CEO of Morgan Industries
Superstar
But he wasn't elected by the public.But they have a brown man as the PM now
EDIT: Damn, I'm slow.
Brexit Is Teaching Britain A Lesson In Humility; Boris Johnson finalizes EU Exit Deal!
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EDIT: Damn, I'm slow.
Post-Brexit controls on food and farm imports start - BBC News
Wednesday marks the first step in new rules around UK imports of food and animals from the EU.
www.bbc.co.uk
ADevilYouKhow
Rhyme Reason
Post-Brexit controls on food and farm imports start - BBC News
Wednesday marks the first step in new rules around UK imports of food and animals from the EU.
It’ll be just like post WWII! Every little Englanders dream!
Iceson Beckford
Rich In Spirit.
Whoever said Tory would contest Sunak, is not far off.
There is no way, the general population will vote for a brown man and the tories know this.
Indians doing all that selling out for nothing
Damn, are we seeing the beginnings of Northern Ireland leave the UK, and fuse with Ireland?
CEO of Morgan Industries
Superstar
Wild that Sinn Fein is leading Stormont. Who ever would have believed that would be possible in Northern Ireland?
I don't think re-unification will happen any time soon because I'm not sure the Irish in the south want to take on the economic challenges of re-unification, but who knows. Maybe the pride of being a unified nation will overwhelm the economic costs like it did in Germany.
Mhm. But like I have heard Gen Z, like in other countries, just are turning against the old ways. I am sure as more generations happen, like maybe within decades this could be on the table as they prefer EU over UK stuff.
CEO of Morgan Industries
Superstar
This is a good point, especially because Northern Ireland has that special status due to the Windsor Framework where they basically have single market access to EU goods because there's only an Irish Sea border and not a hard land border. That probably will be influential to people who grow up in NI and come to appreciate what they can access from the larger and more well-off EU market.
Dover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports
Farmers opposing foreign imports stage a slow-moving tractor protest on roads around Dover.
www.bbc.com
Dover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports
2 hours ago
By Dan Sexton & Tanya GuptaBBC News, South East
The protesting farmers in Dover said they did not want to cause disruption but they wanted to raise awareness
Tractors are lining up on roads outside Dover as farmers protest against foreign imports of food.
Kent Police said they were currently responding to an incident of "slow-moving vehicles" in Jubilee Way, one of the main roads heading to the port.
Officers were working with Port of Dover Police, the force said.
One farmer said on social media he was protesting over food trade deals. The BBC has contacted the government for comment.
Jeffrey Gibson, from Yew Tree Farm in Wingham, Kent, said supermarkets were selling British produce at "cheaper than the cost of production", adding farmers would be taking their tractors to the Port of Dover on Friday evening.
Traffic built up around the port as farmers took to the roads
The protest follows similar demos in France in recent weeks which saw French farmers move tractors to blockade routes into Paris, arguing they had been hit by falling incomes, environmental regulations, rising red tape and competition from imports. Across Europe, farmers have also ramped up protests in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Belgium.
Mr Gibson about 30 tractors had gathered on roads around the port but were "dispersed" at the moment because police had blocked off many of the roads, adding: "They are not allowing us anywhere near the port."
He said protesters wanted to raise awareness of how unfairly farmers were being treated.
He said: "We produce crops to the highest standards in the world, but have to compete with imported foods containing illegal chemicals and the government does trade deals with those countries."
Farmers are using their vehicles to protest against foreign imports
He said Friday's protest was only planned at lunchtime and so far about 30 tractors were taking part.
But he added: "This is just the start of something a lot bigger unless the government start to take notice."
He said protests could escalate to the level of those seen in Paris and Brussels.
"We don't want to cause disruption," he said.
"We want to get the message across."
He said protesters would stay out on Friday night for as long as possible to raise awareness of their cause.
