Category: POLITICS

  • Ex-SNP leader Salmond resigns from celebration

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    Former SNP leader Alex Salmond has resigned from the party amid sexual misconduct claims, which he denies.

    In a press release he mentioned he desired to steer clear of internal division within the party which has confronted calls to droop him.

    the previous Scottish first minister mentioned he supposed to use to rejoin the SNP once he had a possibility to clear his identify.

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  • Scallop row: UK in talks to ensure ‘no repeat’ of clashes

    The crews alleged they’d been surrounded and had rocks and steel shackles thrown at them, however French police mentioned UNITED KINGDOM boats answered in kind.

    A video revealed by means of French media presentations a Scottish scallop dredger, the Honeybourne 3, colliding with French vessels.

    Why has all of it blown up now?

    Rigidity has rumbled for 15 years, however in the earlier five a deal has prevailed – higher British boats stayed out of the world in change for more fishing rights.

    British boats can acquire scallops yr-spherical, but French legislation restricts the scallop fishing season to between 1 October and 15 Might.

    Marc Delahaye from the Normandy fishing committee mentioned they also objected to the British the use of “nice dredgers” in the space, at the same time as the French used smaller boats.

    Image copyright PA Symbol caption The Honeybourne III, a Scottish scallop dredger, docked in West Sussex after the clash

    the united kingdom scallop industry is worth £120m and supports 1,350 jobs. Approximately 60% of the capture is exported – with a lot of it being bought via the French.

    But a 2016 record via the International Council for the Exploration of the sea (ICES) warned that the fishing attempt through France, the united kingdom, Belgium and Ireland within the Bay of Seine used to be “too prime”.

    Global environmental workforce ClientEarth stated it was “disappointing” to see boats catching scallops through the spawning season, when it mentioned depleted stocks may just reproduce and grow.

    France was demonstrating “high environmental requirements” by banning its fleet from fishing during the summer, the group said.

    How have the British spoke back?

    Atmosphere Secretary Michael Gove stated the government was once talking to French government to verify there was “no repeat” of the clashes.

    He instructed the BBC his middle went out to the British fishermen concerned, who had “completely each proper to be fishing in those waters”.

    The French had a “obligation” to ensure their territorial waters have been “correctly policed” to permit felony fishing to proceed, he delivered.

    Prime Minister Theresa Would Possibly called for an “amicable resolution” to the row.

    “It Is what we wish and it is what France needs and we will be working on that,” she said.

    Mr Park rejected suggestions that British boats had been overfishing the area.

    They catch just 6% of the scallops in the area, he stated, so “if there is any accusation of over fishing it’s not on the uk fishermen, it’s on the French fishermen.”

    “Scallops are considerable and they’re expensive,” he mentioned. “We’re doing nothing incorrect and what we won’t do is be bullied.”

    Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall, said atmosphere secretary Michael Gove has confident her “suitable measures” are in place to enable UNITED KINGDOM fishermen to keep operating.

    But she wondered whether French government had been “turning a blind eye” even as their fishermen “took the law into their very own arms”.

    Local French officials said they might not interfere in an instant for the reason that struggle took place in international waters.

    Analysis: James Landale, Diplomatic Correspondent

    Inevitably Brexit looms huge. A Few French fishermen hope that once the uk leaves the common Fisheries Coverage, British trawlers won’t be allowed into those waters.

    But it’ll no longer be as easy as that. it is nonetheless not transparent what settlement an independent UNITED KINGDOM might make with the eu on fishing quotas.

    And the French want to negotiate a few proceeding get admission to to British waters could also be extra essential than protective their scallops off Normandy.

    So Brexit would possibly amendment the principles of the game nevertheless it is unlikely to deliver an end disputes to like this.

    How is it being stated in France?

    Via BBC Monitoring

    French media have framed the scallop showdown as a “struggle” among nations, with a few shops highlighting the long run have an effect on of Brexit.

    Under the headline “The battle for Saint-Jacques scallops off Normandy”, left-wing daily Le Monde pointed out fishing leader Dimitri Rogoff who mentioned that the uk would routinely “be thought to be a third country and will not have access to those fishing zones” after it leaves the european Union.

