Friday 3rd February 2017
Posted: Fri 03 Feb, 2017 7:10 am
Morning all.
Foreign policy insider: ‘No readout of Trump-Putin call because White House turned off recording’
3.3 The current devolution settlements were created in the context of the UK’s membership of the EU. All three settlements set out that devolved legislatures only have legislative competence – the ability to make law – in devolved policy areas as long as that law is compatible with EU law.The Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN))
The JMC(EN) is chaired by the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU and its members include ministers from each of the UK devolved administrations.
JMC(EN) has met on a monthly basis since its inception, and will continue to meet regularly to understand and consider each administration’s priorities; to seek to agree a UK approach to, and objectives for, negotiations, and to consider proposals put forward by the devolved administrations.
At the first meeting, held in November, ministers set out their priorities for discussion at JMC(EN) and agreed to develop further the proposed work programme to ensure its connection to and involvement with the process of negotiations. Ministers agreed to meet monthly to share evidence and to take forward joint analysis, which would inform that work programme.
At the second meeting, held in December, ministers discussed their priorities relating to law enforcement, security and criminal justice, civil judicial cooperation, immigration and trade. There was a follow up discussion from the last meeting of JMC(EN) on market access. Ministers agreed that officials should take forward joint analysis across the range of issues being considered by JMC(EN) and captured in the work programme. Ministers agreed to continue to engage bilaterally ahead of the next meeting in January.
At the third meeting in January, the Scottish Government presented its paper on Scotland’s Place in Europe and the Committee agreed to undertake bilateral official-level discussions on the Scottish Government proposals.
UK government departments also continue their significant bilateral engagement on the key issues relating to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and on ongoing business.
3.6 We must also recognise the importance of trade within the UK to all parts of the Union. For example, Scotland’s exports to the rest of the UK are estimated to be four times greater than those to the EU27 (in 2015, £49.8 billion compared with £12.3 billion).6 So our guiding principle will be to ensure that – as we leave the EU – no new barriers to living and doing business within our own Union are created. We will maintain the necessary common standards and frameworks for our own domestic market, empowering the UK as an open, trading nation to strike the best trade deals around the world and protecting our common resources.The recent history of devolution
The UK’s constitutional arrangements have evolved over time and been adapted to reflect the unique circumstances of the world’s most successful and enduring multi-nation state. These arrangements provide all of the UK with the space to pursue different domestic policies should they wish to, whilst protecting and preserving the benefits of being part of the wider UK.
The current arrangements for governing the UK have been in place for almost 20 years. In September 1997, referendums were held in Scotland and Wales and a majority of voters chose to establish a Scottish Parliament and a National Assembly for Wales.
In Northern Ireland, devolution was a key part of the Belfast Agreement, which was supported by voters in a referendum in May 1998. The UK Parliament passed legislation
in 1998 to establish the three devolved legislatures and administrations and set out their powers. Throughout the last two decades, the settlements have continued to evolve; for example, new tax raising powers were devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Act 2016 and the model of Welsh devolution was altered by the Wales Act 2017.
The UK Government acts in the interests of the whole UK and is responsible for the UK's international relations, including negotiations with the EU. It transacts those responsibilities in close consultation with the devolved administrations, underpinned by the principles set out in the Memorandum of Understanding agreed by all the administrations.
3.9 As the UK leaves the EU, the unique relationships that the Crown Dependencies of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and the Overseas Territories have with the EU will also change. Gibraltar will have particular interests, given that the EU Treaties apply to a large extent in Gibraltar, with some exceptions (for example, Gibraltar is not part of the Customs Union).8Devolved administrations’ proposals
In addition to the broad programme of engagement through JMC(EN), the UK Government has committed to examine any proposals brought forward by the devolved administrations. To date papers have been published by the Scottish and Welsh Governments.
In December, the Scottish Government published Scotland’s Place in Europe,7 which was presented to JMC(EN) in January.
The paper set out three priorities:
1. influencing the overall UK position so that the UK remains in the European Single Market, through the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement and also in the EU Customs Union;
2. exploring differentiated options for how Scotland could remain a member of the European Single Market and retain aspects of EU membership, even if the rest of the UK leaves; and
3. safeguarding and significantly expanding the powers of the Scottish Parliament.
The UK and Scottish Governments are taking forward further discussions on the proposals detailed in the paper.
