Responding to calls from the Secretaries of State for Brexit and Trade at the Conservative Party Conference for more optimism, Stephen Martin, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said:

“We want to support the Government where we can, but doing so requires more openness and clarity of thought on the road ahead. For too long the debate on how to Brexit has been about what the UK and EU don’t want going forward.

“We are united with the Government in wanting the negotiations to move on to discussing trade, but many questions remain about what will take the place of our current membership of the Single Market and Customs Union.

“From rolling over current EU trade deals with third countries, to creating new mechanisms for regulatory cooperation with Europe, businesses want to know now how they can safeguard against the potential for disruption to their existing cross-border relationships.

“As David Davis said, this is the most complex negotiation one could imagine, but the answer is to involve businesses in navigating those challenges more, not to keep them on tenterhooks until the last minute.

“The success of Brexit and our ability to fully grasp more global opportunities depends on how skilfully we can address some of the more imminent risks ahead. Business wants to support Government in this time of uncertainty, but to do so we need to know where it thinks it is going first.”

The post Brexit can only be a success if business is more involved appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Responding to Theresa May’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, Stephen Martin, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said:

“I think it’s fair to say that this year’s party conference season has been one big let-down for businesses across the UK. On the one hand you have a Labour Party which has decided that business is the bad guy, on the other you have a Conservative Party which talks about the importance of markets, but then tinkers around with help to buy and energy price caps. What are business leaders meant to make of it all?

“At this pivotal moment in this country’s history, far too little time has been spent explaining the plan for how we leave the European Union, or debating how we tackle the long-term challenges that face our economy.

“We have had positive messages on the importance of skills, and more funding for transport in the North, but we need to see serious proposals at the Budget to boost what is now wavering confidence in the wider economy.”

The post Party conference season has been one big let-down for business appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

British Expats will be welcome to remain in Spain even if the BREXIT outcome is no deal.

The statement was made by Alfonso Dastis, Spain’s Foreign Secretary, on the BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show: ” on Sunday.

Dastis said his government would ensure that the lives of ordinary Britons in Spain are “not disrupted” in the event of a “no deal” Brexit. They will  be allowed to continue living in Spain even if Britain leaves the European Union without striking a withdrawal deal.

He said that with 17 million British visitors coming to Spain annually, and with over 300,000 British citizens living in Spain, about a third of which are retired, the two countries enjoy a special economic and social relationship which will be closely safeguarded regardless of the BREXIT outcome.

Some commentators may seize upon Mr Dastis’s comments as evidence that a no deal Brexit is a workable solution.

The post WATCH: No disruption for British Expats regardless of BREXIT outcome appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

On Tuesday 21st November 2017, from 10:30hrs to 14:00hrs, BREXPATS IN SPAIN is hosting a public meeting with the British Ambassador, British Consul and experts at the University Miguel Hernandez in Elche. All members of the public are invited to attend.

The consular staff are keen to hear the ongoing concerns and views from British people, as are the Spanish authorities who will also be there to do the same.

There are important updates in the negotiations around citizens’ rights and they want to share these first-hand.

The meeting will take place in the Quorum III lecture hall just inside the northern entrance gate.

The post Brexit, the position and consequences explained appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

British Ambassador Simon Manley will be speaking at Elche University Miguel Hernandez on 21 November.  He will be hosted by representatives from the Brexpats in Spain group, and will be discussing the negotiations and latest developments alongside members of the Alicante Diputación. 

The British Consul, Sarah-Jane Morris, will be present and also open to take questions.  All are welcome to this free event, and there is no need to register to attend.

For the latest information on the negotiations on our exit from the EU, please book mark the dedicated Gov UK webpage. http://bit.ly/4BritsinEU

The doors will open for the event at 10.00am, and the session will start promptly at 10.30am.  It will be held in the Universidad Miguel Hernandez, in Edificio Altet.  You can find a map of the campus at the following link:   http://bit.ly/2xNtcQt

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By Boris Johnson

Writing in the Irish Times, the Foreign Secretary says Britain’s looming exit from the EU does not amount to cold-shouldering Ireland.

Of the 52 countries I have visited as foreign secretary, Ireland is more closely tied to Britain by kinship and history than just about any other. When I arrive in Dublin today, those special bonds will be at the front of my mind.

Almost a million of our respective citizens live in one another’s countries: there are 250,000 Britons in Ireland and 700,000 Irish nationals in the United Kingdom. Ireland is the only land neighbour of the UK and we sell each other goods and services worth more than €1 billion every week.

So as the UK leaves the European Union, I understand the importance of addressing the unique circumstances of Ireland, including the land border. I know the concerns about the possible impact on businesses and livelihoods. And I realise that, for Irish people, the future of the Border is not simply a matter of economics. Above all, there is the need to preserve the ties that exist between communities across the island of Ireland.

