Brexit news latest – British patrol boat boards Irish trawler in first post-Brexit fishing clash
AN Irish trawler was barred from fishing in UK waters by a patrol boat in the first post-Brexit fishing clash.
The Northern Celt's skipper was told he was no longer allowed to fish around Rockall - 260 miles west of Scotland's Western Isles.
He said the area is has now been blacklisted from counts for 30 per cent of his annual catch.
Throughout Brexit negotiations, fishing was one of the main sticking points.
But Dublin has never recognised the UK's claims of sovereignty over Rockall - sparking clashes over the fishing waters that surround it.
Skipper Adrian McClenaghan told RTE News: "They informed us we could no longer fish inside the 12 mile limit of Rockall."
The news comes as a number of EU firms refused to deliver products to the UK claiming post-Brexit tax rules make it too expensive.
And some deliveries to Northern Ireland have been delayed since Christmas, with delivery operators "uncertain" of new rules post-Brexit, according to the BBC.
Follow all the latest news and reaction to the end of the transition period in our live blog below...
BRIT EXPATS FIGHT TO REMAIN IN SPAIN
Many Brit expats in Spain do not meet the requirements to remain there post-Brexit, warns Myra Azzopardi.
She's a paralegal and a founder of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), a British charity that helps expats with legal issues.
"We are going to have a lot of people who are going to end up without residency and without any way of getting residency," she told AFP.
370K BRITS LIVE IN SPAIN
Latest figures show that about 370,000 Britons are registered as living in Spain.
This is more Brit expats than in any other EU country - and thousands more are believed to be settled in the country without ever having notified the authorities.
Many are retirees who live on Spain's sunny southern coast, drawn by the country's warmer climate and lower cost of living.
Britons can keep their residency rights in Spain, as long as they applied for residency before December 31, when Britain's transition period out of the EU ended.
To qualify, they must have a permanent address, a local bank account, show sufficient funds and have healthcare cover.
'WE'LL MEET AGAIN'
Bangers and mash, pints of beer, an EU vs Brits tug-of-war and renditions of "Don't Leave me This Way" and "We'll Meet Again" - UK expats in Spain marked Britain's departure from the European Union in true British style.
Although many are unhappy at the decision to leave, with some facing residency and other bureaucratic problems, Brits at the Bar Allioli in Jimera de Libar decided to make the best of a bad job and throw a leaving party.
The tongue-in-cheek celebration featured a menu of all British favourites such as fish and chips and beans on toast.
"While most of us are not altogether happy about the whole thing, we might as well celebrate in a fashion and enjoy ourselves," said Paul Darwent, a 65-year-old Brit who runs the bar in the Andalusian mountains.
"The reality is it is going to create a lot of problems for us all," added Darwent, who has lived in Spain for over two decades, in a reference to Britain's completion of its divorce from the European Union (EU) on December 31.
Around 370,000 Brits are registered as living in Spain -- more than in any other EU country -- and thousands more are believed to be settled in the country without ever having notified the authorities.
IRISH TRAWLER BLOCKED FROM FISHING AFTER BREXIT TRADE DEAL
An Irish trawler was blocked from fishing in UK waters in the first clash after the Brexit trade deal was signed.
The Northern Celt's skipper was told it was unable to fish around Rocknall, which is 260 miles west of Scotland's Western Isles.
He said the area makes up for 30 per cent of his annual catch.
BRITISH BUSINESSES PLEAD FOR MORE SUPPORT
British businesses have demanded the governement offer more support to help keep businesses afloat until spring.
Many have warned that Rishi Sunak's offer of £9,000 grants is not enough to prevent mass closures.
The Treasury revealed a fresh £4.6billion package to help retail, hospitality and leisure sector businesses cope with the seven-week shut-down.
DO YOU NEED A VISA FOR EUROPE NOW?
From next year you will have to pay £6.35 for a new Etias visa waiver to enter Europe on holiday.
Travellers can apply online for the permit, which will last up to three years or until your passport expires.
The waiver, which the UK helped create before voting to leave the bloc, will require information such as your age, any past criminal convictions, and the name of the hotel or address at which you plan to stay during your visit.
‘NO PRESSURE’ ON BIDEN TO STRIKE TRADE DEAL
A trade expert says there is “no pressure” on incumbent President Joe Biden to strike a trade agreement with the UK.
Alan Winters, director of the Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex, told the Express: “The chances of a trade deal with the US in the near future are really low.
“Americans want things out of the deal that are pretty unpalatable in the UK, such as chlorinated chicken and access to a pharmaceutical market at high prices.