In January, the Welsh Government published Securing Wales’ Future,8 which set out a joint position with Plaid Cymru. The paper, which will be discussed at a future JMC(EN) meeting, set out the Welsh Government’s views on six areas:
1. the importance of continued participation in the Single Market;
2. a balanced approach to immigration linking migration to jobs and good, properly enforced employment practices;
3. on finance and investment, Wales should not lose funding as a result of the UK leaving the EU;
4. a fundamentally different constitutional relationship between the devolved governments and the UK Government;
5. maintaining social and environmental protections; and
6. proper consideration of transitional arrangements.
The Northern Ireland Executive has not published a White Paper on EU exit. However, the former First and deputy First Ministers wrote to the Prime Minister setting out the key priorities for Northern Ireland last August. Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive have participated in JMC(EN) discussions and presented evidence on the impact of EU exit in Northern Ireland and the priorities for Northern Ireland from the new relationship with the EU.
Bilateral discussions will now be taken forward between each of the devolved administrations and the UK Government to fully understand their priorities, which will inform the continuing discussions.
There are many areas where the devolved administrations and the UK Government agree, including on the importance of providing certainty for businesses across the UK, maintaining strong trading links with the EU, protecting the status of EU nationals in the UK and UK nationals in the EU and protecting workers’ rights.
This would be wholly and entirely disputed by the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to the extent that this is a good example of the white paper as assertion of the reality they'd like to exist rather than the one that actually does. You're entitled to your own opinions but you're not entitled to your own facts.3.1 We have ensured since the referendum that the devolved administrations are fully engaged in our preparations to leave the EU and we are working with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver an outcome that works for the whole of the UK. In seeking such a deal we will look to secure the specific interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as those of all parts of England. A good deal will be one that works for all parts of the UK.
Yes well put Adam!adam wrote:This would be wholly and entirely disputed by the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to the extent that this is a good example of the white paper as assertion of the reality they'd like to exist rather than the one that actually does. You're entitled to your own opinions but you're not entitled to your own facts.3.1 We have ensured since the referendum that the devolved administrations are fully engaged in our preparations to leave the EU and we are working with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver an outcome that works for the whole of the UK. In seeking such a deal we will look to secure the specific interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as those of all parts of England. A good deal will be one that works for all parts of the UK.
I'm also not sure they should be discussing anything about arrangements for Gibraltar without acknowledging how overwhelming support for remaining within the EU was in Gibraltar.PaulfromYorkshire wrote: And of course it's blindingly obvious that the "good deal that works for all parts of the UK" is to remain in the EU
Before the Scottish referendum there was a year+ long process of bi-partisan and non-partisan (insofar as such a thing is possible) reporting into different aspects of the process - into what the issues were and what they might mean, into exactly what was intended to happen across a range of different issues.HindleA wrote:https://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2017 ... -tell.html
Stories MPs tell
Mainlymacro
"So much of the Brexit process has been about perceptions of reality rather than reality itself. Perceptions that immigration reduces access to public services, when the opposite is true. Perceptions that leaving the EU would give us more money to spend on the NHS, rather than less as we are now finding out. And perceptions that Turkey was about to join the EU. But above all else, if you believe the Ashcroft findings, a feeling of a loss in sovereignty. Here feeling is not my word, but from the White paper the government released yesterday. To quote (para 2,1):
"Whilst Parliament has remained sovereign throughout our membership of the EU, it has not always felt like that."
Now where would all those misperceptions have come from? "
You can add several more to the list, from this letter alone. I hope you can enlarge it sufficiently to read.yahyah wrote:I hope someone's keeping a list of reasons to Brexit.
1. I went to the supermarket and the bananas were straight.
2. The EU were nasty to Greece, vote Leave to punish them and give Merkel a headache.
3. Immigration. Too many foreigners. Not the right kind of foreigners. I'm not racist but I don't like foreigners. Illegal immigrants stole my bendy banana.
4. EU 'elf & safety's gorn mad mate.
5. He's a larf that Boris.
6. I'm not voting Brexit, I'm voting for Lexit. Haven't got the foggiest idea how that will work with the Tories in charge, but hey, I'm a dreamer.
7. Brexit will start the collapse of the EU.
8. Lexit will start the collapse of the EU, and in the chaos that ensues we'll build a socialist utopia.
It'll be a gas, man. What we've dreamt of since the 60's. Right on and to the barricades.
