The Great Repeal Bill

Thousands of EU laws on everything from workers' rights to the environment are to be scrapped or replaced with UK equivalents in a new plan.

Details of the planned Great Repeal Bill are to be published today.

Ministers need to "copy and paste" EU laws into UK law to avoid a legal "black hole" when Brexit happens.

Let's see how ell this goes then!

Statement on Legislating for The UK's Withdrawal From The EU

Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, David Davis, is to make a statement in the House of Commons on 30 March 2017 on legislating for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union

The statement is expected to start at 11.30am following the Business Question to the Leader of the House.

Timings are approximate as Parliamentary business is subject to change.

• Watch the statement on legislating for the UK's withdrawal from the EU
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: European Union

Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.

Full Text of Theresa May's Brexit Letter

Full text of Brexit letter:

Theresa May's Letter To Donald Tusk

European Parliament Draft Response To Brexit Letter

READ IN FULL: Leaked European Parliament's Draft Resolution Response https://t.co/JBmWzdJfvL pic.twitter.com/lYHRxeADtA

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) March 29, 2017

Read the full text here.

Ironically, Theresa May's letter has not yet been leaked.

#BrexitDay May Signs Brexit Letter- Article 50 Triggered

Theresa May has signed the letter that will formally begin the UK's departure from the European Union.

Giving official notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, it will be delivered to European Council president Donald Tusk at 12:30 BST on Wednesday by the British ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow.

March 2019 is the deadline for concluding negotiations.

Whether you are a Remainer or Brexiter, when we come to the end of the Brexit process we will be in a position (wrt international relations, trade etc) that neither Brexiter nor Remainer can accurately predict.

Let us therefore brace ourselves for the task in hand, knowing that for good or ill we who live in the United Kingdom are all in this together.

That means Brits, Europeans and non Europeans who reside in these islands should stand and work together for the best possible outcome and not be divided by past disagreements.

The Brexit Collection

"The Brexit Collection" is the LSE/ British Library collection of referendum leaflets - some extraordinary ones: https://t.co/oepXO9bK13 pic.twitter.com/MrjnjrFsfC

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) March 28, 2017

The Union Matters More Than Brexit

The Telegraph reports that a Whitehall shake-up is underway to make sure that saving the Union from Scottish independence is at the heart of Brexit negotiations.

Philip Rycroft (the country’s most senior civil servant head of the UK Governance Group - tasked with defending the UK - will move into the Brexit Department), will scrutinise every Brexit decision to make sure it does not undermine the Union.

All very well and dandy, but at some stage a there will be a conflict between Brexit needs and Union needs.

Which takes precedence?

Carswell Calls Time on UKIP

 

Douglas Carswell is quitting UKIP to become an independent MP, claiming that UKIP has now done its job.

Unsurprisingly UKIP don't see it that way.

FARAGE: Letter to go to every house in Clacton to recall Carswell for a by-election. https://t.co/t0YPnCmOOw

— Westmonster (@WestmonsterUK) March 26, 2017

Will this impact Brexit, in any meanuingful way?

NO!

Scottish Vote Suspended Until Next Tuesday

The @ScotParl independence debate & votesuspended yesterday after the Parliament attack, is further suspended till Tuesday - day before A50

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) March 23, 2017

New York Isn't Europe

Bloomberg reports that Xavier Rolet, the head of the LSE, has said that the UK’s decision to leave the European Union could push the clearing of euro-denominated financial products and 100,000 jobs to New York:

“The London Stock Exchange Group via the London Clearing House operates a very successful clearing business and is currently licensed to operate in for example, in what I believe could be frankly the only logical alternative to London, if that came to pass, and that is the New York market.”

All very well and nice, except that New York isn't Europe!

#EU27 Summit April 29th

European Council president Donald Tusk announces April 29th summit of #EU27 to agree guidelines for #Brexit negotiations. @eucopresident

— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) March 21, 2017

John Redwood Offers To Balance Biased BBC

I would be happy to offer balance to BBC coverage if they would let me make a case for the things we can change for the better after Brexit.

— John Redwood (@johnredwood) March 21, 2017

Juncker's Table Manners Are Offensive

Jean-Claude Juncker displayed in one sentence why the EU is doomed:

“the choice to eat what’s on the table or not come to the table at all”.

Farewell Jean, enjoy eating on your own!

Early Birthday Gift for Lord Tebbit

Lord Tebbit's birthday too! https://t.co/6QpD1piRFs

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) March 20, 2017

Apparently it is also John Major's birthday on that day!

Brexit Day Wednesday 29th March

Article 50 will be triggered on March 29th: confirmed Downing Street

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) March 20, 2017

A50 Trigger Day - 22nd or 29th?

EU TOLD BY BRITAIN THAT IT WILL ANNOUNCE ON MONDAY IT WILL TRIGGER ART.50 EXIT CLAUSE ON MARCH 29 - SOURCES

— MineForNothing (@minefornothing) March 20, 2017

THERESA MAY WILL TRIGGER ARTICLE 50 NEXT WEDNESDAY: CITYAM

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 20, 2017

Parliament's Huge Brexit Burden

Apparently Brexit is set to place a "huge burden" on Parliament.

Parliament might have to scrutinise up to 15 new bills to deliver Brexit, leaving little time for other legislation, the Institute for Government has warned.

Seemingly the introduction of 15 Brexit bills before the UK even exits the EU "will leave very little space for non-Brexit related legislation".

That surely is good news, given that the less that MPs fart around with domestic legislation the less they mess with people's lives!

