More than 1,000 barristers have signed a letter to the prime minister urging him to allow parliament to decide whether the UK should leave the European Union. The letter describes the referendum result as only advisory because it was based on “misrepresentations of fact and promises that could not be delivered”. The barristers argue that there must be a free vote in parliament before article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon treaty can be triggered – paving the way for the UK’s withdrawal. The initiative has been coordinated by prominent barristers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland including more than 100 QCs, among them Professor Sir Geoffrey Nice, a former war crimes prosecutor. The letter states: “The referendum did not set a threshold necessary to leave the EU, commonly adopted in polls of national importance, eg, 60% of those voting or 40% of the electorate. This is presumably because the result was only advisory. “The outcome of the … [Read more...] about Parliament should make final decision on whether to leave EU, barristers say
Why should we leave the eu
Officials begin investigation into European Union referendum campaign spending – claiming both Leave and Remain have made errors in reporting their money
A PROBE into spending on the EU referendum campaigns has begun as both Leave and Remain camps failed to file vital paperwork. The Electoral Commission confirmed they would be investigating the spending returns of Britain Stronger in Europe, Vote Leave, the Liberal Democrats, and some individuals. More than £32million was spent on campaigning. Seventeen registered campaigns spent more than £250,000 on last year's vote - and were required to submit an independently-audited report to the Commission last December. But the Commission said today that both the official Leave and Remain campaigns don't seem to have delivered all of the necessary invoices. It has yet to say whether anyone has committed any wrongdoing.Missing information includes some supplier details, receipts and invoices. Labour Leave and the UK Independence Party submitted returns with discrepancies in the way they reported the same campaigning activity. One campaigner, Peter Harris, delivered his spending … [Read more...] about Officials begin investigation into European Union referendum campaign spending – claiming both Leave and Remain have made errors in reporting their money
Theresa May denies accusations she is playing ‘divide and rule’ with EU states over Brexit and trying to split eastern states from France and Germany
THERESA May has insisted she is not playing “divide and rule” over Brexit to split eastern states from France and Germany. Angry MEPs accused the PM yesterday of trying to sew divisions between the 27 remaining members. Fuelling their suspicions, Brexit Secretary David Davis embarked on a two day trip to woo the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with pledges of military help against Russia. The European Parliament’s chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt said: “Any attempts by UK ministers to divide EU countries will only slow down and complicate negotiations. “The EU will negotiate as a united bloc.” Other MEPs warned Britain could be left with no deal at all if the 27 were so split they couldn’t agree.Quizzed on if the claim is right, Downing Street insisted: “Quite simply no”. related storiesLive BlogHERE WE BO 'Busiest polls in years' for 'historic' December election POLL POSITION Unsure on polling station etiquette? The … [Read more...] about Theresa May denies accusations she is playing ‘divide and rule’ with EU states over Brexit and trying to split eastern states from France and Germany
Japan’s prime minister talks trade with EU leaders
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday at the 26th annual EU-Japan summit. The leaders agreed to closer cooperation on security, the environment and trade and pledged to pursue long-awaited reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO). "Our strategic partnership has never been stronger," Tusk said on Thursday. "It is built on shared values of liberal democracy, human rights and our commitment to openness, cooperation as well as free and fair trade." Pride for trade deal The summit came less than three months after a massive trade deal took effect in which most of the €1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) that EU companies pay in export duties to Japan were removed. Abe told reporters the trade deal "is a result of our leadership to maintain and develop the global free trade regime against the global trends of protectionism." Watch video 03:42 … [Read more...] about Japan’s prime minister talks trade with EU leaders
UK ‘may still have to pay into EU even after Brexit’
Whitehall officials believe the UK may need to make big payments to the EU to secure preferential trading terms after Brexit, BBC Newsnight has learned.During the EU referendum, Vote Leave claimed leaving the EU could save the UK £350m a week in contributions.But an unnamed cabinet minister has told Newsnight that the UK may end up "paying quite a lot" of that money to secure access to the single market.The government said it would not give a "running commentary" on negotiations.The UK's contributions to the EU became one of the most contentious issues in the EU referendum campaign after Vote Leave pledged to repatriate £350m a week - its estimate of the UK's gross weekly contributions to the EU. This is reduced by subsidies paid to the UK and by the UK budget rebate.What are the Brexit options?Brexit: All you need to knowLegal fight looms over Brexit powersLabour renews pressure for Brexit voteBut a leading light in the Brexit campaign said they now expected the UK could … [Read more...] about UK ‘may still have to pay into EU even after Brexit’
