Latest news with #Brexit
The Herald Scotland
40 minutes ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish food and drink exports six times England per head
English exports of food and drink totalled £12.1 billion, which is equivalent to £212 per person. While highlighting the strength of Scottish food and drink exports, the SNP claimed Brexit and Labour's trade policy had thrown up 'unnecessary barriers' and were stopping the sector from achieving its full potential. Read more Scottish firms exported food and drink to a total of 107 countries in 2024, the research shows. Scotch whisky exports account for a large part of the nation's overseas sales of food and drink. The SNP, declaring the per head of population comparison showed 'Scotland's world-leading position in quality and reputation', said: 'The figures highlight the huge international demand for Scottish produce, from our world-famous whisky and seafood to meat and dairy.' However, it added that 'decisions made by successive UK governments - including Brexit and Labour's trade policy - are placing unnecessary barriers in front of this success and preventing the industry from reaching its full potential'. SNP MSP Emma Harper said: 'These figures are a huge credit to Scotland's food and drink producers, who continue to punch well above their weight internationally. 'Our whisky, seafood, meat and dairy products are world famous and clearly still in high demand around the globe.' She added: 'Instead of being held back by Westminster's Brexit blunders and one-size-fits-all trade deals, an independent Scotland could negotiate on our own terms, rejoin the EU single market, and support our exporters directly. 'Scotland's food and drink sector is thriving despite the barriers put in its way. With independence, we could remove those barriers and truly unleash our global potential.'
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Spanish officials face emergency after Brits experience 'inhumane' queues
Hundreds of British holidaymakers found themselves trapped in 'inhumane conditions' at a packed Spanish airport with just two booths open to check their passports An emergency meeting has been called among top Spanish politicians after British travellers found themselves trapped in two-hour queues and "inhuman" conditions at the start of the school holidays, before even making it through passport control. On Monday (May 26), around 500 UK holidaymakers found themselves stuck waiting on the tarmac at Tenerife South Airport for up to 45 minutes, before disembarking to find broken-down escalators and vast lines stretching in and out of the terminal to have their passports checked. At the airport, some travellers reported seeing four officials manning just two passport control booths. As a result, passengers were crammed into a situation described as "claustrophobic" and "third world". Lourdes Tourecillas, a local resident who was returning from Bristol, told Canarian Weekly that, "Some parents lifted their children onto their shoulders to stop them from suffocating," adding, "there were no toilets, and people were visibly distressed.' The President of Tenerife's ruling council, Rosa Dávila, has called an emergency meeting in light of the incident, with chaos and long queues becoming a common problem at the busy airport during peak tourism periods. Dávila called the situation "unacceptable" but blamed the situation on the continued failure to provide sufficient staff for border checks ever since the UK left the European Union. She added: 'This is a structural issue. We can't continue to operate with the same staffing levels we had pre-Brexit." A major issue facing travellers on Monday was the inability of the airport's automated checking systems to process children's passports. This meant families having to queue with kids and baggage for hours in sweltering, lengthy, lines to kick off their holidays. The council's President said she had written to mainland politicians, but received no meaningful response. "There's a serious lack of respect towards Tenerife. We're managing essential services locally, but without state support, we're being left to fail,' she said. Lope Afonso, Tenerife's Tourism Minister, warned: 'This is the first impression our visitors get. After hours on a plane, they're met with long waits and no explanation. It's not acceptable, and it's hurting our brand as a quality tourist destination,' he said. 'Tenerife competes globally. Other countries have adapted their systems since Brexit. Why haven't we?' He also had a warning for summer travellers, if mainland politicians don't take action, saying: "We need immediate solutions to avoid this happening again, especially with the busy summer season ahead."