    French fishermen are however concerned by Brexit “as Britain plans to pursue its own fishing coverage starting from the end of March 2019, in particular relating to access to its territorial waters of boats from EU countries” mentioned weekly magazine L’Usine Nouvelle.

    Popular neighborhood newspaper Ouest-France said that sailors from Normandy “insist that they appreciate the fish resources” and had long past to sea “to explain this to the English”.

    “We Now Have gained a battle, however we have not received the war,” concluded one French fisherman in a document by means of public TV channel France THREE.

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  • No takers for £25,000 portrait of Nigel Farage

    Portrait of Nigel Farage Image copyright David Griffiths

    A £25,000 portrait of Nigel Farage, on display as a part of the Royal Academy’s prestigious summer season exhibition, has didn’t draw in any buyers.

    The oil portray, signed through the artist David Griffiths, was one in all hundreds of works of art to be had on the market during the Academy’s 250th summer time show, which closed on Tuesday.

    The academy said the paintings could now return to the artist.

    Mr Griffiths has stated that he hoped it could “find a excellent house”.

    “These Items ebb and flow,” he mentioned. “Prices of artwork like the whole lot else, aren’t set in stone. he is a major determine, whatever you’re thinking that of him. He Is Mr Brexit, is not he?”

    The fee was steered by a mutual loved one of the artist, whose different topics have integrated Prince Charles and rugby superstar Shane Williams.

    Farage to head ‘on the road’ with Depart workforce Farage heads ‘down under’ on Brexit excursion

    A key figure within the 2016 referendum marketing campaign, Mr Farage has pledged to return to frontline British politics this fall to struggle for Brexit,

    The portrait of the MEP and former UKIP leader, in his trademark tan-coloured coat and striped tie, used to be not the one politically-themed paintings not to find a purchaser.

    A £350,000 paintings by way of the artist Banksy entitled Vote to love, featuring a center-formed balloon superimposed over a UKIP referendum poster, also remained unsold.

    But a painting of every other prominent Brexiteer, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, did fetch £450.

  • Brexit: Dominic Raab says EU deal ‘within our sights’

    Dominic Raab Image copyright HoL

    The Brexit Secretary says he’s assured a withdrawal deal is “well within our sights.”

    Then Again Dominic Raab also indicated that there has been little recent development on the issue of the Irish border.

    “i do not have the solution to provide you yet,” he advised a home of Lords Committee.

    Mr Raab added that “targeted” and “interesting” work on the border was continuing.

    He stated he couldn’t proportion any longer details of that work to give protection to the integrity of the negotiations, which he said were approximately 80% entire.

    Image copyright EPA Symbol caption EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier

    The Uk govt has rejected it as a threat to the integrity of the uk, and has advised a backstop that might see the united kingdom as an entire final aligned with the eu customs union for a limited time after 2020.

    That concept contained not anything about unmarried marketplace regulatory problems, which can be more than likely extra necessary than customs in terms of maintaining a soft border.

    Mr Raab mentioned: “we are not going to look a customs border drawn down the Irish Sea. we aren’t going to do anything which might imperil the Belfast Agreement.

    “The prime minister has been clear that the european proposals have been unacceptable.

    “Michel Barnier has also showed he’s open to new solutions at the backstop and he has mentioned the backstop we sooner or later agree on isn’t essentially going to be the one the Commission came up with.”

    Meanwhile, speaking in Berlin, Mr Barnier said the bloc was prepared to provide the uk an unprecedentedly shut relationship after it leaves the eu.

    However he again emphasised that the european wouldn’t permit the rest that weakened its unmarried marketplace.

  • Brexit: Dominic Raab denies Barnier talks ‘frustration’

    Dominic Raab Symbol copyright HOL

    Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has denied stories Michel Barnier has turned down UNITED KINGDOM requests for extended meetings in Brussels.

    Mr Raab was said by The Father Or Mother to had been pissed off through the european chief negotiator’s alleged failure to make himself available for talks.

    However Mr Raab advised a Lords Committee he had a “good professional and private rapport” with Mr Barnier.

    And he would be preserving a “long” meeting with him on Friday.

