Brexit. Why do Brits want Out of the EU?

The EU is intensifying its preparations for a no-deal Brexit amid heightened fears in European capitals that Jeremy Corbyn will order his MPs to vote down any deal struck in Brussels, a leaked document reveals.

Labour’s stated goal to reject Theresa May’s deal in order to spark a general election has provoked a rush of activity in Brussels, where the party’s plans are regarded as one of the substantial risks to the negotiations.

Shortly after Corbyn ends his leader’s speech at the Labour party conference, one of the European commission’s most senior officials is to address EU ambassadors on contingency planning in the event of a breakdown in talks, or the likely failure of the UK parliament to ratify any agreement struck in Brussels.

A leaked document circulated among ambassadors in Brussels before Wednesday’s meeting warns of the prospect of Labour combining with rebel Tory MPs to kill off a deal.

It says: “Preparedness work has to intensify in the months ahead at national as well as EU level, as uncertainty remains about the outcome of the negotiations and the ratification of a possible deal.”

Corbyn has confirmed that unless the agreement struck in Brussels can deliver “exactly the same benefits” as membership of the single market and the customs union, Labour would vote it down “in order to send the government – if it is still in office – straight back to the negotiating table”.

The shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, said on Wednesday that it would take a miracle for Labour to support a deal brought back by May.

Corbyn is expected in Brussels on Thursday to meet the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, to explain his position. But there is growing concern that Labour’s determination to unseat May could instead propel UK into a “cliff-edge” Brexit, throwing the continent into chaos.

On Tuesday Barnier, gave a downbeat analysis of the state of the negotiations during a private meeting with MEPs.

Afterwards, the leader of the Greens in the European parliament, Philippe Lamberts, told the Guardian: “I have zero trust in Labour, I am afraid to say. The Labour position is not to do with principles, but about tactical considerations. It is all about getting the government out of power whatever the cost.”

A leaked document circulated among ambassadors in Brussels before Wednesday’s meeting warns of the prospect of Labour combining with rebel Tory MPs to kill off a deal.

It says: “Preparedness work has to intensify in the months ahead at national as well as EU level, as uncertainty remains about the outcome of the negotiations and the ratification of a possible deal.”

Corbyn has confirmed that unless the agreement struck in Brussels can deliver “exactly the same benefits” as membership of the single market and the customs union, Labour would vote it down “in order to send the government – if it is still in office – straight back to the negotiating table”.

The shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long-Bailey, said on Wednesday that it would take a miracle for Labour to support a deal brought back by May.

Corbyn is expected in Brussels on Thursday to meet the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, to explain his position. But there is growing concern that Labour’s determination to unseat May could instead propel UK into a “cliff-edge” Brexit, throwing the continent into chaos.

On Tuesday Barnier, gave a downbeat analysis of the state of the negotiations during a private meeting with MEPs.

Afterwards, the leader of the Greens in the European parliament, Philippe Lamberts, told the Guardian: “I have zero trust in Labour, I am afraid to say. The Labour position is not to do with principles, but about tactical considerations. It is all about getting the government out of power whatever the cost.”

The government has appointed a minister to oversee the protection of food supplies through the Brexit process amid rising concerns about the effect of a no-deal departure from the European Union.

The MP David Rutley, a former Asda and PepsiCo executive, was handed the brief at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs earlier this month.

Defra said that Rutley, who once ran home shopping and e-commerce businesses at Asda, was merely taking on responsibilities already held by other ministers. He said: “It is an honour to join the Defra ministerial team at such an important time. I am determined to ensure that we fully realise the opportunities of leaving the EU.”

Food industry insiders welcomed his appointment after warnings that delays of only half an hour at UK ports and the Irish border would risk one in 10 British firms going bankrupt.

One food industry business leader said: “The issue at the ports is a big threat. The UK always has been a net importer of food. If the ports don’t work then exporters will be struggling and importers will have a challenge too.”

The executive said that while some food manufacturers were already setting aside additional supplies, stockpiling was not possible for products with a short shelf life, such as milk or vegetables.

Another industry insider said the appointment of Rutley was “totally welcome”. They added: “There has been a level of naivety that people can stockpile food which is completely impossible and shows a misunderstanding of how the supply chain works. We would welcome someone genuinely informed and engaged.”

Fears have risen amid the increasing likelihood of Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal in little more than six months time, after Theresa May failed to win support for her Brexit plan from European leaders and said both sides had reached an impasse.

Ministers have attempted to downplay concerns by suggesting they could relax efforts to collect border taxes to maintain the free movement of imports and exports in the event of no deal. However, food retailers have said such plans could still lead to a logjam on the UK side of the border as trucks get stuck trying to head back into the EU to pick up their next load.

