Welcome to the Guardian’s weekly Brexit briefing. If you would like to receive it as a weekly email, please sign up here. You can also catch up with our Brexit Means … podcast right here. Also, producing the Guardian’s independent, in-depth journalism takes time and money. We do it because we believe our perspective matters, and it may be your perspective, too. If you value our Brexit coverage, please become a Guardian Supporter. Thank you. Top stories It was a busy week. In Brussels, EU leaders signed off on the terms of the transition period and their vision for future trade, but warned that the UK must provide a legally watertight solution for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. The European council president, Donald Tusk, said the EU would not draft its political declaration forming the basis of the future relationship until a way was found to avoid a hard border. Promisingly, the lead Department for Exiting the EU civil servant tasked with … [Read more...] about Brexit weekly briefing: turmoil for Vote Leave backers, and Labour
Labour
Labour shadow cabinet ministers are ‘open’ to another referendum on EU membership
Senior shadow cabinet ministers have suggested they are “open” to holding a second referendum, just days after Jeremy Corbyn sacked a former leadership rival for calling for a public vote on the Brexit deal. Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, said the party was not calling for another ballot, but it was sensible to “keep your options open”, adding he was “disappointed” to see Owen Smith sacked. While Mr Watson insisted that Labour’s priority was pushing for a “meaningful vote” in Parliament, he suggested that the party should remain flexible. “What we want is to apply pressure to the Government to get them to change their negotiating position and I think we’ve been moderately successful in that,”... Register or log in to view this and other Politics articles. It's free and easy to do. Join regular debates with our journalists by commenting on articles Sign up to exclusive newsletters that give you … [Read more...] about Labour shadow cabinet ministers are ‘open’ to another referendum on EU membership
Labour wants to amend Brexit bill to give parliament more say
Labour will table amendments to the government’s EU withdrawal bill aimed at preventing the UK from crashing out of Europe without a deal if parliament rejects the outcome of the Brexit talks, Keir Starmer will say on Monday. In a speech in Birmingham, the shadow Brexit secretary will pledge to work with colleagues from other parties to try to amend the government’s key piece of Brexit legislation in an attempt to strengthen parliament’s say. Labour is keen to regain the initiative on Brexit after Jeremy Corbyn sacked Owen Smith as shadow Northern Ireland secretary on Friday for breaking with the shadow cabinet line by calling for a public poll on the final deal. The Brexit secretary, David Davis, has repeatedly promised to put the withdrawal agreement to a “meaningful vote” in both houses of parliament, but ministers have suggested the only option if the government loses will be to leave the EU without a deal in place. Starmer will say: “The … [Read more...] about Labour wants to amend Brexit bill to give parliament more say
UK Labour too weak to win next election
The UK opposition Labour Party should brace for its worst election result since 1935 with as little as 20% of the vote, according to the Fabian Society, a research group that helped found the party. As reported by Bloomberg, Labour is reportedly losing votes both to supporters of Britain’s departure from the European Union, which are switching to the ruling Conservatives and the UK Independence Party, and to opponents of Brexit, who are going over to the Liberal Democrats. This is according to a report posted by the Fabian Society on its website on January 2. With the next election due in 2020, Labour has “no choice but to reach out to people in both camps,” it said. Andrew Harrop, the general secretary of the Fabian Society, said: “Labour is too strong to be supplanted by another opposition party and too weak to have any realistic chance of governing alone. A wounded Labour Party will have to get used to the idea that it will need to work alongside … [Read more...] about UK Labour too weak to win next election
Irish Border Brexit Issue Must Be Settled by Law, Labour Says
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is facing another Brexit hurdle after the opposition Labour Party announced it’s pushing for a legal commitment to avoid a hard border with Ireland after Britain leaves the European Union.The party’s Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, on Sunday said Labour wants to enshrine in legislation what is currently only a pledge by the government to avoid buildings, customs posts and cameras at Northern Ireland’s border crossings.The move adds to the challenges May must resolve as key Brexit bills struggle to make their way through Parliament.Britain and the EU this month reached a provisional deal on the 21-month post-Brexit transition and both sides have signed off on significant parts of the withdrawal treaty. But the issue of how to keep the Irish border invisible looms large, with a series of talks on the subject scheduled for April.Labour backs staying in a customs union with the EU, which it says would solve the border issue at a stroke. … [Read more...] about Irish Border Brexit Issue Must Be Settled by Law, Labour Says