UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48297695

2019-05-17 03:33:38Z
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UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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2019-05-17 02:22:48Z
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UK follows US lead, raises threat level in Iraq due to threat from Iran - Fox News

The United Kingdom has increased the threat level for its forces and diplomats in Iraq due to the threat from Iran.

The move comes a day after all non-essential American personnel were ordered to leave the Iraq Embassy and consulate amid claims that Iran-backed militias moved missiles near bases housing U.S. forces.

MIKE POMPEO SAID IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS MOVED ROCKETS NEAR AMERICAN BASES IN IRAQ

The U.K. also put its personnel in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar on a heightened state of alert, according to Sky News, with a source telling the network that there’s an increased possibility of Iran or its proxies taking action against British, U.S. or other allied interests in the Middle East.

Britain appears to have drawn similar conclusions to the U.S. amid the increasing tensions between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime, even though a British general took an unusual step to disregard the Iranian threat on Monday.

Earlier this week, Maj Gen Chris Ghika, the deputy commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led force combatting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, told reporters: “No, there's been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria”.

The targets of possible action by Iran or its proxies are likely to be oil infrastructure or other civilian targets, Sky News reported. The attacks are expected to be done in a way that the Iranian regime could plausibly deny it in an effort to avoid retaliation from Western forces.

Iran has recently threatened to pull out of the nuclear deal and resume higher uranium enrichment if no new deal is put in place, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Iraqi top brass that U.S. intelligence showed Iran-backed militias moved missiles near bases housing American forces.

Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Zarif on Thursday deemed new sanctions imposed by the Trump administration as “unacceptable” but noted that the country is committed to the nuclear deal.

US NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL ORDERED TO LEAVE IRAQ EMBASSY, CONSULATE

“We believe that escalation by the United States is unacceptable and uncalled for. We have exercised maximum restraints,” he said during a visit in Japan.

“We believe that escalation by the United States is unacceptable and uncalled for. We have exercised maximum restraints.”

— Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Zarif

The claim that hostile militia forces are positioning the rockets near bases housing American troops, provides insight into the threats the U.S. faces in the Middle East in the wake of rising tensions between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime.

American military experts have suggested “Iran or its proxies” damaged four commercial ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, accused Tehran of ordering “the terrorist acts” against their oil pipeline, a drone attack that was claimed by Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

President Trump denied Tuesday the reports that the administration was planning to send more than 100,000 troops to the region in the wake of heightened tensions in the region, but instead noted that “If we did that, we’d send a hell of a lot more troops than that.”

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/uk-threat-level-iraq-iran

2019-05-16 14:05:45Z
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Huawei role in UK 5G network an unnecessary risk, ex-MI6 chief says - BBC News

Giving the Chinese telecoms firm Huawei a role in building the UK's 5G network poses an unnecessary risk to national security, a former MI6 chief has said.

Sir Richard Dearlove said such a move could give the Chinese government a "potentially advantageous exploitative position" in the UK's telecoms network.

It follows reports last month that the PM is ready to let the firm supply some parts of the UK's 5G infrastructure.

A Huawei spokesman said Sir Richard's warnings were "short on fact".

Sir Richard's intervention comes as US President Donald Trump signed an executive order effectively banning American firms from using foreign telecoms deemed to pose a threat to national security.

Although it does not name Huawei, it is widely considered to be aimed at the firm following repeated warnings by US officials that it could be used by the Chinese state to spy on or sabotage foreign networks.

The company has vehemently denied the allegations and insists it is independent from state control.

'Aggressive intelligence gathering'

In a foreword to a new report by the Henry Jackson Society think tank, Sir Richard said: "The fact that the British government now appears to have decided to place the development of some of its most sensitive critical infrastructure in the hands of a company from the People's Republic of China (PRC) is deeply worrying.

"The PRC uses its sophisticated technical capabilities not only to control its own population (to an extreme and growing degree), but it also conducts remotely aggressive intelligence gathering operations on a global scale.

"No part of the communist Chinese state is ultimately able to operate free of the control exercised by its Communist Party leadership.

"To place the PRC in a potentially advantageous exploitative position in the UK's future telecommunications systems therefore is a risk, however remote it may seem at the moment, we simply do not need to take."

Last month, former defence secretary Gavin Williamson was sacked after details about Huawei's potential involvement in the UK's 5G network - discussed at the National Security Council - were leaked to the Daily Telegraph.

In the paper's report, Mrs May was said to have overridden ministers who had expressed concerns about the plans.

Mr Williamson has strenuously denied leaking the information.

The government has insisted no final decision has been taken on Huawei's involvement in the UK network, although the issue remains highly sensitive in Whitehall.

Sir Richard said the government - which has been seeking to build economic links with China - should not be influenced by fears of economic reprisals by Beijing if Huawei is excluded.

"If Australia can blackball Huawei as its 5G provider, the UK can certainly do the same without undue concern about the consequences," he said.

A Huawei spokesman said: "This report is long on politically motivated insinuation but short on fact.

"It fundamentally misunderstands the nature of modern China, global technology markets and of 5G.

