Evaluation of UK’s international obligations
Amnesty International has condemned the ruling of the High Court which prevents claims against Shell by two Niger Delta communities which were devastated by oil spills being heard in the UK. The organisation stated that this could rob the communities of justice and allow UK multinationals to commit abuses overseas with impunity.
UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU
The Financial Times has argued that the Brexit bill is likely to face its biggest trials in the House of Lords. However it was widely considered likely that the bill would pass through the Commons without amendment as the Tory rebels backed off following Theresa May’s promise of a white paper. The formal process of debating the art 50 bill began in the Commons , with a published notice of amendments released on 30 Jan 2017. The Commons Committee stage is due to take place early next week with the Report and Third Reading on Wednesday.
In the formal vote, the art 50 bill passed in the Commons with 498 votes against 114. Following the vote, the Government published the promised White Paper on exiting the EU.
Theresa May will discuss her visit to Trump and Brexit at the EU migration summit in Malta, where EU leaders will seek reassurance that the UK exit strategy will not lead to the UK dropping international cooperation.
A legal challenge has begun in the High Court, arguing that Parliament must legislate separately to the art 50 legislation to remove the UK from the EEA and the single market.
Ex-EU ambassador, Sir Ivan Rogers, has warned that Brexit negotiations will be a “humongous” task. This was in giving evidence to the Commons Select Committee.
Think-tank The UK in a changing Europe has published a report entitled ‘A successful Brexit: Four economic tests’, outlining a framework to judge whether Brexit has been successful. The think-tank has also published a survey, showing profound divisions among MPs over Brexit.
Open Britain has published a report considering the position of Gibraltar post Brexit. However, concern has been expressed that Spain may use the issue of Gibraltar to “hold the UK hostage” in the Brexit negotiations.
The Law Society has called for legal certainty in Brexit negotiations.
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