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The Guardian
13-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trafficking victims rejecting UK government support because they fear being deported
Thousands of trafficking victims have rejected the government's support, many due to fear of the authorities or of being deported, lawyers have said. Nearly 6,000 trafficking victims rejected support from the government's National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for victims of modern slavery last year, according to data based on research from the British Institute for International and Comparative Law and the Human Trafficking Foundation at the University of Oxford. Researchers found a range of reasons for this among respondents, including fear of traffickers, receiving support elsewhere, wanting to put things of being trafficked behind them and being reluctant to engage with UK authorities. There were more than 19,000 NRM referrals last year. The number of people referred as victims to the NRM but refused at the initial stage has shot up 290% in two years, from 12% in 2022 to 47% in 2024, according to research from the organisation After Exploitation. Separate research from that group found that people in only 133 of 51,193 modern slavery cases reported to the Home Office between January 2021 and May 2024 had applied for compensation as victims. Home Office freedom of information data obtained by the Observer revealed thousands of trafficking victims from Albania and Vietnam – two nations where many victims come from – were returned to these countries after engaging with the NRM. According to the data, the returns were a mix of voluntary and January 2020 and September last year, 2,427 trafficking victims were returned to these two countries, according to the FoI data. All either had positive reasonable grounds or positive conclusive grounds decisions from officials that they were trafficking victims. Liz Williams, head of policy impact at the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre, said: 'Nearly 6,000 people choosing not to be referred for statutory support is very concerning and shows a system that has long been stretched and under pressure. 'Our research shows that many of them do so on the basis of fear of the authorities or poor-quality information they receive about the system that's meant to support them. Part of the answer is also low trust in authorities, especially after anti-immigration laws that would strip many survivors of protections.' Last month marked the 10th anniversary of the landmark Modern Slavery Act, pioneered by former prime minister Theresa May. In a parliamentary debate last month, Craig Murray MP said of the NRM, which has a significant backlog and takes an average of 831 days to process a trafficking case: 'The tool is currently all but broken down.' Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said that 100 new staff had been appointed to help clear the NRM backlog, which she has pledged to eradicate by December 2026. Esme Madill, a solicitor at the Migrant & Refugee Children's Legal Unit, which has a project for young Albanian trafficking victims called Breaking The Chains, said some trafficking victims they worked with had been retrafficked after being returned to Albania. 'The government's current approach to Albanian victims of trafficking, insisting they can be safely returned to Albania, is resulting in serious harm as men, women and children are retrafficked both here in the UK and in Albania,' she said. 'Young people are chained by their ankles in grow houses where they are imprisoned by traffickers, often alone for 23 hours a day, in life threatening conditions, exposed to toxic chemicals and fire-hazardous illegal wiring. The physical and mental health impact upon them is devastating. But these same children and young people are rightly not confident that seeking protection from UK authorities will keep them safe from harm. We supported a 17-year-old girl who had fled trafficking but was nevertheless returned to Albania and immediately forced into prostitution.' According to a report from the House of Lords into the Modern Slavery Act, published last October, only 2% of victims see their traffickers prosecuted, while research from the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre has found that there may be more trafficking victims than there are perpetrators behind bars. Williams said: 'Ten years on, the Modern Slavery Act's promise of justice remains unfulfilled. Thousands of people are exploited in severe conditions every year, facing threats, violence and intimidation. 'We need a new strategy, with a focus on prevention and policies addressing conditions that put people at risk of exploitation such as poverty, exclusion or lack of opportunities to provide for their families.' The Home Office said it was 'working hard to eliminate the backlog of NRM conclusive grounds decisions after a record number of referrals last year. Potential victims of modern slavery seeking asylum will always be treated with care, and no individual found to be at genuine risk of serious harm will be expected to return to their country of origin.'