    Mr Raab vowed to increase the tempo and frequency of talks with Mr Barnier when he took over in July from David Davis, who give up as Brexit Secretary in protest at Theresa Might’s white paper on trade with the european when Britain leaves.

    ARE LIVING: Peers grill Dominic Raab Might sticking by ‘sensible’ Brexit plans Pienaar: Raab’s uncomfortable ‘no deal’ second Brexit: Key dates and possible hurdles

    “I’m confident that a deal is inside of our attractions,” Mr Raab informed the Lords ECU Committee.

    “We Are bringing ambition, pragmatism, energy and if, and i expect it will be, and if it is matched, we get a deal.”

    He introduced: “Firstly, in relation to no matter what tittle tattle may appear in no matter what newspaper, I might be over in Brussels the next day (Thursday) evening for an extended, noticeable meeting on Friday, I’m Hoping that provides you the facts immediately with Michel Barnier.”

    Britain is on the right track to leave the european on 29 March. Both Sides are hoping to agree a divorce deal and a statement on long run trading family members through the following EU summit on 17 October – however Mr Raab advised that closing date may slip.

    “i think it is vital as we enter the final segment of the negotiations within the lead up to the October council – and the chance that it should creep beyond that – we want to see some renewed power.

    “We Are bringing the ambition and the substance of our white paper on the future dating and also i feel a few pragmatism to take a look at and pass the additional mile to get the deal that i feel is in all sides interests. we want that to be matched obviously, it’s a negotiation.”

    Theresa Would Possibly’s chief Brexit guide Olly Robbins will not have to face questions from MPs or peers, Mr Raab told the committee, which is conserving a unique meeting all the way through Parliament’s summer season recess.

    The men were grilled via MPs in a joint look before the Commons Brexit committee in July.

    But Mr Raab advised the Lords EU committee that in future it could be ministers most effective – and never civil servants – that “come and be responsible” to Parliamentary committees over Brexit.

  • Fewer households the place no-one operating

    Commuters Symbol copyright Getty Images Image caption There are more than 12 million households the place all adults are running

    the proportion of families within the UNITED KINGDOM where no-one is working is at its lowest element for over 20 years, the Place Of Work for National Facts says.

    The figures display 14.3% of families containing operating-age adults are “workless” – down 0.2% compared with the same element remaining year.

    Fewer kids have been living in households where no-one used to be recently running.

    But more kids have been dwelling in households the place no-one had ever worked – up by means of 32,000 to 204,000.

    The employment figures show an image of emerging levels of work in the 21 million families with other folks aged among SIXTEEN and 64.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Virtually NINETY THREE% of fathers with dependent children are running

    In approximately 12 million families, all the adults had jobs – with 7.5 million kids living in properties the place everyone was running.

    the percentage of kids residing in workless families is right down to about 10%, about half the levels of the late 1990s.

    The numbers of lone folks in paintings have remained extensively consistent for the past decade, says the ONS, with a moderate rise mentioned in those up to date figures.

    The figures display that folks with dependent children are more likely to be in paintings than adults without based children.

    Virtually 93% of guys and over 74% of ladies with established children are operating – together with both full-time and part-time jobs.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey mentioned: “Certainly One Of the most productive how one can tackle poverty and give kids a better likelihood in existence is to have a operating grownup within the house.

    “It offers them a role fashion to learn from and brings monetary security to the home.

    “Getting a job method greater than only a salary, it is a manner out of poverty and welfare dependency,” she said.

    But poverty campaigners have highlighted the importance of the standard as well as amount of jobs – saying the converting labour marketplace can imply families can also be stuck in low-paid or insecure jobs.

    They have warned that most kids dwelling in poverty are actually in households where a minimum of one figure is working.

  • Gina Miller regulations out Lib Dem management bid

    Gina Miller Symbol copyright Getty Pictures

    Businesswoman and anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller has dominated out a bid for the Lib Dem management.

    Current leader Sir Vince Cable desires to change the celebration’s rules to permit non-MPs to guide it in long run, as a part of a plan to develop its appeal.

    Ms Miller, who’s because of deal with the Lib Dem conference later this month, used to be mentioned to have had her eye on the function.

    However she advised BBC News: “It Is Very flattering, however no.”

