a subject for additional voluntary and mutually beneficial agreements.”

But Mr Kosachyov also signalled Russia will not ‘”rescue” Europe from the gas crisis they face.

He said: “We cannot ride to the rescue just to compensate for mistakes that we didn’t commit.”

UK fishing industry to lose £300m says new report backed by Remainers

A report published by Gary Taylor, a former Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) fisheries negotiator, estimated the UK fishing industry could lose £64million each year by 2026.

The findings released earlier this month came after the UK left the EU Common Fisheries Policy and took back control of its waters.

Defra has since pointed out it does not recognise the figures in the report and said the UK fishing fleets are forecast to make a gain of £27million.

Remainers have since ignored the Government and taken the opportunity to gloat on social media.

In a post on Twitter, high profile campaigner and lawyer Peter Stefanovic, wrote “Fishing industry ‘on course to lose £300m post-Brexit’ fishermen’s trade body claims.

“Welcome to Boris Johnson’s “golden age’.”

The EU is nothing but a ‘failed empire’ writes columnist

Discussing the ideology inspired by Walter Hallstein in the 1950s to “mirror the US superpower”, columnist Sherelle Jacobs states that the bloc is nothing more than “a 1950s Disney fairy-tale wrapped in Continental legalese.”

Writing in The Telegraph, she describes the EU “as a failed empire that has condemned itself to irrelevance”.

Ms Jacobs notes: “It is a failed federation not just riven by power struggles and vanity, but tormented by suspicion of ‘Anglo-Saxon’ freedom.”

For Ms Jacobs, Von der Leyen’s empire is on the way down, and as the challenges mount, she simply concludes with “surely it’s not a matter of if… but when.”

Farage warns Von der Leyen not to ‘push Poland around’

Nigel Farage ripped into Ursula von der Leyen after the EU leader came to blows with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. 

The politicians clashed as the Polish Constitutional Court ruled it superseded EU law. 

As the two leaders exchanged a vicious war of words at the European Parliament this week, Mr Farage took aim at Ms Von der Leyen and warned her the “Poles are not happy”. 

He added the “condescending” speech given by the Commission president would not have a great impact on the Polish who have struggled with their national identity in the 20th Century during a stern rant.

In a letter written to the EU leaders, Mr Morawiecki accused the bloc of “punishing” and “starving” his country, with threats to withhold £48billion of Covid recovery funds if they failed to bend to the EU’s will.

Liz Truss eyes £30bn deal with business trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar

While the situation in Afghanistan is set to be the top priority in talks, Ms Truss is also eager to use her experience from when she was International Trade Secretary to increase export opportunities for Britain.

The Foreign Secretary said ahead of her trip: “Closer security and economic ties with Gulf allies will help us deliver jobs and opportunities for people back in the UK and ensure as friends and partners that we are operating from a position of strength in the world.

“I want a closer trading and investment relationship with the Gulf and for us to collaborate more closely on issues like intelligence sharing, development, security and defence.”

Her discussions come just weeks after preparations got underway for a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Trade with the GCC, which includes Saudi Arabia and Qatar among its members, is already worth more than £30billion.

Polish leaders accused EU of ‘blackmail’ yet they don’t back Polexit

The words were said by Jarosław Kaczyński, the leader of Law and Justice (PiS) ruling party, ahead of a meeting of the European Council on Thursday and Friday.

However, the chairman of the ruling party Mr Kaczyński, is adamant he does not back a so-called “Polexit”.

In a missive to fellow EU leaders, Prime Minister Mateusz Moraweicki called on the bloc to be “open to dialogue”.

He said: “I wish to reassure you that Poland remains a loyal member of the European Union.

“We are obliged to do so to the extent required in the Treaties.

“Not one iota less — and not one iota more.”

He also said the EU will collapse if it continues to blackmail Poland.