Queen To Give Royal Assent To Brexit Bill

The Queen will sign the Article 50 Bill into law today, clearing the way for Theresa May to formally start talks to leave the European Union.

Sweden Leads The Way on Brexit Planning

That feeling when the Swedes have done more thinking on how to mitigate Brexit's impact than we have. https://t.co/f2uHnD45Hl pic.twitter.com/NfiaPVhMiA

— Samuel Lowe (@SamuelMarcLowe) March 16, 2017

Well done Sweden!

"Since no solution can be identified that would mean that the flow of goods could flow as smoothly as today, it is a question of minimising and mitigating the negative effects of the UK's exit. From a business perspective, it is crucial to shorten as far as possible the period during which there is uncertainty about what will apply."

No Deal Better Than Bad Deal!

PM's Brexit speech: "I am equally clear that no deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain"
Also likes to 'look at the evidence' https://t.co/dEZBw8DMJg

— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) March 15, 2017

Brexit Secretary David Davis: no deal with EU is 'by no means' the worst option

— Olly Barratt (@ollybarratt) March 15, 2017

Brexit Full Steam Ahead

Both Houses of Parliament cleared the way for Brexit yesterday, giving Theresa May the right o invoke Article 50 as and when she wants.

As already noted on this site, May will eschew the Ides of March and opt for triggering Brexit at the end of March.

The shenanigans of Nicola Sturgeon, who has decided to call another Scottish independence referendum (despite losing the last one in September 2014), will not interfere with Brexit. May has, as I noted yesterday, decided to veto any referendum until after Brexit has been negotiated. Thus shooting Sturgeon's fox!

WTO Brexit 50-50 Chance

Its seems that there is a 50-50 chance of a WTO Brexit.

Sturgeon Plays Silly Games

Despite the fact that the Article 50 bill is expected to be voted through both Houses today, Nicola Sturgeon is doing her best to screw things up.

The Telegraph reports that Sturgeon will make a key speech on the future of the union this morning in which she is expected to demand a special EU deal for Scotland.

Sturgeon could also use the event to announce her preferred date for a second Scottish independence referendum.

This is of course an irrlevance, as Theresa May will simply veto any referendum during the Brexit negotiations.

However, all is not lost for Sturgeon, she has the support of Jeremy Corbyn (the kiss of death if ever there was one!).

Beware The Ides of March

It seems that Theresa May is shying away from triggering Brexit on the 15th, lest the Ides of March curse her and Brexit.

The "Brexit" Budget

Philip Hammond allowed yesterday's Budget to be hyped across the media, before he rose to his feet, as being the "Brexit Budget".

However, when he finished speaking and sat down, it was all too apparent the Budget was nothing more than tinkering and increasing taxes on the self employed.

Whither the Brexit aspects of the Budget?

Methinks the government has yet to get its bearings wrt Brexit.

However, former Chancellor George Osborne (who warned of financial calamity if we voted Brexit) isn't too worried; as he is raking in £650K per annum from BlackRock, for just 36 days' work, giving insights on the 'global economy'.

May's Swift Revenge - Heseltine Sacked

Former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine has been sacked as a government adviser after rebelling over Brexit in the House of Lords.

Lord Heseltine backed the demand for a parliamentary vote on the final deal to be written into Brexit legislation.

The BBC reports that Heseltine learned hours later on Tuesday that he had been fired from five government advisory roles he had held.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. No matter, he has never met her anyway.

Back To The Future - Empire 2.0

 

UK officials are planning a return to privileged trade with former British colonies in an attempt to replace the agreements which will be lost with Brexit, a project aka ‘Empire 2.0’.

Trade Minister Liam Fox will kick off by trying to recreate special free trade relations with New Zealand, Canada, Australia and a variety of African nations (ie the Commonwealth).

Members of the Commonwealth (the 52-nation network) will meet in London on Thursday and Friday and officials will launch a charm offensive in a bid to replace the EU.

As one door closes, so another opens!

The Empire Strikes Back - Empire 2.0

Um, guys? #branding https://t.co/GpMCU1boXg pic.twitter.com/Oe2YHszZDI

— Katie Martin (@katie_martin_fx) March 6, 2017

The £60BN Brexit Fee

Watch: Philip Hammond dismisses rumoured £60bn Brexit fee as a 'negotiating strategy'https://t.co/UzQ5oWLWbq

— The Spectator (@spectator) March 5, 2017

Benn On Brexit

Brexit Select Committee Chair Hilary Benn says securing rights of EU citizens will help 'secure rights of Brits abroad' #Ridge pic.twitter.com/FkhwZKbzat

— SophyRidge On Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) March 5, 2017

Ministers Urged To Protect Rights of EU Citizens

The UK should make a unilateral decision to safeguard the rights of EU nationals living in the UK, according to a cross-party group of MPs.

They say EU citizens who contribute to the UK economy should not be forced to live "under a cloud of uncertainty".

Members of the Exiting the EU committee also want healthcare and pension rights for UK expats living overseas.

The government says it wants to guarantee the rights of EU citizens and British nationals "as early as we can".

Carswell To Stay In UKIP

WATCH @DouglasCarswell: I'm Not Rejoining Tories, I'll Stand For UKIP in 2020 [VIDEO] https://t.co/95UdO2Qyx6 pic.twitter.com/kZ5nRTZtmA

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) March 5, 2017

Fool!

Brexit Trigger Date

Theresa May is expected to trigger Brexit on 15th March.