Common Travel Area

I am determined to work alongside the Irish Government to reach a solution that meets all our needs. We share a commitment to upholding the Common Travel Area and Belfast Agreement. We have already made good progress on maintaining the Common Travel Area. No Irish national will be required to apply for settled status; the long-standing and reciprocal rights to work, study and use public services will be maintained. I have no doubt that, with goodwill and ingenuity, an answer can and will be found.

But we are in the middle of a negotiation. Today, I look forward to meeting Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, and I am sure we will discuss Britain’s future relationship with Ireland after Brexit.

We will also cover some of the key global issues, while celebrating the unique friendship between our countries. I will reassure Mr Coveney and everyone I meet that Britain’s impending departure from the EU does not amount to the UK cold-shouldering Ireland or turning away; on the contrary, I want to strengthen our ties in the years ahead.

The dry numbers about trade and investment are only part of the picture; the modern story of Anglo-Irish partnership comes from the easy familiarity between our peoples, from the shared task of promoting peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland, and from the manifold cultural, scientific and sporting links between our countries. In your National Science Week, I will be meeting young Irish people and learning how they are contributing to Anglo-Irish partnership in technology and innovation. I have no doubt that the talent, friendship and vision of young people from Ireland and the UK will ensure that our friendship endures long into the future.

Outward-looking

And do not believe anyone who says that by leaving the EU, the UK is turning its back on the world. The exact opposite is true: I am determined that the UK will be more engaged and outward-looking than ever before; hence I will be talking to Mr Coveney about the full range of international issues. I want to learn his insights about East Africa, where he recently travelled, and discuss how best to promote our shared values, including freedom of expression and the importance of female education.

Our countries also share long experience of international peacekeeping. Ireland has a proud history of unbroken service to United Nations operations dating back to 1958. Today, more than 600 Irish military personnel are deployed on a range of UN peacekeeping missions, including in Lebanon and the Golan Heights.

Back in January 2015, our countries signed a memorandum of understanding in Dublin Castle, allowing the UK to benefit from Ireland’s unique experience of UN peacekeeping. Since then, your troops have helped to prepare ours for their deployments on UN missions in South Sudan and Somalia.

The friendship between our countries has flourished in recent decades. There was a time when the idea that Britain and Ireland would jointly commemorate the centenaries of the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme – as we did last year – would have been unimaginable. I am determined to stay on the path that leads to an even closer friendship in the decades ahead.

The post UK and Ireland can strengthen ties via Brexit by Boris Johnson appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Europe must help May sugar-coat the very bitter pills the Brits are going to have to swallow.

Commentary by Nick Whitney for the European Council on Foreign Relations

In less than a month, EU leaders meeting in Brussels will have to decide whether ‘sufficient progress’ has been made in phase 1 of the Brexit talks (the divorce issues) for phase 2 negotiations to get underway. If so, they will also have to agree new negotiating guidelines for Michel Barnier on the future relationship, and on the transition.

This stage was meant to have been reached in October, and any further delay to the negotiating timetable will shorten the odds on a complete breakdown in the talks. No wonder stress levels around the December summit are rising. But even assuming that the two sides manage to navigate the immediate crisis, worse will follow hard on its heels.

The immediate problem is largely about money. On the other two divorce issues, citizens’ rights and the Irish border, ‘sufficient progress’ will probably be declared come December (even if, on Ireland, this is more a recognition that the problem cannot be disentangled from the terms of the future relationship). But on money, the two sides remain at loggerheads.

Theresa May’s Florence speech looked hopeful, with its promise of two more years’ contributions to the EU budget, and affirmation that “The UK will honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership.” But the expected follow-up, with the UK specifying what it understands those commitments to be, has not happened – raising suspicions in Europe that Britain aims either to wriggle out of what it owes, or to tie a financial settlement to trade concessions later in the talks.

Money is the UK’s main bargaining asset (for all the Brexiteers’ bravura, the EU holds all the other cards in these negotiations), so the EU cannot reasonably expect the UK to give it up entirely before the talks have even got halfway. Moreover, the announcement of a definitive figure will inevitably trigger howls of betrayal from Brexiteers, and demands for talks to be broken off at once – unless Prime Minister May can present it as the price for an advantageous trade deal. Since the EU has no interest in the talks collapsing, they need to help May stay vague about the size of the bill for a while yet.

Actually, putting a definitive figure on the UK’s final bill will be quite difficult anyway. Britain’s share of, for example, loan guarantees for Ukraine could be anything between an eye-watering sum and nothing at all, depending on whether or not the loans go bad. Even clear liabilities, such as for the pensions of British EU officials, are hard to cost today, depending as they do on uncertain actuarial assumptions.

