Babak Belurs

Sabtu, 26 Desember 2020

We're free! Jubilant Frost celebrates as Britain FINALLY escapes clutches of EU judges - Daily Express

Bernard Jenkin fires warning over European Court of Justice

And Brexiteers have hailed the news that Britain will no longer be subject to laws fashioned in Brussels and administered in Luxembourg. Speaking on the day the 1,256-page document was published, Lord Frost, Downing Street's chief Brexit negotiator, described it as "one of the biggest and broadest agreements ever" ensuring the UK could "set its own laws again".

There's no more role for the European Court of Justice
Lord David Frost

He added: "The way we've achieved that is there's no more role for the European Court of Justice, there's no direct effects of EU law, there's no alignment of any kind, and we're out of the single market and out of the customs union just as the manifesto said we would be.

"This should be the beginning of a moment of national renewal for us.

"All choices are in our hands as a country and it's now up to us to decide how we use them and how we go forward in the future."

Lord David Frost

Lord David Frost said the agreement marked "a moment of national renewal" (Image: GETTY)

Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson at Downing Street on Christmas Eve (Image: GETTY)

Express.co.uk understands from one well-placed Westminster insider the ECJ aspect is likely to be the key factor which enables hardline Brexiteers to fall in behind Prime Minister Boris Johnson, despite some misgivings about compromises in other areas.

Former Labour MP Gisela Stuart, who quit the party over her euroscepticism and who now sits in the House of Lords, tweeted: "Congratulations to the Brexit negotiation teams on both sides.

"Sets the scene for respectful and good future relationship.

"Key point for me is that our courts & parliament will have the final say and not the ECJ."

JUST IN: Boris Johnson sends Tory MPs urgent appeal ahead of Brexit vote

Richard Tice

Richard Tice's tweet (Image: Twitter)

Brexit Party chairman and former MEP Richard Tice said: "Brexit compromise: elements neither side will like.

"Subj to detail we appear free politically, free of ECJ, foreign policy & defence but more linked than I wanted on level playing field, state aid & fishing.

"We will have to find ways to deal with this in future. But it's done."

The two sides finally clinched a trade deal on Christmas Eve which explicitly recognises that trade and investment require conditions for "a level playing field for open and fair competition."

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Michael Gove

Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Image: GETTY)

European Court of Justice

The European Court of Justice is in Luxembourg (Image: GETTY)

If, though, there are "significant divergences" on rules between the two sides, then they can "rebalance" the agreement.

Each side will have an independent subsidy control adjudicator, though it was not immediately clear which body would do this in Britain in the absence of ECJ involvement.

The chairman of the so-called "star chamber" of lawyers for the European Research Group of Tory Brexiteers said their analysis of the trade deal with the EU is under way.

Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Bill Cash said he is in "constant communication" with the team he is chairing, having received the full text of the treaty by courier from No 10 on Boxing Day.

Brexit endgame

Brexit endgame (Image: Express)

He said: "We are in the process of analysing it.

"It has been delivered to members of the star chamber team and we are going through it."

"It got delivered by courier today from No 10."

Mr Cash said the "issue of EU jurisdiction" is the key area that they will be examining in the 1,246-page document.

Boris Johnson: Brexit deal is ‘glad tidings of great joy’

"Sovereignty is the key issue. The ECJ (European Court of Justice) is part of that."

Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, claimed the agreement would allow Britain to put some of the divisions caused by Brexit crisis behind it.

Writing in The Times, he said: "Friendships have been strained, families were divided and our politics has been rancorous and, at times, ugly.

"We can develop a new pattern of friendly cooperation with the EU, a special relationship if you will, between sovereign equals."

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2020-12-26 13:41:00Z
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Gale weather warnings for UK as Storm Bella moves in - BBC News

A man cycles through flood water at The Barn Hotel in Bedford

Storm Bella is due to bring gusts of up to 70mph and heavy rain to the UK on Saturday, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office has issued warnings for wind and rain in parts of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and southern Scotland, with coastal areas expected to be impacted the most.

It said 15-25mm of rain is likely to fall in Wales and south-west England, with up to 40-60mm over some hills.

It comes after evacuation centres were set up amid flooding in Bedfordshire.

Residents in 1,300 homes by the River Great Ouse were advised to move out following high water levels on Christmas Day and a "severe" flood warning is in place.

The Met Office's amber weather warning for parts of Wales and southern England says travel could be disrupted from Saturday night through to Sunday morning.

It also warned that flying debris could cause injury or be a risk to life, and buildings could be damaged in the storm.

BBC Weather forecaster Susan Powell said: "Storm Bella is now looming large to the north of the UK.

"Make no mistake, this is a powerful system that will bring problems to parts of the UK."

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2020-12-26 13:40:00Z
52781268039805

Kent: Overflow lorry park cleared leaving hauliers free to head towards Dover again - Sky News

An overflow lorry park for freight drivers waiting to cross into France has been closed, leaving them free to head back towards Dover.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that by 9am on Boxing Day, all hauliers had left Manston airfield - the site used to manage disruption in Kent caused by France's travel and partial trade ban.