Arab News
31-01-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Five years after Britain left EU, full impact of Brexit is still emerging
LONDON: Five years ago Friday, two crowds of people gathered near Britain's Parliament — some with Union Jacks and cheers, others European Union flags and tears. On Jan. 31, 2020 at 11 p.m. London time – midnight at EU headquarters in Brussels — the UK officially left the bloc after almost five decades of membership that had brought free movement and free trade between Britain and 27 other European countries. For Brexit supporters, the UK was now a sovereign nation in charge of its own destiny. For opponents, it was an isolated and diminished country. It was, inarguably, a divided nation that had taken a leap into the dark. Five years on, people and businesses are still wrestling with the economic, social and cultural aftershocks. 'The impact has been really quite profound,' said political scientist Anand Menon, who heads the think-tank UK in a Changing Europe. 'It's changed our economy. 'And our politics has been changed quite fundamentally as well,' he added. 'We've seen a new division around Brexit becoming part of electoral politics.' A decision that split the nation An island nation with a robust sense of its historical importance, Britain had long been an uneasy member of the EU when it held a referendum in June 2016 on whether to remain or leave. Decades of deindustrialization, followed by years of public spending cuts and high immigration, made fertile ground for the argument that Brexit would let the UK 'take back control' of its borders, laws and economy. Yet the result — 52 percent to 48 percent in favor of leaving — came as a shock to many. Neither the Conservative government, which campaigned to stay in the EU, nor pro-Brexit campaigners had planned for the messy details of the split. The referendum was followed by years of wrangling over divorce terms between a wounded EU and a fractious UK that caused gridlock in Parliament and ultimately defeated Prime Minister Theresa May. She resigned in 2019 and was replaced by Boris Johnson, who vowed to 'get Brexit done.' It wasn't so simple. A blow to the British economy The UK left without agreement on its future economic relationship with the EU, which accounted for half the country's trade. The political departure was followed by 11 months of testy negotiations on divorce terms, culminating in agreement on Christmas Eve in 2020. The bare-bones trade deal saw the UK leave the bloc's single market and customs union. It meant goods could move without tariffs or quotas, but brought new red tape, costs and delays for trading businesses. 'It has cost us money. We are definitely slower and it's more expensive. But we've survived,' said Lars Andersen, whose London-based company, My Nametags, ships brightly colored labels for kids' clothes and school supplies to more than 150 countries. To keep trading with the EU, Andersen has had to set up a base in Ireland, through which all orders destined for EU countries must pass before being sent on. He says the hassle has been worth it, but some other small businesses he knows have stopped trading with the EU or moved manufacturing out of the UK Julianne Ponan, founder and CEO of allergen-free food producer Creative Nature, had a growing export business to EU countries that was devastated by Brexit. Since then she has successfully turned to markets in the Middle East and Australia, something she says has been a positive outcome of leaving the EU. Having mastered the new red tape, she is now gradually building up business with Europe again. 'But we've lost four years of growth there,' she said. 'And that's the sad part. We would be a lot further ahead in our journey if Brexit hadn't happened.' The government's Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that UK exports and imports will both be around 15 percent lower in the long run than if the UK had remained in the EU, and economic productivity 4 percent less than it otherwise would have been. Brexit supporters argue that short-term pain will be offset by Britain's new freedom to strike trade deals around the world. Since Brexit. the UK has signed trade agreements with countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada. But David Henig, a trade expert at the European Center for International Political Economy, said they have not offset the hit to trade with Britain's nearest neighbors. 'The big players aren't so much affected,' Henig said. 'We still have Airbus, we still have Scotch whisky. We still do defense, big pharmaceuticals. But the mid-size players are really struggling to keep their exporting position. And nobody new is coming in to set up.' A lesson in unintended consequences In some ways, Brexit has not played out as either supporters or opponents anticipated. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine piled on more economic disruption, and made it harder to discern the impact of Britain's EU exit on the economy. In one key area, immigration, Brexit's impact has been the opposite of what many predicted. A desire to reduce immigration was a major reason many people voted to leave the EU, yet immigration today is far higher than before Brexit because the number of visas granted for workers from around the world has soared. Meanwhile, the rise of protectionist political leaders, especially newly returned US President Donald Trump, has raised the stakes for Britain, now caught between its near neighbors in Europe and its trans-Atlantic 'special relationship' with the US 'The world is a far less forgiving place now than it was in 2016 when we voted to leave,' Menon said. Can Britain and the EU be friends again? Polls suggest UK public opinion has soured on Brexit, with a majority of people now thinking it was a mistake. But rejoining seems a distant prospect. With memories of arguments and division still raw, few people want to go through all that again. Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected in July 2024, has promised to 'reset' relations with the EU, but has ruled out rejoining the customs union or single market. He's aiming for relatively modest changes such as a making it easier for artists to tour and for professionals to have their qualifications recognized, as well as on closer cooperation on law enforcement and security. EU leaders have welcomed the change of tone from Britain, but have problems of their own amid growing populism across the continent. The UK is no longer a top priority. 'I completely understand, it's difficult to get back together after quite a harsh divorce,' said Andersen, who nonetheless hopes Britain and the EU will draw closer with time. 'I suspect it will happen, but it will happen slowly and subtly without politicians particularly shouting about it.'
