Category / Ireland

by Crimson Tazvinzwa

Brexit Latest: Boris Johnson Finally Gets to Put His Deal to the Vote

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Robert Hutton and Kitty Donaldson, Bloomberg News///Prime Minister Boris Johnson will find out Tuesday evening whether he has any chance of getting his Brexit deal through Parliament — and whether he can do it ahead of his Oct. 31 deadline.

Having twice been denied a vote on whether members of Parliament support his deal, Johnson has introduced the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which would implement the deal in law, and plans to push it through Parliament at a breakneck pace.

 

His moment of truth will come at around 7 p.m. in London, with what’s known as the Second Reading vote — on whether Parliament agrees with the general principles of the bill. There will then be another vote immediately afterward on his proposed fast-track timetable for passing the law.

The EU leadership gives its own update on the Brexit state of play on Brexit, with Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, briefing the European Parliament.

Follow developments as they happen here. All times U.K.

Key Developments:

  • From 8 a.m., Tusk and Juncker brief European Parliament on outcome of last week’s leaders’ summit
  • From 12:30 p.m. The main debate on the general principle of the Brexit deal starts in Parliament
  • 7 p.m. House of Commons votes on the general principle of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (known as “second reading”) and then immediately on the proposed fast-track timetable for rushing the law through Parliament (the so-called program motion)

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told Sky News there will be “sufficient” time for members of Parliament to go over the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and that the “vast majority” know where they on Brexit.

But MPs from across the House of Commons are threatening to vote against Boris Johnson’s accelerated timetable for his Brexit plan, arguing three days of debate is not enough for proper analysis of the 110-page piece of legislation.

Former Conservative Cabinet minister Rory Stewart, who now sits as an independent, told BBC radio Parliament should have “normal time” to discuss the bill, highlighting concerns from voters who wish to remain in the European Union and a lack of trust in Johnson’s government.

Johnson: Get Brexit Done and Move On (Earlier)

On the eve of the votes, the prime minister appealed to members of Parliament to back his deal and push it through the House of Commons.

“We have negotiated a new deal so that we can leave without disruption and provide a framework for a new relationship based on free trade and friendly cooperation,” Boris Johnson said in an emailed statement.

“I hope Parliament today votes to take back control for itself and the British people and the country can start to focus on the cost of living, the NHS, and conserving our environment,” he said. “The public doesn’t want any more delays, neither do other European leaders and neither do I. Let’s get Brexit done on Oct. 31 and move on.”

Earlier:

Boris Johnson Finally Gets to Put His Brexit Deal to the VoteBrexit’s Big Winner So Far Is Boris Johnson: Clive CrookFacebook Pledges Tighter Scrutiny for Next U.K. Election

To contact the reporters on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net;Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, ;Flavia Krause-Jackson at fjackson@bloomberg.net, Stuart Biggs

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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by Crimson Tazvinzwa

British Opposition parties agree to vote against Boris Johnson’s snap election

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‘The people of this country will have to choose’: Johnson vows to push for snap election as opposition MPs seek Brexit delay///CRIMSON TAZVINZWA

Another vote is due to be held on Monday, after Boris Johnson’s visit to Farmleigh House, Dublin.

OPPOSITION PARTIES IN the UK have agreed to block Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request for a snap general election until a no-deal Brexit has been prevented.

Johnson is to table a second motion to dissolve parliament on Monday, after a vote on Wednesday failed to reach the required two-thirds majority (298 ayes to 56 noes). 

Yesterday Johnson said yet againthat he didn’t want an election: “… But frankly I don’t see any other way. It’s the only way to get this thing moving.”

“Boris Johnson is on the run,” Plaid Cymru leader Liz Saville Roberts told Sky News.

“As parliamentarians whose priority is to stop a no-deal Brexit, our job is to make sure the Act [to stop a no-deal Brexit] – which is to be granted royal assent today or over the weekend – is put into effect and that we remain here as parliamentarians to make sure that the Prime Minister does his duty by the law.”

The Labour Party, which has wavered over whether to back a snap election, a will not back Johnson’s bid for an election, according to Reuters News and the BBC.

Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said that an early election is “a question of ‘when’ not ‘if’ – but Johnson mustn’t be allowed to dictate the timing as a device to avoid scrutiny and force through a ‘no deal’ Brexit”.

The SNP relishes the prospect of an election. But while our party interest might be served by voting for an election now, it is in the wider public interest to deny a PM threatening to defy the law any ability to cut and run in his own interests. We’ll act in the public interest.

Layla Moran of the Liberal Democrats said that she’s not convinced that a general election would “solve anything”. “If you really want Brexit stop, you take it back to the people with the option to Remain and you vote to remain in the EU.”

A Conservative Group for Europe carried out a 10,000-people strong poll of British voters indicated that a snap election would produce another hung parliament:

The results indicated that the Conservatives would secure 311 seats (-6); Labour would win 242 (-20); the Liberal Democrats would increase their take to 21 (+9); the Scottish National Party would go up to 52 (+17); Plaid Cymru would get 4 MPs (no change); the Green Party would get 1 seat (no change); and one more would go to ‘others’.

