Brexit: Philip Hammond warns UK will lose control in no-deal scenario - BBC News

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Philip Hammond has warned the UK will not be able to control key elements of a no-deal Brexit.

The chancellor told BBC Panorama that if the UK leaves without a deal, then the EU will control many of the levers - including what happens at the French port of Calais.

Ex Brexit Secretary David Davis told the programme that Whitehall never believed a no-deal Brexit would happen.

The EU has set the UK a deadline of 31 October to leave the bloc.

But despite spending £4.2bn on Brexit preparations, Mr Hammond warned that the government has limited influence on how a no-deal scenario might look.

Asked if the UK can control Brexit, he said: "We can't because many of the levers are held by others - the EU 27 or private business. We can seek to persuade them but we can't control it."

He added: "For example, we can make sure that goods flow inwards through the port of Dover without any friction but we can't control the outward flow into the port of Calais," he told Panorama.

"The French can dial that up or dial it down, just the same as the Spanish for years have dialled up or dialled down the length of the queues at the border going into Gibraltar."

French officials have previously rejected suggestions they could resort to a "go-slow" policy at Calais if there is no Brexit deal - insisting that closing the port would be "economic suicide".

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Earlier this month, Mr Hammond told MPs a no-deal Brexit could cost the Treasury up to £90bn and said it would be up to them to ensure that "doesn't happen".

He has also said it was "highly unlikely" he would still be in his job after Theresa May stands down next month.

The Panorama programme - entitled Britain's Brexit Crisis - will outline the tensions in government during Theresa May's time at Number 10 when it is broadcast on Thursday.

Mr Davis, who quit as Brexit secretary last year, told the BBC that the Treasury wanted to avoid talking about the prospect of leaving without a deal.

He concluded that many in Whitehall did not believe it would ever happen - despite two years of planning.

"I've got to be able to say to you 'if this doesn't work we'll leave anyway' and you've got to believe it.

"And for you to believe it I've got to believe it. And I don't think Whitehall really ever believed that they would actually carry out the plans we laid so carefully over two years."

Tory leadership favourite Boris Johnson has pledged the UK will leave the EU on 31 October - with or without a deal.

His rival Jeremy Hunt has said he can negotiate a new deal for the UK "by the end of September" - and that he "expects" the UK will leave the EU before Christmas.

Voting among the party's 160,000 or so members is under way, with a winner expected to be announced on 23 July.

Britain's Brexit Crisis is on BBC1 this Thursday, July 18, at 9pm.

---

Do you have any questions about what would happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit?

Use this form to ask your question:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48978739

2019-07-14 07:27:40Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay00ODk3ODczOdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNDg5Nzg3Mzk

Brexit: Philip Hammond warns UK will lose control in no-deal scenario - BBC News

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Philip Hammond has warned the UK will not be able to control key elements of a no-deal Brexit.

The chancellor told BBC Panorama that if the UK leaves without a deal, then the EU will control many of the levers - including what happens at the French port of Calais.

Ex Brexit Secretary David Davis told the programme that Whitehall never believed a no-deal Brexit would happen.

The EU has set the UK a deadline of 31 October to leave the bloc.

But despite spending £4.2bn on Brexit preparations, Mr Hammond warned that the government has limited influence on how a no-deal scenario might look.

Asked if the UK can control Brexit, he said: "We can't because many of the levers are held by others - the EU 27 or private business. We can seek to persuade them but we can't control it."

He added: "For example, we can make sure that goods flow inwards through the port of Dover without any friction but we can't control the outward flow into the port of Calais," he told Panorama.

"The French can dial that up or dial it down, just the same as the Spanish for years have dialled up or dialled down the length of the queues at the border going into Gibraltar."

French officials have previously rejected suggestions they could resort to a "go-slow" policy at Calais if there is no Brexit deal - insisting that closing the port would be "economic suicide".

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Earlier this month, Mr Hammond told MPs a no-deal Brexit could cost the Treasury up to £90bn and said it would be up to them to ensure that "doesn't happen".