“Now, they are not going to slip it through with Trump and Biden has lots of other things on his mind.
“He almost certainly will not appoint a trade representative to oversee the negotiations for a month or two.”
BREXIT ‘TEETHING PROBLEMS’ AND COVID POSE ISSUES FOR BRITS FLYING TO EU
“Teething problems” with Brexit as well as the continuing pandemic have posed issues for Britons trying to enter EU countries.
Travellers heading for Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden have been held up at borders following the UK’s departure from the single market.
The Spanish embassy in London acknowledged there had been “problems for British nationals resident in Spain” and reiterated that both pre and post-Brexit residence documentation could be used.
Meanwhile, police in the Netherlands confirmed that 10 Britons were refused entry into the country.
M&S COMPLAINS OF BREXIT FOOD DELAYS TO FRANCE
Marks & Spencer said new trade rules in place since Britain left the EU were delaying deliveries of some fresh food to its stores in France, where at least three branches had empty shelves today.
In a statement given to Reuters, M&S said: “We have prepared for changes associated with Britain leaving the EU in order to minimise disruption for customers.”
“As we are transitioning to the new processes, it is taking a little longer for some of our products to reach stores, but we are working with our partners, suppliers and relevant Government agencies and local authorities to quickly improve this.”
SAINSBURY’S ‘STOCKING RIVALS’ PRODUCTS AMID SHORTAGE DUE TO BREXIT’
Sainsbury’s stores in Northern Ireland are stocking products from a rival grocer amid Brexit disruption, reports.
The supermarket giant is selling several SPAR-branded products in line with a “temporary” agreement to avoid empty shelves from January 1.
Sainsbury’s told the Independent that a “small number” of products were “temporarily unavailable for our customers in Northern Ireland while border arrangements are confirmed”.
FRENCH FURY OVER EMPTY M&S SHELVES
Fans of British food in France were left dismayed today after finding empty shelves at Marks & Spencer.
The supermarket giant apologised for the disruption, which they attributed to "new UK/EU import legislation".
Speaking at an M&S in Paris, Ludovic Bonnet, a marketing director, told AFP: "It's amazing, I come here to buy stuff to eat but there's nothing."
"I came especially for their broccoli and spinach," said Sarah, another irate shopper.
"Does this mean they're going to close? That would be a shame, I really like their products," she added.
MUSIC FESTIVALS WARN BREXIT DEAL THREATENS 'TALENT PIPELINE'
Music festival bosses have warned that the Brexit deal in its current form stands to threaten the UK's "talent pipeline".
Representatives from the music industry told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s inquiry into ‘The future of UK music festivals’ today that access to European artists could be more difficult under the deal's terms.
Parklife co-founder Sacha Lord said: "When you’re looking at headliners and paying for the visa, it probably won’t make much difference – but actually, when you stand at Parklife and look at the headliner, that headliner has not become a star overnight.
“They’ve started from grassroots and grassroots venues. So if you look at a six-piece band now, to bring them into Parklife you’re probably looking at £1,800 in visa fees, which for smaller bands which are just breaking is not viable.
“That is a big [piece of] red tape and a big barrier that is in the way now and never was before. It might stagnate new talent coming through.”
'TURING SCHEME CAN BE BIGGER AND BROADER THAN ERASMUS'
The new Turing scheme being developed for student exchanges can be "bigger" and "broader" than the Erasmus programme it is replacing, a government minister has said.
Conservative whip Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay told the Commons: "The Government sees the Turing scheme as bigger, broader and global in outlook allowing students to avail themselves of opportunities beyond 27 other countries."
It comes after the Erasmus scheme was shelved during negotiations with the EU, despite the UK's attempt to remain part of the programme, which allows British students to study in Europe.
CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION ON NI DELIVERIES
Northern Ireland's economy minister has written to cabinet secretary Michael Gove calling for urgent action to be taken on deliveries to the country.
Many orders from retailers have been cancelled or delayed amid uncertainty around post-Brexit transition rules.
On New Year's Eve, HM Customs announced a grace period confirming most parcels from GB-NI will not need customs declarations until at least April.
But some companies have been forced to suspend deliveries, including John Lewis.
A government spokesman said: "Our priority is to have a pragmatic approach that allows us to comply with the [Northern Ireland] Protocol without causing undue disruption to businesses and citizens."
POST-BREXIT BUNGLE
A London-based finance analyst was banned from flying home to the UK in a post-Brexit bungle.