One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports
Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.
sounds like these farmers need to be more competitiveDover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports
Farmers opposing foreign imports stage a slow-moving tractor protest on roads around Dover.www.bbc.comDover: Slow tractor demo as farmers protest over imports
2 hours ago
By Dan Sexton & Tanya GuptaBBC News, South East
PA Media
The protesting farmers in Dover said they did not want to cause disruption but they wanted to raise awareness
Tractors are lining up on roads outside Dover as farmers protest against foreign imports of food.
Kent Police said they were currently responding to an incident of "slow-moving vehicles" in Jubilee Way, one of the main roads heading to the port.
Officers were working with Port of Dover Police, the force said.
One farmer said on social media he was protesting over food trade deals. The BBC has contacted the government for comment.
Jeffrey Gibson, from Yew Tree Farm in Wingham, Kent, said supermarkets were selling British produce at "cheaper than the cost of production", adding farmers would be taking their tractors to the Port of Dover on Friday evening.
PA Media
Traffic built up around the port as farmers took to the roads
The protest follows similar demos in France in recent weeks which saw French farmers move tractors to blockade routes into Paris, arguing they had been hit by falling incomes, environmental regulations, rising red tape and competition from imports. Across Europe, farmers have also ramped up protests in Poland, Hungary, Spain and Belgium.
Mr Gibson about 30 tractors had gathered on roads around the port but were "dispersed" at the moment because police had blocked off many of the roads, adding: "They are not allowing us anywhere near the port."
He said protesters wanted to raise awareness of how unfairly farmers were being treated.
He said: "We produce crops to the highest standards in the world, but have to compete with imported foods containing illegal chemicals and the government does trade deals with those countries."
PA Media
Farmers are using their vehicles to protest against foreign imports
He said Friday's protest was only planned at lunchtime and so far about 30 tractors were taking part.
But he added: "This is just the start of something a lot bigger unless the government start to take notice."
He said protests could escalate to the level of those seen in Paris and Brussels.
"We don't want to cause disruption," he said.
"We want to get the message across."
He said protesters would stay out on Friday night for as long as possible to raise awareness of their cause.
PA Media
One truck displayed the slogan No More Cheap Imports
Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.
the next guy
Superstar
The CEO of Europe’s largest airline is about to trigger a $108 million bonus that British shareholders can’t vote on because of Brexit
Ryanair’s stock is just a dollar away from triggering the massive bonus for CEO Michael O’Leary.
Holidaymakers going to EU caught out by 10-year-passport rule
UK passports can have up to 10 years and nine months on them but EU countries won't accept them.
www.bbc.com
Holidaymakers going to EU caught out by 10-year-passport rule
23 minutes agoBy Marc Ashdown, BBC Business correspondent
Holidaymakers are being warned not to get caught out by the "passport 10 year rule" which can ruin EU travel plans.
UK travellers used to be able to carry up to nine months from an old passport over on to a new one. But post-Brexit, EU countries will not accept passports issued more than 10 years ago.
Home Office data suggests 32 million people had applied for passports that if granted would be over 10 years old.
Among them is Nathan Barnes who was refused boarding on a flight to France.
Mr Barnes, a 31-year-old paramedic from Norwich, was on his way to Limoges with his fiancée to visit family.
Nathan Barnes could not board his flight to France as his passport was issued more than 10 years ago
Despite checking in for the flight online, and going through security and passport control, he was stopped at the departure gate.
"My passport had been issued more than 10 years previously," he said. "They were very matter of fact about it, they just said 'sorry you can't board, off you pop'."
"I was gutted, surprised really. We had checked in online and thought it was fine," he added.
Since the UK left the EU, travellers heading to all countries within the zone - and including Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland, but not Ireland - must have a passport which was issued less than 10 years before their departure date.
It must also be valid for three months after their planned return date.
However, if a UK passport was issued before September 2018, it could in fact be valid for up to 10 years and nine months.
This is because before that the passport office used to add up to nine months from an old passport on to a new one.
Home Office data suggested that between March 2014 and September 2018 there were 32.1 million applications for a UK passport.