For this reason, given a modicum of trust and goodwill, a short-term fudge should have been easy to achieve, balancing the EU’s wish for precision against the UK’s desire for continuing vagueness. The lesson of the current impasse over money is just how fast trust and goodwill have drained out of these talks.

And there is worse just around the corner. Even if the money issue is finessed the EU’s phase 2 negotiating guidelines for Barnier will come as an unpleasant shock for the British side. The UK’s whole approach to the negotiations has been based on the assumption that the UK is simply too important to the EU to be treated like any other ‘third country’. It must make sense, Britain has consistently argued, for the UK to have a ‘deep and special’ future partnership with the EU – a bespoke deal, or deals, in economic, security and other fields.

But as the negotiating guidelines on the future economic relationship will make clear, that is not how the EU see it at all. They are just not interested in offering the UK special terms. If the Brits decide they want to stay in the single market, then they must join the European Economic Area (the ‘Norway model’). If not, then they can have a free trade deal (the ‘Canada model’). That’s it. And the EU’s position on the transition will be equally unpalatable. As far as they are concerned, the Brits can have a transition after they leave the EU and its institutions in March 2019, but only if everything else remains the same: budget contributions, free movement, European Court of Justice (ECJ) oversight, the works. Just like two more years in the EU – only without a voice or a vote.

So, even assuming we get through December, expect a new crisis in the UK at the turn of the year as all this sinks in. The UK government will of course seek to dismiss this as just the EU’s opening negotiating position. But it will be tough to maintain this insouciant confidence with any conviction given what the talks to date have already made clear: that the UK needs the EU much more than the reverse, and that EU ‘negotiating guidelines’ are less an opening bid than a blunt statement of how things are going to be.

So the odds on No Deal are shortening – an outcome which, despite the asymmetry of impact, would nonetheless damage both parties. How can it be avoided?

The main onus lies on the EU, if only because they are the dominant negotiating partner, and the British are simply in no condition to help themselves. There is a natural tendency in Brussels to think that the UK government has stoked the coming crisis by its own stupidity and/or cowardice in not preparing Parliament or the people for the reality of Brexit. But complete rigidity on the European side will only result in break-down of the talks – and likely May’s defenestration.  As the best UK Prime Minister Europe could currently hope for, they must help her sugar-coat the very bitter pills the Brits are going to have to swallow with a few small wins.

Specifically, the EU should back off their unreasonable demands for extraterritorial jurisdiction of the ECJ even once the UK has left the EU and completed the transition, whether on EU citizens’ rights or on resolving disputes arising from the new treaties. The Brits will not settle for less than a new joint court, nor should they.

A way should also be found to allow the UK to (attempt to) set up new trade deals with third countries during the transition. And Brussels must stop pouring cold water on the British hope of achieving a trade relationship which is ‘deeper and more special’  than the recent EU deal with Canada. The EU argue that ‘most favoured nation’ provisions in their extant trade deals mean that, if they agreed something better with the UK, they would have to go back and offer the same benefits to other partners. But if that were inescapable, then the history of EU trade negotiations would have been an impossible process of constantly rewriting earlier trade deals to incorporate new features from the latest agreement.

May will need ‘victories’ on these and no doubt other points if she is to stand any chance of keeping the show on the road. For her part, she must stop feeding the domestic illusion that Britain, qua Great Power, is indispensable to the EU in the wider world. Our EU partners are well aware of the quality of our diplomacy and our armed forces. But they are equally aware that our attitude to initiatives like European defence has been consistently negative and obstructive, and few Europeans see the UK as such an indispensable partner that it must be found a privileged seat in the EU’s defence and foreign policy councils after Brexit.

Finally, both sides could help themselves with turning the spotlight towards those areas of the current relationship where mutual benefit is uncontested, and where there is a real need to put in place successor arrangements that prevent any hiatus. Research is one such area. Another is domestic security and counter-terrorism. Here, the proposal put forward by the UK for a specific treaty to provide a “comprehensive framework for future security, law enforcement and criminal justice cooperation” deserves to be taken up.

December’s crunch will be one of many junctures at which the Brexit talks could fail in the coming months, with Britain crashing out of the EU with no deal. Sensible politicians and officials on both sides of the Channel have little option but to believe that Theresa May understands how catastrophic this would be, and that she will remain in office long enough to outmanoeuvre the Brexiteer arsonists. Each side needs to contain its frustration, help the other where it can, and prioritise the aspects of negotiations where real win-win solutions are both possible and important.

Both sides should remember that, though divorces almost inevitably turn bitter, the best antidote is to try to keep at the forefront of the mind the interests of the children. Britain’s young people voted for Remain. They and their European contemporaries are going to need each other in the future.

The post How to avert the looming Brexit crisis appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Simon Manley, British Ambassador to Spain, visited Alicante this week to speak at an event about the progress of Brexit negotiations and the future relationship between the UK and Spain.

