Procedurally, the UK has three options: Ratify the Withdrawal Agreement (with possible accompanying changes to the Political Declaration on the future relationship with the EU) before 22 May, and cancel participation in the European Parliament elections Ratify the Withdrawal Agreement (with possible accompanying changes to the Political Declaration on the future relationship with the EU) … Continue Reading
Lord, what fools these mortals be – Shakespeare, Midsummer Night’s Dream Last Friday should have been the day the UK left the EU. Instead the Westminster Parliament, in a rare Friday sitting, rejected the Withdrawal Agreement component of the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal by a substantial majority. What has happened? Parliament has imposed “indicative votes” … Continue Reading
Summary Government strategy thrown into disarray by Speaker’s ruling that Parliament cannot vote on the May withdrawal deal again The threat of no deal Brexit on 29 March has been reduced, but not entirely removed The threat of no deal Brexit at some point in the future is still there, but remains small Brexit will … Continue Reading
Where are we now? The UK’s progress towards leaving the European Union has been a tortuous and turbulent affair. It has been marked by Prime Minister Theresa May’s Government suffering repeated heavy defeats in Parliament, which would normally have led to a change of policy if not of Government, but carrying on with its Brexit … Continue Reading
Brexit is scheduled to become effective at the end of 29 March 2019 and will take place either with a Withdrawal Agreement or without one having been entered into between the UK and the EU-27. At this point in time it is possible that the Article 50 TEU notice is withdrawn by the UK Government. … Continue Reading
Over the period since the rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Prime Minister’s tactic has been to try to bring the pro-Brexit wing of the Conservative Party, and the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionists, back on side. No.10 appear to have been successful in whittling the pro-Brexit wing’s nominal resistance to the Withdrawal Agreement (which was … Continue Reading
As it stands, the UK will cease to be a member state of the European Union (EU) as of 30 March 2019. On 24 November 2018, the UK and the EU agreed to enter into a Withdrawal Agreement (the Withdrawal Agreement). The Withdrawal Agreement provides in Article 127 (6) that during a transition period from … Continue Reading
As it stands, the UK will cease to be a member state of the European Union as of 30 March 2019. On 24 November 2018 the UK and the EU agreed to enter into a Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement provides in Article 127 (6) that during a transition period from 30 March 2019 to … Continue Reading
The ECJ rendered today, 10 December 2018, its judgement in case C 621/18 Wightman in relation to the question whether the UK can unilaterally withdraw its Brexit notice of 29 March 2017. There are three key take aways from that judgement:… Continue Reading
In an Opinion released today Advocate General Campos Sánchez-Bordona has proposed that the Court of Justice should declare that Article 50 TEU allows for the unilateral revocation of a notification by a Member State of an intention to withdraw from the EU. The Advocate General’s Opinion is not binding on the Court of Justice. Many … Continue Reading
Brexit gives rise to significant challenges for the UK in relation to VAT. The UK aspires to frictionless cross-border trade with the EU after it has left, or at least borders that are as frictionless as possible, but, at least until technology has further advanced, VAT necessitates a border between those who are inside a … Continue Reading
The government has said it will publish an immigration white paper in the coming weeks. This should provide details of the specific immigration policies that it intends to introduce. We are hoping that businesses will be given a formal opportunity to comment on these policies and raise concerns. Given that the proposals are likely to … Continue Reading
In this Tax Notes Podcast, our tax and public policy partner discusses the tax issues arising from Brexit. Tax Notes Talk are weekly discussions of cutting-edge developments in tax, including up-to-the-minute changes in federal, state, and international tax law and regulations.… Continue Reading
Faisal Islam, Political Editor at Sky News, today reported that the Trade Secretary Liam Fox is visiting Korea, a key trade partner of the UK. I noticed that Islam tweeted what has long been suspected regarding the possible rollover of the EU-Korea FTA, namely that “the EU has not and will not write key letter … Continue Reading
The clock is ticking! With only seven months left until the leaves the EU on 29 March 2019. With the European Council Summit on 18 October 2018 eagerly anticipated by all parties there is some expectation, that until that date it will not be resolved whether the UK and EU are able to agree on … Continue Reading
Click here to read Dickie Chan’s discussion on the proposed VAT rules that will apply if the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019 without a deal on trade or other laws and regulations.… Continue Reading
On 18 July 2018, the German Department of State distributed to associations in Germany, a first ministerial draft of a German Federal Brexit Implementation Act, Brexit-Übergangsgesetz (BrexitÜG), for consultation by 8 August 2018.… Continue Reading
On 19 July 2018 the EU Commission published a paper on “Preparing for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 30 March 2019”. The paper deals both with a “Deal Scenario” where the EU27 and the UK enter into a binding Withdrawal Agreement prior to 29 March 2019 and also with a “No … Continue Reading
On Friday, the British Cabinet met in Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat, to agree among itself, a position to propose to the EU27 on its intended future relationship with the EU after Brexit. A mere two years after the referendum. Key points involved agreeing to maintain a “common rulebook” for all goods and agricultural … Continue Reading
Please see below our latest insight into the legal position of the proposed Brexit transition period. Firstly we have examined the legality of the transition period; if the transition period applies in the domestic jurisdictions of the other 27 Member States; taken a closer look at identifying any gaps in EU law during the transition … Continue Reading
The Home Office recently published details of its EU Settlement Scheme with information on how EU citizens in the UK can apply for settled or pre-settled status when the scheme is phased in towards the end of 2018. Our Brexit FAQs provide practical guidance on the key points of the scheme and can be forwarded … Continue Reading
This week we’ve partnered with EEF on a new report ‘Navigating Brexit: the Migration Minefield’. The report highlights the need for clarity, simplicity and urgency in the Government’s messaging to stem the flow of EU citizens from the UK, taking their much needed skills with them. A copy of the full report can be accessed … Continue Reading
Some surprises have been unearthed in a report from Parliament’s European Scrutiny Committee on the future of VAT in the UK after Brexit. Published in accountingweb.co.uk this week, Jeremy Cape examines the report and demystifies what it means. The European Scrutiny Committee, chaired by long-time eurosceptic Sir William Cash, published its report on VAT: EU … Continue Reading
The UK’s retail sector is one amongst many that will be significantly affected by the country’s withdrawal from the EU following a transition period. Yesterday we are launched the first edition of the Quarterly UK Retail Brexit Trade Review. The Review contains economic, policy and legal analysis on the impact of changed trading terms and … Continue Reading
