Interview on Sunday Politics
Interviewed by Andrew Neil on The Sunday Politics, December 2016
Richard
Author Archives
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Dispelling Roger Bootle’s Euromyths
Last week, economist Roger Bootle wrote a piece for The Telegraph entitled ‘We cannot be fooled by the myth of EU economic success’. I have taken the liberty of reproducing it here and correcting and commenting upon many of the inaccuracies that the piece contained.
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What the single market actually is – and what will happen if we leave it
My latest piece is published in The Independent today: Some argue that staying in the single market does not respect the result of the referendum. Yet, it was Leave campaigners themselves who promised that we could leave the EU without economic damage because we’d stay in the single market.
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The British left should lead in resisting Brexit
Labour List have published my article on why the left should be resisting Brexit.
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Labour must distance itself from the Tories’ Brexit disaster
My lastest article for Labour List argues that Labour can ill afford to be on the wrong side of the Brexit debate.
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Theresa May’s Annual RevEUw
The only certainty that the first year of Theresa May‘s premiership has given us is not that Brexit might be a disaster but that it will be.
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Spring 2017 Report
June 2017 Quarterly Report online – Final
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Barnier sinks argument that we can have frictionless trade after Brexit
The key points of the speech by the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier this week in Brussels are worth reading in full, rather than relying on press summaries. He explains clearly why the ‘frictionless’ trade promised by some Brexiteers cannot work.
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Brexit and Citizens’ rights: The devil is in the detail
What happens to EU citizens’ rights – of EU citizens here and Brits in other EU countries – after Brexit? This is the first key issue of the Article 50 “divorce” negotiations. It is a cause of great anxiety for the millions of citizens affected. In this briefing I look at several of the key areas for negotiation – and the serious implications for millions if they are not resolved.
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There’s something fishy about Michael Gove’s policy
Michael Gove claims that leaving the London convention will allow UK fisheries to be a more competitive, more profitable, and more sustainable industry, but is no stranger to fishy hyperbole when it comes to Brexit and this industry.
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EU citizens (and Brits in other EU countries) are right to be concerned about their rights
Of the many sad realities of Brexit, the most destabilising and direct issue for millions of people is the UK government’s refusal up to now to address the issue of EU citizenship rights for EU citizens who live and work in the UK and for UK citizens who live and work in other EU countries.
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As Labour politicians, we reject a hard-right Brexit, and defend the single market
I am one of the fifty signatories of a statement from Labour MPs, MEPs and Lords calling for our party to campaign to at the very least remain in the single market as part of the Brexit negotiations, because of the enormous damage leaving it would do to our economy.
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After a year, we are still no clearer
Negotiations formally start today. The EU envisages around 22 four-week cycles to the negotiations in which each cycle addresses specific issues, with a week of preparation, a week of exchange of papers and explanation, a week of negotiation to find a deal and a week of reporting back to secure agreement with what the negotiators […]
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Yorkshire, Brexit and the General Election – A film from FRANCE 24 (in English)
FRANCE 24 came over to Yorkshire to film a piece on how people and politicians in the region felt about Brexit and the General Election. It was a pleasure to take them to University of Leeds and Digital Exchange in Bradford to explore the views of students and the technology community. Pour nos amis français, il ya a une version en français aussi.
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What does the election result mean for Brexit?
The electorate rejected May’s approach to Brexit. But as a result of losing her majority, she has now made an alliance with the DUP. Uncertainty reigns. There is no majority in Parliament for a hard Brexit, but what is there a majority for?
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Theresa in Wonderland
The utter foolishness of Theresa May’s ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’ mantra when it comes to negotiating a new relationship with the EU is back in every speech by her and senior cabinet ministers as well as appearing in the Conservative manifesto. It can’t be emphasised enough that ‘No deal’ is simply not an option.
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Honoured to be President of Grimethorpe Colliery Band
I am thrilled to have been asked to be the Honorary President of world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band in their Centenary year. I attended the special screening of the film at the Albert Hall where they performed the soundtrack live. A wonderful evening!
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Brexit and Agriculture
Leaving the EU will presumably mean leaving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).Currently, some 55% of total UK farm income comes from CAP support. If we don’t want to see a massive decline in our farming sector and an end to some much loved landscapes, replacing that in some way has to be a top priority.
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UK Agriculture faces huge challenges from Brexit. Why aren’t the Leavers listening?
The House of Lords, leading agri-companies and individual farmers are very concerned about the impact of Brexit upon their their sector. Yet the government has given few assurances to this vital sector of our economy.
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My response to EU Brexit Guidelines
Addressing the European Parliament about the clear guidelines set out by the European Council for Brexit negotiations.
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Brexit and the Environment
One of the most important issues in the Brexit debate is the environment, but it is hardly a surprise that this Tory government does not appear to be concerned about how leaving the EU will threaten the UK’s environmental protections, given that one of Theresa May’s first acts as Prime Minister was to scrap the Department for the Energy and Climate Change.
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Does Britain face a Brexit blackout?
Since the government confirmed that it wants Britain to leave Euratom as well as the EU, there has been alarm over what this means for the UK’s energy supply. Leaving Euratom adds to an already problematic situation regarding traditional and renewable energy sources that arises if we leave the EU.
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May 9th – Europe Day
Today, May 9th, is Europe Day. But what does that really celebrate? Given that the UK’s relationship with Europe has never been more present in the public consciousness – ironically at a time when our future relationship with the EU has never been less clear – it is worth some reflection.
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Brexit and the Railways
I was recently given a document entitled “seven key principles for Brexit” produced by the Rail Delivery Group, which works with Network Rail and the passenger and the freight operating companies. Here are some of their key concerns.
