Minggu, 08 November 2020

Lords defeat of Brexit bill will put government on track for Biden clash - Financial Times

Boris Johnson is facing a heavy defeat in the House of Lords this week on controversial Brexit legislation that will break international law, setting him on course for a clash with US president-elect Joe Biden.

Peers on Monday will vote to remove clauses from the controversial Internal Market Bill that the government has admitted could break its commitments in the Brexit withdrawal agreement in a “very specific and limited way”.

While ministers have argued the legislation is vital for securing trade within the UK, opponents have said it risks violating the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that ended conflict on the island of Ireland — something Mr Biden has expressed deep concern about.

The bill has been met with widespread condemnation from the EU and Britain’s allies, as well as Conservative peers — including former Tory party leader Michael Howard who is expected to vote against the legislation. Last month, peers defeated the government with a majority of 226 expressing “regret” at the bill.

Parliamentary officials predicted the government will “lose heavily tomorrow [Monday] unless they come up with something to take the sting out of the debate.” But one individual said it was “highly unlikely” the government would drop the clauses on Monday.

Mr Biden criticised the internal market legislation in September, stating that the Good Friday peace agreement cannot “become a casualty of Brexit”. The president-elect is expected to stress this point again during his first call with the UK prime minister.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said on Sunday that the UK will not breach the historic agreement, adding that he has reassured senior figures in the Democratic party.

“We’ve been very clear we are absolutely committed to respecting the Good Friday Agreement but our argument is, and it was good to have the opportunity when I was in Washington to explain, it is the EU who has put pressure on that with the approach it has taken,” he told the BBC.

Charlie Falconer, Labour’s shadow attorney-general, said it was “not too late” for the government to “get back on the side of the law before even more damage to our country’s reputation is done”.

“We always said the UK would pay a terrible price of breaking with the rule of law, and now, almost immediately after we can see that price being paid with the government’s actions being called out by the United States government,” he said.

The Internal Market legislation will return to the House of Commons in early December, when Mr Johnson will have to decide whether to insert the controversial clauses back in the bill.

A poster shows support of Joe Biden in his ancestral hometown of Ballina in County Mayo © Paul Faith/AFP

Senior figures in Westminster believe that the combined pressure of Mr Biden and the “cover of a Brexit deal” will be used to leave the legislation unamended. Intense negotiations with the EU begin again on Monday, with insiders believing “the next 10 days will be crucial” for a trade agreement.

One parliamentary official noted that “by early December, the context could have changed somewhat. It’s a political judgment for No 10 to make”.

However, government insiders said it was “unlikely” that the contentious clauses would be left out of the bill. One minister said: “the pro-union clauses in the IM Bill are popular with the backbenches. To remove those clauses would risk causing great upset, particularly among those who vigorously defended the bill in the first place.”

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson welcomed Mr Biden’s victory and said the UK and US can work closely together on climate change, free speech and promoting democracy — despite their differences over Brexit.

“There is far more that unites the government of this country and government in Washington any time, any stage, than divides us. We have common values. We have common interests. We have a common global perspective,” the prime minister said.

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2020-11-08 17:54:00Z
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Prince Harry 'requested to have Cenotaph wreath laid on his behalf' - Metro.co.uk

Prince Harry pictured at a previous Remembrance Sunday event and this year's socially distanced commemorations
Prince Harry pictured at a previous Remembrance Sunday event and this year’s socially distanced commemorations

Prince Harry was ‘deeply saddened’ a wreath was not laid at the Cenotaph today on his behalf, according to Royal sources. 

The former soldier was absent from this morning’s Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall as he chose to stay at home in the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

He reportedly made a personal request to Buckingham Palace for a tribute to be placed in his name but this was refused. 

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment but The Times reported the Queen was not told of the request, which was rejected due to Harry’s departure from Royal duties in March. 

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Prince William and Prince Charles did lay wreaths at the traditional service which this year marked 100 years since the Cenotaph was built. 

With the number of guests restricted due to social distancing, only a handful of veterans were permitted to attend alongside politicians and members of the Royal family. 