He has also said it was "highly unlikely" he would still be in his job after Theresa May stands down next month.

The Panorama programme - entitled Britain's Brexit Crisis - will outline the tensions in government during Theresa May's time at Number 10 when it is broadcast on Thursday.

Mr Davis, who quit as Brexit secretary last year, told the BBC that the Treasury wanted to avoid talking about the prospect of leaving without a deal.

He concluded that many in Whitehall did not believe it would ever happen - despite two years of planning.

"I've got to be able to say to you 'if this doesn't work we'll leave anyway' and you've got to believe it.

"And for you to believe it I've got to believe it. And I don't think Whitehall really ever believed that they would actually carry out the plans we laid so carefully over two years."

Tory leadership favourite Boris Johnson has pledged the UK will leave the EU on 31 October - with or without a deal.

His rival Jeremy Hunt has said he can negotiate a new deal for the UK "by the end of September" - and that he "expects" the UK will leave the EU before Christmas.

Voting among the party's 160,000 or so members is under way, with a winner expected to be announced on 23 July.

Britain's Brexit Crisis is on BBC1 this Thursday, July 18, at 9pm.

---

Do you have any questions about what would happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit?

Use this form to ask your question:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48978739

2019-07-14 05:40:28Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay00ODk3ODczOdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNDg5Nzg3Mzk

Brexit: Philip Hammond warns UK will lose control in no-deal scenario - BBC News

Philip Hammond has warned the UK will not be able to control key elements of a no-deal Brexit.

The chancellor told BBC Panorama that if the UK leaves without a deal, then the EU will control many of the levers - including what happens at the French port of Calais.

Ex Brexit Secretary David Davis told the programme that Whitehall never believed a no-deal Brexit would happen.

The EU has set the UK a deadline of 31 October to leave the bloc.

But despite spending £4.2bn on Brexit preparations, Mr Hammond warned that the government has limited influence on how a no-deal scenario might look.

Asked if the UK can control Brexit, he said: "We can't because many of the levers are held by others - the EU 27 or private business. We can seek to persuade them but we can't control it."

He added: "For example, we can make sure that goods flow inwards through the port of Dover without any friction but we can't control the outward flow into the port of Calais," he told Panorama.

"The French can dial that up or dial it down, just the same as the Spanish for years have dialled up or dialled down the length of the queues at the border going into Gibraltar."

French officials have previously rejected suggestions they could resort to a "go-slow" policy at Calais if there is no Brexit deal - insisting that closing the port would be "economic suicide".

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Earlier this month, Mr Hammond told MPs a no-deal Brexit could cost the Treasury up to £90bn and said it would be up to them to ensure that "doesn't happen".

He has also said it was "highly unlikely" he would still be in his job after Theresa May stands down next month.

The Panorama programme - entitled Britain's Brexit Crisis - will outline the tensions in government during Theresa May's time at Number 10 when it is broadcast on Thursday.

Mr Davis, who quit as Brexit secretary last year, told the BBC that the Treasury wanted to avoid talking about the prospect of leaving without a deal.

He concluded that many in Whitehall did not believe it would ever happen - despite two years of planning.

"I've got to be able to say to you 'if this doesn't work we'll leave anyway' and you've got to believe it.

"And for you to believe it I've got to believe it. And I don't think Whitehall really ever believed that they would actually carry out the plans we laid so carefully over two years."

Tory leadership favourite Boris Johnson has pledged the UK will leave the EU on 31 October - with or without a deal.

His rival Jeremy Hunt has said he can negotiate a new deal for the UK "by the end of September" - and that he "expects" the UK will leave the EU before Christmas.

Voting among the party's 160,000 or so members is under way, with a winner expected to be announced on 23 July.

Britain's Brexit Crisis is on BBC1 this Thursday, July 18, at 9pm.

---

Do you have any questions about what would happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit?

