![]() The spokesman denied efforts to find a replacement were being put on hold due to concerns nobody would take the job.Īsked about the specifics of the reasons given by Lord Geidt for his resignation, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: " could continue as it was before, but he hasn’t made a final decision," the spokesman added. The spokesman said the PM was nonetheless committed to "rigorous oversight and scrutiny of ministerial interests." ![]() Speaking to political reporters in the daily lobby briefing, the prime minister’s official spokesman said Lord Geidt had raised issues about the role and therefore Mr Johnson will "carefully consider" those points before taking any steps to appoint a replacement. It is understood the case relates to potentially increasing the length of time that tariffs apply to certain steel imports.īoris Johnson will review the role of independent adviser on ministerial interests before seeking to appoint a successor to Lord Geidt. "The report of findings is an analytical piece of work designed to inform Government decision-making and does not contain recommendations from the TRA." "The TRA has carried out analysis under the government's direction and we provided a report of findings to the secretary of state for international trade on 1 June. "The TRA case to which the letter appears to refer was 'called in' by the government earlier this year, meaning that the government holds full decision-making authority in relation to the case. This afternoon, the TRA said: "We have been made aware of the prime minister’s letter to Lord Geidt today. The TRA "investigates whether new trade remedies are needed to prevent injury to UK industries caused by unfair trading practices and unforeseen surges in imports", according to its website. In the exchange of letters between Boris Johnson and his ethics chief Lord Geidt when the latter resigned, the prime minster says he was seeking advice "on potential decisions related to the Trade Remedies Authority ". Tune in to Beth Rigby Interviews at 9 o'clock tonight - watch live on Sky 501, Virgin 602, YouTube and here on the Politics Hub on the live stream at the top of the page. In reality a non-negotiated settlement will throw up more problems than it solves. ![]() “I think here we have to hope for the best, be prepared for the worst,” says Mr Sefcovic. “We have to keep all options on the table.”īut against the context of a war in Ukraine, energy price rises and climate change, the continued bilateral difficulties between the UK and the EU over Brexit has created, again, an ill-timed point of tension between old allies and friends. Now, the government are asking the leading Unionist party to return to the Northern Ireland Assembly arrangements once the Northern Ireland Protocol passed the House of Commons (there is widespread agreement it will get stuck for months in the House of Lords).Īnd for all the EU’s indignation, Boris Johnson's move this week did prompt the Commission to come forward with new customs proposal to reduce checks.Ĭould it be that the landing zone could be found after all if both sides move?įor now though, negotiations are stalled, relations are scratchy, the Northern Ireland assembly is on ice and the European Union is taking legal action against the UK, which could result in fines and may eventually lead to a trade war in three years’ time. The DUP won’t come back to the table unless changes to the protocol are put into law. On the substance then, the EU wants to get back around the table, if the UK can get past what the EU clearly believe are domestic political considerations - driven by Boris Johnson’s confidence vote and his current political weakness (a charge two cabinet ministers have told me is simply not the case).īut there is a political imperative here for the prime minister, power sharing in Stormont. It is very much ripping up the Protocol and I don’t think that is good for anyone.” “We are here for the results, not political point scoring…we are in a fixing business, but I am afraid to say what was tabled on Monday is very much nixing. Vice-President Sefcovic quite pointedly told me that the EU was not about “political point scoring” in the negotiations and this is what he said when I asked him if he thought the UK was: “I cannot resist the impression that the tabling of this Bill is politically driven, but its not our role to comment on the internal politics of the UK and therefore our doors for the negotiations will always be open.
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