China said on Wednesday it will lodge solemn representations to India over the Dalai Lama’s visit to the disputed border region. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a routine press conference, responding to media reports tha… read more
Three officials have been removed from their posts after a road accident in central China’s Hunan Province Monday killed 12 people, local authorities said Tuesday. A truck owned by a landscaping company overturned at about 5:50 p.m. Monday as it was t… read more
BRIAN CARLTON: Prime Minister good morning PRIME MINISTER: Yeah great to be with you. BRIAN CARLTON: Now was this a hard deal, a hard agreement to reach? And to what extent were you sort of pressured into it with the … read more
The Prime Minister was right to say that. Those who think leaving is a complex negotiation should grasp that we would not have a negotiation unless we are willing to walk away. We would have dictation by the other side.
Fortunately the PM understands the strength of the UK position, and understands that No deal would work better for us than for them. It would be a lot better than a punishment deal of the kind some in the Commission have flirted with. In reality it need not be a negotiation at all. It is a series of choices for the rest of the EU, where a friendly and positive UK offers them various advantages which they may or may not want to take up.
If they take up none of our offers when we leave we will be like most of the other 160 countries around the world that are not part of the EU. We will trade with the rest of the EU on WTO most favoured nation terms, just as we trade with China, India and the USA today. We will no longer have special sharing arrangements on defence and Intelligence, other than through our common partnership in NATO. We will impose WTO tariffs against their agricultural exports to us, with the options of growing more at home and inviting in more produce tariff free from elsewhere in the world where it suits our industry and consumers. We will reclaim our fishing grounds. We will spend our own money on our own priorities.
The UK is making a positive and generous set of offers. We are proposing that the rest of the EU keeps tariff free access to our lucrative market, with no new barriers of other kinds. They just need to agree the same for us, and they can carry on exporting so much more to us than we sell to them.
We are proposing that the UK continues to share its Intelligence with them, and to make a contribution to European defence and security initiatives and commitments.
We are proposing that the UK develops a number of friendly collaborations and partnerships in science, education, joint investments and the rest.
These need not be negotiations. They are choices for the EU to make. If they are sensible they will wish to maximise the contribution the UK makes and the access they have to our market. I remain an optimist, thinking well of our partners and expecting them to take the offers that are so manifestly in their own interest. If by any chance they do not, the UK will be just fine. Accepting the very limited tariffs on our exports allowed under WTO rules would be much cheaper than the mountainous bills some have in mind for us to pay. The tariffs we imposed on their exports to us would be much larger and could be given back to UK consumers and businesses as compensation.
If we get a decent free trade Agreement between the UK and the EU I do not expect them to ditch it at the last moment because they wish to advance Spain’s claim to Gibraltar. Gibraltar’s sovereignty rests with the Gibraltarians, who have made clear their wish by overwhelming vote to remain attached to the UK.
read moreThe security operation surrounding the Champions League final in Cardiff has been boosted by a £1.4million contribution from UK Government, Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns announced today.
The UK Government has confirmed that it has approved a Special Grant application made by the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner to cover the additional costs of policing the biggest game in European club football on 3 June.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will play host to the showpiece event which is expected to attract a worldwide audience of several hundred million and generate £45m for the Cardiff economy.
The City of Cardiff Stadium will also host the women’s Champions League final (1 June) and around 250,000 people are expected to descend on the capital to enjoy the four-day festival of events during the week.
Cardiff has consistently proven its calibre in delivering high profile events on an international stage. The eyes of the world will once again be upon us as we prepare to host the Champions League finals.
The safety and security of the hundreds of thousands of people set to flood into the city and surrounding areas at this time is of paramount importance. The UK Government is determined to ensure that Wales, and the UK, are seen in the best possible light on the worldwide stage and the policing of the event will be crucial in achieving this.
I am delighted that we have been able to provide this funding for South Wales Police. I know the whole city is looking forward to giving visiting supporters a wonderful welcome at what will be a safe and successful Champions League final later this year.
read moreI am pleased to confirm that £1.4million in special grant funding has been allocated to support South Wales Police at the Champions League final in Cardiff. I am sure it will be a fantastic event for the city of Cardiff to host.
The UK Government has protected police funding since the 2015 Spending Review and it is right that in exceptional circumstances we provide additional resources in order to make sure we keep our communities safe and secure.