 The event, organised in conjunction with British citizens in Spain group Brexpats and the Diputacion de Alicante was held at the University of Elche. The main topic discussed was the subject of citizens’ rights and how that is one of the top priorities for the British Government in the negotiations with the EU. Members of Brexpats group had a chance to ask questions to Ambassador Simon Manley and Consul Sarah-Jane Morris.

HMA’s agenda in Alicante also included visits to King’s College in Alicante and King’s Infant School in Elche, both British schools; a visit to Babcock MSC, the British company that provides of aerial emergency services and aircraft maintenance in Mutxamel, and a meeting with local authorities in Calpe town hall.

 Talking about the importance of citizen rights, Simon Manley said: “Good progress has already been made in the negotiations and we are within touching distance of a deal in citizens rights. My team of consular staff and I have been speaking face to face with British citizens across Spain, including yesterday in Alicante, to ensure that the concerns they raise around healthcare, pensions and residency rights are understood by the UK negotiating team and reflected in their discussions with our EU partners about our departure from the EU. 

I would like to recommend that people living in the Alicante region to follow our social media channels for updates on progress in the negotiation, including our Brits in Spain Facebook page, and to sign up for alerts from the gov.uk page to ensure you are getting accurate information.”

 Advice for UK citizens living in the EU can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe

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The Freight Transport Association has warned the EU not to underestimate the massive challenge member states face when preparing their own borders for Brexit, along with the risk of long delays and disruption at European ferry ports.

FTA’s Deputy Chief Executive, James Hookham gave evidence to the European Parliament Committee on Transport and Tourism last week (22 November 2017), as part of a public hearing on the impact of Brexit on land transport into and out of the UK. FTA was called to share its expertise, as the UK’s largest and most influential membership association in the freight and logistics sector.

Mr Hookham advised the committee that continued trade was just as much an issue for the EU27 as it was for the UK and he warned the challenges and risks were also as great for the other EU member states: “It is important that the need to maintain successful trade relationships is recognised as an equal risk for both parties. This is not just a UK problem.”

The committee heard that an additional 300 million customs declarations will need to be made in the UK each year, compared to the 90 million declarations which are currently handled by the British customs system. Mr Hookham said each of these would be goods that originated from, or were destined for, somewhere in the EU:

“The scale of this [trade] is truly enormous and it is important that all stakeholders comprehend what we are really talking about … Some 185,000 enterprises will be required to make customs declarations and other border checks after Brexit, for the first time in the UK. Eighty per cent of the vehicles that cross the English Channel between France and England are EU-registered vehicles.”

FTA is urgently seeking clarification from the EU on three key areas that will critically affect trade after Brexit; customs arrangements and facilities, the need for vehicle quotas and the recognition of driver qualifications. Mr Hookham said immediate action is needed to develop a workable system for the ‘seamless’ transport of goods across the new UK-EU border:

“Yes, we must seek to simplify and automate procedures in the long run, but that will be something for the future. In the meantime, we must make sure that vehicles can continue to cross the border and that there is mutual recognition of driver qualifications and licences. There is a need for not just the UK government, but for the other EU27 governments to step forwardand to act.”

FTA represents nearly 17,000 members operating over 220,000 heavy goods vehicles – half the UK’s HGV fleet. Established in 1889, FTA’s members move goods by road, rail, sea and air, consign over 90 per cent of the UK freight moved by rail and 70 per cent of the nation’s sea and air freight.

The Freight Transport Association has produced a new report, “Ten Ways to Make Customs Borders Work after Brexit”. The document sets out practical, achievable steps that governments and industry can take to reduce delays at both sides of the border after Britain leaves the EU.

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Responding to the latest official immigration statistics, showing that net long-term international migration fell to 230,000 in the year to June 2017, down 106,000 from the recent peak of 336,000, Seamus Nevin, Head of Policy Research, said:

“Immigration is a vote of confidence in a country’s future prospects. Disappointingly, today’s ONS figures show that the UK is facing a lose-lose situation of fewer EU migrants coming here as well as EU citizens leaving since last year’s vote to leave the European Union.

“While reducing the number of EU citizens coming here was an aim for some who voted to leave, all sides in the referendum debate were clear that they wanted all EU citizens already living here to be able to stay. It is therefore bitterly disappointing that now 17 months on, EU citizens’ right to remain in the UK has still not been guaranteed.

Indeed, IoD members are reporting significant numbers of vital EU staff quitting so we hope that agreement can be reached in the negotiations next month to bring an end to this fear and uncertainty once and for all. Bosses need to be able to get back to business and not have to worry about the future of their EU staff, and staff still need meaningful reassurance not just words.