Nahar Net
31-01-2025
- Business
- Nahar Net
5 years after Britain left the EU, the full impact of Brexit is still emerging
by Naharnet Newsdesk 31 January 2025, 13:35 Five years ago Friday, two crowds of people gathered near Britain's Parliament — some with Union Jacks and cheers, others European Union flags and tears. On Jan. 31, 2020 at 11 p.m. London time – midnight at EU headquarters in Brussels — the U.K. officially left the bloc after almost five decades of membership that had brought free movement and free trade between Britain and 27 other European countries. For Brexit supporters, the U.K. was now a sovereign nation in charge of its own destiny. For opponents, it was an isolated and diminished country. It was, inarguably, a divided nation that had taken a leap into the dark. Five years on, people and businesses are still wrestling with the economic, social and cultural aftershocks. "The impact has been really quite profound," said political scientist Anand Menon, who heads the think-tank U.K. in a Changing Europe. "It's changed our economy. "And our politics has been changed quite fundamentally as well," he added. "We've seen a new division around Brexit becoming part of electoral politics." A decision that split the nation An island nation with a robust sense of its historical importance, Britain had long been an uneasy member of the EU when it held a referendum in June 2016 on whether to remain or leave. Decades of deindustrialization, followed by years of public spending cuts and high immigration, made fertile ground for the argument that Brexit would let the U.K. "take back control" of its borders, laws and economy. Yet the result — 52% to 48% in favor of leaving — came as a shock to many. Neither the Conservative government, which campaigned to stay in the EU, nor pro-Brexit campaigners had planned for the messy details of the split. The referendum was followed by years of wrangling over divorce terms between a wounded EU and a fractious U.K. that caused gridlock in Parliament and ultimately defeated Prime Minister Theresa May. She resigned in 2019 and was replaced by Boris Johnson, who vowed to "get Brexit done." It wasn't so simple. A blow to the British economy The U.K. left without agreement on its future economic relationship with the EU, which accounted for half the country's trade. The political departure was followed by 11 months of testy negotiations on divorce terms, culminating in agreement on Christmas Eve in 2020. The bare-bones trade deal saw the U.K. leave the bloc's single market and customs union. It meant goods could move without tariffs or quotas, but brought new red tape, costs and delays for trading businesses. "It has cost us money. We are definitely slower and it's more expensive. But we've survived," said Lars Andersen, whose London-based company, My Nametags, ships brightly colored labels for kids' clothes and school supplies to more than 150 countries. To keep trading with the EU, Andersen has had to set up a base in Ireland, through which all orders destined for EU countries must pass before being sent on. He says the hassle has been worth it, but some other small businesses he knows have stopped trading with the EU or moved manufacturing out of the U.K. Julianne Ponan, founder and CEO of allergen-free food producer Creative Nature, had a growing export business to EU countries that was devastated by Brexit. Since then she has successfully turned to markets in the Middle East and Australia, something she says has been a positive outcome of leaving the EU. Having mastered the new red tape, she is now gradually building up business with Europe again. "But we've lost four years of growth there," she said. "And that's the sad part. We would be a lot further ahead in our journey if Brexit hadn't happened." The government's Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that U.K. exports and imports will both be around 15% lower in the long run than if the U.K. had remained in the EU, and economic productivity 4% less than it otherwise would have been. Brexit supporters argue that short-term pain will be offset by Britain's new freedom to strike trade deals around the world. Since Brexit. the U.K. has signed trade agreements with countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada. But David Henig, a trade expert at the European Center for International Political Economy, said they have not offset the hit to trade with Britain's nearest neighbors. "The big players aren't so much affected," Henig said. "We still have Airbus, we still have Scotch whisky. We still do defense, big pharmaceuticals. But the mid-size players are really struggling to keep their exporting position. And nobody new is coming in to set up." A lesson in unintended consequences In some ways, Brexit has not played out as either supporters or opponents anticipated. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine piled on more economic disruption, and made it harder to discern the impact of Britain's EU exit on the economy. In one key area, immigration, Brexit's impact has been the opposite of what many predicted. A desire to reduce immigration was a major reason many people voted to leave the EU, yet immigration today is far higher than before Brexit because the number of visas granted for workers from around the world has soared. Meanwhile, the rise of protectionist political leaders, especially newly returned U.S. President Donald Trump, has raised the stakes for Britain, now caught between its near neighbors in Europe and its trans-Atlantic "special relationship" with the U.S. "The world is a far less forgiving place now than it was in 2016 when we voted to leave," Menon said. Can Britain and the EU be friends again? Polls suggest U.K. public opinion has soured on Brexit, with a majority of people now thinking it was a mistake. But rejoining seems a distant prospect. With memories of arguments and division still raw, few people want to go through all that again. Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected in July 2024, has promised to "reset" relations with the EU, but has ruled out rejoining the customs union or single market. He's aiming for relatively modest changes such as a making it easier for artists to tour and for professionals to have their qualifications recognized, as well as on closer cooperation on law enforcement and security. EU leaders have welcomed the change of tone from Britain, but have problems of their own amid growing populism across the continent. The U.K. is no longer a top priority. "I completely understand, it's difficult to get back together after quite a harsh divorce," said Andersen, who nonetheless hopes Britain and the EU will draw closer with time. "I suspect it will happen, but it will happen slowly and subtly without politicians particularly shouting about it."
Arab News
31-01-2025
- Business
- Arab News
5 years after Britain left the EU, the full impact of Brexit is still emerging
LONDON: Five years ago Friday, two crowds of people gathered near Britain's Parliament — some with Union Jacks and cheers, others European Union flags and tears. On Jan. 31, 2020 at 11 p.m. London time – midnight at EU headquarters in Brussels — the UK officially left the bloc after almost five decades of membership that had brought free movement and free trade between Britain and 27 other European countries. For Brexit supporters, the UK was now a sovereign nation in charge of its own destiny. For opponents, it was an isolated and diminished country. It was, inarguably, a divided nation that had taken a leap into the dark. Five years on, people and businesses are still wrestling with the economic, social and cultural aftershocks. 'The impact has been really quite profound,' said political scientist Anand Menon, who heads the think-tank UK in a Changing Europe. 'It's changed our economy. 'And our politics has been changed quite fundamentally as well,' he added. 'We've seen a new division around Brexit becoming part of electoral politics.' A decision that split the nation An island nation with a robust sense of its historical importance, Britain had long been an uneasy member of the EU when it held a referendum in June 2016 on whether to remain or leave. Decades of deindustrialization, followed by years of public spending cuts and high immigration, made fertile ground for the argument that Brexit would let the UK 'take back control' of its borders, laws and economy. Yet the result — 52 percent to 48 percent in favor of leaving — came as a shock to many. Neither the Conservative government, which campaigned to stay in the EU, nor pro-Brexit campaigners had planned for the messy details of the split. The referendum was followed by years of wrangling over divorce terms between a wounded EU and a fractious UK that caused gridlock in Parliament and ultimately defeated Prime Minister Theresa May. She resigned in 2019 and was replaced by Boris Johnson, who vowed to 'get Brexit done.' It wasn't so simple. A blow to the British economy The UK left without agreement on its future economic relationship with the EU, which accounted for half the country's trade. The political departure was followed by 11 months of testy negotiations on divorce terms, culminating in agreement on Christmas Eve in 2020. The bare-bones trade deal saw the UK leave the bloc's single market and customs union. It meant goods could move without tariffs or quotas, but brought new red tape, costs and delays for trading businesses. 