‘BREXIT BRIEF’ – ISSUE 115, 17 April 2020
Words of wisdom from IMF boss
As the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, I have continued to argue that an extension of the post-Brexit transition period is a must. A succession of opinion polls have found that a significant majority of the British people - Leavers and Remainers – now agree that our country should align itself with the EU beyond the end of this year whilst the UK and EU27 Governments focus on tackling the public health crisis. Yesterday morning, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), concurred with this view. Speaking to the BBC, Kristalina Georgieva made clear that the UK and EU should not "add to uncertainty" caused by coronavirus by failing to extend the period to negotiate a post-Brexit trade deal. She said the "unprecedented uncertainty" arising from the pandemic meant it would be "wise not to add more on top of it." And she added: “It is tough as it is, let's not make it any tougher."
With Boris Johnson recovering at Chequers following his own coronavirus scare, a swift response to Ms Georgieva’s comments was not necessarily expected from the UK Government. But, as her words were being broadcast, the Prime Minister’s de-facto Chief of Staff (a taxpayer-funded civil servant) was slipping back into 10 Downing Street. Dominic Cummings had been in self-isolation since the end of last month after displaying coronavirus symptoms. But the former head of the Vote Leave campaign wasted no time in steering the Whitehall machine back onto his hardline anti-EU, pro-Brexit messaging.
Briefing political journalists just before lunchtime yesterday, James Slack, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (also a taxpayer-funded civil servant), said: “We will not extend the transition period and, if the EU asks, we will say no. Extending the transition period would simply prolong the negotiations, prolong business uncertainty, and delay the moment of control of our borders." Four hours later, David Frost, the UK Government’s Chief Brexit Negotiator (another taxpayer-funded civil servant), followed up on his personal Twitter account with: “Transition ends on 31 December this year. We will not ask to extend it. If the EU asks, we will say no. Extending would simply prolong negotiations, create even more uncertainty, leave us liable to pay more to the EU in future, and keep us bound by evolving EU laws at a time when we need to control our own affairs.” It is what is known in communications circles as “message discipline” and there is no sterner message disciplinarian than Dominic Cummings. Other than a shared determination to drive our country off a cliff on 31 December 2020, Cummings, Slack and Frost are also united by the fact that no one has ever voted for them. Following his recuperation, Boris Johnson must grab the metaphorical wheel back from these unaccountable fools and steer the UK away from an even graver disaster than we already face.
Migrant workers arrive to save the harvest
The scale of the challenge the country now endures because of coronavirus was laid bare on Tuesday when the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that the UK economy was likely to shrink by 35% before the end of June. The independent body added that each additional month of lockdown would cost an extra ￡45 billion in public borrowing with the UK national debt expected to move beyond 100% of GDP this year. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and committed Brexiteer, was swiftly marshalled to deliver some calm but was unable to do so. “People should know that there is hardship ahead and we won’t be able to protect every job or every business,” he said at the UK Government’s daily coronavirus press conference.
One positive step that Sunak and his Cabinet colleagues could take would be to revisit their ill-conceived plans to bar so-called “low-skilled” overseas workers from coming here from next year. The idiocy of this policy was underlined yet again yesterday when the first of several planned flights carrying Romanian farm workers landed at London Stansted Airport. Matthew Purton from Air Charter Services said his company had tendered for six more flights “for a mixture of farms” which would see 450 workers flown in to avert food shortages. Whilst the UK Government’s new “points based” immigration system does propose to offer 10,000 visas to migrant farm workers, this number falls far short of the 80,000 currently brought in annually to support our agricultural sector, mostly under the EU's free movement rules which the UK remains signed-up to in the transition period. Yet another pressing reason for a rejuvenated Boris Johnson to rethink the current direction of his myopic Government.
Meanwhile in America…
Last night Donald Trump published his guidelines for “Opening Up America Again” - despite his beleaguered nation having more confirmed coronavirus cases (654,301) and deaths (32,186) than any other country on the planet. Earlier, the US President announced that he had spoken to sports team owners about restarting competitive play because he was “tired of watching baseball games that are 14 years old.” Also this week, it emerged the cheques to millions of Americans living in serious financial deprivation had been delayed after Trump insisted that his name was emblazoned on them. This should not be a surprise to anyone. Before entering the White House, the President had been the “stable genius” behind Trump Steaks, Trump: The Fragrance for Men, Trump Vodka (he’s teetotal), Trump Classic Cars, Trump Ice, Trump: The Board Game and, my personal favourite, Trump Dog Bow Ties. Many of these products are still available on eBay. Let us hope that no hard-pressed American family wastes their Trump Dollars on them.
Have a safe weekend.
Jason
Dr Jason Aldiss BEM BVSc MRCVS
Managing Director, Eville & Jones
You can follow me on Twitter @JasonAldiss