Use this form to ask your question:

If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48978739

2019-07-14 05:28:56Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay00ODk3ODczOdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNDg5Nzg3Mzk

Detained Iranian tanker will be released if oil isn't bound for Syria, UK foreign secretary says - Fox News

An Iranian oil tanker held by British forces near Gibraltar will be released if the United Kingdom is assured the oil will not be heading to Syria, London's top diplomat said Saturday.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Twitter that he had a "constructive call" with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif, during which Hunt "reassured him [Zarif] our concern was destination not origin of the oil."

A British Royal Navy patrol vessel guards the oil supertanker Grace 1. (REUTERS/Jon Nazca )

Hunt added that the "U.K. would facilitate release if we received guarantees that it would not be going to Syria, following due process in Gib [Gibraltar] courts."

CAR BOMB KILLS 2 NEAR TURKISH-SYRIAN BORDER

The Iranian tanker Grace 1 was captured earlier this month on suspicion of breaking European Union sanctions, according to the BBC. The head of Gibraltar's government said Friday the tanker was carrying 2.1 million barrels of light crude oil.

Fabian Picardo told the country's parliament that the ship is suspected of breaching European Union sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad's government and that any nation with a claim to the vessel and its cargo can file a claim in court.

In addition to the tanker's captain and chief officer arrested Thursday, Gibraltar police said they arrested the two second mates of the Panama-flagged tanker on Friday. The two are in custody and are assisting police with their inquiries, authorities said. All four are Indian citizens.

A Royal Marines vessel sails toward the Grace 1 super tanker off the British territory of Gibraltar July 4. (AP Photo/Marcos Moreno)

Tensions between London and Tehran escalated Thursday after the British navy said it had three Iranian paramilitary vessels from disrupting the passage of a British oil tanker through the vital Strait of Hormuz.

BRITIAN WILL BE 'SLAPPED IN THE FACE' FOR SEIZURE OF IRANIAN TANKER, CLERIC SAYS.

The captain of HMS Montrose, a British frigate following the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the Iranian boats and the commercial vessel, a Ministry of Defense spokesman said. On Friday, the ministry said it was moving up its timetable to relieve the Montrose with the larger HMS Duncan destroyer in the wake of the recent developments.

"This will ensure that the UK alongside international partners can continue to support freedom of navigation for vessels transiting through this vital shipping lane," the ministry said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

At the same time, Hunt called for "cool heads" to prevail to ensure there is no "unintended escalation."

"We are being clear to Iran that we are not seeking to escalate this situation," he said, adding that the British response had been "measured and careful."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.foxnews.com/world/detained-iranian-tanker-will-be-released-if-oil-isnt-going-to-syria

2019-07-13 19:53:20Z
CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZveG5ld3MuY29tL3dvcmxkL2RldGFpbmVkLWlyYW5pYW4tdGFua2VyLXdpbGwtYmUtcmVsZWFzZWQtaWYtb2lsLWlzbnQtZ29pbmctdG8tc3lyaWHSAWVodHRwczovL3d3dy5mb3huZXdzLmNvbS93b3JsZC9kZXRhaW5lZC1pcmFuaWFuLXRhbmtlci13aWxsLWJlLXJlbGVhc2VkLWlmLW9pbC1pc250LWdvaW5nLXRvLXN5cmlhLmFtcA

Ambassador row: Publishing leak 'not in public interest' says Met Police - BBC News

Scotland Yard has said it respects the rights of the media, but that the recent publication of leaked diplomatic memos was not in the public interest.

Police have launched a criminal investigation into the leak of diplomatic emails from the UK ambassador in the US, Sir Kim Darroch.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said publishing the emails could be a criminal offence.

Editors criticised an earlier statement warning against further publication.

Mr Basu said police have "no intention of seeking to prevent editors from publishing stories in the public interest in a liberal democracy".

However, he said the Metropolitan Police had been told that the publication of "these specific documents... could also constitute a criminal offence and one that carries no public interest defence".

"We know these documents, and potentially others, remain in circulation," he added.

