The Home Office is planning to set up "stop and search zones" across Northern Ireland's southern frontier in a move that critics claim would lead to the "hardest of hard borders" after Brexit. The government's Counter Terrorism and Border Security Bill will introduce the anti-terror checks “within one mile of the Northern Ireland land border,” including train stations connecting the north and south. Under the proposals, police and border officials could “stop, search and detain” any person near the northern side of the border suspected of planning “hostile activity.” But the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), a human rights group in Belfast, says the checks would undermine the... Register or log in to view this and other Politics articles. It's free and easy to do. Join regular debates with our journalists by commenting on articles Sign up to exclusive newsletters that give you the inside track on Westminster and Brexit … [Read more...] about Home Office plan for Northern Ireland ‘stop and search’ zones sparks fears of hard border after Brexit
Brexit
Turkey, Trump and Brexit continue to weigh on stocks and pound
News / UK and world by Press Association August 10, 2018, 5:30 pm FacebookTwitterLinkedInWhatsAppEmail Sign up to our Daily newsletter The pound and the FTSE 100 ended the week well and truly on the back foot as investors fretted over a potential financial crisis in Turkey, the US-China trade war and the likelihood of a “no deal” Brexit. The British currency, which has taken a Brexit hammering over the past five days, continued its downward slide against the dollar, losing 0.4% to end the session at 1.277. It represents a 13-month low and experts are now warning of a further fall towards 1.20 if there is no sign of Brexit progress in the coming weeks. Jameel Ahmad of FXTM said: “The pound has itself tumbled from 1.30 to marginally above 1.27 within a matter of days. “Sterling desperately requires some positive news around Brexit negotiations, otherwise the negative investor sentiment presents a risk that pound selling could accelerate … [Read more...] about Turkey, Trump and Brexit continue to weigh on stocks and pound
UK gilt curve gives another glimpse of ‘no deal’ Brexit nerves
By Abhinav Ramnarayan LONDON (Reuters) - The risk of Britain crashing out of the European Union without a trade agreement has dragged sterling to its lowest in almost a year this week, and the prospect of a 'no deal' Brexit has also infected the UK government bond market in recent months. One of the clearest financial market signals of future economic activity and growth is the 'yield curve' of government bonds, essentially the difference between short- and long-term market borrowing costs stretching years and even decades into the future. In a healthy, growing economy the further along the curve into the future you go, the higher yields will be to account for growth and higher inflation over time. When that yield curve flattens, however, it signals concern about future activity. It also tends to crimp lending by reducing banks' interest margins. When the curve turns negative, or "inverts", it frequently presages full-blown recession. For the UK in recent months, the gilt yield curve … [Read more...] about UK gilt curve gives another glimpse of ‘no deal’ Brexit nerves
Britain can toughen up Brexit once we’re out of the EU, Tory Deputy Chairman vows
BRITAIN can toughen up Brexit once we're out of the EU, the Deputy Chairman of the Tories has vowed. James Cleverly said that the important thing was leaving the bloc, and it was possible to undo treaties later on down the line. Speaking to the Telegraph he said: "If at some point we got a trade deal proposal which contradicts elements of the common rulebook then we can do that judgement. "You can make and unmake treaties. Treaties can be unmade." He said that "no one is pretending the Chequers proposal is going to satisfy everybody" but claimed it did deliver on the referendum's promises to take back control of our money, borders and laws. And he promised that Britain would be able to do wide-ranging trade deals with other countries around the world once we've left. He said that "if the opportunities outweigh the consequences" of breaking away from Brussels to do a different deal elsewhere, then Britain would be able to do that. "It doesn't happen a lot, but it can be done," he … [Read more...] about Britain can toughen up Brexit once we’re out of the EU, Tory Deputy Chairman vows
We shouldn’t let small shifts in the currency markets decide our Brexit policy
Julian Jessop Follow 10 August 2018 • 3:55pm There is an understandable tendency to sensationalise economic and market developments, but sometimes commentators go completely over the top. Last week, one Labour-supporting newspaper led with ‘Bank of England raises interest rates 50% to highest level for a decade’. ‘Key official rate still only 0.75%’ presumably just wouldn’t have done the job. This week the focus has shifted to the foreign exchange markets. The headlines have trumpeted a ‘slump’ in sterling against the dollar and the euro, with the UK currency apparently continuing to ‘plummet’ due to fears of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. Some of the more hysterical Remainers have even suggested that dark forces are deliberately triggering ‘a run... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel … [Read more...] about We shouldn’t let small shifts in the currency markets decide our Brexit policy