Brexit: Opposition Leaders (Corbyn, Roberts, Blackford & Cable) Letter to Prime Minister Theresa May (13.11.2018)

Brexit: Tom Watson MP letter to Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on “Re: Russian interference in the UK” (04.10.2018)

Brexit: Chair of Committee of Public Accounts Meg Hiller MP sends letter Permanent Secretary of HM Revenue and Customs Jon Thompson – “The Customs Declaration Service” (02.10.2018)

Brexit: Boris Johnson and Theresa May sneer at each other at CPC18, but nothing comes out of it!

Surely, I am grateful I am not a British citizen today, as the Conservative Party Conference in 2018 in Birmingham are going on and what a spectacle it is. Today, it really shown its dire sides, as the Tories are showing their flex and their plans ahead. If not their internal squabble, which in the end makes the Brexit even harder.

The Tories should at this point, be able to have a policy and negotiations team to configure and mange the withdrawal as a Member State with the European Union (EU). However, the government and the cabinet, which has had major changes, are now in trouble with its former members. If that is David Davis or anyone else.

Then you have the biggest skeezer is Boris Johnson. Who the day before his performance at the Conference, walked in a wheat field, just to piss-off his former boss. This being the Prime Minister Theresa May. Therefore, the MP Johnson, knew he could trigger her and used again harsh words against her. Because she is easy to pick on.

Johnson knew what he was up too, just like the articles he writes. He suddenly has all the solutions, but he didn’t deliver them or compose those while campaigning or even being the Foreign Secretary. Therefore, he is a bit out of touch, as he plays big for the public, but is a mediocre politician in reality.

Not that Theresa May is great either, she should have worked more strictly with the policies and ensured the cabinet would work towards the same goals. Instead, all the different fractions within the HM Government have come to the public and the Tories seems unsure how they want to deal with the EU. That the PM feels betrayed today is natural, but that is part of the political game.

Both of them is playing with high stakes, both promising solutions, but them both should know that they are risking their political lives. Johnson has now less to loose, but this doesn’t make him look brilliant, more like a man who didn’t take charge while he was in power, but from the sidelines says everything can solve it. That is just a direct insult for the months he was in the cabinet.

May still have no solution for the Brexit, neither what the EU will accept and neither what the Tories really will agree upon. Nevertheless, the withdrawal will move on. The final day is getting closer, but the Tories are looking more split and more in the wind, than before. Instead of being certain how they want to move, it looks like internal power struggle seems more important, than the future of the United Kingdom.

If any of them thought this was wise, let me tell you, the world is looking and boggled by what your up too. As the lack of tact and brilliance is staggering. That the Boris Johnson acts like does and that he gets away it. The Labour should also address his claims, as he used the opportunity also to attack them. May defended herself, but also shown disdain about the comments made by Johnson.

This here just shows what the Tories has lacked from the get-go, a clear-cut and willing policy of what they wanted on the outside and what they really are risking to loose. As they are acting more as still a member with free trading, but not with free movement. Which the EU will not accept, as that is not accordingly done after EU protocol. Therefore, the Tories continued Pick-and-Mix strategy is flawed as it is.

Today’s speech and answer. Only shows the lack of progression and lack of policy. That the Tories are still at the high sea and not sure how to get back on land. Peace.

EUTM-Somalia Convoy Hit in Mogadishu (01.10.2018)

UK urges donors to support African Union Mission in Somalia (27.09.2018)

UK, Somalia, Italy and Ethiopia bring together international partners in support of Somalia’s security, political and economic reforms on 27 September 2018.

LONDON, United Kingdom, September 27, 2018 – Today the UK, Somalia, Italy and Ethiopia brought together international partners in support of Somalia’s security, political and economic reforms.

Minister for Africa Harriett Baldwin co-hosted the meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, with Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad of Somalia, State Minister Hirut Zemene of Ethiopia and Enzo Moavero Milanesi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. Alongside senior government representatives, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, AU Peace and Security Commissioner Chergui and Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development attended.

Minister Baldwin praised the bravery and positive impact of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops and the Somali forces who are fighting against Al Shabaab and restoring stability to the country. She emphasised the importance of a successful transition of responsibility for Somalia’s security to its own forces. A rushed withdrawal, without sustainable and predictable funding in place, would jeopardise the fragile progress made over recent years.

During her visit to Kenya (30 August 2018), the Prime Minister announced over £7m of additional funding to support AMISOM’s work. She called on the international community to join the UK in providing additional funding to AMISOM to ensure it was sufficiently funded to deliver a successful security transition.

Minister Harriett Baldwin said:

“Somalia has a real chance for a better future. One that allows its people to flourish, provides no space for terrorist groups, and contributes to regional stability. Helping to build that future must be a truly international effort. Today I am calling on Somalia’s friends to contribute to ensure sustainable funding for AMISOM.”

Somalia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, His Excellency Ahmed Isse Awad said:

“The Federal Government of Somalia remains committed to implementing the key political, economic and security reforms that will help Somalia emerge from the many difficult years it has experienced. The support of the international community has been vital to Somalia thus far. We look forward to continued engagement and support with our international partners as we advance our reform agenda and the transfer of responsibility for Somalia’s security from AMISOM to Somali security forces.”

Today’s meeting also discussed Somalia’s wider state-building efforts, including recent progress on political and economic reforms.

The UK is a leading partner for Somalia, and the second largest bilateral donor. This financial year, the UK will provide approximately £313m of support to Somalia, contributing to the country’s stability and helping to make a tangible difference to the lives of its poorest and most vulnerable people.