The Queen watched on from a balcony while her son Prince Andrew stayed away after he stepped down from official royal duties due to his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Harry, who spent ten years in the armed forces, created the Invictus Games in 2014 for wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans from around the world to compete in a range of sports.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Veysey/REX (10469662cz) Prince William and Prince Harry at the Cenotaph. Remembrance Day Service, The Cenotaph, Whitehall, London, UK - 10 Nov 2019
Prince William and Prince Harry at the Cenotaph Remembrance Day Service last year (Picture: REX)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 11: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend a service to mark the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey on November 11, 2018 in London, England. The Armistice ending the First World War between the Allies and Germany was signed at Compi??gne, France on eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month - 11am on the 11th November 1918. This day is commemorated as Remembrance Day with special attention being paid for this year's centenary. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Meghan and Prince Harry attend a service to mark the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey on November 11, 2018 (Picture: Getty Images Europe)

Despite not attending the event, he emphasised the importance of Remembrance Sunday during an appearance on a military podcast.

Harry described the day as ‘a moment for respect and for hope’, in an interview with the Declassified podcast.

He said: ‘The act of remembering, of remembrance, is a profound act of honour. It’s how we preserve the legacies of entire generations and show our gratitude for the sacrifices they made in order for us to be able to live the lives we live today.’

In previous years, the duke has marked the day with visits to the Cenotaph and Westminster Abbey’s Field of Remembrance.

Wreaths are carried to the Cenotaph for the Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday November 8, 2020. See PA story MEMORIAL Remembrance. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Wreaths are carried to the Cenotaph for the Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall (Picture: PA)

Harry spoke about his experiences and said he cherishes his relationship with veterans, describing coming together as ‘like meeting an old mate’.

He added: ‘I wear the poppy to recognise all those who have served; the soldiers I knew, as well as those I didn’t.

‘The soldiers who were by my side in Afghanistan, those who had their lives changed forever, and those that didn’t come home.

‘I wear it to celebrate the bravery and determination of all our veterans, and their loved ones, especially those in our Invictus family.

‘These are the people and moments I remember when I salute, when I stand at attention and when I lay a wreath at the Cenotaph.’

Queen Elizabeth II during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday November 8, 2020. See PA story MEMORIAL Remembrance. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire
Queen Elizabeth II watches the Remembrance Sunday service from a balcony (Picture: PA)

Services for Remembrance Sunday this year are greatly impacted due to the pandemic, with a full lockdown in England and other restrictions in place across the UK.

The UK Government has this year encouraged councils to ensure remembrance services are short, entirely outdoors and held in front of limited numbers.

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The Duke of Sussex, who now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Meghan and their son Archie, said: ‘Even when we can’t all be together, we always remember together.’

On the podcast, which documents stories from the military community, the duke also spoke about his own service which included two tours of Afghanistan.

Buglers from HM Royal Marines Band Service during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday November 8, 2020. See PA story MEMORIAL Remembrance. Photo credit should read: Chris Jackson/PA Wire
Buglers from HM Royal Marines Band Service during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London (Picture: PA Photo)

He said: ‘When I get asked about this period of my life I draw from memories, I draw from what I remember and who I remember.

‘Like the first time we were shot at and who I was with, the casualties we saw, and those we saved. And the first medivac we escorted out of contact in a race against time.

‘Once served always serving, no matter what. Being able to wear my uniform, being able to stand up in service of one’s country, these are amongst the greatest honours there are in life.

‘To me, the uniform is a symbol of something much bigger, it’s symbolic of our commitment to protecting our country, as well as protecting our values.

‘These values are put in action through service, and service is what happens in the quiet and in the chaos.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2020-11-08 15:13:00Z
CAIiEC2PjZXyEL-wXIEGyWZrNmcqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowzc-JCzDQ5psDML_9oQY

Covid case rise 'plateauing' as Wales firebreak lockdown nears end - BBC News

A person walks past a closed shop
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Wales is starting to see a "levelling off" of Covid-19 case rates, the country's health minister has said on the final day of its 17-day lockdown.

Vaughan Gething also said mass testing, as being trialled in Liverpool, will be considered in Wales' high case rate areas like Merthyr and the valleys.

He said the full impact of the lockdown would not be seen for two weeks yet.

Opposition parties have suggested high case rate areas should have stricter local rules.

Wales' lockdown - which the Welsh Government said would help stop the health service in Wales becoming "overwhelmed" - ends on Monday just a few days after England's four-week lockdown started.

The number of patients in Welsh hospitals with coronavirus is now the highest since the height of the pandemic in April.

Latest NHS Wales figures show 1,344 people are being treated in hospital for Covid-19 while 54 of the 163 critical care patients have the virus - with the intensive care occupancy rate beyond Wales' usual 152-bed capacity.

