Featured News

August 21, 2017

The European project – always a work in progress

On almost every indicator that counts, Europe is undergoing a significant revival. Polls show Europeans have become more pro-European Union since Britain decided to quit…

When it comes to sovereignty, talk is cheap

New data rules for an age of hacking and the hacked

A second Brexit referendum?

Food is the stuff of life – or death

A soft Brexit made in Scotland?

Tax treaty history: the day an MLI defeated BEPS

France looks to a new generation

Macron and Le Pen win French presidential first round

April 19, 2017

Whatever happened to “now is not the time”?

If this election is going to be the Brexit election it is also going to be one that could decide the future of the British…

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Europe under threat from terrorists posing as migrants
Europe will be increasingly at risk from terrorists posing as migrants unless western capitals help Libya to stem the numbers crossing the Mediterranean, the country’s prime minister has told The Times. Faiez Serraj, head of the United Nations-backed unity government based in Tripoli, warned that would-be terrorists were among the tens of thousands of people able to pass unvetted into his country across its open southern borders. “When migrants reach Europe, they will move freely. If, God forbid, there are terrorist elements among the migrants, a result of any incident will affect all of the EU,” he said. The Times, August 23

Home Office hid study warning of terror and crime risks after Brexit
Theresa May’s Home Office drew up an unpublished document that revealed how Britons could be more at risk of terrorism and crime after Brexit. The paper, prepared by officials with help from MI5 and MI6, warned that leaving the EU would make the UK less secure from “terrorism, criminality and illegal migration”. Senior figures involved in compiling the document, which has been leaked to The Times, maintained that all of its fears were justified. They said it set out the details of the challenge for ministers involved in the Brexit negotiations. The Times, August 23

No ‘direct jurisdiction’ for ECJ after Brexit
The UK will no longer be under the “direct jurisdiction” of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) after Brexit, a government policy paper will say. Ministers say they want a “special partnership” with the EU, but it is “neither necessary nor appropriate” for the ECJ to police it. Critics say the word “direct” leaves room for the ECJ to still play a part. The pro-EU Open Britain group said the phrase paved the way for a “climbdown” over the jurisdiction of the court. But Justice Minister Dominic Raab has told the BBC: “We’re leaving the EU and that will mean leaving the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. The likely outcome, is we’ll need some form of arbitration”. BBC news, August 23

Donald Trump threatens US government shutdown
A bombastic Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail on Tuesday, vowing to shut down the government if Congress did not pay for his proposed border wall and accusing his critics of trying to erase history. Back in Phoenix, Arizona – the site of his first major campaign speech on immigration – Mr Trump delivered a starkly different speech to his remarks on US military strategy in Afghanistan, made the previous night. For 30 minutes, Mr Trump lashed out at the media, blaming the press for dividing the country in the wake of violent clashes in Charlottesville. Financial Times, August 23

How bad is the household bill squeeze?
Household bills are rising more slowly than the rate of inflation, new research has found. The figures suggested that key elements of the “cost of living squeeze” may be less severe than previously thought. Research by MoneySavingExpert, based on official data, revealed the rise in the total cost of household bills was less than the inflation rate. It found costs including rent, energy bills, council tax and insurance have risen by 2.1 per cent in the past year.That rise is in line with average earnings growth and lower than the 2.6% rise in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) in July. BBC news, August 23

MPs probe universities’ £12.6bn pensions deficit
The parliamentary committee that took on Philip Green over the BHS pension scandal is now probing how the funding hole at the UK university sector’s main retirement fund doubled to £12.6bn in three years. Frank Field, who chairs the House of Commons work and pensions committee, has written to ministers, the Pensions Regulator and the trustees of the Universities Superannuation Scheme seeking answers to why the fund’s finances had deteriorated so sharply. The USS provides pensions for academics and has more than 390,000 members spread across 350 universities. Financial Times, August 23

GCSEs ‘need tougher pass mark to catch international rivals’
Pass marks for GCSEs in England need to be pushed upwards to catch up with high performing education systems in Asia, say researchers from the Education Policy Institute. GCSE results are being changed to grades 9 to 1, with the first such grades to be published this week. But there will be two different pass marks – grade 4 as a “standard” pass and grade 5 as a “strong” pass. Researchers say pupils need to be at grade 5 to match global rivals. BBC news, August 23

Identity theft at epidemic levels, warns Cifas
Identity theft is reaching “epidemic levels”, according to a fraud prevention group, with victims most likely to be aged in their 30s. ID fraudsters obtain personal information before pretending to be that individual and apply for loans or store cards in their name. A total of 89,000 cases were recorded in the first six months of the year by UK anti-fraud organisation Cifas. That is a 5 per cent rise on the same period last year and a new record high. BBC news, August 23

Brexit: UK seeks ‘close co-operation’ on legal disputes deal
The UK is to call for “close co-operation” with the EU to resolve cross-border legal disputes after Brexit. An agreement will be needed on how divorces, commercial disputes and consumer claims that span multiple countries are handled. Currently EU regulations specify how the appropriate court is chosen. Lawyers have warned that clarity will be needed once the UK has left the organisation in March 2019. BBC news, August 22

Exports plan seeks to avoid extra EU checks
Products approved by UK authorities should not have to undergo further regulatory scrutiny in the EU after Brexit, the British government has proposed in an effort to avoid disruption to carmakers, drug producers and other exporters. The proposal contrasts with the EU’s demands that all products in the bloc receive EU-approved inspections. British officials say that could have significant implications for companies such as the Czech automaker Skoda, whose existing product lines have been approved by UK authorities. Financial Times, August 22

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