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by Crimson Tazvinzwa

Boris Johnson: Brexit opponents ‘collaborating’ with EU

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Image copyrightREUTERS

Boris Johnson has accused MPs “who think they can block Brexit” of a “terrible collaboration” with the European Union.

The prime minister said the EU had become less willing to compromise on a new deal with the UK because of the opposition to leaving in Parliament.

He said this increased the likelihood of the UK being “forced to leave with a no-deal” in October.

The EU has said the agreement struck by Theresa May is the only deal possible.

Speaking during a Facebook event hosted at Downing Street, Mr Johnson said he wanted to leave with a deal but “we need our European friends to compromise”.

“There’s a terrible kind of collaboration as it were, going on between people who think they can block Brexit in Parliament and our European friends,” he added.

“The more they think there’s a chance that Brexit can be blocked in Parliament, the more adamant they are in sticking to their position.”

His comments come after former Chancellor Philip Hammond said the PM’s negotiating stance increased the chance of a no-deal before the latest Brexit deadline of 31 October.

Mr Hammond told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme a no-deal exit would be “just as much a betrayal of the referendum result as not leaving at all”.

No 10 accused Mr Hammond of undermining the UK’s negotiating stance, and said he “did everything he could” to block preparations for leaving whilst he was in office.

The former chancellor rejected this suggestion in a tweet, saying he wanted to deliver Brexit “and voted to do so three times”.

Opposition to backstop

Mr Johnson has said he wants to leave the EU with a deal, but the UK must leave “do or die” by the end of October.

He wants the EU to ditch the Irish border backstop plan from the deal negotiated by Mrs May, which was rejected three times by Parliament.

But the EU has continued to insist the policy – intended to guarantee there will not be a hard Irish border after Brexit – must remain and cannot be changed.

Many of those who voted against the deal had concerns over the backstop, which if implemented, would see Northern Ireland staying aligned to some rules of the EU single market.

It would also see the UK stay in a single customs territory with the EU, and align with current and future EU rules on competition and state aid.

These arrangements would apply unless and until both the EU and UK agreed they were no longer necessary.

 

Media captionThe ex-chancellor says removing the Irish border ‘backstop’ is a “wrecking tactic”

 

Mr Hammond said the prime minister’s demand for the backstop to be entirely removed from the deal meant a no-deal was inevitable on the current deadline.

He said that agreeing to changes now would “fragment” the EU, adding: “they are not going to take that risk”.

“Pivoting to say the backstop has to go in its entirety – a huge chunk of the withdrawal agreement just scrapped – is effectively a wrecking tactic,” he told Today.

On Thursday Downing Street said it expects a group of MPs to try to block a no-deal Brexit by attempting to pass legislation when Parliament returns next month.

A No 10 source said they expected the challenge to come in the second week of September, when MPs are are due to debate a report on Northern Ireland.

The source assumes the EU will wait until after that date before engaging in further negotiations.

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by Crimson Tazvinzwa

Northern Ireland: 10 Key Facts You Need To Know About The Battle Of The Boyne

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Orangemen lead the main parade in Belfast in 2016 CREDIT: PAUL FAITH

How The Battle Of The Boyne Changed Britain, Shaped Protestant History In Norther Ireland Forever?//CRIMSON TAZVINZWA/

On July 12 each year, the Battle of the Boyne is commemorated by Orange Men walking through the streets of Northern Ireland.

The battle was not really fought on July 12th – the Battle of the Boyne, ending with the victory of King William III over King James II, took place on July 1st, 1690 – 30 miles north of Dublin, across the River Boyne at period known as the ‘Glorious Revolution’.

The Battle marked a turning point in Protestant history in the country. Over the years the day has also been marked by sectarian violence between pro-Unionist groups and pro-Republican forces.

The Battle of the Boyne (Irish: Cath na Bóinne IPA: [ˈkah n̪ˠə ˈbˠoːn̪ʲə]) was a battle between the forces of the overthrown King James VII and II of Scotland, England and Ireland and those of Dutch protestant Prince William of Orange who, with his wife Mary II (his cousin and James’s daughter), had just acceded to the Crowns of England and those of Scotland.

Every year, on 12 July and the night before, some Protestants in Northern Ireland light towering bonfires, hold street parties and march through the streets to celebrate an event that took place more than 300 years ago.

This event, William of Orange’s crushing victory over James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, was to mark a major turning point in Irish and British history and its ramifications are still being felt today. Here are 10 facts about the battle.

1. The battle pitted the forces of a Protestant Dutch prince against the army of a deposed Catholic English king

William of Orange had deposed James II of England and Ireland (and VII of Scotland) in a bloodless coup two years before. The Dutchman had been invited to overthrow James by prominent English Protestants who were fearful of his promotion of Catholicism in the Protestant-majority country.

2. William was James’ nephew

Not only that but he was also James’ son-in-law, having married the Catholic king’s eldest daughter, Mary, in November 1677. After James fled England for France in December 1688, Mary, a Protestant, felt torn between her father and her husband, but ultimately felt that William’s actions had been necessary. 