The government has already opened an internal inquiry into the publication of the memos, which were critical of the Trump administration - and prompted a furious reaction from the US president, who said he would no longer deal with Sir Kim.

The row began a week ago when confidential emails emerged where the UK ambassador to the US called Donald Trump's administration "clumsy and inept".

President Trump branded Sir Kim "a very stupid guy" and Sir Kim stepped down on Wednesday, saying it was "impossible" for him to continue.

'Ill-advised'

A criminal investigation into the leak was launched by the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command, which takes national responsibility for investigating allegations of criminal breaches of the Official Secrets Act.

Mr Basu said he was satisfied the leak had damaged UK international relations and added that there was a "clear public interest" in bringing those responsible to justice.

He faced a backlash, however, after he advised individuals and the media not to publish leaked government documents and to instead hand them over to the police or return them to their rightful owner.

Evening Standard editor George Osborne described the Met statement as "stupid" and "ill-advised".

Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman branded it "sinister" and "anti-democratic". "Do you have any comprehension of a free society? This isn't Russia," he tweeted.

Mr Basu issued a further statement on Saturday afternoon saying he had received legal advice that led to the Met initiating an investigation into the documents as a potential breach of the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

"We have a duty to prevent as well as detect crime and the previous statement was intended to alert to the risk of breaching the OSA," he said.

What is 'in the public interest'?

Journalists are not above the law, but it is understood "in a free, liberal and democratic society" that the media "should be free to report on leaked documents that they believe are in the public interest", says Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors.

Mr Murray maintains it is unlikely police are going to "shoot the messenger", adding that to hold authority to account journalists can't be allowed to be bullied into handing over documents.

Who decides what is in the public interest, however, can be contentious.

"It's a difficult line to tread between what's in the public interest and what interests the public," Mr Murray says.

However, he adds that the idea that one particular body would make that decision - or no-one would have to decide because journalists have "dutifully" handed in documents to the police is "appalling".

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48976780

2019-07-13 15:18:51Z
52780331817080

UK police warning to media over diplomat's leaked memos stirs anger - Reuters Australia

LONDON (Reuters) - Senior British politicians, including both contenders to be the next prime minister, joined journalists on Saturday in criticizing police for warning media not to publish leaked government documents, saying it was a “dangerous road to tread”.

FILE PHOTO: Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Neil Basu speaks to the media after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, Britain, August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Last week, a Sunday newspaper published leaked memos from Britain’s Washington ambassador that provoked a serious diplomatic spat with U.S. President Donald Trump and ultimately led to the envoy announcing his resignation.

Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, Neil Bas, said on Friday police would investigate who was responsible but also warned journalists and publishers they too could be in breach of the law if further documents were leaked.

“I would advise all owners, editors and publishers of social and mainstream media not to publish leaked government documents that may already be in their possession, or which may be offered to them, and to turn them over to the police or give them back to their rightful owner, Her Majesty’s Government,” Bas said.

His comments provoked anger and criticism from journalists, editors and politicians who said it risked infringing the freedom of the press

“The state threatening media freedom is a dangerous road to tread,” Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Twitter.George Osborne, editor of the London Evening Standard and a former finance minister, described the remarks as a “very stupid and ill-advised statement from a junior officer who doesn’t appear to understand much about press freedom”.

“I cannot think of a worse example of a heavy-handed approach by the police to attempt to curtail the role of the media as a defense against the powerful and those in authority,” said Ian Murray, Executive Director of the Society of Editors.

“Frankly it is the kind of approach we would expect from totalitarian regimes where the media are expected to be little more than a tame arm of the government.”

Both men battling to replace Theresa May as prime minister when she steps down on July 24 because she failed to deliver Britain’s exit from the European Union also said Bas was wrong.

“THAT IS THEIR JOB”

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and his predecessor Boris Johnson said the leaker should be found but the press should not be targeted.

“It cannot be conceivably right that newspapers or any other media organization publishing such material should face prosecution,” Johnson, also a former mayor of London, told an event in central England.