He added that 15,526 coronavirus tests have now been carried out on drivers, yielding 36 positive results which "are being verified".

"Manston now empty and lorries should no longer head there please," the cabinet minister said in a tweet.

Mr Shapps thanked "everyone who's worked tirelessly over the past few days to reduce the huge disruption".

"Police, military, planners, councils, charities, border staff - all have rallied to bring food and drink to stranded hauliers," he said.

The number of lorries still waiting to cross into France is now at a manageable enough number - around 1,600 - that they can join a queue on the M20.

Havoc was sprung on Kent's roads last weekend when a new coronavirus variant discovered in southeast England led to d ozens of countries quickly shutting their borders with Britain.

While most exempted hauliers, France did not, meaning any accompanied freight driven in a truck or lorry could not pass through for 48 hours.

Frantic negotiations were set up as the UK tried to get its neighbour to unblock the trade route - particularly vital in the run up to Christmas and with the end of the Brexit transition period looming.

The situation worsened as a backlog of over 5,000 lorries built up, prompting fears about potential food shortages, while the government urged people not to travel to Kent ports.

An agreement was then struck allowing accompanied freight to start travelling over the Channel by ferry or train again, provided drivers returned a negative lateral flow test.

But the backlog took days to clear, with many drivers stranded away from home over the festive period and some scuffles breaking out with police.

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2020-12-26 13:30:00Z
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Boris Johnson rallies Tories to back ‘right’ deal for Brexit Britain as full 1,246 page treaty published - The Sun

BORIS Johnson has today called for hardline Brexiteer MPs to back his historic £660billion trade deal with the EU ahead of next week's last-minute vote.

As details of the deal were today published in a document featuring a whopping 1,246 pages, the PM admitted "the devil is in the detail" - but insisted it's the right thing for both sides.

⚠️ Read our Brexit live blog for the latest news & updates

The PM posted a photo of him beaming with joy after sealing a Brexit deal with the EUCredit: Crown Copyright

It comes after years of tense negotiations with EU chiefs including Ursula von der LeyenCredit: AFP

Tension had mounted ahead of the treaty's reveal on Christmas EveCredit: PA:Press Association

The document is expected to be passed through Parliament without issue before coming into force on January 1.

MPs will be recalled from their Christmas break next Wednesday to ratify the text.

Even Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to back the triumphant treaty - and he's expected to whip his MPs to do the same.

However, some hardline Eurosceptic Tory MPs believe the UK should be leaving without a deal - meaning trade with Brussels would revert to baseline World Trade Organisation rules.

But Mr Johnson hailed the breakthrough after four and a half years of wrangling and deadlock - and says the deal has "delivered on every one of our manifesto commitments".

"I believe we now have a basis for long term friendship and partnership with the EU as sovereign equals," the Prime Minister said in a WhatsApp message to MPs seen by Sky News.

"I know the devil is in the detail but I am sure this can survive the most ruthless and Talmudic scrutiny from the star chamber legal eagles."

The so-called 'star chamber' - a panel of lawyers assembled by the European Research Group - is likely to meet tomorrow.

Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash sits on the committee and it's understood some MPs are awaiting his judgement before deciding how to vote.

The deal was struck at the end of four years of wrangling

Careers have ended and previous prime ministers have been forced to step aside in the time since Britain voted to leave

Mr Johnson finished his message: "We must remember that what the public want us to do is focus above all on defeating Covid and rebuilding our economy.

"I am glad that at least one uncertainty is now out of the way.

"P.S. On fish, we are talking hundreds of thousand of tonnes more even in the transition period! Enough fish to stretch to the South Pole and back!"

He told Brits publicly the deal brings “certainty to business, travellers and all the investors in our country — and a happy, successful and stable partnership with our friends in the EU for years to come.”

From January 1, Britain will be a fully independent nation - leaving the single market and the customs union behind.

There’ll be no dynamic alignment with EU rules in the future.

The deal also means the UK can finally cut ties with Europe's meddlesome judges and sever the bloc's red tape - as promised in the historic 2016 referendum.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier spent Christmas Day poring over the details of the huge agreement.

He said it was "mission accomplished" before making his way into EU headquarters to meet with ambassadors.

Timeline for change

YESTERDAY: Sporting Christmas jumpers, diplomats from the remaining 27 EU countries met to begin rubber stamping the new trade deal. None was expected to veto the deal — not even France.

NEXT WEEK: Brit MPs will be recalled to Parliament on December 30 to pass the laws needed for the deal to come into effect. Downing Street is confident it can pass through both Houses in one day.

NEW YEAR’S LEAVE: Britain will formally leave the transition period at 11pm on December 31 — and the new trading relationship with Brussels and other countries around the world can formally begin.

NEXT MONTH: European MEPs are furious they have to wait until January to sign off on the deal as time ran out this year for them to have a say.

Sebastian Fischer, a spokesman for the German presidency of the Council of the EU, joked he was looking forward to the diplomats' meeting "because nothing is more fun than to celebrate Christmas among socially distanced colleagues".