“The ONS stats also show the number of people moving to the UK to take up a ‘definite job’ has remained stable, but fewer people are coming to the UK ‘looking for work’. This will worry small businesses who don’t have the resources to navigate the Home Office’s exceptionally bureaucratic visa application system and so rely on recruiting from the pool of people already in the UK. If small firms cannot find the people to fill the jobs they are creating, then local economies will suffer.

“This should be a clear warning to the Government of the need to reform our visa system and ensure that employers of all types are able to employ the people they need for our economy to prosper after Brexit.”

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Spain and the UK will maintain their “wonderful relationship” following Brexit says Rajoy

The President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, stressed in London, where he met with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, that the second phase of Brexit negotiations will start “as soon as possible”. He also thanked Theresa May for her position on Catalonia.

​At the press conference that Mariano Rajoy and Theresa May offered the media at the start of their meeting, they agreed that Spain and the United Kingdom maintain close and fruitful relations and that these will continue following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.

The President of the Government of Spain described bilateral relations as enjoying a “wonderful” period: the United Kingdom is the leading destination for Spanish investments and the fourth ranked trading partner while, in turn, the United Kingdom is the second ranked investor in Spain. “But the most important aspect is the relations between the people”, said Mariano Rajoy, who recalled that 18 million British tourists visit Spain each year, half a million British citizens live in our country and 250,000 Spaniards reside in the United Kingdom.

The President of the Government argued that both governments have been “very active” in defending the rights of citizens in the negotiations for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. He also expressed his “absolute conviction” that the second phase of these negotiations will start “as soon as possible”. The goal, he maintained, is “to preserve the wonderful relations” that exist between Spain and the United Kingdom.

Respect for the rule of law

As regards the situation in Catalonia, Mariano Rajoy thanked Theresa May for the support she offered the people and Government of Spain over this matter. “Without respect for the rule of law and for the laws of a country, there is no democracy”, he stressed.

For her part, the British Prime Minister expressed her “support for the President of the Government on the issue of Catalonia” and expressed that “it is fundamental for the rule of law to prevail and for the Spanish Constitution to be respected”.

To end, the President of the Government pointed out that combating terrorism is a priority for both countries. “We have been hit very hard, but we will win this fight and to ensure this it is fundamental, as indeed we have been doing, for our intelligence services work together ever more closely”, he remarked.

The post Rajoy says that Spain and the UK will maintain their current “wonderful relationship” following Brexit appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

The pound is at its best level against the euro since early summer, touching 1.15 on Friday following sufficient progress on Brexit talks late on Thursday night. It also rose across the board: US dollar 1.35, South African Rand 18.6, and its best rate against the Australian dollar for 18 months at 1.80

The other currency that rose this week was Bitcoin which more than doubled in value but what exactly is it? The digital currency is created using a complex process known as ‘mining’ and 3,600 new BTC are made every day but there is limited supply (there will be a cap of 21 million in total) hence the soaring value. Like every other currency, the amount people are willing to pay determines its value.

This time last year the digital currency was trading at USD 768; this week it reached USD 17,000, over 20 times more. It’s not legal tender – you can’t pay your taxes with it or use it to settle debts although you can use it to pay for some things; a house in Notting Hill, London is on the market for 5,000 BTC.

However the price is currently so volatile that it’s more of an investment vehicle at the moment; digital gold or a bubble waiting to burst. Some predict disaster likening it with the Dutch tulip bulbs in the 1630s or the dot com boom while others can see Bitcoin reaching USD 100,000 in 18 months.

Either way, caveat emptor (buyer beware). For euros, pounds and dollars contact a currency broker, for Bitcoin consult your crystal ball!

The post Boost for pound following BREXIT talks appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

With the UK set to depart the European Union (EU) in March 2019, the British Isles will soon be able to set their own legislation regarding British food and farming, helping the country to be a better champion of its homegrown produce.

Mr Gove has confirmed to the UK farming community that the UK government would guarantee the existing subsidies it receives from the EU until at least the 2022 General Election. This would then be followed by what Gove called a “transitional period” in England at least until 2024. Under the current subsidy system, the EU sends £3 billion every 12 months to UK farmers, but this is based solely on the size of the land each individual farmer owns.

Gove believes that the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy is “fundamentally flawed” as it takes potential funds away from the national purse and puts it into the hands of rich landowners. Instead, the Secretary of State is proposing that the UK will provide payments to farmers with sizeable plots of land who seek to “enhance the natural environment” by planting new woodland and attempting to create new wildlife habitats.

Gove noted the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs’ (Defra) role in ensuring all British people have access to “competitively-priced, healthy, sustainable and nutritious food”. This will hopefully have a positive knock-on effect on the growing number of vegetarian restaurants and takeaway outlets, which no longer cater for tasteless, boring salads and are now influenced by fascinating cuisines from all over the world such as Indian, Lebanese and Korean vegetarian and vegan food.

