Brexit Briefing - Getting Brexit Done!

We hope you enjoyed our last Brexit Bulletin. With the general election now out of the way, we can get back to the business of Brexit. Let us update you on the latest news. Sign up here to stay informed with regular updates.

 

Getting Brexit Done 

On 13 December 2019, the Conservatives won a comfortable majority in the 2019 General Election. The prospect of the UK leaving the EU on 31 January 2020 is now certain. The EU called on Parliament's swift agreement to the Withdrawal Agreement. Prime Minister Johnson put forward the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill (“WAB) to Parliament. On 20 December 2019, the House of Commons voted 358 to 234 in favour of the WAB at second reading.  The WAB now proceeds to the Committee Stage where it will be examined in detail.

The Withdrawal Agreement includes a transition period which is due to run until 31 December 2020. The UK and EU will engage in talks to try to reach a trade agreement during this time. Some experts warn that 11 months is not enough time to strike a trade agreement, while other experts fear that the UK can still “crash out” of the EU in December 2020. Businesses have urged the government to take the time to strike a beneficial deal for the UK however the Prime Minister has previously stated he will not be extending the transitional period.

 

Post Brexit Immigration

The Conservative party recently issued a press release to selected journalists. This gives some further detail about the likely structure of the future immigration system. It is anticipated that the new system will allocate foreign workers into three categories: Exceptional Talent, Skilled Workers and Sector-Specific. The press release confirms that the government anticipates the reduction in net migration while meeting the needs of the economy. Mr Johnson is also planning a new immigration department which will remove the immigration and visa system from the Home Office.

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We shall now take a short break until after the New Year. We wish you a very happy holidays.