Hunt wrote on Twitter: “I defend to the hilt the right of the press to publish those leaks if they receive them & judge them to be in the public interest: that is their job.”

The Mail on Sunday newspaper last week published cables from Kim Darroch, Britain’s ambassador to the United States, in which he called the Trump administration “inept”, prompting the president to label him “very stupid” and “wacky”.

The spat has become one of the central issues of the contest for the leadership of the governing Conservative Party and the next prime minister that will be decided by about 160,000 members of the Conservative Party. A diplomatic source told Reuters that the lack of backing from the frontrunner, Boris Johnson, had been a factor in Darroch’s decision to resign.

Johnson himself acknowledged his comments had been partly responsible but denied he was to blame.

Not all politicians, though, felt the police were wrong. Security minister Ben Wallace said members of the public were bound by parts of the Official Secrets Act.

“If (journalists) are receiving stolen material they should give it back to their rightful owner and they should also be aware of the huge damage that’s already been done and the potentially even greater damage that could be done,” former defense minister Michael Fallon told BBC radio.

Editing by Mark Heinrich

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-britain-police/uk-police-warning-to-media-over-diplomats-leaked-memos-stirs-anger-idUSKCN1U80AO

2019-07-13 10:52:00Z
52780331817080

Sir Kim Darroch: Police launch probe into Trump email 'leak' - BBC News

The Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into the alleged leak of diplomatic emails from the UK ambassador in the US, which were critical of the Trump administration.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said there was a "clear public interest" in bringing those responsible to justice.

Sir Kim Darroch stepped down as ambassador on Wednesday, saying it was "impossible" for him to continue.

President Trump had earlier said the US would no longer deal with Sir Kim.

The US president branded him "a very stupid guy" after confidential emails emerged where the ambassador had called his administration "clumsy and inept".

Announcing the criminal investigation, Mr Basu said he was satisfied the alleged leak had damaged UK international relations.

He urged whoever was responsible to turn themselves in and "face the consequences".

"I would say to the person or people who did this, the impact of what you have done is obvious," he said.

"However, you are now also responsible for diverting busy detectives from undertaking their core mission."

Anyone with information about the alleged leak or those responsible should contact the police, he added.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

He advised individuals and the media not to publish leaked government documents, warning this could be a criminal matter, and to instead hand them over to the police or return them to their rightful owner.

The investigation was launched by the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command, which takes national responsibility for investigating allegations of criminal breaches of the Official Secrets Act, Mr Basu said.

The government had already opened an internal inquiry into the publication of the memos.

BBC correspondent Dan Johnson said the involvement of counter-terrorism officers gave "an indication of just how complicated this investigation could be - and how long it may take".

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Sir Kim's resignation prompted widespread support for him - as well as criticism of Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson.

According to some Whitehall sources, Sir Kim decided to resign after Mr Johnson failed to fully support him during a TV debate on Tuesday night.

Mr Johnson said he had spoken to Sir Kim on Thursday to express his sadness over his resignation and the ambassador told him he had not watched the TV debate.

But on Friday, Mr Johnson told the BBC a "misrepresented" account of his remarks later relayed to Sir Kim had been "a factor" in his decision to step down.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Prime Minister Theresa May said Sir Kim's departure was "a matter of deep regret" and public servants should be able to give "full and frank advice".

Shadow foreign minister Liz McInnes said Sir Kim Darroch was "just doing his job" and the criminal investigation was "welcome".

On Friday, President Trump said he wished the former ambassador well and that he had been told Sir Kim had actually said "some very good things" about him.

In the emails leaked to the Mail on Sunday, Sir Kim said: "We don't really believe this administration is going to become substantially more normal; less dysfunctional; less unpredictable; less faction-riven; less diplomatically clumsy and inept."

The emails, dating from 2017, said rumours of "infighting and chaos" in the White House were mostly true.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48971791

2019-07-13 01:09:24Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay00ODk3MTc5MdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNDg5NzE3OTE