She and William subsequently became co-regents of England, Scotland and Ireland.

3. James saw Ireland as the backdoor through which he could reclaim the English crown 

Unlike England, Scotland and Wales, Ireland was overwhelmingly Catholic at that time. In March 1689, James landed in the country with forces supplied by the Catholic King Louis XIV of France. In the months that followed, he fought to establish his authority over all of Ireland, including its Protestant pockets.

Eventually, William decided to go to Ireland himself to assert his power, arriving at the port of Carrickfergus on 14 June 1690.

4. William had the support of the pope

This might seem surprising given that the Dutchman was a Protestant fighting a Catholic king. But Pope Alexander VIII was part of the so-called “Grand Alliance” opposed to Louis XIV’s warring in Europe. And, as we have seen, James had the support of Louis.

5. The battle took place across the River Boyne

After arriving in Ireland, William intended to march south to take Dublin. But James had established a line of defence at the river, around 30 miles north of Dublin. The fighting took place near the town of Drogheda in eastern modern-day Ireland.

6. William’s men had to cross the river – but they had one advantage over James’ army

Stuarts and Restoration London historian Rebecca Rideal answers some of the key questions about the Restoration and the rule of Charles II. Rebecca is the author of 1666: Plague, War and Hellfire.WATCH NOW

With James’ army situated on the Boyne’s south bank, William’s forces had to cross the water – with their horses – in order to confront them. Working in their favour, however, was the fact that they outnumbered James’ army of 23,500 by 12,500. 

7. It was the last time that two crowned kings of England, Scotland and Ireland faced each other on the battlefield

William, as we know, won the face-off, and went on to march to Dublin. James, meanwhile, abandoned his army as it was retreating and escaped to France where he lived out the rest of his days in exile. 

8. William’s victory secured the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland for generations to come

The so-called “Ascendancy” was the domination of politics, the economy and high society in Ireland by a minority of elite Protestants between the late 17th century and the early 20th century. These Protestants were all members of the Churches of Ireland or England and anyone who wasn’t was excluded – primarily Roman Catholics but also non-Christians, such as Jews, and other Christians and Protestants.

9. The battle has become a key part of the folklore of the Orange Order

The was founded in 1795 as a Masonic-style organisation committed to maintaining the Protestant Ascendancy. Today, the group claims to defend Protestant liberties but is viewed by critics as sectarian and supremacist.

Every year, members of the Order hold marches in Northern Ireland on or around 12 July to mark William’s victory at the Battle of the Boyne.

10. But the battle actually took place on 11 July

Although the battle has been commemorated on 12 July for more than 200 years, it actually took place on 1 July according to the old Julian calendar, and on 11 July according to the Gregorian (which replaced the Julian calendar in 1752).

It is not clear whether the clash came to be celebrated on 12 July due to a mathematical error in converting the Julian date, or whether celebrations for the Battle of the Boyne came to replace those for the Battle of Aughrim in 1691, which took place on 12 July in the Julian calendar. Confused yet?

 

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by Crimson Tazvinzwa

British passport among the world’s most powerful and sought after? Who is at the top?

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How does the British passport fare in the list of the world’s strongest? (Picture: PA/Getty)

The most powerful passports in the world have been unveiled/ /Ross McGuinness,Yahoo News UK

With Brexit looming, the UK has slid down the list, while the passport power has shifted to Asia.

Japan and Singapore have held on to their joint top spot, with each country offering visa-free access to 189 destinations.

The UK and the US now share sixth place, the lowest position either has held since 2010. The pair were top of the list in 2014.

THE WORLD’S STRONGEST PASSPORTS:

1. Japan, Singapore

2. Finland, Germany, South Korea

3. Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg

4. France, Spain, Sweden

5. Austria, Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland

6. Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom, United States

The UK, along with the US and Ireland, offers visa-free access to 183 destinations worldwide.

Since the Brexit referendum in 2016, there has been a significant increase in the number of Britons applying for an EU passport.

The world’s strongest passports have been revealed (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

In 2018, the number of Britons applying for Irish passports jumped 12.5% to 183,000, the second consecutive annual increase.

Almost 2,000 Britons applied for Swedish passports last year, another record, and about four times the number who did so in 2015.

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Applications for French passports among Britons more than trebled to 1,300 in 2016, then more than doubled in 2017.

The latest ranking was compiled by the Henley Passport Index, which takes global mobility into account and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The Henley Passport Index warned that Britain’s ranking could get even worse in the years to come.

The British passport has slid down the world rankings (Picture: PA/Getty Images)

“Throughout most of the index’s history, the UK has held one of the top five places in the ranking,” it said.

“However, with its exit from the EU now imminent, the UK’s once-strong position looks increasingly uncertain.

“The Brexit process has not yet had a direct impact on the UK’s ranking, but new research using exclusive historical data from the Henley Passport Index indicates that this could change, with consequences that extend beyond a decline in passport power.”

Dr Christian H Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and the creator of the passport index concept, said: “This latest research appears to confirm something that many of us already knew intuitively: that increased visa-openness benefits the entire global community, and not just the strongest countries.”

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