During her recent visit to Kenya, Prime Minister May announced additional funding for Somalia. Over £25m will support Somalia’s efforts to build a stable and democratic political system, including future one-person-one-vote elections. Further funding of over £60m will provide lifesaving food, clean water and medicine, along with support to find stable jobs, to help over a million people cope with and recover from the impact of conflict and drought.

Malawi: Government to distribute over 430,000 bags of maize to food-insecure households (22.09.2018)

The Government of Malawi, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), will from the month of September 2018, undertake a once-off maize distribution exercise targeting acute food-insecure households in 26 districts of the country, pending the final Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC) report and development of the 2018/2019 Food Insecurity Response Plan.

Speaking in Blantyre when he presided over the launch of the once-off distribution, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Joseph Mwanamvekha said a total of 432,729 bags of maize [21,636.5 tonnes] will be distributed to 432,729 food-insecure households in 26 districts of the country.

“Each food-insecure household will receive a 50kg bag of maize and this will be followed by the MVAC response,” said Mwanamvekha.

The once-off distribution comes after the country experienced prolonged dry spells and a severe outbreak of Fall Army Worms, which rendered many households food-insecure.

The relief maize will be distributed to households in Blantyre, Neno, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Thyolo, Phalombe, Mwanza, Machinga, Mangochi, Balaka, Zomba, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Karonga, Mzimba, Rumphi, Chitipa, Dowa, Mchinji, Kasungu, Ntchisi, Dedza, Ntcheu, Lilongwe, Nkhotakota and Salima.

Irish Exporters Association calls on all parties to prevent a no-deal Brexit scenario (21.09.2018)

Dublin, 21st September 2018, The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) acknowledges, with great concern, UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s statement on the current state of play of negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. To ensure that Irish exporters continue to be able to trade with the UK as frictionless as possible after 29th March 2019, we call on all negotiating parties to prevent a no-deal scenario.

On Mrs May’s statement, Simon McKeever, Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Exporters Association commented: “The Irish exporting industry heavily relies on our long-standing strong and open trading relationship with the United Kingdom. The UK remains one of our largest trading partners, source of investment and provides a vital land bridge for Irish exports to the European continent.

We have always known that these negotiations would be tough, complicated and ongoing until the final straight. With a final deal required within the next 4 – 6 weeks, negotiations have reached an impasse – significantly increasing the chances of the EU and UK missing their negotiating deadlines. In addition, the ongoing political rhetoric and uncertainty in the UK, is further increasing fears whether a deal can be reached, and, even if a deal were to be reached if it could pass in the House of Commons.

As the voice of the Irish exporting industry, we call on all negotiating parties to reach an ambitious, comprehensive and legally enforceable Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future relationship in the remaining weeks to provide businesses with certainty. For that, the transition period agreed to earlier this year is vital.

In light of the increasing risk of a disorderly exit, we welcome the Irish Government and EU’s no-deal preparations. In particular, we welcome the announcement for hiring up to 1000 additional personnel to facilitate the expected increase in customs requirements.”

Statement by President Donald Tusk on the Brexit negotiations (21.09.2018)

Brexit: Theresa May is playing a game she cannot win!

Anything which fails to respect the referendum or which effectively divides our country in two would be a bad deal and I have always said no deal is better than a bad deal” – Theresa May (21.09.2018).

What today’s statement or speech from Prime Minister Theresa May has revealed is that the Conservative Party and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in coalition cannot be able to configure an agreement, which all parts of the Tories, even all in the coalition combined are agreeing on putting forward. As the European Research Group (ERG) of MPs are blocking several ideas, while the DUP has their ideas and the PM has others. That is why the speech of her is revealing this. This has been shown over time, as the United Kingdom has simplified the implicated criteria without working within the framework of the revoking Article 50 from the European Union. All of that is a graceful disaster.

However, what the speech is showing, is lack of skill, lack of conduct and even lack of negotiating tactics within own realm, before meeting the counter-party of the EU. Which will be much harder to please, considering they have Union Protocol to consider and not loose face for the current Member State and keep the Single Market intact. Therefore, UK could have played this smarter, if they thought it through, they we’re invaluable asset and a needed force within EU, but now they are a fringe state in a limbo.

The proof is when the PM stated this:

First, there are over 3 million EU citizens living in the UK who will be understandably worried about what the outcome of yesterday’s summit means for their future. I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbours, our colleagues. We want you to stay. Second, I want to reassure the people of Northern Ireland that in the event of no deal we will do everything in our power to prevent a return to a hard border” (Theresa May, 21.09.2018).

It’s like the Piccadilly Line straight to heaven when it comes to this woman. You just get your Oyster Card and rumble into the pearly gates. Because, the way she puts things forward, is blatantly arrogant and without real concern. Since, if she really feared the hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. She would actually have ensured that in the negotiations, as the preliminary agreement with the EU said. Which was the basis for all further negotiating. However, she really tries to play high stakes and hopes for reward, but right now she is just loosing.

What is worse is that she would not lose alone at this point, because she is playing with a house of cards. The PM is supposed to bridge the gap, but instead she asks the workers to make it further between the shores of Calais and Folkestone. If it was PM orders, she would have bombed the tunnel and ordered the HM Government to make ferries available. Because the deal of trade and movement between the EU and UK cannot cease to function in this manner. That is initially what it sounds like. That is what Europe is hearing and achieving out of this. If the Industry and the British exporters hear her, they should be worried about the warehouses and the stocks, as the piles should be shipped out before a no-deal. To ensure funds for the rainy-days of no-deal bad-trading agreements and longer time Customs Arrangement with WTO standards between EU and the UK. It is like she doesn’t care for the working places of the people who needs this. That is really magical indifference.

So, it is like the PM are playing a game she cannot win, as she either loses support within the Tories, DUP or with the EU Standards. Peace.