EU does not rule out Turkish candidacy

After 16 years of ongoing negociations, Brussels has not agreed on an entry of Turkey within the European Union yet.But the EU’s door isn’t closed, according to a new report. “The EU’s serious concerns on the continued deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary have not been addressed. There was further backsliding in many areas,” the Commission said.

The report went on to say: “Under the current circumstances, Turkey’s accession negotiations have effectively come to a standstill.”

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said the report showed the European Union’s “double standard approach”.

“Turkey maintains in the strongest terms its strategic choice of full EU membership,” said the Turkish Foreign Ministry statement.

Boris urged to supercharge Brexit Britain by axing hated EU tax rules

Boris Johnson has been urged to ditch EU-era rules and regulations in order to transform Britain’s economy.

Pro-Brexit campaigner Jayne Adye has said the Government must take a blod approach, rather than “plodding along” with the EU’s “status quo”.

Ms Adye said: “In the tax year 2019-2020 (the most recent year available) the UK had a VAT Gap of £12.8billion (the difference between the actual amount of VAT collected and the theoretical tax liability), equating to 8.4 percent of potential VAT revenue.

“Is this really a hole in our budget which is not worth working to eliminate?

“Instead of choosing to simplify our tax system, we continue to plod along, happy to stay aligned to what became the norm under EU regulations.

“Too often the Government has ignored chances to break away from the EU’s status quo.”

UK issued stark warning about ‘diverging’ from Brexit deal

The UK has been warned about “diverging” from the deal put forward from the European Union.

The UK has been warned that the proposal to reduce custom checks could “fall away” if a divergence is made from the deal.

One diplomat from a “sizeable EU member state” told the Irish broadcaster RTE: “Divergence is going to be a problem anyway.

“The UK opted to keep Northern Ireland inside the EU internal market for the purposes of keeping the border off the island of Ireland.

“That put the border between GB and NI. That was their solution. Theresa May’s solution was different.”

Succession’s Brian Cox lashed out at ‘retrograde’ Brexit and praised ‘Russian filming’

Star of hit tv show Succession, Brian Cox has lashed out at “retrograde” Brexit.

Mr Cox has been known to be vocal about politics, campaigning for Labour in the 2007 election and then supporting the SNP in 2011.

Speaking on RT, the Russian state-controlled TV network, Mr Cox had been asked about whether Scotland’s political interest was considered in Theresa May’s Brexit negotiations.

He said: “Clearly not true. My views on Brexit are pretty well-known. I disagree with it, I think it’s retrograde and unthought through.

“I think it’s been based on a lot of lies and a lot of misinformation from the political would be’s, the Goves and the David Davises, though I have great respect for David Davis, but [Boris] Johnson I have no respect for whatsoever.”

‘Get out more!’ Remoaner Adonis blasted for sharing ‘Exit from Brexit’ poll

ANDREW ADONIS, the chair of Euromove and House of Lords Peer, has been blasted on Twitter after a recent tweet about Brexit.

Mr Adonis had tweeted a poll which suggested that “Britain wants to Exit from Brexit”.

The poll had the question “Was Brexit right or wrong”, with 38 percent of returns saying it was right, 49 percent saying it was wrong, and 13 percent saying they don’t know.

Username Breezy seethed: “Get over it FFS! If your [sic] taking polls as gospel then look how far Boris is still ahead despite all the bad press… We are out and we are staying out,” followed with a volley of thumbs up and tears of laughter.

Slamming the post further, John Robin chimed in: “The last time I looked the will of the public was expressed through the ballot box and not opinion polls.”

Natwest forecasts £160bn Brexit Britain bonanza with 130,000 new green energy jobs

BREXIT Britain has caused a boom in the economy as Natwest’s banking chief forecasted the UK could profit £160 billion and create 130,000 jobs in the transition to net zero.

Speaking in a panel with business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng present, Alison Rose, chief executive of NatWest, said: “Really bringing these investment ideas to life, that’s the real key.

