Brexit

Register for our free newsletterVOTERS are more pessimistic about Brexit, but few have changed their minds about whether the UK should remain part of the European Union, according to a leading pollster. Sir John Curtice, who correctly predicted the Conservatives would lose their majority in the 2017 general election, said there is “far from sufficient evidence” that a second referendum would reverse the result of the original vote. Analysis of polling since the 2016 ballot shows “increased pessimism” about the likely outcome of the withdrawal talks – but little shift in voter intentions, according to the University of Strathclyde academic. In a report published by The UK in a Changing Europe, which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), to mark one year to exit day, he said the country is still “deeply divided”. In February 2017, 33% felt that the UK would get a good deal compared to 37% who did not – but by end of … [Read more...] about Voters more pessimistic about Brexit but few have changed minds, according to pollster Sir John Curtice

Register for our free newsletterMPs have spent less than a fifth of their time in the House of Commons over the past 12 months debating Brexit. Around 187 hours have been devoted to discussing the UK’s departure from the EU, Press Association analysis has found. This works out as 18% of all the time MPs have spent in the Commons since Article 50 was triggered exactly one year ago. Roughly half of those 187 hours – 91 – have been taken up just debating the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. By contrast, around 36 hours of debate have taken place on the NHS and social care. The PA used timings published in Hansard to compile the figures. The EU (Withdrawal) Bill is currently in the House of Lords, and if peers amend the legislation it will return to the Commons for further discussion. MPs have met in the House of Commons on only 128 days since Article 50 was triggered on March 29 2017 – just over a third (35%) of the year. The general election campaign and the summer recess … [Read more...] about MPs have spent less than a fifth of time in Commons over past year debating Brexit

Register for our free newsletterBREXIT is being blamed for a fall in the number of NHS dentists working in Scotland. Dentists across the country are reporting how the uncertainty created by the 2016 vote to leave the EU is leaving them struggling to fill vacancies. A lack of home-grown applicants means one in 10 of Scotland’s dentists are from the EU and fears are growing that many are turning their back on working here. The number of registered NHS dentists dropped between 2016 and 2017, the first fall in five years and bucking a wider increasing trend for decades. A tightening of the rules on visas for non-EU dental workers is compounding recruitment problems, with rural areas of Scotland said to be suffering the most. A spokesman for the British Dental Association (BDA) said: “Practices are experiencing increasing difficulties in recruiting dentists. That is particularly the case outside of the larger urban areas. “We need to ensure that our requirement for … [Read more...] about This might hurt a little: Dentists warn Brexit will spark shortage for NHS patients

“Better off in.” This was the slogan of the Remain campaign during Britain’s EU referendum. It didn’t persuade the 17.4 million people who voted Brexit, most of whom see the EU for what it really is: a corrupt, sclerotic, socialistic, anti-democratic, anti-capitalist, authoritarian superstate run primarily in the interests of the country that lost the war but won the peace, Germany.Ever since, bitter Remoaners have been lining up on the BBC to explain how this was a huge mistake and how we should all vote again to get the correct result this time. But what if new evidence emerged to prove that those untutored, ill-educated, knuckle-dragging peasants who were stupid enough to vote for Brexit were right all along?What if that slogan “Better off in” turned out to have all the credibility of “Healthier with Ebola”, “Faster with both your legs chopped off”, “Comfier in a giant bath of deadly scorpions”? Well guess what? … [Read more...] about Delingpole: Exposed – German/Russian EU Conspiracy Vindicates Brexit

Brussels has told Britain the ball is in its court when it comes to moving the Brexit talks forward. The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said it is well-known "where the EU stands" but "more clarity" is still required from the UK.He said it was down to Prime Minister Theresa May and her government to come up with its vision for the future relationship."It is now up to the UK to come up with its vision for the future, which should confirm the UK's red lines or adapt them," Mr Barnier said during a speech in the German city of Hannover."Once we have more clarity from the UK, we will prepare a political declaration on the framework for the future relationship to accompany the withdrawal agreement in the autumn."The current timetable is for the terms of the future relationship to be set out by October, alongside a legally-binding treaty detailing the terms of Britain's withdrawal agreement.Mr Barnier said the EU had made it clear it wants ties to be as close as possible, but Mrs … [Read more...] about EU negotiator Barnier says ‘more clarity’ is still needed from Britain on Brexit