Several major UK firms have warned of the risks from tougher border controls, including the retail chain Next. The short shelf life of food products, which could be rendered inedible by just a few hours’ delay, makes them particularly vulnerable.

Amber Rudd has become the most senior Conservative to back a fresh referendum that could stop Brexit, rather than crashing out of the EU without a deal.

The former home secretary warned the UK was “in completely uncharted territory”, saying: “I think a people’s vote could be the result of an impasse.”

Asked if she would back that vote if it was the only alternative to leaving with no agreement, she replied: “Is that preferable to no deal? Absolutely.”

The comments are the strongest evidence yet that moderate Tories are flexing their muscles to prevent Theresa May carrying out her threat to crash out of the EU if necessary.

Some senior cabinet ministers are also believed to be alarmed that the UK could end up facing a no-deal Brexit “by accident” and want the prime minister to adopt looser, Canada-style trade proposals as a fallback.

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A poll of readers of the Conservative Home website found that more than a third (35 per cent) think the prime minister thought should resign immediately, while a further 45 per cent said she must step aside before 2022, when the next election is due.

Just 19 per cent of respondents said Ms May should not resign at all.

Last month, 40 per cent of panel respondents believed that the Prime Minister should quit now, 39 per cent before the next election – and 19 per cent refused both options. These last presumably think that she should lead the party into the next contest in 2022 or before. This month, those totals are 35 per cent, 45 per cent and 18 per cent.

One way of dicing the figures is to calculate that 79 per cent said last month that she should quit either now or later in the Parliament, and then note that this month that this total is 80 per cent. However, has been a slight shift about the timing among those who think she should resign (from now to later).

Bidfood UK may not be able to source meat for care homes, schools, prisons and hospitals

One of Britain’s biggest food suppliers to pubs, prisons and royal palaces has held talks with customers over switching to vegetarian dishes to avoid meat shortages that could be triggered by a no-deal Brexit.

Bidfood UK, which is the sole provider of food served in prisons and also supplies schools, hospitals and care homes, has approached customers about changing their menu choices as part of contingency plans for border delays.

With six months until the UK leaves the EU, growing numbers of companies are preparing for a no-deal Brexit against a backdrop of political turmoil and an impasse between London and Brussels.

Firms fear that a collapse in the value of the pound could push up costs, that they could face a shortage of EU workers and that delays at British ports could hold up deliveries.

Andrew Selley, chief executive of Bidfood UK, said the company had lined up additional warehouse space to stockpile food and drink and had discussed cutting down on meat options to avoid potential shortages.

“We’re looking at where we could switch to different products that are UK sourced. In a partnership approach with customers, [we’re] working on menu development, to say: ‘this product may not be available’.”

“A lot of meat products like chicken in the UK come from Holland and Poland, so, could you look at more non-meat dishes, vegan or vegetarian options?” he said.
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The UK "would regret it forever" if it lost its status as a world leader in car manufacturing after Brexit, Business Secretary Greg Clark has said.

He added it was "concerning" that Toyota UK had told the BBC that if Britain left the EU without a deal it would temporarily halt production at its factory in Burnaston, near Derby.

"We need a deal," Mr Clark said.

The Japanese carmaker said the impact of border delays in the event of a no-deal Brexit could cost jobs.

The Burnaston plant - which makes Toyota's Auris and Avensis - produced nearly 150,000 cars last year of which 90% were exported to the rest of the European Union.

"My view is that if Britain crashes out of the EU at the end of March we will see production stops in our factory," said Marvin Cooke, Toyota's managing director at Burnaston.

Other UK car manufacturers have raised fears about leaving the EU without agreement on how cross-border trade will function, including Honda, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover.

BMW, for example, says it will close its Mini plant in Oxford for a month following Brexit.

Cabinet ministers trying to steer the prime minister away from her Brexit proposals will hold back from giving them full support and even try to avoid using the word “Chequers” in interviews, The Independent has learnt.

Several members of the cabinet will use the approach to signal that patience with Theresa May’s strategy has waned, in a bid to ease her towards pursuing a free trade deal arrangement.

Indications are emerging in Whitehall that Ms May is preparing a “Chequers 2” approach to be laid out after conference, but with changes to accommodate Brussels rather than Tory Brexiteers who want on overall looser arrangement with the EU.

It comes ahead of a Tory conference in Birmingham at which attempts to showcase a domestic policy agenda will likely be overshadowed by Brexit squabbling.

One cabinet minister told the Independent that it was obvious the Chequers deal as it stood was “not going to work” either for Brussels or for the parliamentary party.

“We do need to find a way of refining the tune,” they said.

Another indicated they would try to steer clear of actually saying the word “Chequers” when talking about policy to try and let it slip from the public discourse.

Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt enraged Downing Street when he suggested last week that the government could still be open to a Canada-style free trade deal with the EU.

The cabinet will meet again the first Tuesday after conference, with many having felt that an opportunity to pressure the prime minister at its previous meeting was lost.

Another senior minister said the PM’s top team needed to show her a way out of the impasse she finds herself in, whilst also not destabilising the party by undermining her, describing it as “gentle encouragement”.

It will come ahead of the October European Council, by which time Ms May was once meant to have a deal wrapped up. There will now likely be need for a further summit in November.

Rather than abandoning her plans, there is instead speculation in Whitehall that Ms May will amend the parts relating to her proposed customs set up to make them more acceptable to Michel Barnier and his EU negotiating team.

The move may provoke criticism from Brexiteers that she is breaking her pledge not to join a customs union, as she continues to resist the shift to Canada-style trade deal.

Ms May will deny making a U-turn on Chequers and officials have already dubbed the idea “Chequers 2”.

It comes amid a vicious Tory row on the eve of conference, sparked after Boris Johnson publicly attacked Ms May’s Brexit plans.

The former foreign secretary used a round of television interviews on Friday to lash out at her negotiating strategy, refusing to rule out a leadership challenge or voting against a Brexit deal.

His comments, which followed a lengthy newspaper article attacking the Chequers plan, were then criticised by his political opponents within the party.

The UK will host a major new festival to celebrate culture, sports and innovation in 2022, in an attempt to showcase its post-Brexit future, Theresa May has announced.

Ministers will pour £120m into preparations for The Festival, a nationwide celebration inspired by the 1851 Great Exhibition during Queen Victoria's reign and the post-war Festival of Britain some 70 years ago.

The prime minister said the event would come at a moment of “national renewal” as the nation seeks to establish itself outside the European Union, and will coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The timing would also coincide with the next general election, which is scheduled for 2022 if Ms May can steer her party through the challenging months ahead.
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Theresa May has signalled she may be willing to compromise further with the EU on her under-fire Chequers proposals for Brexit, risking anger from Tory eurosceptics.

The prime minister used an interview at the opening of Conservative conference to urge Brussels to set out detailed concerns and bring forward counter proposals, referring to her own plans as the only ones available “at the moment”.

The move risks further antagonising those in her party who want her Chequers plans dropped altogether, with both Boris Johnson and David Davis branding them unworkable on Sunday.
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Jeremy Hunt has likened the EU to Soviet Russia, accusing it of becoming “a prison” and vowing to “fight” for the Brexit deal Britain wants.

In extraordinary rhetoric, the foreign secretary attacked EU leaders for turning their backs on the “confidence and ideals of the European dream”.

Instead, he told the Conservative conference, Brussels appeared to “think the way to keep the club together is to punish a member who leaves”.

“What happened to the confidence and ideals of the European dream?” he asked. “The EU was set up to protect freedom. It was the Soviet Union that stopped people leaving.

“The lesson from history is clear: if you turn the EU club into a prison, the desire to get out won’t diminish it will grow - and we won’t be the only prisoner that will want to escape.”

Mr Hunt then invoked Margaret Thatcher’s famous battlecry against EU centralisation, saying: “We understand the EU wants to protect itself.

“But if the only way to deal with the UK leaving is to try to force its break up, as someone much more distinguished than me once said, the answer is 'No No No.'”

And he added: “Let me say one more thing about these talks. Never mistake British politeness for British weakness because, if you put a country like Britain in a corner, we don't crumble - we fight.”

“What happened to the confidence and ideals of the European dream? The EU was set up to protect freedom. It was the Soviet Union that stopped people leaving.

“The lesson from history is clear: If you turn the EU club into a prison, the desire to get out won’t diminish. It will grow and we won’t be the only prisoner that will want to escape.”

The European Commission has hit back at Jeremy Hunt after the Foreign Secretary used a speech at Conservative party conference to compare EU membership to being occupied by the USSR.

A Commission spokesperson suggested Mr Hunt was ignorant of history and could benefit “from opening a history book from time-to-time”.

The put-down follows strong criticism of the Cabinet minister’s comments from EU states that were occupied by the Soviet Union, as well as a string of senior British diplomats.

Baiba Braže, Latvia’s ambassador, said the USSR had “ruined lives of three generations” in her country while EU membership had brought “prosperity, equality, growth, respect”.

Piling in for condemnation at home, Lord Ricketts, a former head of the Foreign Office, said Mr Hunt’s claim was “rubbish unworthy of a British Foreign Secretary”. The peer’s successor as Britain’s chief diplomat, Simon Fraser, said he agreed with his predecessor and that the Foreign Secretary had displayed a “shocking failure of judgement”.
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