Mr Gething warned cancer, heart and stroke "treatments" could be affected if Covid infection rates surge again.

But he said: "We think we're starting to see a plateauing, a levelling off, in the rates of coronavirus across the country.

"It's still at a high rate which means that there's still a reservoir of coronavirus within our communities."

The Welsh Conservatives want "local measures" to help slow down Covid-19 cases in communities to avoid "such draconian measures as a firebreak lockdown or just a straight lockdown".

"We would also then have targeted testing in areas where we know there's high infection rates to suppress the virus," their health spokesperson Andrew RT Davies told BBC Radio Wales.

And Plaid Cymru said the Welsh Government should show it "has a plan in place" to deal with areas of high infection rates.

"I doubt whether it is right to treat those areas in the same way as we treat some of the areas with very low incidence," said the party's health spokesperson Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Covid-19 infection swab survey. Modelled estimate of number of people testing positive in Wales.  Latest figures based on 15,844 people tested over a six-week period to week ending 31 October.

But Mr Gething said: "If we breach trust with the public and extend the end of the firebreak, having been clear it would come to an end, I don't think people would be prepared to trust the government again and go along with what we want people to do."

He thanked the people of Wales for their sacrifice during the lockdown, saying: "We have seen significant reductions in movement, we're confident there's been a reduction in household contact and all of those things will make a difference.

"What I can't do is rule out what we will have to do in the future because that is down to the choices we make."

While pubs, bars and restaurants, gyms, and other non-essential businesses will be allowed to reopen on Monday, Mr Gething urged people to reduce contact and time spent with people outside their household bubble.

"We don't want to throw away what we think we have gained in the firebreak," said Mr Gething.

"If we go back to the way the things were before the firebreak, we'd have thrown away all of the sacrifice put together to make the firebreak successful and that would be heart-breaking for so many people who have done the right thing."

Mr Gething warned that if infections surge again "hospitals will become full" then elective surgeries and other "non-Covid care" which was relatively unaffected during this latest lockdown, may be hit.

"It will mean people will be treated in an undignified way, it's about saving as many lives as possible," he said.

"It's to make sure the NHS isn't overwhelmed because, if that happens, then non-Covid care like cancer care, heart, stroke and all of those other treatments will be affected."

Wales has seen almost 7,000 coronavirus cases in the last seven days and the death toll is now more than 2,000 people since the pandemic began.

Explanation of Wales' rules

While Office for National Statistics data suggests Covid-19 cases are "stabilising" across Wales and the UK, Mr Gething has said the effectiveness of the lockdown may not be known for another few weeks.

"The infection rates we see reported today reflect behaviour from two to three weeks ago," he said.

"That's how long it takes to feed through. We think we will see a dip in the next two to three weeks but we're cautious as we need to see what the evidence is."

Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Blaenau Gwent have some of the worst Covid-19 infection rates in the UK and, amid calls from Plaid Cymru for widespread testing in high case rate areas, Mr Gething says the Welsh Government was "considering" mass testing.

"Liverpool is a test pilot for the UK," he said.

"We are looking at what might be possible here in Wales to go alongside how we can use our testing resources here."

Mr Gething said the Welsh Government would "formally review" the coronavirus data from across Wales in two weeks' time.

Map of the 25 hardest hit districts within Wales for coronavirus case rate (7-day average)

The people of Wales have been warned to expect another lockdown in the new year as First Minister Mark Drakeford has said there was a "path through to Christmas" without needing another "firebreak".

"If we avoid contact with other people and we travel only when we need to, work from home wherever we can, we will build on what has been achieved here over the last 17 days," Mark Drakeford told Sky News.

"That will give us a path through to Christmas without needing to go back into this extraordinary period of restriction."

Mr Drakeford has called on the UK government to make good on its promise for the four nations to meet this week and discuss a single approach to "pool ideas, plan together and have a common approach to the Christmas period".

"The restrictions people have had to live with are incredibly difficult and demanding, and everybody is tired and fatigued of coronavirus," he said.

"If we can offer respite over Christmas that is what we would want to do."

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2020-11-08 14:40:00Z
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Boris Johnson: 'The US is our closest and most important ally - that won't change' - Sky News

Boris Johnson has said America is the UK's "closest and most important ally" - and that "won't change" under a new president.

