Frost Joins Cabinet To Take Charge of UK/EU Relationship

💥 NEW with @GeorgeWParker @pmdfoster: Inside the Downing Street power struggle that saw David Frost take his fourth government job of 2021, join the cabinet, become a Cabinet Office Minister and take control of UK-EU relations https://t.co/kBbaBPjYcS

— Sebastian Payne (@SebastianEPayne) February 17, 2021

 

Lord Frost, as from 1 March, will be in the Cabinet and be responsible for UK/EU relations. 

Some people are whining that he is not elected. However, as they well know, no members of the Cabinet are elected, they are appointed by the PM.

His appointment is entirely rational, as he was responsible for negotiating the Brexit deal.

Data Sharing To Continue

 

EU set to allow data to continue to flow freely to the UK after concluding that the British had ensured an adequate level of protection for personal information

It will be welcomed those in health, insurance and technology that regularly transfer customer personal information

— Darren McCaffrey (@DarrenEuronews) February 15, 2021

When Elephants Fight, Ants Get Squashed!

I think entirely in line with expectations. Doubling down & dismissing any real prospect of improving operations of the Protocol. Entirely within EU's right & understandable in some ways. But equally I think short sighted. Thread 1/ https://t.co/rEwR0efwGp

— Raoul Ruparel (@RaoulRuparel) February 11, 2021

 

Dublin is becoming increasingly concerned that it will become squashed in the fallout from this, now that it realises that the EU doesn't give a monkey's about it.

On @BBCNews at 6pm, Taoiseach @michealMartinTD says the EU should 'dial it down a bit' over the UK & #Brexit or Ireland could become 'collateral damage'.

— Alastair Stewart (@AlStewartOBE) February 11, 2021

Ursula von der Leyen Summoned To Appear Before Parliament

 

Huge questions to be answered about #EU Commission's handling of #covid #vaccine procurement - and the crazy decision to trigger Article 16. Open letter from Irish MEPs calling on President von der Leyen to appear in Parliament next week to answer questions on all of it pic.twitter.com/ZuxGWyhbP0

— Mick Wallace (@wallacemick) February 4, 2021

Bet she doesn't turn up!

Article 16 - The Sequel

 

This thread is a helpful explainer as to what Article 16 is all about.

A lot of discussion about Article 16 of NI Protocol, especially after Johnson said that he would consider invoking it to prevent a border down the Irish Sea.

A thread to clarify what Article 16 really is, & why it doesn't offer a solution to the Prime Minister's problem: /1

— Anton Spisak (@AntonSpisak) February 4, 2021

 

It would seem that the UK are now pushing to invoke it. However, unlike the EU which invoked it without exhausting (or even following) the agreed consultation process, the UK will at first try consultation and negotiation.

BBC Eviscerates EU - #VaccineGate

The remarkable story of how the EU started to feel the pressure over the vaccine rollout. In 5 minutes. Producer by @MichaelCoxJhttps://t.co/hXcmu9k2pJ pic.twitter.com/bnuRxDbkXK

— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) February 1, 2021

EU in Full Blown Panic Deflection Mode

 

Sorry, but as a dyed in the wool remainer, I am quite comfortable in saying that this is (a) a deliberate falsehood and (b) a shameless attempt by the EU to cover their arses on their own failures on the vaccine roll out. https://t.co/7zJ6DlP8Un

— Stuart Neil (@stuartjdneil) February 2, 2021