“With no disrespect to large businesses, building a net zero plan, they have resources to do that.

“The opportunity of transition and the value it will create, for SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in the UK, they represent 50 percent of the turnover of the UK and 60 percent of employees.

“When we look at the business cases that are available to help them transition to a low carbon economy, it represents around £160 billion revenue opportunity and 130,000 jobs from this shift to low carbon.

“These great opportunities and this path to net zero, it’s coming. The business opportunity and the value it can create is really valid.”

Compromise in sight as Boris Johnson vows to ‘fix’ hated ‘problem’ in EU deal

BORIS JOHNSON has vowed to “fix” Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol, with the Prime Minister signalling that a compromise is in sight.

The dispute over the Protocol has led to a trade war on the horizon, as the dispute between the UK and the European Union has heightened during negotiations.

But Mr Johnson has now promised that a compromise will be reached to bring an end to the dispute.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg News’s editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, Mr Johnson said: “Is there a problem with the Northern Irish protocol? Yes there is – but we’ll fix that.

“I don’t think that’s going to be the end of the world.”

Lorry drivers in UK plunge by 53,000 over four years

The number of lorry drivers in Britain has plunged by 53,000 over the past four years with the fall the largest among middle-aged hauliers, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said analysis of the annual population survey has revealed an estimated 17% plunge in the number of HGV drivers working in the UK to 268,000 in the year to June, down from a peak of 321,000 in 2016-17.

But industry figures have put the shortage of lorry drivers in the UK at a far higher 100,000.

City of London will prosper outside EU, says Boris Johnson

The City of London will proposer outside of the EU and will be the place to come for finance, Boris Johnson has said. 

The Prime Minister also said job losses and disruption to capital flows in the City have been lower than feared.

Mr Johnson made clear “far fewer” banking roles had moved to rival European cities such as Amsterdam and Frankfurt than originally indicated. 

He added: “The City of London is crucial not just for our country but for the whole of Europe and for this hemisphere.”

Boris Johnson highlights Brexit Britain strengths in speech

Boris Johnson has called for billions of investment into green technologies as he said governments and the markets must work together to tackle climate change.

The Prime Minister announced a new partnership with Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Catalyst to drive an extra £200 million of private sector investment in green power schemes in the UK.

Mr Johnson said the power of consumer choice and the trillions of dollars able to be invested by companies were essential for creating green growth and jobs.

He was speaking at the Government’s Global Investment Summit aimed at attracting overseas funding for UK projects.

The Prime Minister said the “green industrial revolution”, the freedom to deviate from European Union regulations after Brexit and the “levelling up” agenda were three reasons why firms should invest in the UK.

EU hints Protocol talks won’t include stripping EU judges

Brussels has signalled it is unwilling to cave to UK demands to discuss removing oversight by European judges from the Northern Ireland Protocol as post-Brexit negotiations continue.

The EU said a “very intense period of discussions” has begun but suggested they may not include the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Stripping the ECJ from the Brexit agreement has emerged as a key demand from the Government as it seeks to ease trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Britain.

Neil Hamilton becomes UKIP leader

Former Conservative minister Neil Hamilton has been confirmed as leader of the UK Independence Party (Ukip), the party has said.

Mr Hamilton, 72, has been the party’s acting leader since the suspension last year of its previous leader, Freddy Vachha.

The party split in 2019 when former leader Nigel Farage formed the Brexit Party – since renamed Reform UK – taking many of its former members and supporters with him.

DUP North-South boycott over Protocol is ‘cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face’

The DUP’s boycott of cross-border meetings has been described by Stormont’s finance minister as “cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face”.

Conor Murphy made the remark as he told MLAs that he had to bring a paper seeking approval for £1bn of EU peace funding to an earlier meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council (NMSC) to ensure that some of the money was not lost.

The DUP has vowed to disengage from the structures of the NSMC, apart from meetings on health issues, as part of its protest against Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol.

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