Congratulating both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their US election victory, the prime minister said the two countries would work together to support democracy and combat issues such as tackling climate change.

Mr Johnson's comments echoed those of Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who told Sky News earlier on Sunday that the US will have "no more dependable friend" than the UK.

HERTFORD, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson onstage during the annual NATO heads of government summit on December 4, 2019 in Watford, England.
Image: Boris Johnson has had close ties with Donald Trump

"The United States is our closest and most important ally... and that's been the case under president after president, prime minister after prime minister," Mr Johnson said. "It won't change."

Mr Johnson said he was looking forward to working with Mr Biden and his team "on a lot of crucial stuff for us in the weeks and months ahead: tackling climate change, trade, international security, many, many, many, many, many other issues".

Dismissing the idea there may be challenges, he added that "there is far more that unites the government of this country and government in Washington any time, any stage, than divides us".

Mr Raab, speaking on Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday, said he was "excited" to be collaborating with the new US administration.

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'Biden will have no greater ally'

He too disregarded the suggestion of any difficulties with the new relationship, following claims from some US commentators that previous comments by Mr Johnson on Barack Obama's Kenyan heritage had damaged ties with the Democrats.

Mr Raab said it was always possible to "pick a snippet" from social media or political activists but that evidence from his work with the British Embassy in Washington on the ground, talking to Congressional leaders, caucus leaders and to President-elect Biden over past months proved otherwise.

"I know there will always be points of tension in any relationship - particularly the deepest and most profound ones - but the bedrock, the depth and the range of things we do together, and the things that President-elect Biden wants to achieve internationally… these are all things, particularly with our G7 presidency next year and our hosting of COP 26 [climate conference], we will have huge amounts which we can cooperate on."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (L) shakes hands with US President Donald Trump at the start of the plenary session of the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP) (Photo by TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Mr Raab has made a number of visits to Washington and the White House during Donald Trump's tenure

He added: "I am excited about working with the new administration and am confident the relationship between the UK and the US will thrive in the weeks and months ahead."

However, his reassurances came just moments after former chancellor Sajid Javid took a rather more outspoken swipe at US politics, labelling Donald Trump "adolescent" and saying he had done "huge amounts to damage democracy".

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Javid: Donald Trump 'damaged' US democracy

He called for people around the president to "tell him to stop" his persistent claims of voter fraud.

"The US is a beacon of democracy across the world, as we are, and he's still doing damage because he hasn't stopped," Mr Javid said.

"We are privileged to have democracy, the Americans are privileged to have it. There are so many people around the world that yearn for democracy.

"And the behaviour of the US president is frankly adolescent behaviour."

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Asked if the "best man won" the election, Mr Javid said: "I think so, yes. I do think it's the right outcome not just for the US, that's a decision of course for the US people, but it's the best outcome for the UK as well.

"I also think no matter what your politics, it will be just good for us all to have some civility, some integrity and seriousness back in the White House."

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2020-11-08 14:37:30Z
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Remembrance Sunday: Royal Family pays tribute at scaled-back event - Sky News

The Queen and senior members of the Royal Family have marked Remembrance Sunday at a scaled-back event at the Cenotaph, due to coronavirus restrictions.

Last year, more than 1,000 military personnel took part in commemorations in Whitehall in central London - this year, it was fewer than 150. Where ordinarily 10,000 veterans would usually gather, just 26 former service men and women marked the occasion.

Queen Elizabeth II during the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, London.
Image: The Queen watched the ceremony from a nearby balcony
Prince Charles laid a wreath of his own and one on behalf of the Queen
Image: Prince Charles laid a wreath of his own and one on behalf of the Queen

However, despite the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said ahead of the ceremony to say that "no virus" would stop those who made the ultimate sacrifice being honoured.

Prince Charles laid his own wreath and also one on behalf of the Queen, who watched the event from a nearby balcony - as did the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince William, the Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex also laid wreaths.

Prince Andrew did not take part in the event, having stepped down from official royal duties following fierce criticism after his Panorama interview about his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

After stepping down as a working member of the Royal Family, Prince Harry, who now lives in California, instead paid tribute to the nation's war dead in a podcast marking the occasion.

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The former Army officer said: "Being able to wear my uniform, being able to stand up in service of one's country, these are amongst the greatest honours there are in life.

"To me, the uniform is a symbol of something much bigger, it's symbolic of our commitment to protecting our country, as well as protecting our values.