Are you affected by the 10-year rule?
- If your passport was issued between March 2014 and September 2018 you could be affected
- If it was issued more than 10 years ago it is invalid for travel to EU countries including Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland, but not Ireland
- If you are going to these countries you must have a passport issued less than 10 years before your departure date
- If your passport is invalid you can try and book an emergency appointment online at your nearest passport office
- Otherwise passports can be renewed online by HM Passport Office or by using a paper application form certain Post Offices.
- It can take up to three weeks to renew a passport from the UK, but it can take longer.
'Catches people out'
"The '10-year-rule' is a problem that continues to catch people out", said Rory Boland, the Travel Editor at Which?"What's really important is that you check your passport validity and expiry date when booking your holiday.
"Not when you go to check-in, and certainly not when you travel to the airport, because that's when people are continually finding that their passport is out of date and it's often then too expensive, and too complicated to save their holiday."
BBC News asked the major airlines and holiday operators for data on the number of passengers who are refused boarding, but those that responded said they did not keep detailed records.
'Holidays lost'
Simon Calder, travel correspondent at the Independent says based on his own research "easily a couple of hundred people a day" are being turned away from their flights."Across the year you could easily find that there's over 100,000 people who lose their holidays as a result of these rules," he said.
He has written to the airlines, urging them to do more to make people aware, particularly if someone is checking in and inputting their advanced passenger information, often weeks before their travel date.
Airlines UK told us there was no guarantee that potentially invalid passport details would be picked up in advance, and said airlines do provide reminders and links.
It said it was the responsibility of the person travelling to ensure they have a valid travel document.
For those people who are due to travel this weekend and spot a problem with their passport Mr Calder told BBC Breakfast: "I'm afraid all you can do at this stage is try and get an emergency appointment and see if you can get a passport turned around.
"But if you're travelling later, maybe in the May bank holidays or the summer holidays then you've got time on your side and just to stress... it's only the EU that cares about the issue date, if you're going to America, Australia, Tunisia they say your passport's valid up to and including the expiry date."
If someone is turned back at the airport Mr Calder said they were "absolutely not" covered and would not get their money back. "It's always the passengers' responsibility to make sure they are compliant."
The Home Office also said it provided up-to-date information on passport requirements on its website, which it keeps under constant review.
Fees for new passports and renewals are set to go up in April under government plans. A standard online application for an adult is expected to rise from £82.50 to £88.50 from 11 April. A passport for under 16s is currently £53.30 and is set to increase to £57.50.
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New post-Brexit border checks come into force
Firms warn of higher costs but the government says its new border model will improve biosecurity.
www.bbc.com
'Brexit trade checks will cost me £200,000 a year'
9 hours agoMichael Race,Business reporter, BBC News
John Davidson signalled prices would rise for customers at his flower company
New checks brought in under the UK's Brexit trade agreement will cost one business up to £225,000 a year, its co-owner has said.
Meat and dairy products, plants and seeds are among the goods now subject to physical checks when imported to Britain from the European Union from Tuesday.
Businesses have warned the trade checks, which will see import costs increase immediately, are expected to hit smaller companies hardest and lead to price rises being passed on to customers for certain products.
John Davidson, co-owner of flower company Tom Brown Wholesale, said he expected the checks to cost his business between £200,000 and £225,000 per year.
"Usually we try and absorb as much as we can, but those sorts of costs... [it's] just not possible to absorb everything," he said.
The second phase of border controls kicked in from midnight and have been introduced as part of the UK's Brexit trade agreement.
The government said its new border model would "improve our biosecurity", adding the costs for businesses would be "negligible compared to the impact of a major outbreak of a plant or animal disease", such as foot and mouth.
The UK officially left the EU four years ago, but it has taken some time for the new trade rules to be implemented - legally required under the Brexit agreement - for goods travelling from the bloc to the British Isles.
Health certificates were introduced in January on EU goods ranging from cut flowers, to fresh produce including meat, fruit and vegetables, but on Tuesday, physical checks for the goods have come into force.