Gove, one of the government’s leading Brexiteers during the EU referendum, urged the importance of nurturing an all-encompassing food chain policy “from farm to fork”. He also reiterated Defra’s acknowledgement of the “economic, health and environmental forces” that will mould UK food production for generations to come.

However, despite Mr Gove’s positive comments about the future of British farming, his words come shortly after the publication of a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Agroecology for Sustainable Food and Farming (APPGA) which warns that future trade deals when the UK is outside of the EU could lead to the most significant threat to the UK’s food security since post-World War II.

There are fears within the APPGA that Britain’s potential imports of low-cost foods, produced to poorer standards of welfare and hygiene, could immediately put UK farmers up against it from March 2019 onwards. The APPGA warns that in order to compete with the cheaper produce shipped in to the British Isles, British farmers may be forced to “tighten their margins and therefore cut corners” relating to environmental legislation.

The APPGA believes now is the time for the UK government to set the agenda for a 21^st century food and farming policy that is future-proof and capable of operating sustainably in the interests of British farmers and the British people. It recommends closer consideration of agroecological policies that would minimise Britain’s dependence on other nations for its produce. These policies include enhancements to biodiversity, renewed attempts to tackle climate change and increased support for smaller, family-run and organic farms.

The post UK sets out its post-Brexit vision for farming appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Great Britain’s exit talks with the European Union are underway, and one of the pressing issues for a major British territory, Gibraltar, is the implementation of Brexit on the online gambling market, a major sector of the local economy.

To help tackle this, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia has recruited Minister for Commerce Albert Isola – head of online gambling in Gibraltar – to ensure that they can make positive progress. Gibraltar would still like to remain an area of low taxation and to keep access to the EU market and its freedom to provide services, but with Brexit getting underway, the Mediterranean island nation is under threat of losing a lot of the online gambling operators that call Gibraltar home. Effectively, Gibraltar needs to seek out a new form of relationship with the EU and the UK as advocate general to the European Court of Justice Maciej Szpunar took the view that Gibraltar and Great Britain were effectively one entity for the purposes of freedom to provide services.

It’s a peculiar circumstance to be in, and while many big names in the gambling industry have claimed to have no plans to depart Gibraltar just yet, it seems inevitable that if Brexit brought about impositions on operators to trade in the EU, they would simply leave. Gibraltar certainly isn’t the only “tax-haven” where online gambling firms can set up shop, with many already calling Malta their home such as Casino Heroes, who is licensed by the Maltese Gambling Authority to enable the online operator to provide its games to players in the EU. Others may leave Gibraltar to continue to run in a similar manner to how they do currently, only in a different country.

Gibraltar will be fighting tooth and nail to come out of these Brexit talks with a very similar structure to what they’re currently operating under for the sake of many of their industries, but largely for the online gambling operators. With unimpeded access to the massive EU market and low taxes, the industry has flourished on The Rock. The business from online gambling operators accounts for a massive 25 percent of the economy and nearly 12 percent of the jobs on Gibraltar, and this would only continue to grow as the European market continues to increase in size. There is a lot on the line for Gibraltar so they can’t afford for a “hard Brexit” to shut them off from the market within the European Union as their current residents within the online gambling industry will simply seek to base themselves within another low-tax nation with access to the EU market, like Malta.

But it’s not just the gambling sector that hopes that close ties can still be kept with the EU and that somewhat of a “soft Brexit” can be achieved on their behalf. When Great Britain held the European Union referendum and consequently opted to leave the EU, Gibraltar was one of the staunchest areas to oppose such a move, with over 95 percent of their voters wanting to remain. The Gibraltar EU Negotiations that commenced on Monday 11^th December were set to address issues involving the likes of the online gambling sector and other financial services within Gibraltar as a part of the Brexit negotiations.

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Alicante province will be hosting a series of events with British Consul Sarah-Jane Morris to talk about Brexit and how this affects British citizens living in Spain.

Mrs Morris will be visiting the towns in the Alicante province with the highest volume of British citizens on the Padron to talk to residents about any concerns they have around Brexit and to provide an update on the progress of Brexit negotiations and respond to any questions and concerns they may have.

Four events have been confirmed in Alicante south on 12th and 13th February in the following locations:

• ROJALES – 12th February at 12pm. Venue – Capitol Theatre, Calle A.Gonzalez Vergel, Rojales
• TORREVIEJA 12th February at 2pm. Venue – Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja, (3rd floor Salon de Plenos) Plaza de la Constitucion, 5, 03181 Torrevieja
• PILAR DE LA HORADADA 13th February at 10am. Venue – Casa de Cultura calle Carretillas 19, Pilar de la Horadada
• SAN FULGENCIO – 13th February at 1pm. Venue – Centro social, Calle Amstadam, Urbanizacion la Marina, San Fulgencio

There will be a further four events in Alicante north (Alfas de Pi, Teulada, Benidorm and Javea), details of which will be published next week.

