Year: 2020

Is the new UK passport blue? Or is the colour really closer to black? The Home Office has issued pictures of the post-Brexit passport, describing it as a return to the "iconic blue" used for UK passports before 1988. Experts in the science of colour - and instant experts on social media - are unconvinced, saying they look more like black. But a Home Office spokesman says the colours of […]

An inquiry examining the impact of new customs arrangements on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been set up by a Westminster committee. The Brexit deal has major implications for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK's customs territory at the end of the transition period but will also continue to follow EU customs rules. That is likely to mean new bureaucracy for trade […]

The government's previous preparations for a potential no-deal Brexit stand it in "incredibly good stead" to help firms deal with the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, the former business secretary has told Sky News. Andrea Leadsom told Sky's political editor Beth Rigby that there was a "huge amount" that ministers could do to "ensure that businesses are protected". Ms Leadsom continued: "Ironically, I think a lot of the work we […]

There remain "serious" differences between the UK and EU after the first round of trade talks, the bloc's chief negotiator has said. Michel Barnier said "very difficult" areas needed to be resolved, but a "good agreement for both sides" remained possible. He said there were disagreements over competition rules, police co-operation, and how a deal would be enforced. Mr Barnier also dismissed UK proposals on fishing as "impractical". A UK […]