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Antti Rinne, Finnish politician, Helsinki, May 2014.

Boris delegates his vote to Rinne

August 25, 2019August 25, 2019 admin0 comment

In yet another desperate attempt to maintain UK influence in EU while simultaneously trying to leave the Union altogether, Boris Johnson has delegated UK voting powers to otherwise unknown Finnish PM Antti Rinne. According to the UK government, voting powers will only be delegated to Finland in case of minor issues of little importance to the UK, which apparently includes issues concerning the global climate and environment. Considering Johnson’s campaign promise to #takebackcontrol, the move to grant Finland powers to vote on the UK’s behalf might seem baffling. However, when…

UK Politics

Chaos as several ministers resign over Brexit agreement

November 15, 2018November 15, 2018 admin0 comment

Unsurprisingly to most observers, several Brexit leaning ministers in Theresa May’s cabinet have today resigned their positions, as they could not get everything they asked for in the Brexit agreement between the UK and the EU.

Brexit 2017: The Year in Review

January 2, 2018December 13, 2018 admin0 comment

The year 2017 has been as interesting as it has been frustrating for Brexiters and Bremainers alike. Article 50 was triggered and a snap election was held in the UK, but instead of giving direction and a strong mandate to the negotiations, the exact opposite has happened.

UK Politics

UK passports to change colour

December 22, 2017December 28, 2017 adminandrew rosindell, brandon lewis, passport0 comment

Just in time for Christmas, the UK government has taken another powerful, yet purely symbolic decision in order to “take back control”.

UK Politics

The British people want to stay in

October 27, 2017December 28, 2017 adminpolls, yougov0 comment

Claims by leading Brexiteers that leaving EU is an expression of the will of the people sounds still more hollow, as yet another poll shows a majority wanting to remain in the European Union.

European Commission International Politics

Free Movement Hailed As The Most Positive Achievement Of The EU

August 2, 2016 admineurobarometer, european citizenship, nigel farage, poll0 comment

A recent Eurobarometer poll with 31,946 respondents from all 28 European Union member states has shown a massive support for free movement of people, goods and services within the union. Even in the United Kingdom there appears to be a clear majority of 63% supporting free movement, making the on-going Brexit negotiations even more challenging. While the support for free movement in the UK pales in comparison to the 95% of Latvians supporting it, it is still a surprising number considering that many commentators and politicians have interpreted the narrow UK rejection of the…

European Commission International Politics

Commission appoints Barnier as Chief Brexit Negotiator

July 29, 2016 adminBrexit, didier seeuws, michel barnier0 comment

The European Commission has appointed French career politician Michel Barnier, a former Minister of France and two times European Commissioner, as the Commission’s chief negotiator with the UK over the Brexit. Barnier’s appointment has drawn criticism from several quarters, with one analyst noting, that this is the Commission’s first decision since the Brexit vote, and it is a bad one. Although an experienced politician, who was first elected Member of the French parliament aged 27 in 1978, Barnier is also known as mono-linguist with a limited working knowledge of English. From…

European Commission International Politics

UK to Refuse Taking Up the EU Presidency in 2017

July 20, 2016 adminDavid Davis, Donald Tusk, EU Presidency, theresa may0 comment

One of the first direct consequences of the Brexit on the workings of the European Union has come to light, as UK Prime Minister Theresa May has told EU President Donald Tusk, that the UK will not take up the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2017 as otherwise planned. The Presidency of the Council of the European Union is rotating between the member states every half year, and it has yet to be decided who will take up the presidency instead of…

International Politics UK Politics

Clearly British humour has no boundaries

July 14, 2016 adminboris johnson, theresa may0 comment

“Clearly British humour has no boundaries” was the immediate reaction of former Belgian PM and leader of the European Liberals, Guy Verhofstadt, to the appointment of Boris Johnson as the new UK Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Verhofstadt’s view was echoed by other leading politicians, including Labour leadership contender Angela Eagle and SNP spokesman Pete Wishart. The latter said that “We thought the new prime minister [Theresa May] didn’t have a sense of humour – she’s only gone and proven that totally wrong”. Several British and international media outlets have begun publishing…

UK Politics

Theresa May to Become PM in Yet Another Brexit Surprise

July 11, 2016July 11, 2016 adminandrea leadsom, David Cameron, theresa may, tory leadership election 20160 comment

There seems to be no bounds to the surprises that the aftermath of the Brexit referendum will yield. Before the results of the Brexit referendum became known, David Cameron was expected to stay on at least for the preliminary negotiations with the EU about the UK steeping out. As the result became clear, Cameron announced his intention to stand down as PM with a successor being appointed at the Conservative party conference in October. Former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was widely expected to stand for the leadership, but following…