But despite the cheer, we revealed today the PM told Brussels: "I won't sign it - I won't" in a row over taxes hours ahead of securing the deal.

Mr Johnson warned the EU its demands to slap trade tariffs on Britain if we did not let them fish our waters forever was a deal breaker.

A source told The Sun: “The PM was ready to walk at that point.

“We were writing a script trying to explain to the world we had blown up a £660billion deal over less than a billion quid of fish.”

Mr Johnson’s hardline stance saw Brussels blink on the demand late on Tuesday, with the EU asking for a long transition for their fishing boats “as cover” for their climbdown.

And hours later, the PM told Brits his deal is “glad tidings of great joy” for the UK as we will be unshackled from 40 years of Brussels control.

What’s in the Brexit deal and what will change?

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2020-12-26 12:35:00Z
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Bedfordshire flooding: Evacuation centres set up - BBC News

Flood defences along the river in Bedford

Evacuation centres have been set up to help those affected by flooding along a river, Bedfordshire Fire Service has said.

People in 1,300 homes by the River Great Ouse were advised to move out and a "severe" flood warning is in place.

The fire service said it had "crews on the ground trying to divert water" - but the volume of water made the situation "very, very difficult".

Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson said water levels peaked at 02:00 GMT in the town.

In a tweet, he said he had received confirmation that the levels were now "receding".

Warnings for people to leave their homes remain in place.

Some residents spent Christmas night building trenches in a bid to hold off the flood water.

Gary Huntley, Franco Felice and Adrian Coleman, who dug a trench alongside the river

Gary Huntley, Franco Felice and Adrian Coleman armed themselves with shovels to dig a trench between two trees along the banks of the River Ouse.

As the night wore on, they said they were joined between 30 and 40 other residents from Tennyson Road and The Embankment. who helped with the digging and provided hot drinks.

Mr Huntley, 51, a boot camp coach, said: "We just had Christmas Dinner when Franco, my next door neighbour, said we were going to get flooded."We worked until three, had a break and came back out again at six. Fortunately, the level has dropped this morning."

Three women sat on bench in floodwaters in Bedford

The emergency assistance centres are at Bedford International Athletic Stadium and Bromham Village Hall.

More than 1,300 told to evacuate as floods hit

"We are advising people in the affected areas to evacuate, and three evacuation centres, or rest centres, have been been set up," said Paul Fuller, chief fire officer for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue.

"People have had a terrible time. We've had all the measures in place to protect people from the spread of the virus.

"It was Christmas Day yesterday, Boxing Day today, our hearts just go out to people that have now - with all that going on - had some of the highest levels of floods for over 20 years

"It's just a dreadful situation."

A police car next to high water levels in Bedford

Bedfordshire Police, meanwhile, warned of a "really serious situation".

"River levels are extremely high and we are expecting this to have a significant impact," Supt Steve Ashdown said.

"This is a really serious situation and we need people to take action in order to keep themselves safe."

An emergency assistance centre set up by Bedford Borough Council

At Bromham, near Bedford, the river was reported to be flowing at its highest recorded level.

Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson said the floods were set to be the worst seen in Bedfordshire for several years.

"The Environment Agency is expecting this to be the highest level of flooding seen in Bedford borough in a number of years and, working with partners, we are strongly encouraging people who are at risk of flooding and have been contacted to leave if they can do so safely," he said.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue working in the village of Harrold

The council said people who had been contacted and asked to evacuate were "permitted to go to other people's homes".

Bedfordshire is currently under "tier four - stay at home" Covid restrictions, which bans household mixing.

Bedfordshire Police said the flooding situation "over-rides the current Covid-19 regulations".

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2020-12-26 12:16:00Z
52781268039805

Bedfordshire flooding: Evacuation centres set up - BBC News

Evacuation centres have been set up to help those affected by flooding along a river, Bedfordshire Fire Service has said.

People in 1,300 homes by the River Great Ouse were advised to move out and a "severe" flood warning is in place.

The fire service said it had "crews on the ground trying to divert water" - but the volume of water made the situation "very, very difficult".

Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson said water levels peaked at 02:00 GMT in the town.

In a tweet, he said he had received confirmation that the levels were now "receding".

Warnings for people to leave their homes remain in place.

Some residents spent Christmas night building trenches in a bid to hold off the flood water.

Gary Huntley, Franco Felice and Adrian Coleman armed themselves with shovels to dig a trench between two trees along the banks of the River Ouse.

As the night wore on, they said they were joined between 30 and 40 other residents from Tennyson Road and The Embankment. who helped with the digging and provided hot drinks.

Mr Huntley, 51, a boot camp coach, said: "We just had Christmas Dinner when Franco, my next door neighbour, said we were going to get flooded."We went down and had a look at the situation. I said we needed to get shovels and dig a trench between the two trees."We worked until three, had a break and came back out again at six. Fortunately, the level has dropped this morning."

The emergency assistance centres are at Bedford International Athletic Stadium and Bromham Village Hall.

More than 1,300 told to evacuate as floods hit