What The Experts Say
— The UK and EU strike landmark post-Brexit deals, boosting trade, defence, and mobility. Reduced red tape aids food exports and security ties deepen, signalling warmer relations amid political uncertainty.
Brexit
The withdrawal of the UK from the European Union on 31 January 2020, after a referendum that took place on 23 June 2016 when UK voters chose to leave the EU by 52% to 48%.
Long-Read
— Trump's flimsy UK ‘trade deal’ masks retreat from tariff chaos, while India pact offers rare Brexit trade gain. Yet neither offsets Brexit’s economic harm nor ends Britain’s Brexitist politics.
Right to Protest
— A court has ruled that Steve Bray’s musical protests — which featured satirical themes from The Muppets and Star Wars, timed to coincide with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s arrival at Parliament — constituted a lawful expression of political dissent.
Brexit
— The UK admits a £37bn Brexit trade hit. Labour calls for an EU reset, as pressure grows to scrap barriers and prioritise recovery over ideology. A new deal may reshape relations.
Brexit Reset
— Keir Starmer’s EU summit dinner last week marked a UK-EU diplomatic thaw, highlighting security cooperation amid geopolitical shifts. Both sides seek deeper ties, but trust-building remains key ahead of May’s institutional summit.
UK Economy
— Chancellor Rachel Reeves vows to accelerate UK economic growth, but Brexit hurdles, fiscal constraints, and bureaucratic delays pose challenges. Ambitious plans demand private sector support, decisive execution, and immediate fiscal action.
UK Economy
— Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces calls to resign amid economic woes, media scrutiny, and opposition claims. However, her credentials match past chancellors, and Britain’s longstanding structural issues, not her policies, fuel criticism.
Long-Read
— National populism, fuelled by media-backed disinformation, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and libertarian ideologies, threatens democracies globally by eroding institutions, fostering fear, and exploiting divisions.
Long-Read
— The debate over Brexit resurfaces amid economic challenges and Trump’s return. Key concerns include UK-EU relations, trade uncertainties, and Labour’s struggle to reconcile Brexit’s political and economic implications.
Brexit
— The UK public feels more “bresignation” than “bregret” over Brexit, with limited appetite for rejoining the EU now. A reset in UK-EU relations requires evidence-driven communication and depoliticised trade reforms.
Long-Read
— Chris Grey critiques Trump’s victory and Brexit’s deepening incoherence, highlighting Labour’s state-driven budget as a shift from neo-liberalism. Yet, Brexit’s financial toll limits Britain’s capacity to navigate these challenges.
Long-Read
— Labour’s Brexit policy centres on minor adjustments, avoiding rejoining debates despite economic drawbacks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting admitted Brexit’s economic costs, while backbenchers push for closer EU ties, challenging Labour’s restricted approach.
France
— Michel Barnier, former Brexit negotiator, is now France’s prime minister, representing Les Républicains. His appointment follows Macron’s failed election gamble. Barnier faces challenges forming a government amid National Assembly fragmentation.
Brexit
— PM Keir Starmer faces the challenge of improving UK-EU relations amid Brexit’s unpopularity. Key strategies include leading on migration and security, aligning with EU regulations, and addressing both domestic and European concerns.
Long-Read
— Brexit, barely discussed during the general election campaign yet ever-present, catalysed the Tory downfall, culminating in a significant vote share drop. The new Labour government faces challenges, but now is a moment to celebrate the defeat of a damaging political ethos.
OPINION
— Fourteen years of Tory rule have caused incalculable harm. This morning we can breathe a sigh of relief. But Labour won’t be able to fix all the problems. We’ve been thinking hard about our work under a new government.