You don’t have to be resident in these towns to attend the events; they are open for any British citizen who is interested in finding out more about the subject.

These events are part of the efforts made by British Consulates in Spain to meet with British citizens across Spain, to ensure that the concerns they raise around healthcare, pensions and residency rights are understood by the UK negotiating team and reflected in their discussions with our EU partners about our departure from the EU. 

Advice for UK citizens living in the EU can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe . We  recommend following our Brits in Spain Facebook page, and to sign up for alerts from the gov.uk page to ensure you are getting accurate information.

The post List of BREXIT Conferences now published appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Whilst there is still a considerable amount of uncertainty surrounding Brexit, what we do know for sure is that it will almost definitely have an impact on the financial industry. We certainly can’t blame you for wanting to avoid the reality of Brexit, but it is paramount that you are aware of the potential impact of Brexit on financial technology companies and traditional institutions alike, in order to prepare for what’s to come. You can find more about below.

Passporting

One of the most significant – yet important – issues at stake as a result of Brexit is passporting. As you are probably already aware, passporting is the process that all British-based financial institutions, including banks and asset management firms, must follow in order to sell their products and services to the remainder of the EU without the need to attain a license or receive regulatory approval. Essentially, this means that because over 5,000 firms in the UK rely on passporting in order to conduct business with the UK, it will become increasingly difficult for UK firms to continue selling into the EU. Regardless, Britain almost certainly will no longer be able to benefit in the same way!

Regulatory Uncertainty

When it comes to understanding the impact of Brexit on the financial industry, one of the crucial issues related to Brexit is regulatory uncertainty. Whilst regulation has previously been one of Britain’s most noticeable strengths, especially when London became Europe’s financial capital, Brexit significantly complicates things.

To begin with, in light of Brexit, Britain will be required to re-negotiate over 40 years’ worth of EU regulations and trade deals alike. This will take a considerable amount of time to complete, of which many financial services cannot afford to wait for. Timing issues aside, it is not currently clear as to whether the new UK financial regulation will benefit the sector, and thus the true impact of Brexit on the financial industry is still marginally a complete mystery.

Poor Short-Term Prospects

How else will Brexit impact the financial industry? Well, with passporting and regulation in mind, it is already easy to see exactly how Brexit will impact the financial industry and UK economy in the near future. Ultimately, although we can’t say for certain, London isn’t likely to collapse as a financial centre as a whole. However, despite this, it is predicted that some, if not most, of London’s financial firms will begin to move elsewhere as a result of Brexit if they haven’t already fled the capital in light of the rumours that have been circulating since the referendum.

Brain Drain

It’s no secret that Brexit could possibly cause lasting damaged to the financial sector, as yet another impact of Brexit on the financial industry is that it might trigger a threatening process of brain drain that would ultimately subvert one of the major reasons why London is Europe’s financial capital. Just like Silicon Valley, London in particular significantly benefits from a mass of industry-specific talent living and working within vicinity. In the case of Brexit, things might not continue to be this way. Visa uncertainly may affect the availability of foreign employees, for example. Equally, the prospect of job-loss could cause top talent to move elsewhere while they have the chance! Ultimately, this means that Britain will lose invaluable talent – and fast.

With all of this in mind, it is essential that you understand the potential impact of Brexit on the financial industry in order to prepare for the coming whirlwind. How do you plan to prepare for the impact of Brexit?

The post The Impact Of Brexit On The Financial Industry appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

The pound is still close to recent highs having touched 1.15 vs the euro and 1.43 vs the US dollar on 25 Jan. The euro also hit a high of 1.25  vs the US Dollar on 25th Jan and again on 1st Feb. So the pound is still strong despite some poor manufacturing figures in January while house prices have actually beaten predictions, up to 3.2% year on year.

With the US dollar quite weak, investors are looking for any excuse to push it lower and weak US employment data would do this. Meanwhile the European Central bank seems to be happy with a EUR/USD rate at 1.25.

For those of you interested in digital currencies the big slide continues. Most crypto-currencies have fallen by between 15-40% since last week with Bitcoin going below $8,000 for the first time since November.

Theresa May has been flying the British flag in China but back home there are still rumblings of dissatisfaction with her leadership from within her own party. Continued Brexit conflicts such as the impasse regarding the status of EU citizens arriving in the UK during the 2 year transition period continually threaten to upset the entente cordiale. Any subsequent fallout within the Conservative party could cause the pound to wobble so be very careful if you want sterling to continue on its current winning streak. Charts never go up in straight lines…

When buying a large amount of currency, every digit on the exchange rate matters:

The difference between 1.1400 and 1.1450 when buying 100,000 euros is £383.