'It has cost us money. We are definitely slower and it's more expensive. But we've survived,' said Lars Andersen, whose London-based company, My Nametags, ships brightly colored labels for kids' clothes and school supplies to more than 150 countries. To keep trading with the EU, Andersen has had to set up a base in Ireland, through which all orders destined for EU countries must pass before being sent on. He says the hassle has been worth it, but some other small businesses he knows have stopped trading with the EU or moved manufacturing out of the UK Julianne Ponan, founder and CEO of allergen-free food producer Creative Nature, had a growing export business to EU countries that was devastated by Brexit. Since then she has successfully turned to markets in the Middle East and Australia, something she says has been a positive outcome of leaving the EU. Having mastered the new red tape, she is now gradually building up business with Europe again. 'But we've lost four years of growth there,' she said. 'And that's the sad part. We would be a lot further ahead in our journey if Brexit hadn't happened.' The government's Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that UK exports and imports will both be around 15 percent lower in the long run than if the UK had remained in the EU, and economic productivity 4 percent less than it otherwise would have been. Brexit supporters argue that short-term pain will be offset by Britain's new freedom to strike trade deals around the world. Since Brexit. the UK has signed trade agreements with countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada. But David Henig, a trade expert at the European Center for International Political Economy, said they have not offset the hit to trade with Britain's nearest neighbors. 'The big players aren't so much affected,' Henig said. 'We still have Airbus, we still have Scotch whisky. We still do defense, big pharmaceuticals. But the mid-size players are really struggling to keep their exporting position. And nobody new is coming in to set up.' A lesson in unintended consequences In some ways, Brexit has not played out as either supporters or opponents anticipated. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine piled on more economic disruption, and made it harder to discern the impact of Britain's EU exit on the economy. In one key area, immigration, Brexit's impact has been the opposite of what many predicted. A desire to reduce immigration was a major reason many people voted to leave the EU, yet immigration today is far higher than before Brexit because the number of visas granted for workers from around the world has soared. Meanwhile, the rise of protectionist political leaders, especially newly returned US President Donald Trump, has raised the stakes for Britain, now caught between its near neighbors in Europe and its trans-Atlantic 'special relationship' with the US 'The world is a far less forgiving place now than it was in 2016 when we voted to leave,' Menon said. Can Britain and the EU be friends again? Polls suggest UK public opinion has soured on Brexit, with a majority of people now thinking it was a mistake. But rejoining seems a distant prospect. With memories of arguments and division still raw, few people want to go through all that again. Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected in July 2024, has promised to 'reset' relations with the EU, but has ruled out rejoining the customs union or single market. He's aiming for relatively modest changes such as a making it easier for artists to tour and for professionals to have their qualifications recognized, as well as on closer cooperation on law enforcement and security. EU leaders have welcomed the change of tone from Britain, but have problems of their own amid growing populism across the continent. The UK is no longer a top priority. 'I completely understand, it's difficult to get back together after quite a harsh divorce,' said Andersen, who nonetheless hopes Britain and the EU will draw closer with time. 'I suspect it will happen, but it will happen slowly and subtly without politicians particularly shouting about it.'