    She delivered: “i don’t understand where that rumour’s coming from but I’ve stated it earlier than and I’m Going To say again nowadays, i’ve no intentions of going into respectable politics.”

    Image copyright PA Symbol caption Tim Farron is asking for a new ‘centre floor’ birthday celebration

    Sir Vince’s predecessor as leader, Tim Farron, said starting up the leadership to non-MPs was an “interesting” idea, but delivered: “To be honest, Vince is only simply touting it as an choice.”

    speaking to the Politico website, Mr Farron also sponsored the theory of a new “centre floor” birthday party, arguing that the SDP, Britain’s final large breakaway birthday party, was “very with reference to having made it” in the nineteen eighties.

    “Let a few of these people within the Labour Birthday Party and the Tory Celebration develop a flipping backbone and leave. And we should paintings with them.

    “let them form their own party, we can paintings with them, and we’re going to attempt to do it together. Folks will not fall into the error of thinking the SDP was a failure. It actually wasn’t.”

    Mr Farron said he may also settle for “a decent electable chief” of the Labour Celebration, if a new centre party didn’t emerge – however he insisted there has been a still a place for the Lib Dems in British politics.

    “You Notice with great frustration – and i’m positive Vince (Cable) feels the similar – the enormous chance in what i can glibly name the centre of British politics, and the determined need for us.

    “I obviously need the Liberal Democrats to recuperate, grow to be the next government of the country and resolve the entire problems.”

  • Peers question Raab on Brexit negotiations

    Reside Friends question Raab on Brexit negotiations
  • Galileo: Brexit finances launched for sat-nav take a look at

    Galileo satellite Image copyright Philip Davies/SSTL Image caption UNITED KINGDOM corporations had been integral to the development of Galileo

    UNITED KINGDOM ministers are surroundings aside £92m to check the feasibility of creating a sovereign satellite-navigation device.

    the brand new network can be an alternative to the Europe Union’s Galileo undertaking, through which Britain seems to be set to lose key roles as a result of Brexit.

    the uk Area Agency will lead the technical evaluate.

    Officers will have interaction British business to spec a potential design, its engineering requirements, agenda and likely value.

    the primary contracts for this take a look at paintings could be issued as early as October.

    Europe’s Galileo gadget

    Symbol copyright PA A challenge of the eu Commission and the european House Company 24 satellites constitute a full system nevertheless it can have six spares in orbit also 26 spacecraft are in orbit nowadays; the determine of 30 is likely to be reached in 2021 Unique finances was once 3bn euros but will now value greater than thrice that Works along the united states GPS, Chinese Beidou and Russian Glonass systems Promises eventual real-time positioning right down to a metre or less

    ‘better of British’

    the uk as an ecu member state has so far invested £1.2bn in Galileo, serving to to construct the satellites, to operate them in orbit, and to define important facets of the gadget’s encryption, including for PRS itself.

    “due to the european Commission publish-Brexit rules imposed on UNITED KINGDOM corporations, Airbus Defence and Area Ltd was not able to compete for the Galileo work we had undertaken for over the closing decade,” Colin Paynter, MD of Airbus DS within the UNITED KINGDOM, mentioned.

    “We therefore very much welcome the united kingdom House Agency’s assertion lately which we believe will permit Airbus along with other affected UK firms to collect an alliance of the most efficient of British to produce cutting edge solutions for a possible long run UK navigation system.”

    Analysis – Could the uk move it on my own?

    Few other folks doubt Britain is capable of creating its own satellite tv for pc-navigation system. but the job wouldn’t be immediately-ahead. listed here are just 4 issues in an effort to need to be addressed earlier than ministers can log out on this type of best mission:

    COST: The preliminary estimate given for a sovereign system when first muted used to be put within the area of £3bn-5bn. However top house infrastructure projects have a history of under-estimating complexities. Both GPS and Galileo value far more – and took much longer – to build than any person expected. as well as to the set-up cost, there are the once a year working costs, which within the case of Galileo and GPS run into the masses of thousands and thousands of euros/bucks. A sat-nav device needs long-term commitment from successive governments.