"The isolationist approach they recommend may support an America-first trade agenda but it's hard to see how it's in UK's national interest."

A government spokesman said individual countries were taking "a range of different approaches" to the issue of 5G security.

"There are no universal solutions," the spokesman said.

"Whatever final decision the UK government takes about 5G network infrastructure, the UK is not considering any options that would put our national security communications at risk, within the UK and with our closest allies."

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2019-05-16 12:27:37Z
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UK government says it will introduce Brexit bill as soon as possible - Reuters

FILE PHOTO: British Prime Minister Theresa May holds a news conference following an extraordinary European Union leaders summit to discuss Brexit, in Brussels, Belgium April 11, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - The British government will introduce the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill to parliament as soon as possible in order to give lawmakers time to scrutinize it, the leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom said on Thursday.

The government has said parliament will hold its first debate and vote on the bill, which will enact Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, in the week beginning June 3. The bill itself could be published as soon as next week however.

“The bill will be introduced as soon as possible to give colleagues the chance to consider the provisions within it,” Leadsom told parliament.

Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Stephen Addison

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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2019-05-16 11:04:00Z
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UK leader under pressure as rivals push for the end of May - Fox News

LONDON – British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing an uncomfortable meeting with Conservative Party lawmakers who are demanding she quit within weeks.

Executive members of a committee that oversees party leadership contests are meeting May Wednesday. Committee member Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said members wanted May to "set out a timetable to trigger a leadership contest."

Pro-Brexit lawmakers are furious that Britain has not yet left the European Union, almost three years after voters backed Brexit in a referendum. Many blame May for the impasse.

May argues that she struck a divorce deal with the EU, but it has been rejected by Parliament three times.

The prime minister plans to make a fourth attempt next month to get lawmakers' backing for Brexit terms.

Britain is due to leave the EU on Oct. 31.

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2019-05-16 09:27:21Z
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The UK will either cancel Brexit or leave with no deal if MPs block Theresa May's bill, Liam Fox says - Business Insider

Trade Secretary Liam FoxLeon Neal/Getty Images

• The UK will either cancel Brexit or leave without a deal if MPs block a key piece of legislation next month.
• That's according to Liam Fox, the Secretary of State for International Trade.
• Fox on Wednesday urged MPs to back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill next month or risk "democratically" and "economically damaging" outcomes for the UK.
• The government will lay down the Withdrawal Ageement Bill (WAB) on the week beginning June 3.
• Theresa May is currently set to lose the vote — and potentially lose her job.

LONDON — The United Kingdom will be forced either to cancel Brexit or leave the European Union without a deal if MPs reject a crucial piece of legislation next month, according to minister Liam Fox.

Speaking at the Institute for Government in Westminster on Wednesday, the Secretary of State for International Trade warned MPs that failing to back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would leave two potential outcomes.

"There will be an opportunity for MPs to decide, after the local elections and after the European elections, whether they want to vote for Brexit or not," Fox said.

"I think that MPs will need to look and see whether they want to continue down a path that inevitably, I think, takes us to either the potential revocation of Article 50 or leaving without a deal."

He added: "Is that he best course, democratically or economically, for the UK?

"MPs will have to face that decision."

Downing Street announced on Tuesday evening that Theresa May's government would lay a key piece of Brexit legislation called the Withdrawal Agreement Bill — also known as WAB — on the week beginning Monday, June 3.

The bill is not the same as the deal May negotiated, but it must be passed by Parliament for Brexit to be recognised in UK law.

The prime minister, who is widely expected to face another leadership coup in the coming weeks, faces an uphill battle trying to convince the House of Commons majority to back WAB.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will instruct his MPs to vote against it unless and until May accepts his proposed changes to the Brexit deal. That appears unlikely, with cross-party talks failing to produce any real progress.

A significant number of Conservative backbench MPs who vehemently oppose May's deal are also set to oppose WAB, as well as the Democratic Unionist Party, and the anti-Brexit opposition parties in the Commons.

The vote is widely seen as a potential make-or-break moment for the embattled prime minister, with swathes of Conservatives MPs keen to oust her and replace her with a leader who campaigned for Brexit. 

Speaking on Wednesday, Fox — one of the Cabinet's leading Brexiteers — warned May not to retain a customs union with the EU after Brexit, as demanded by the Labour Party in the cross-party talks.

This week a number of senior Tories, including ex-Cabinet ministers and current leadership favourites Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab, sent a letter to May warning her that a customs union would be "bad policy and bad politics".

Fox said that staying in a permanent customs union would have a significant negative "impact" on the Department for International Trade, and act as a "major disincentive for other countries to negotiate trade agreements" with the UK.

---

Got a tip? Email this reporter at apayne@businessinsider.com and send him a direct message on Twitter at @adampayne26.

Our Brexit Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and analysis about Britain’s departure from the EU, direct from Business Insider’s political reporters. Join here.

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https://www.businessinsider.com/liam-fox-if-mps-block-wab-uk-will-cancel-brexit-or-leave-with-no-deal-2019-5

2019-05-15 10:51:21Z
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