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Bank of England head welcomes UK efforts with EU
Speaking in Dublin on Thursday, Andrew Bailey said in relation to Brexit 'that we should do all we can to minimise negative effects on trade'. With reference to the Windsor Framework, which he described as a 'welcome step forward', Mr Bailey said: 'So too are the initiatives of the current UK Government to rebuild trade between the UK and EU.' The Windsor Framework, agreed between the UK and the EU in 2023, amended the Northern Ireland Protocol and governs post-Brexit trading arrangements in the region. Last week, the Government announced a deal with the European bloc that gives UK tourists in Europe easier access to passport e-gates, and frees up trade with the continent for farmers and food producers because of alignment on veterinary and plant standards. It was also said that the UK and EU will work more closely together on defence and security, and will agree a 'youth experience scheme' allowing young British people to travel and work on the continent. Sir Keir Starmer said at the time the deal was announced that it is 'time to look forward, to move on from the stale old debates and political fights'. In an interview with the BBC earlier this month – before the deal was struck with the EU – Mr Bailey said that it would be 'beneficial' to reverse the post-Brexit reduction in UK-EU trade. He said: 'It is important we do everything we can to ensure that whatever decisions are taken on the Brexit front do not damage the long-term trade position. 'So I hope that we can use this to start to rebuild that relationship.'
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Bank of England head welcomes UK efforts with EU
Speaking in Dublin on Thursday, Andrew Bailey said in relation to Brexit 'that we should do all we can to minimise negative effects on trade'. With reference to the Windsor Framework, which he described as a 'welcome step forward', Mr Bailey said: 'So too are the initiatives of the current UK Government to rebuild trade between the UK and EU.' The Windsor Framework, agreed between the UK and the EU in 2023, amended the Northern Ireland Protocol and governs post-Brexit trading arrangements in the region. Last week, the Government announced a deal with the European bloc that gives UK tourists in Europe easier access to passport e-gates, and frees up trade with the continent for farmers and food producers because of alignment on veterinary and plant standards. It was also said that the UK and EU will work more closely together on defence and security, and will agree a 'youth experience scheme' allowing young British people to travel and work on the continent. Sir Keir Starmer said at the time the deal was announced that it is 'time to look forward, to move on from the stale old debates and political fights'. In an interview with the BBC earlier this month – before the deal was struck with the EU – Mr Bailey said that it would be 'beneficial' to reverse the post-Brexit reduction in UK-EU trade. He said: 'It is important we do everything we can to ensure that whatever decisions are taken on the Brexit front do not damage the long-term trade position. 'So I hope that we can use this to start to rebuild that relationship.'
Powys County Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Bank of England head welcomes UK efforts with EU
The governor of the Bank of England has welcomed the Government's efforts to forge closer ties with the EU, as he said that officials should work to 'minimise' the effects of Brexit on trade. Speaking in Dublin on Thursday, Andrew Bailey said in relation to Brexit 'that we should do all we can to minimise negative effects on trade'. With reference to the Windsor Framework, which he described as a 'welcome step forward', Mr Bailey said: 'So too are the initiatives of the current UK Government to rebuild trade between the UK and EU.' The Windsor Framework, agreed between the UK and the EU in 2023, amended the Northern Ireland Protocol and governs post-Brexit trading arrangements in the region. Last week, the Government announced a deal with the European bloc that gives UK tourists in Europe easier access to passport e-gates, and frees up trade with the continent for farmers and food producers because of alignment on veterinary and plant standards. It was also said that the UK and EU will work more closely together on defence and security, and will agree a 'youth experience scheme' allowing young British people to travel and work on the continent. Sir Keir Starmer said at the time the deal was announced that it is 'time to look forward, to move on from the stale old debates and political fights'. In an interview with the BBC earlier this month – before the deal was struck with the EU – Mr Bailey said that it would be 'beneficial' to reverse the post-Brexit reduction in UK-EU trade. He said: 'It is important we do everything we can to ensure that whatever decisions are taken on the Brexit front do not damage the long-term trade position. 'So I hope that we can use this to start to rebuild that relationship.'