    BENEFIT: Just the year-to-yr financing for a sat-nav gadget could most likely dwarf what the united kingdom government currently spends on all different civil space process – more or less £400m per yr. The query is whether or not investments in different places, in either the distance or military sectors, might convey higher returns, says Leicester School space and diplomacy expert Bleddyn Bowen: “Shall We spend this £100m feasibility money doubling what the government is giving to increase launcher capacity in the UK, that’s best £50m – it will make a real distinction. you have to also spend that money buying a few imagery satellites for the MoD, which might become their capabilities overnight.”

    SKILLS: Britain has a colourful house sector. It has lots of the required skills and applied sciences to construct its own sat-nav gadget, but it surely doesn’t have all of them. lots of the elements for Galileo satellites, as an example, have unmarried suppliers in Europe. If Britain can not enhance domestic supply chains for the portions it wishes, there could also be no choice but to convey them in from the continent. Spending the undertaking’s funds within the EUROPEAN-27 would possibly not be politically applicable given the state of current relations on Galileo.

    FREQUENCIES: The UKSA says a British device can be appropriate with The Us’s GPS – and by way of extension with Galileo – because both these methods transmit their timing and navigation signals within the related a part of the radio spectrum. This simplifies receivers and allows manufacturers to supply equipment that works with all available methods. this is the case for the chips in the contemporary smartphones, for instance. However The United States and the ecu had an enormous row in 2003 over frequency compatibility and the potential for interference. It was British engineers who sooner or later showed the 2 techniques may very luckily co-exist. they’d need to do the same once more for a UNITED KINGDOM sovereign network. Without world reputation at the frequencies in use, no mission could proceed.

    Some analysts believe probably the most fruitful means now for the united kingdom could be to increase its house expertise and capabilities in areas not already coated by means of others – in area surveillance, or in secure area communications, as an example. this will make Britain an excellent extra compelling partner for all means of tasks, together with Galileo.

    Alexandra Stickings from the Royal United Services And Products Institute for Defence and Security Studies said: “Working its option to a negotiated settlement on Galileo could allow the the uk to then focal point its area funds and strategy to construct UK capabilities and develop the things we are capable of offer as an international spouse.”

    Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and observe me on Twitter: @BBCAmos

  • Brexit poses risk to care, says Royal College of Nursing

    Nurses Symbol copyright Getty Inventive Image caption A letter from the nursing union lists considerations in regards to the affect of Brexit

    Brexit poses an “speedy chance to the provision of protected and effective care” for patients within the UK, according to the Royal School of Nursing.

    The union has made the warning in a letter to leaders of the uk’s main political parties on behalf of its 435,000 participants.

    It additionally needs the parties to again a second referendum on any Brexit deal.

    A govt spokeswoman stated plans are in place to verify sufferers obtain the same requirements of care after Brexit.

    the united kingdom will leave the ecu Union on 29 March 2019.

    Brexit: All you need to know NHS to stockpile medication for no deal Brexit NHS plans ‘extensively’ for no-deal Brexit

    Within The letter, Maria Trewern, chair of council at the RCN, wrote: “because the debate across our membership has made clear, the results of Brexit for the well being and care gadget will probably be numerous.

    “There are dangers that, if no longer credibly addressed, may harm inhabitants well being, besides as severely impact on our members’ talent to provide protected and efficient take care of their patients in each the fast and the long term.”

    The letter warned that Brexit may just exacerbate ongoing problems within the NHS, corresponding to workforce sustainability.

    ‘Informed selection’

    The union also said that it would have explicit implications for nursing personnel providing care in areas that interface between Northern Ireland and the Republic Of Eire, in conjunction with threats to truthful employment practices, workers’ rights and go-border exchange of information, research and skills.

    The letter said the union is backing a 2nd referendum on any final deal for Brexit to “provide citizens the opportunity to make an informed choice and vote on selections that will have an effect on generations now and in the long run”.

    A Department of Well Being and Social Care spokeswoman stated workforce from the eu were a “important part of our NHS and social care personnel” and can have “an important function to play in the way forward for well being and social care on this united states of america”.

    She brought: “we’re making ready for all eventualities, together with a no-deal Brexit, and we have now labored closely with companions to draw up contingency plans for you to make sure that patients proceed to receive care in precisely the same method they do now.”