UK & other courts
Campaigners from the Gulf Centre for Human Rights have lost a challenge in the Court of Appeal in which they accused Theresa May of abandoning the longstanding principle that members of the Government should be bound by international law in the ministerial code.
UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU
Data released by Facebook to the digital, culture, media and sport select committee has shown that key figures working with the official campaign for Brexit planned to pump out controversial pro-Leave advertisements to millions of voters the day after the Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered in June 2016, despite an agreement by all sides to suspend national activities out of respect.
The Times reports that Britain has privately conceded that EU judges will be legal arbiter of disputes over payments to Brussels and the residency rights of more than three million European citizens.
Some of Labour’s most Eurosceptic MPs are facing a backlash from angry grassroots members who are seeking their censure or even deselection for defying the party whip on Brexit.
Liam Fox has stated that no deal would be preferable to a Brexit extension, with voters growing impatient with the time being taken to negotiate the EU exit.
A survey by the UK in a Changing Europe has asked people to rank 13 priorities for the UK over the next five years, finding that leave voters prioritise sovereignty over immigration and economic growth.
Officials from Brussels have stated that the EU’s declaration on the trade and security relationship with the UK after Brexit will be just five to 30 pages long, reflecting a lack of time to have an internal debate and scepticism that Theresa May will remain in Downing Street to deliver it. Meanwhile the Financial Times reports that the EU is willing to ‘fudge’ crucial Brexit negotiations – and offer the UK a vague blueprint for future ties with the bloc – if it helps Theresa May avoid a ‘no deal’ outcome.
In a move to pressure Eurosceptic MPs to support Theresa May’s plan, the Prime Minister has warned that the Labour party could use the ‘humble address’ procedure to stop the UK leaving the EU without a deal id MPs vote against the Brexit compromise in the autumn.
Theresa May is to cut her holiday in Lake Garda short to meet Emmanuel Macron to try and sell her Brexit plan to him. However Whitehall sources have warned that the French president will be hard to win over, though his influence could prove vital with the rest of the EU27, and the French Government has rejected the idea that Theresa May can soften France’s hardline Brexit stance.
Regarding defence and security, the European Commission has announced that the EU NAVFOR Operational Headquarters is to relocate from Northwood in the UK to Rota in Spain, and the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa is to relocate to Brest in France.
The European Commission has published a discussion by Michel Barnier of a plan for an ambitious partnership with the UK post-Brexit.
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