This is the final edition of our weekly e:bulletin as the Brexit Civil Society Alliance comes to an end this week. With the project wrapping up I wanted to have a special edition of the final bulletin where I share with you some of the resources we have created over the past few years of our work. I hope the bulletin has proved useful in keeping you up to date with Brexit happenings. I also hope you enjoy the resources outlined today! As usual there is some recommended reading for your Friday.
No Thanks M'Lords
This week the Government defeated amendments to give Parliament a greater role in future trade deals as it voted against multiple Lords Amendments to the Trade Bill. This week, we also published our new report “Seizing the Opportunity: The case for embracing civil society’s role in democracy” by Kathryn Sturgeon. You can download it today. As usual we have recommended reading for your Friday.
Bills To Be Paid
With the Brexit deal agreed what will come next? The FT reported this week that plans are already underway to regress on workers’ rights and some Brexit Bills are still making their way through parliament. We also have a guest piece from Kathryn Sturgeon about our new report “Seizing the Opportunity: the case for embracing civil society’s role in democracy.” As usual we have recommended reading for your Friday.
It's A New Year, It's A New Deal
Happy New Year! A trade deal between the EU and UK was agreed while we were all busy eating our Christmas dinner. In today’s E:Bulletin we look at some of the key parts you should be aware of. We have a new report about the case for embracing civil society in democracy coming out in January and we’d love to see you at our launch event (details below). As usual we have recommended reading for your Friday.
Is A Deal In The Oven?
This week talks over dinner between Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen didn’t amount to much other than a new deadline for negotiations. This Sunday was picked as a deadline for a “firm decision”. Negotiations have been bubbling away for a long time now with the same three topics (fisheries, level playing field, and sovereignty) causing disagreements for both sides. We find out next week if a decision has been made.
Meanwhile, we have two excellent new podcast episodes out for you to listen to. A two part series about how ministers make law using delegated legislation, what the issues with this are, how it has affected the process of legislating for Brexit, and how you can campaign on it. We also look ahead to events in Parliament and as usual have recommended reading for your Friday.
We're Herring There's No Agreement Yet
Despite a late night order of pizza to fuel the negotiators, there is still no agreed trade deal between the UK and the EU. Speaking of food, the Future British Standards Coalition have warned about weakening of food standards in the UK. We have an event looking to the future of human rights after Brexit. NICVA have organised an event for voluntary organisations in Northern Ireland to help prepare for the end of the transition period. As usual we look at what's coming up in Parliament and have recommended reading for your Friday.
Poorly Reviewed
There is still no trade deal agreed between the UK and the EU. Some details on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund have finally been revealed in the spending review. The UK Internal Market Bill continues to progress through Parliament and we have a brief bonus explainer podcast about it. As per usual we have events and recommended reading.
Stuck In A Loop
There is still little news as to whether a deal has been agreed between the UK and the EU. MPs pressure the Government on the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol. We have an event “Deal or no deal: are we ready for the end of the transition period?” and a new podcast episode focused on devolution. As usual we have recommended reading for your Friday.
Missing deadlines
In the week a Brexit deal was meant to be reached, internal chaos and fighting have dominated Downing Street. It has concluded with Lee Cain, the Director of Communications and a key ally of Dominic Cummings resigning. Whilst Cummings denies rumours of his own resignation, it seems agreed that he will be gone by Christmas (although apparently, that was always the plan). With much of the Vote Leave faction on the way out of Downing Street, what next for Brexit? For the time being, the Prime Minister is continuing to play hardball and although some estimate that a deal will come sooner or later, the EU remains less optimistic. More on all of this below and what remains to be done before the transition period ends.