“BREXIT BRIEF” – ISSUE 12, 27th April 2018

A Rudd-er-less Government? 

Amber Rudd, the UK Home Secretary, has not had a good week. She was already under pressure to resign over her handling of the Windrush generation scandal which has seen many people from Caribbean countries and their relatives being declared illegal immigrants despite living in Britain for decades.  Given the precarious position in which she found herself, it was to her credit that she chose to keep yesterday’s long-standing lunch appointment with the Parliamentary Press Gallery. It was also a mistake.

Taking questions after her short speech, Ms Rudd was asked if the United Kingdom would remain in a customs union after Brexit. Rather than stick to the Government’s supposedly agreed policy line that Britain would not be part of any customs union when its EU membership ceased, the Home Secretary gave a surprising response. "I'm not going to be drawn on that,” she told startled journalists. “We still have a few discussions to be had amongst some of my Cabinet colleagues in order to arrive at a final position."

She was later forced to send a Tweet supposedly “clarifying” her comments, saying: “Of course when we leave the EU we will be leaving the customs union.” But the political damage had already been done, with Brexiteers – including some fellow Tory MPs – questioning whether she should remain in her job. This was countered by Remain supporters who believe that the UK should stay within the EU customs union and that the Home Secretary was only expressing a common sense view.  

This morning Ms Rudd received support from David Blunkett, a former Labour Home Secretary, who said he wanted her to stay to ensure “at least some sane voices inside the Cabinet” to counter the Brexiteers. Lord Blunkett, a committed Remainer, often displays the benefits of sound wisdom.    

 A noble cause    

Their Lordships’ did more fine work in the Upper House this week by continuing to steer the EU (Withdrawal) Bill off-course.  Peers ignored the Government’s wishes four times by forcing through amendments on a range of issues including an insistence that the Fundamental Charter of EU Rights remains in place in the United Kingdom after Brexit.  

One vote in which Government whips sadly did manage to triumph was to stop a heroic attempt by Crossbench peer Professor Lord “Sandy” Trees to strengthen animal sentience provisions in the Bill. Lord Trees, a former RCVS President and only the second veterinary surgeon to be ennobled, was seeking legal guarantees that the UK would “pay due regard to the welfare of animals as sentient beings in developing and implementing policy.”  

Whilst reiterating Prime Minister Theresa May’s pledge to “not only maintain but enhance” animal welfare standards after Brexit when the UK would be free to make its own laws, Lord Callanan – speaking for the Government – insisted that the EU (Withdrawal) Bill was not the right vehicle to do this. Instead he argued that the draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill, which attracted 9,000 responses following a recent public consultation, would be the more effective route to success. Lord Trees has pledged to maintain the pressure on Ministers, and you can be sure that he will do.    

Meanwhile in America…

In a week where music megastar Kanye West (I understand he’s a “rapper”) and French President Emmanuel Macron battled for the affections of Donald Trump, last night there was an unexpected reminder that the Commander-in-Chief seems to lack adoring fans in the land of his mother’s birth.  Plans for the US President’s grandiose state visit to the UK had already been placed on hold over fears of mass protests. The details of a more low-profile “working visit” were therefore being kept close to diplomatic chests.  

That was until White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders let slip that Trump would be coming to Britain on Friday 13 July. (Yes, Friday the 13th). And it wasn’t the seasoned hacks of the Washington press corps who managed to extract this sensitive information. It was their children during “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work at the White House Day.” Tens of thousands of Facebook users have since signed-up to protest in person at wherever UK destination is chosen to host the trip, although helicopters are likely to be Team Trump’s favoured mode of transport. Expect a grimace rather than a smile from Theresa May as the Donald clambers down the steps of Marine One ready to embarrass her.     

Enjoy your weekend.  

Jason 

Jason Aldiss BEM

Managing Director