UK can unilaterally revoke Article 50

The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has this morning confirmed that the UK can revoke Article 50 without EU approval. The case was brought forward by a cross-party group of politicians, including the Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrats have long said that we can get out of this Brexit mess if we chose to. As MPs begin to debate Theresa May's terrible deal, many will be reflecting on how it compares with the deal we've currently got. Ultimately the Government must give a final say through a People's Vote, with the option to remain in the EU.

Govt must publish Brexit legal advice

The House of Commons will today debate a cross-party contempt motion over the Government's refusal to fully publish the Brexit legal advice.

In an unprecedented move, this shows Parliament is finally taking back control from this chaotic Conservative Government. Taking back control was of course one of the things Leavers campaigned for (along with mythical money for the NHS) These political shenanigans suggest the Tories have something to hide. People deserve better, and the Liberal Democrats demand better.

MPs expect the publication of the full legal Brexit advice before the debates on the withdrawal deal begin. However, the best way to avoid a Brexit mess is with a People's Vote, including the option to remain in the EU.


Lib Dems back amendment to stop no deal Brexit

The Liberal Democrats have added their names to a cross-party amendment, originally put down by Hilary Benn, which would force the Conservative Government to take no-deal Brexit off the table and pave the way to a People's Vote.

The Liberal Democrats will work with MPs from all parties to get the country out of this mess. Given that the Conservative Government wholeheartedly accept that a no-deal Brexit will create chaos and mayhem, they must do the responsible thing and take No Deal off the table. This amendment paves the way to a People's Vote on Brexit, with an option to remain in the EU.

The Bank of England and the Treasury have concluded that Brexit - with or without a deal - will leave the UK poorer, less productive and with an economy smaller than if we had stayed in the European Union.

The Treasury assessment of Theresa May's deal assumes a rapid transition to a frictionless trade deal with the EU and other free trade arrangements with third-party countries, but the prospect of these negotiations happening quickly is wildly optimistic.

The Liberal Democrats have been consistently fighting for the last two years against a damaging deal to leave the EU, but we know that now is the time for every single MP to make their decision on the most important matter facing the UK. And none more so that in the UK's first Remain city, Newcastle upon Tyne.

That is why Tom Brake MP has written to local Remain MPs Catherine McKinnell and Chi Onwaruh urging them to join us in this fight.

"This is a call to action in the fight against Brexit, " he said. "We are asking Newcastle MPs and others to help us stop this chaos with a People's Vote with the option to remain in the EU. March with us through the lobbies, in the knowledge that you are putting our country first and standing up for the wishes of the people of Newcastle, as well as being on the right side of history."

The first North East business survey of Brexit views shows that more than half (52.4%) of business people in the region believe it will have a negative impact on their business, while just 14.1% see it being beneficial to them. Organised by the North East England Chamber of Commerce, the results shows the top three Brexit concerns are the cost of trade, changes to standards and regulations, and changes in access to EU funding.

Brexit cannot leave Newcastle and the North East facing huge financial uncertainty as a result of lost regional aid funding, writes Dr Nick Cott, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (pictured)

This funding has been used to create jobs, support small and medium enterprises, deliver skills training, invest in critical transport and boost inclusive growth in England from Northumberland to Cornwall and Cumbria to Kent. Even last week, support for employment projects here has been announced.

Not much reported by our newspapers, Japan has signed a mammoth trade deal with the European Union. See story here https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/eu-and-japan-sign-one-of-history-s-largest-trade-deals-1.3567791

The Irish Times says that the economic partnership agreement will bind together two trading powerhouses accounting for 30 per cent of the world's economy.

At their conference in Bournemouth later this month, the Liberal Democrats will point out all the downsides of leaving the European Union and reinforce its vigorous defence of jobs, living standards, individual rights, international co-operation and the British national interest.

They will be asked to support the following motion:

Liberal Democrat peer John, Lord Shipley, has spoken in the House of Lords about the north-east of England, its economy and its export dependency on the European Union and what needs to be done to protect the region's interests, and in particular its jobs. He was commenting on the Report from the European Union Committee Brexit: trade in goods, saying:

Theresa May should ask all parties to come together and negotiate the best possible Brexit deal for the whole country rather than pressing ahead with their extreme version of Brexit despite failing to get a mandate for it from the British people and a continued lack of clarity over the Brexit this government is pursuing means, say the Liberal Democrats.