UK banking boss apologizes to populist politician Farage over the closure of his account
The chief executive of U.K. bank NatWest Group has apologized to populist politician Nigel Farage after he complained that his bank account was shut down because the banking group didn’t agree with his political views.
Veteran broadcaster Andrew Neil quits as chairman of GB News
British broadcasting veteran Andrew Neil has stepped down as chairman of GB News, just three months after he launched it amid great fanfare and an ambition to provide an alternative to an alleged “metropolitan elite” bias among the established news channels.
Fishing holds key to Brexit trade deal as talks drag on
If Johnson cannot expel enough EU fishing boats from U.K. waters, a no-deal Brexit would surely ensue, creating chaos and costs for all and ruin for some. The French, Britain's fiercest political rival for access to U.K. waters, know about symbolism — and timing — too. As well as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and Denmark are among those directly implicated by the potential closing off of U.K. waters. Deas said he expected there to be protests from disgruntled EU fishermen — especially French ones — if there is a deal that sees quotas reduced. Most agree Boulogne would be a prime target because so much U.K. fish is exported through there, and a blockade is relatively easy to achieve.
Nigel Farage makes huge Brexit concession
Nigel Farage, a man who many believe Brexit wouldn't have happened without, has declared that his Brexit Party will not field candidates at the UK's forthcoming election in seats currently held by Boris Johnson's Conservatives. He said that by winning these seats, the Brexit Party would be able to "keep Boris Johnson to his promises" in Parliament. He launched the Brexit party earlier this year when former PM Theresa May's plan to leave the EU was first showing signs of falling apart. It's not immediately clear that Farage's announcement today helps the Conservatives as much as it saves the Brexit Party some embarrassment. In his speech, Farage said that the Brexit Party would "take the fight" to "the Labour Party and the rest of the remainer parties".
Delivering Brexit has been impossible. stopping it will be even harder
By contrast, the Brexit vote is divided between the Conservatives and Nigel Farage's Brexit Party. Farage has been criticized for splitting the Brexit vote, leading to accusations, even from former supporters, that he has become the remain alliance's greatest asset. If he does split the vote, there is a good chance that a unified remain vote could win vital seats. The easiest, cleanest way to deliver Brexit, is if Prime Minister Boris Johnson wins a majority and gets his Brexit deal through Parliament. Where the parties might disagree is on Labour's promise to negotiate a new Brexit deal beforehand -- it doesn't look very remainish to enable a party that's negotiating a Brexit deal.