British exporters trading in the other direction have already faced increased red tape for three years. The introduction of such UK border controls is reversing the free flow of such goods, which had been allowed under the EU single market since 1993.
The physical checks will be carried out based on the "risk" category that goods fall into. For example, the government said high-risk goods, such as live animals, will be subject to identity and physical checks for pests and diseases at the border.
Products that present a medium risk to biosecurity will also be checked, while low-risk goods, such as canned meat will not require any checks.
The new checks are not yet being applied to goods from the Republic of Ireland, which is a major supplier of food to the UK.
The UK government says the checks on Irish goods will not happen before November.
But businesses, especially smaller companies, have raised concerns that the new checks could disrupt supply chains and increase costs, with importers having to pay £29 per shipment of particular products.
If multiple types of product are being imported by one business, such as meat, fish and cheese, the company will have to pay £29 per category, up to a maximum of £145 per consignment. The government has forecast the charges will cost British firms about £330m per year.
Mr Davidson told BBC Breakfast his "bigger worry" was how the physical checks would work in practice.
"These products are already checked in Holland. From an industry point of view the communication has really been lacking.
"At the moment Defra (the government department) is saying they are going to use [a] light-touch approach to checking. What does that actually mean? We just want some real clarity on it."
While the checks are coming into force on Tuesday, it is understood the number of them will be very low to start with as traders become accustomed to the new rules.
The government has acknowledged that the extra red tape and checks will increase food prices, but not as much as seen in recent times. It has forecast the controls could push up inflation by 0.2 percentage points over three years.
But Lucy Neville-Rolfe, minister at the Cabinet Office, said the new checks were essential to improve the UK’s biosecurity.
"We cannot continue with temporary measures which leave the UK open to threats from diseases and could do considerable damage to our livelihoods, our economy and our farming industry," she said.
On Tuesday, Trade Minister Greg Hands and Exports Minister Lord Garvel were asked about the checks by the Business Select Committee.
"I know there's been frustration expressed on all sides of the equation, but the objective has been to try and minimise the cost and minimise the disruption", Lord Garvel told the committee.
"When you bring in anything new, of course people are concerned and there is uncertainty, and this is a dynamic situation," he added.
Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union, said the group welcomed the checks "as a way of safeguarding the nation's food safety".
“British farmers and growers need controls on all imports, not just those from the EU, to be effective, biosecure and efficient. That looks different for the individual sectors in agriculture, dependent on business need," he said.
Britain imports 22% of its beef, 21% of its sheep meat and 49% of its pork, and relies on the EU for the bulk of those imports, due to consumer demand outstripping supply, according to the British Meat Processors Association.
The industry body said with "so little clear explanation" of how the new import checks will be rolled out, it had been "very difficult to gauge the impact on meat supplies, even after four years of preparation".
It said it suspected that larger importers would not be adversely affected, but warned that smaller importers would be.
Jamie Collins, of family-run food retailer Hamish Johnston in London, told the BBC his business would probably have to put prices up a bit to maintain its profit margins.
"We import quite a lot of cheese every week from France. Every import we bring over on a weekly basis is looking to get an extra £220 added on to the cost," he said.
Food price increases have been a major driver of the overall cost of living increasing in the UK in recent years, with food price inflation - the rate at which goods are getting more expensive - at 4% in the year to March.
The pace of food price rises has eased in recent months, but the cost of staples such as cheese, bread and milk are much higher than they were in 2020.
Martin McTague, chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, said its members were "still unsure" about the trade checks.
“They have already been delayed five times so there’s really no excuse not to have communicated what’s going on to small firms," he said.
He said the "ripple effect" of increased costs would lead to businesses having to raise prices, reduce their offering or "shut up shop entirely".
Additional reporting by Dharshini David, chief economics correspondent; Raphael Sheridan, economics producer, BBC News and Star McFarlane, reporter, BBC News.