"These values are put in action through service, and service is what happens in the quiet and in the chaos."

The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge watch from a balcony
Image: The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge watched from a balcony
Prince William laid a wreath at the Cenotaph
Image: Prince William also laid a wreath

The event at the Cenotaph was closed off to the public, but people could watch the tributes on television and join commemorations by sharing family histories, personal stories and messages of remembrance using the hashtag #WeWillRememberThem online.

Hundreds of local events across the country were still able to take place, held outside and in accordance with strict social distancing guidance.

The Royal British Legion also asked people to stand in silence for two minutes outside their front doors at 11am.

Merchant Navy veteran Bill Bennett, 94, observed the two minute silence outside his home in Kidderminster
Image: Merchant Navy veteran Bill Bennett, 94, observed the two-minute silence outside his home in Kidderminster

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, the prime minister paid his respects at Uxbridge War Memorial in west London at a low-key event on Saturday.

"We come together every November to commemorate the servicemen and women from Britain and the Commonwealth who sacrificed their lives for our freedom," Mr Johnson said.

"In this time of adversity, no virus can stop us from honouring their memory, particularly when we have just celebrated the 75th anniversary of victory in the Second World War.

"And in times of trial, our tributes matter even more. So let's come together once again and remember those to whom we owe so much."

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PM lays wreath to mark Remembrance Sunday

In a video message ahead of his attendance in Whitehall on Sunday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "2020 has been a year of struggle and sacrifice, and we know many challenges lie ahead.

"But in these difficult times, whenever we are in need of inspiration we can always look with pride, not only to our wartime generations or those who are currently serving our nation at home and abroad, but to all our servicemen and women who throughout this pandemic have stood side by side with our key workers in the battle against this virus.

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"So on this special Remembrance Sunday where we mark 80 years since the Battle of Britain and 75 years since the end of the Second World War, let us say thanks to all those who have served and all those who continue to serve this great country."

In a brief ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday, the Queen wore a face mask in public for the first time as she commemorated the 100th anniversary of the interment of the Unknown Warrior - who represents the First World War soldiers whose place of death is not known or whose remains are unidentified.

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2020-11-08 13:11:51Z
CBMidGh0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5za3kuY29tL3N0b3J5L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXJveWFsLWZhbWlseS1wYXlzLXRyaWJ1dGUtYXQtc2NhbGVkLWJhY2stZXZlbnQtb24tcmVtZW1icmFuY2Utc3VuZGF5LTEyMTI3Mjcy0gF4aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXJveWFsLWZhbWlseS1wYXlzLXRyaWJ1dGUtYXQtc2NhbGVkLWJhY2stZXZlbnQtb24tcmVtZW1icmFuY2Utc3VuZGF5LTEyMTI3Mjcy

US election: What a Biden presidency means for the UK - BBC News

Joe Biden and Boris Johnson split pic
Getty Images

The election of Joe Biden leaves Boris Johnson facing a substantial diplomatic repair job. The two men have never met. Last December the president-elect described the prime minister as a "physical and emotional clone" of Donald Trump.

There are people around Mr Biden who remember bitterly how Mr Johnson once suggested President Obama harboured anti-British sentiment because of his part-Kenyan ancestry.

Mr Biden and his team think Brexit is an historic mistake. They would not want Britain to leave the EU without a trade deal, particularly if it involved breaking commitments made in the Northern Ireland protocol.

Last month Mr Biden warned publicly in a tweet that a future UK-US trade deal was contingent on the UK not unravelling the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland.

There is an expectation among many observers that when President Biden seeks to repair transatlantic relationships, he may focus more of his attention on Paris and Berlin than London.

And when Mr Biden does turn his attention to the UK, he may put pressure on Mr Johnson to repair its relations with the EU just when the prime minister wants to focus his "global Britain" foreign policy elsewhere, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

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So the government has a lot of work to do to in improving its relations with the incoming administration. That has not been made easier by a reluctance of Conservatives in recent years to meet Democrats when visiting Washington.

"We just couldn't persuade ministers ever to go and see Democrats on the Hill," one diplomatic source told me.

The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, did meet the influential Democratic senator Chris Coons in September. The prime minister's foreign affairs adviser, John Bew, has also been cultivating links with those close to Mr Biden. But they are both playing catch-up.