9. If you vote Remain you are with Osborne & Cameron so vote Leave to stick it to them.
10. That nice Mr Farage said we'd get £350 million a week more for the NHS.
11. Vote Brexit to shake up the elites.
Precisely!adam wrote:This would be wholly and entirely disputed by the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to the extent that this is a good example of the white paper as assertion of the reality they'd like to exist rather than the one that actually does. You're entitled to your own opinions but you're not entitled to your own facts.3.1 We have ensured since the referendum that the devolved administrations are fully engaged in our preparations to leave the EU and we are working with the administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to deliver an outcome that works for the whole of the UK. In seeking such a deal we will look to secure the specific interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as those of all parts of England. A good deal will be one that works for all parts of the UK.
The brilliant thing about Open Seas was I could never tell whether it was amazing parody or awful reality.Rusty wrote:Great to see that salty old seadog OpenSeas pop in to the chamber last night. I haven’t heard from him since the glory days of the AS blog during the run up to the 2015 election. He was of course instrumental in defeating the tribal Labour consensus which prevailed amongst the faithful at the time.
Good to see you’re still doing well OS.If you’re not there already, get yourself on Twitter; it’s a laugh riot. For those of you already on Twitter, I highly recommend the #PrayforDiane hashtag. It hilariously chronicles some of the scepticism surrounding the sudden ‘illness’ which befell Diane Abbott, in the moments leading up to the politically-inconvenient Article 50 vote.
Happy Friday all! The sun is shining here in London! Let’s all have a good one.
Rusty
Indeed. A bored Viz writer?PaulfromYorkshire wrote:The brilliant thing about Open Seas was I could never tell whether it was amazing parody or awful reality.Rusty wrote:Great to see that salty old seadog OpenSeas pop in to the chamber last night. I haven’t heard from him since the glory days of the AS blog during the run up to the 2015 election. He was of course instrumental in defeating the tribal Labour consensus which prevailed amongst the faithful at the time.
Good to see you’re still doing well OS.If you’re not there already, get yourself on Twitter; it’s a laugh riot. For those of you already on Twitter, I highly recommend the #PrayforDiane hashtag. It hilariously chronicles some of the scepticism surrounding the sudden ‘illness’ which befell Diane Abbott, in the moments leading up to the politically-inconvenient Article 50 vote.
Happy Friday all! The sun is shining here in London! Let’s all have a good one.
Rusty
On the positive side, vegetables and salad goods becoming increasingly expensive make them desirable luxury food items.PaulfromYorkshire wrote:@HindleA
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/mi ... g-12550065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
12 lettuce for £50
Awful person, but sometimes a better *poster* than our other "friend" Rusty - was prepared on a good day to actually have a discussion rather than just troll.PaulfromYorkshire wrote:The brilliant thing about Open Seas was I could never tell whether it was amazing parody or awful reality.Rusty wrote:Great to see that salty old seadog OpenSeas pop in to the chamber last night. I haven’t heard from him since the glory days of the AS blog during the run up to the 2015 election. He was of course instrumental in defeating the tribal Labour consensus which prevailed amongst the faithful at the time.
Good to see you’re still doing well OS.If you’re not there already, get yourself on Twitter; it’s a laugh riot. For those of you already on Twitter, I highly recommend the #PrayforDiane hashtag. It hilariously chronicles some of the scepticism surrounding the sudden ‘illness’ which befell Diane Abbott, in the moments leading up to the politically-inconvenient Article 50 vote.
Happy Friday all! The sun is shining here in London! Let’s all have a good one.
Rusty
Get together and put the brakes on. Cobble together a majority for the Norway option and sod the 'will of the people', which might have been for that anyway if the campaigns had been conducted more honestly.PaulfromYorkshire wrote:Continuing from above. What does Parliament do with a *hite Paper like this?
WillOfThePeople!AngryAsWell wrote:JPMorgan on Brexit white paper: 'Shallowness of the analysis and absence of detail are matters of great concern'
http://uk.businessinsider.com/brexit-wh ... ail-2017-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Will-O-the-Wisp - and all that that entails.StephenDolan wrote:WillOfThePeople!AngryAsWell wrote:JPMorgan on Brexit white paper: 'Shallowness of the analysis and absence of detail are matters of great concern'
http://uk.businessinsider.com/brexit-wh ... ail-2017-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
PorFavor wrote:Will-O-the-Wisp - and all that that entails.StephenDolan wrote:WillOfThePeople!AngryAsWell wrote:JPMorgan on Brexit white paper: 'Shallowness of the analysis and absence of detail are matters of great concern'
http://uk.businessinsider.com/brexit-wh ... ail-2017-2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Though that was always a far smaller group than some now like to imply.NonOxCol wrote:Difficult not to be furious at the "she's just as bad" crew...
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