Angela Enzo travelled to Kenya for a work trip on her Italian passport and is stranded in Nairobi after officials there wrongly declared her ID documents invalid.
The Home Office admitted an error had been made in stopping her returning to Heathrow airport and her London home of five years - and bosses vowed to rap British Airways and High Commission staff over the knuckles.
Read our full story here.
BREXIT NEGOTIATOR TIPPED FOR AMBASSADOR JOB
One of Britain's top Brexit negotiators is reportedly set to become the UK's ambassador to Brussels.
Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, a member of the team who last month clinched the historic trade deal with the bloc, has now been lined up for the top diplomatic role, the reports.
Sources told the paper an announcement could come by the end of the week, and his role would be key in promoting the 'Global Britain' agenda.
RYANAIR PASSENGER NUMBERS DROPPED 83% IN DECEMBER
Ryanair said that its passenger number dropped by a whoping 83% last month, compared with the year before, in another major blow to the airline industry.
In December 2019, the airline carried 11.2 million travellers, it said in a message to investors on Tuesday.
Last month Ryanair, which is listed in London, said it would remove the voting rights of their UK-based shareholders in a bid to remain majority-owned by EU shareholders.
This is a condition for an airline wanting to fly domestically within the European Union and the change was made necessary because of Brexit, the company said.
SUPERMARKETS UNDER PRESSURE AMID LOCKDOWN DEMAND
Supermarkets have seen websites come under pressure after shoppers raced to book deliveries ahead of the new national lockdown in England, as figures showed a record December for grocers.
The major chains experienced problems with their apps and websites yesterday evening after Boris Johnson announced a third lockdown.
Sainsbury's app is said to have gone down temporarily last night, while Tesco also experienced issues with its online operations and Morrisons and Ocado were forced to place shoppers in virtual queues.
ERASMUS PLEAS 'FELL ON DEAF EARS', MINISTER CLAIMS
The UK's pleas to stay in the Erasmus student exchange scheme "fell on deaf ears" during talks with the EU, a minister has said.
The programme, which the UK joined in 1987, allowed students to study and work across Europe but was shelved during Brexit negotiations.
It will be replaced in the UK by a worldwide scheme named after code breaker Alan Turing.
Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Garden of Frognal today told the Commons asked why the scheme had been scrapped after "assurances from the Prime Minister and from Government" that it would continue.
Responding for the Government, Conservative whip Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said the government's proposals "fell on deaf ears" during negotiations.
BREXIT STOCKPILES HIT HONDA
Japanese carmaker Honda said it was halting output at its Swindon factory on Tuesday and Wednesday due to global supply delays.
Honda suspended output for a few days in December as some British ports struggled with goods being stockpiled before a Brexit deal was agreed.
Trade has also been disrupted by the Covid pandemic but the company hopes to restart on Thursday.
PM TO SELL BREXIT DEAL TO BUSINESS LEADERS
reports that Boris Johnson will sell his new Brexit deal to business leaders later this week.
The PM will reportedly hold a phone call with executives to discuss plans to bolster investment.
Senior business figures are said to have received an invitation to examine the PM's Brexit deal and how "business and HMG can best work together to build back better in 2021".
BRIT AMBASSADOR TO SWEDEN 'CONCERNED' BY TRAVEL CHAOS
British ambassador to Sweden Judith Gough has said she is "very concerned" after UK nationals were refused entry to the Scandinavian nation.
It comes as officials admitted there had been "teething problems" for travel as the transition period came to an end on January 1.
She said: " is clear that there have been teething problems … we are asking the Swedish authorities to provide greater clarity and consistency for UK nationals, who wish to return home to Sweden."
'NO PRESSURE' ON BIDEN TO STRIKE TRADE DEAL
A trade expert says there is "no pressure" on incumbent President Joe Biden to strike a trade agreement with the UK.
Alan Winters, director of the Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex, told the Express: "The chances of a trade deal with the US in the near future are really low.
"Americans want things out of the deal that are pretty unpalatable in the UK, such as chlorinated chicken and access to a pharmaceutical market at high prices.
"Now, they are not going to slip it through with Trump and Biden has lots of other things on his mind.
"He almost certainly will not appoint a trade representative to oversee the negotiations for a month or two."
PM CANCELS POST-BREXIT INDIA TRIP
Boris Johnson has cancelled a trip to India later this month to focus on the coronavirus response after he imposed a third national lockdown.
The PM called his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, this morning to "express his regret" that he will be unable to visit as planned, No 10 said.
His visit had been billed as an effort to boost trade and promote his Global Britain agenda after the UK's departure from the European Union's single market.