Written by www.thecurrencyexchange.co.uk

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Brits who want to move and live in Spain may have another nineteen months to make the transition before the new red tape and post-Brexit rules are enforced.

The deadline is set to be 29th March 2019 at 11pm but Brits could now have until December 2020 to make the move following a statement by the EU which said that more time was needed to help the British exit from the bloc.

“According to the EU position, during the transition period the whole of the EU acquis (accumulated legislation) will continue to apply to the UK as if it were a member state.

“All existing EU regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary and enforcement instruments and structures will also apply, including the competence of the European Court of Justice.”

The British government have not yet agreed the new deadline so anyone planning to make the move to Spain should consider doing so sooner rather than later.

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Four new events have been confirmed at town halls across the north of the Alicante province, where British Consul Sarah-Jane Morris will talk about Brexit and how it affects British citizens living in Spain.

Mrs Morris will be visiting the towns in the Alicante province with the highest volume of British citizens on the Padron to talk to residents about any concerns they have around Brexit and to provide an update on the progress of Brexit negotiations and respond to any questions and concerns they may have.

Eight events have been confirmed in the following locations:

• ROJALES – 12^th February at 12pm. Venue – Capitol Theatre, Calle A.Gonzalez Vergel, Rojales
• TORREVIEJA 12th February at 2pm. Venue –  Ayuntamiento de Torrevieja, (3rd floor Salon de Plenos) Plaza de la Constitucion, 5, 03181 Torrevieja
• PILAR DE LA HORADADA 13th February at 10am. Venue – Casa de Cultura calle Carretillas 19, Pilar de la Horadada
• SAN FULGENCIO – 13^th February at 1pm. Venue –  Centro social, Calle Amstadam, Urbanizacion la Marina, San Fulgencio
• BENIDORM -20th February at 12pm. Venue: Centro Social La Torretta, Avenida Ciudad Real, 6, 03503, Rincon de Loix Benidorm
• JAVEA – 20th February at 4pm. Venue: Casa de Cultura de Javea, Plaça De Baix, Javea
• ALFAS DEL PI – 21st February at 12pm. Venue: Forum Mare Nostrum, Calle del Pintxo 2, 03580, l’Alfàs del Pi.
• TEULADA-MORAIRA – 21st Feburary at 3pm. Venue: Edificio Espai La Senieta, Av. de Madrid, 15, 03725 Moraira (Teulada Moraira)

You don’t have to be resident in these towns to attend the events; they are open for any British citizen who is interested in finding out more about the subject.

These events are part of the efforts made by the British Consulates in Spain to meet with British citizens across Spain, to ensure that the concerns they raise around healthcare, pensions and residency rights are understood by the UK negotiating team and reflected in their discussions with our EU partners about our departure from the EU.  

Advice for UK citizens living in the EU can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-british-nationals-travelling-and-living-in-europe . We  recommend following our Brits in Spain Facebook page, and to sign up for alerts from the gov.uk page to ensure you are getting accurate information.

The post New dates for Brexit events with British Consul in the province of Alicante appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.

Currency Matters

UK interest rates were left static at 0.5% on Thursday BUT the Bank of England said that it may need to raise interest rates at a faster-than-expected pace. This catapulted the the pound higher as the prospect of higher rates makes the pound attractive to investors but by Friday lunchtime all gains had been reversed.

Meanwhile the good-news-bad-news Brexit ‘yoyo’ continues. It has emerged that unless we are careful, UK drivers licences won’t be acceptable in EU countries. That was never in the ‘Leave’ Campaign manifesto and could cause chaos!

Still on Brexit, some property developers are claiming that a rise in sales to British buyers is a result of Brexit – people wanting to invest in the ‘safe haven’ of Spain. Sounds like marketing hype to us but the sales figures don’t lie. The Germans are still the biggest foreign buyers of Spanish homes.

And still on Brexit…. that infamous currency speculator George Soros has apparently donated £400,000 to an anti-Brexit pressure group in the UK. So we suggest that nothing is certain, especially the currency markets. Protect yourself at all times, don’t be greedy (foolish) and do seek the calm advice of a currency broker when transferring large amounts of money abroad.

Currency rates at lunchtime on Friday 9th Feb:

GBP/EUR 1.127 (down from a high of 1.1440 on Thursday) 

GBP/USD 1.381  (down from 1.414 on Monday)

EUR/USD 1.226 (down from 1.25 last week)

Bitcoin ended the week where it started at $8,229, via a mid-week low of $6,079. Now that is volatility….

Alexander Wright at www.thecurrencyexchange.com

The post The good-news-bad-news Brexit ‘yoyo’ continues appeared first on The Leader Newspaper.