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 years after Britain left the EU, the full impact of Brexit is still emerging
LONDON (AP) — Five years ago Friday, two crowds of people gathered near Britain's Parliament — some with Union Jacks and cheers, others European Union flags and tears. On Jan. 31, 2020 at 11 p.m. London time – midnight at EU headquarters in Brussels — the U.K. officially left the bloc after almost five decades of membership that had brought free movement and free trade between Britain and 27 other European countries. For Brexit supporters, the U.K. was now a sovereign nation in charge of its own destiny. For opponents, it was an isolated and diminished country. It was, inarguably, a divided nation that had taken a leap into the dark. Five years on, people and businesses are still wrestling with the economic, social and cultural aftershocks. 'The impact has been really quite profound,' said political scientist Anand Menon, who heads the think-tank U.K. in a Changing Europe. 'It's changed our economy. 'And our politics has been changed quite fundamentally as well,' he added. 'We've seen a new division around Brexit becoming part of electoral politics.' A decision that split the nation An island nation with a robust sense of its historical importance, Britain had long been an uneasy member of the EU when it held a referendum in June 2016 on whether to remain or leave. Decades of deindustrialization, followed by years of public spending cuts and high immigration, made fertile ground for the argument that Brexit would let the U.K. 'take back control' of its borders, laws and economy. Yet the result — 52% to 48% in favor of leaving — came as a shock to many. Neither the Conservative government, which campaigned to stay in the EU, nor pro-Brexit campaigners had planned for the messy details of the split. The referendum was followed by years of wrangling over divorce terms between a wounded EU and a fractious U.K. that caused gridlock in Parliament and ultimately defeated Prime Minister Theresa May. She resigned in 2019 and was replaced by Boris Johnson, who vowed to 'get Brexit done.' It wasn't so simple. A blow to the British economy The U.K. left without agreement on its future economic relationship with the EU, which accounted for half the country's trade. The political departure was followed by 11 months of testy negotiations on divorce terms, culminating in agreement on Christmas Eve in 2020. The bare-bones trade deal saw the U.K. leave the bloc's single market and customs union. It meant goods could move without tariffs or quotas, but brought new red tape, costs and delays for trading businesses. 'It has cost us money. We are definitely slower and it's more expensive. But we've survived,' said Lars Andersen, whose London-based company, My Nametags, ships brightly colored labels for kids' clothes and school supplies to more than 150 countries. To keep trading with the EU, Andersen has had to set up a base in Ireland, through which all orders destined for EU countries must pass before being sent on. He says the hassle has been worth it, but some other small businesses he knows have stopped trading with the EU or moved manufacturing out of the U.K. Julianne Ponan, founder and CEO of allergen-free food producer Creative Nature, had a growing export business to EU countries that was devastated by Brexit. Since then she has successfully turned to markets in the Middle East and Australia, something she says has been a positive outcome of leaving the EU. Having mastered the new red tape, she is now gradually building up business with Europe again. 'But we've lost four years of growth there,' she said. 'And that's the sad part. We would be a lot further ahead in our journey if Brexit hadn't happened.' The government's Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that U.K. exports and imports will both be around 15% lower in the long run than if the U.K. had remained in the EU, and economic productivity 4% less than it otherwise would have been. Brexit supporters argue that short-term pain will be offset by Britain's new freedom to strike trade deals around the world. Since Brexit. the U.K. has signed trade agreements with countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada. But David Henig, a trade expert at the European Center for International Political Economy, said they have not offset the hit to trade with Britain's nearest neighbors. 'The big players aren't so much affected,' Henig said. 'We still have Airbus, we still have Scotch whisky. We still do defense, big pharmaceuticals. But the mid-size players are really struggling to keep their exporting position. And nobody new is coming in to set up.' A lesson in unintended consequences In some ways, Brexit has not played out as either supporters or opponents anticipated. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine piled on more economic disruption, and made it harder to discern the impact of Britain's EU exit on the economy. In one key area, immigration, Brexit's impact has been the opposite of what many predicted. A desire to reduce immigration was a major reason many people voted to leave the EU, yet immigration today is far higher than before Brexit because the number of visas granted for workers from around the world has soared. Meanwhile, the rise of protectionist political leaders, especially newly returned U.S. President Donald Trump, has raised the stakes for Britain, now caught between its near neighbors in Europe and its trans-Atlantic 'special relationship' with the U.S. 'The world is a far less forgiving place now than it was in 2016 when we voted to leave,' Menon said. Can Britain and the EU be friends again? Polls suggest U.K. public opinion has soured on Brexit, with a majority of people now thinking it was a mistake. But rejoining seems a distant prospect. With memories of arguments and division still raw, few people want to go through all that again. Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer, elected in July 2024, has promised to 'reset' relations with the EU, but has ruled out rejoining the customs union or single market. He's aiming for relatively modest changes such as a making it easier for artists to tour and for professionals to have their qualifications recognized, as well as on closer cooperation on law enforcement and security. EU leaders have welcomed the change of tone from Britain, but have problems of their own amid growing populism across the continent. The U.K. is no longer a top priority. 'I completely understand, it's difficult to get back together after quite a harsh divorce,' said Andersen, who nonetheless hopes Britain and the EU will draw closer with time. 'I suspect it will happen, but it will happen slowly and subtly without politicians particularly shouting about it.' Jill Lawless, The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
