What the Landmark Brexit Deal Means for Science

POLITICS AND SCIENCE

Elizabeth Gibney

Nature | January 05, 2021

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson — who campaigned for Britain to leave the European Union — signs the Brexit trade deal, struck on 24 December.Credit: Leon Neal/Getty

Researchers reacted with relief to the news that the United Kingdom and the European Union had reached a last-minute trade deal on 24 December — ending more than four years of uncertainty over what their relationship after Brexit would look like.

The Brexit Deal

IMPLICATIONS OF BREXIT

Michael Roberts’ Blog | December 29, 2020

The UK finally leaves the European Union on 31 December, after 48 years of membership.  The initial decision to leave, made in the special referendum back in June 2016, has taken over four tortuous years to implement.  So what does the deal mean for British capital and labour?

For British manufacturers, the tariff-free regime of the EU’s internal market has been maintained.  But the British government will have to renegotiate new bilateral treaties with governments across the world, whereas previously they were included within EU deals.  People will no longer be able to work freely in both economies by right, all goods will require significant additional paperwork to cross borders and some will be checked extensively to verify they comply with local regulatory standards.  Frictionless trade is over; indeed, that’s even between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain with a new customs border across the Irish Sea.

Brexit’s Back: The Five Issues That Will Shape Science

POLITICS AND SCIENCE

Holly Else & Elizabeth Gibney

Nature | October 19, 2020

The United Kingdom will have a new arrangement with the European Union from 1 January.Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty

Many researchers might wish they could forget about Brexit. But they can’t. The United Kingdom has left the European Union, and for the past ten months it has been in a ‘transition period’ during which little changed. On 1 January 2021, that will end, bringing changes to public life and policy — including that governing research.

UK and EU negotiators are still trying to agree a trade deal that will determine their future relationship, including issues that affect science. But with only weeks left to make an agreement that can be approved in time, talks have stalled. The alternative ‘no deal’ scenario is widely predicted to cause chaos, because regulations that control people, goods and services would change abruptly overnight.

Behind Britain’s Brexit mess: A push to destroy workers’ rights

by John Wojcik

People’s World | September 11, 2019

Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters shout at each other opposite the Houses of Parliament in London, March 14, 2019. | Matt Dunham / AP

LISBON, Portugal—Britain’s version of Donald Trump, right-wing Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was handed a major defeat Monday when his second try at calling an election to solve the Brexit mess was rebuffed.

Labor and left forces in Britain say his call for a “snap election” is nothing more than an attempt to crush the opposition Labour Party, whose leader Jeremy Corbyn has been pushing for a deal to exit the European Union with measures that will support job creation and labor rights in Britain. Johnson wants a “no-deal” exit from the EU so his ruling Tory Party can be free to undermine further the standard of living of British workers.

UK: Johnson Calls for Election After Humiliating Brexit Defeat

teleSUR | September 04, 2019

 

An anti-Brexit protester wearing a clown costume and a defaced mask depicting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a placard outside the Houses of the Parliament in London, Britain, September 4, 2019. | Photo: Reuters

Boris Johnson’s bid for an election is set to be initially thwarted as opposition parties are united in wanting to prevent a no-deal Brexit before agreeing to a vote.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Wednesday demanded an Oct. 15 snap election after lawmakers seeking to prevent a no-deal Brexit dealt him a humiliating defeat in parliament which he cast as an attempt to surrender to the European Union.

BREXIT-BATTLE: The UK-monarchy could be abolished after Queen approves PM’s plan to suspend Parliament, says Labour MP “Parliament surrenders to EU”: UK newspapers

A Journal of People report

Brexit-battle in the UK is raging. The UK Parliament’s vote to open debate on a motion blocking a no-deal Brexit leaves the UK in a state of chaos not seen in post-WW II period. The chaos has already touched the monarchy there.

The plan to suspend Parliament was heavily criticized by opposition parties and some Conservative MPs.

On Tuesday night in the House of Commons, MPs voted to take control of parliament in a bid to avoid a no-deal exit from the European Union.

Queen suspends parliament in UK: Uproar follows: “A British coup”

A Journal of People report

A man wearing a mask of Boris Johnson protests outside Downing Street in London, Britain August 28, 2019. | Photo: Reuters

The British Queen approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plea of suspending parliament from early September to October 14. Opponents have accused Johnson of leading a “very British coup”. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said, “Suspending Parliament is not acceptable, it is not on. What the prime minister is doing is a smash and grab on our democracy to force through a no deal.”

Corbyn has reportedly written to the Queen about Johnson’s request to suspend parliament and asked the monarch for a meeting on the issue.

March 29: The Brexit day that never was

by Al Neal

Peoples’ World | March 29, 2019

Remain in the European Union supporters wear blindfolds as they take part in a protest event organized by the People’s Vote Campaign. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn justified his party’s vote against Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal by calling it a “Blindfold Brexit” because of the lack of a political outline for future EU-U.K. relations | Matt Dunham / AP

LONDON—As the sun broke through the few scattered clouds this morning, the people of Britain woke up to Brexit day…or at least what was supposed to be the U.K.’s official withdrawal date from the European Union after 46 years of membership.

Instead, the island is shrouded in uncertainty with a lame duck prime minister shuffling toward her own exit from power at the same that she has failed to deliver her country’s exit from the EU. A day three years in the making, after Britain voted to leave in June 2016, has now come, but lawmakers here still have no clear path forward on when, or even if, the country will leave the EU.

Corbyn to May: ‘Do the right thing and resign’

by Lamiat Sabin

Morning Star | January 16, 2019

Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during the debate for the government no confidence motion in the House of Commons today

JEREMY CORBYN drove a stake into the heart of the “zombie” Tory government today, declaring that Prime Minister Theresa May’s “Frankenstein deal” was now “officially dead.”

He said the PM should do “the right thing” and resign after losing both “confidence and supply” in Parliament and let the people of Britain decide on the way ahead with a general election.

Military prepare for post-Brexit civil war in Britain and Northern Ireland

by Steve James

Junior Defence Minister Tobias Elwood says 50,000 soldiers had to be readied for deployment on Britain’s streets in the event of a “no-deal” Brexit.

With Britain’s scheduled exit from the European Union (EU) less than 90 days away, his comments, quoted from an anonymous source in Saturday’s Timesnewspaper, confirm that the ruling elite is preparing for the potential eruption of a civil war.

The Times reported, “Ministers at a no-deal Brexit planning meeting on Thursday [January 3] were told that 30,000 regular troops and 20,000 reserves must be ready to help manage the consequences.” Elwood was reported as warning that the troops had to be in place “in case of civil unrest, to assist at Britain’s airports and to ensure fuel and medical supplies.”