Boris Johnson and Donald Trump
Getty Images

That said, sometimes too much can be made of past comments and personal animus. Mr Biden is considered a pragmatist and under him the United States may well prove a more stable and predictable ally to the UK than was the case in the last four years.

Mr Trump's America First policy will be replaced by one that recognises America's place in a multilateral, international system from which the UK benefits. A Biden presidency would renew US support for Nato the World Health Organisation and the World Trade Organisation, all of which are priorities for the UK.

And there are issues where Mr Biden's views align significantly with the UK's: being tough on Russia; reviving the Iran nuclear deal; combatting human rights abuses in China and elsewhere; agreeing new carbon emission reduction targets.

Boris Johnson and David Attenborough looking at planet earth graphic
Getty Images

This last issue is, perhaps, the most important. The UK will want to use its chairmanship next year of the United Nations COP26 climate change summit to forge a bond with the Biden administration, hoping to act as a broker between the US and other countries, especially China, in agreeing a deal.

The UK will still, of course, come under pressure to support America's confrontation with China, which is held as strongly by Democrats as Republicans.

But British policymakers hope that under Biden, the US will share a closer position with the UK, one that challenges malign behaviour by China - such as in Hong Kong and Xinjiang - but also engages on global issues such as climate change.

They also hope to forge a new alliance of liberal democratic countries to counter the influence of autocratic governments around the world.

The truth, though, is that Mr Biden's priorities will be overwhelmingly domestic - namely fixing America's economy and the Covid crisis. Relations with the UK - including a possible free trade deal - will not be a top priority.

And for all Mr Biden's internationalist instincts, there will be no return to America's global interventionism of the past. That means that despite Mr Biden's arrival in the White House, the UK post-Brexit may still have to forge a new role in the world, one that does not automatically slipstream behind US foreign policy.

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2020-11-08 12:28:00Z
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Brexit warning: Britain to step up no deal preparation as EU won't respect UK's red lines - Express

A senior British source said a deal was possible and the sides were in a position to begin writing a treaty. But the EU's demands on the UK's "red lines" - access to fishing waters and a "level playing field" - is endangering talks. The Prime Minister is also under pressure from Brexiteers armed with a checklist of trade deal demands. Following the talks between Mr Johnson and Ms von der Leyen, a No 10 spokesman said: "The Prime Minister set out that while some progress had been made in recent discussions, significant differences remain in a number of areas, including the so-called level playing field and fish.

"The Prime Minister and President agreed that their negotiating teams would continue talks in London beginning on Monday, in order to redouble efforts to reach a deal. They agreed to remain in personal contact."

But a source close to the negotiating team said talks were still bogged down by the EU refusing to respect UK red lines.

Just over two weeks ago the bloc agreed to talk across all potential free trade areas and work on legal texts.

There have been round-the-clock talks with some progress, but the EU's current approach is not going to get a deal over the line.

The UK source said: "It's now clear that the process could allow for an agreement but it's a shame this is having to be done so quickly because of the EU's foot-dragging until very recently.

"And there is still a long way to go. A deal is by no means certain unless we see a change of approach from [bloc talks chief] Michel Barnier and his team."

Sources say Mr Johnson still believes it is worth trying to reach a deal. Mr Barnier and his team will travel to London today to resume talks tomorrow morning.

A UK Government source said: "We still need more realism from the EU. They can't expect us to agree to a treaty under which we can't move away from EU norms in important areas.

"And they don't seem to have realised the scale of change in fishing rights they face if there is no agreement.

"It is clear that time is incredibly short. The EU have to translate any agreement into 24 languages and get it through the European Parliament.

"The UK will continue to work with energy and ambition to see if the remaining gaps can be closed. We hope for the same from the EU."

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has worked with the Centre for Brexit Policy (CBP) to come up with a checklist of demands to make sure Mr Johnson does not compromise too much in a trade deal.

The CBP says any deal must "take back control of our laws, borders, money and fisheries" or he will "break our promise to those who voted for us".

Sir Iain said: "The Conservative Party must uphold the manifesto commitments of 2019.That made it explicitly clear - we would take back control of our laws, borders, money and fisheries.

"A manifesto is a binding contract with the British people which means we cannot have any part of the UK remaining part of the EU customs union or single market."

"The Withdrawal Agreement leaves us subject to the European Court of Justice which, if we strike a trade deal, would breach our manifesto pledge to the British people."

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2020-11-08 10:35:00Z
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