Latest news with #post-Brexit
Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Irish unity vote only route for Northern Ireland to rejoin EU – O'Toole
Mr O'Toole was speaking ahead of an opposition motion in the Stormont Assembly, nine years on from the 2016 Brexit referendum. The SDLP MLA will say there has been a 'structural shift' in British politics with the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. He will also tell Stormont any prospect of the UK rejoining the EU is 'miniscule', and a referendum under the terms set out in the Good Friday Agreement is the 'only route back to EU membership' for Northern Ireland. Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr O'Toole said: 'The SDLP welcomes the improved co-operation between the UK and the EU following the recent summit in London, along with progress in a number of areas that begin to ease some post-Brexit frictions. 'We always knew Brexit would be disastrous for the whole UK economy, for Northern Ireland and relationships across these islands. Sadly, so it has proven. 'Northern Ireland was dragged out of Europe against its will, and our politics has suffered the consequences.' He said British politics was continuing an 'irresistible drift towards 'Faragism'.' Mr O'Toole added: 'We have virtually no power to stop that happening. 'But we do have a viable pathway to a different future – a European future – and that is through a new Ireland. 'It is time all parties who claim to be pro-European and reject the 'Faragification' of UK politics to acknowledge our only route back into Europe is via an inclusive, hopeful new Ireland.'
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Author interview: 'What are the politics of belonging if you don't have it'
Back in 2020, anxious to escape from post-Brexit Britain, Sarah Moss left Coventry, where she was teaching, and brought her family to live in Dún Laoghaire. The novelist had accepted a post teaching creative writing at University College Dublin and, in spite of the lingering covid restrictions, the family felt happy and settled at once. But it got her thinking of the whole theme of belonging. 'My father was Russian-American Jewish, and my mother is Yorkshire working class,' she says. 'I grew up in a bunch of places and have lived in a bunch of places. I've never been able to say, 'that, there, is where I come from'.' This had never much bothered Sarah, because her friends are also internationally mobile, but coming to Ireland where there is more investment in belonging, ownership, identity, and land made her investigate her sense of place. 'Can you make belonging if you don't have it?' she wondered. 'What are the politics of making belonging if you don't have it, and particularly if you are an English person in Ireland? 'It's not up to me to say, 'I belong here now'. That doesn't have a good history.' We're in a Dublin's Brooks Hotel talking about Sarah's ninth novel, Ripeness, which centres on Edith, a happily divorced 73-year-old who has found utter contentment since settling in the Burren. Daughter of a woman who lost most of her family in the Holocaust, she's wondering if she's finally found a place to call home. Why did she choose an older woman as the third person narrator? 'It never feels like a decision,' says Sarah, explaining that she has characters living in her head. I've been living with Edith for years in different ways. I tried to write about her in the forties, but that didn't work, and she sits quite nicely here Alternating chapters take us back to the sixties, when, at 17 and soon to start at Oxford University, Edith spends a summer at an Italian villa, helping her sister Lydia through late pregnancy and childbirth. Lydia's friends, fellow dancers from her company, are also there. Although on holiday, dance practice remains a constant in their lives. Sarah had been thinking about writing a ballet book for years, and seeing photos of Margot Fonteyn taken by Joan Leigh Fermor — the wife of the famous writer scholar and soldier, Sir Patrick — gave her a focus. The couple, living in Greece, had set up a glamorous bohemian house. 'There is a sequence of photos of Fonteyn on holiday, including a set of her with Frederick Ashton on a boat. 'They are practising, using the side of the boat as a bar. You can see the sails behind them. There's another of Fonteyn sunbathing naked. Her poise is exquisite — she is totally in control, and that gave me the idea of dancers at play. They are still inhabiting the dance with their bodies, though not with discipline.' This idea came to Sarah when she was on a six-week writing retreat on the shores of Lake Como in the spring of 2023. 'Ripeness' is a gorgeous book; sunny, sensual and absorbing. The author writes so brilliantly about the physicality of dance, and the scenes of childbirth and new life are exquisitely described. 'The villa was absolutely gorgeous. It had been used for artists since the 19th century as a place to go to support yourself in the summer, and that gave me the setting. 'But being liberated for six weeks didn't work for me at all. It turns out that I actually need the rhythms of domestic life. I need to be cooking and doing laundry and looking after people. Though, obviously you need a balance.' Sarah's first novel, Cold Earth, was published when her two sons were small. 'My entire career has been as a parent. I have never known it any other way. It's a shifting balance, like standing on a wobble board.' The Burren was the obvious Irish setting because, having lived for a year in Iceland, Sarah adores the barren limestone landscape. Which isn't to say that she doesn't find it frustrating. 'These walking guides say: 'This is 10k, and it will take you five hours.' You think, don't be ridiculous, what nonsense, but it does! 'I like to stride out and cover ground and get there, but the limestone won't let you. It insists that you slow down, pay attention, and read the land under your feet. If you don't, you're going to fall over or fall down a hole. I really love that. It's frustrating, but I think it's good for me, both as a hiker and as a writer.' Ripeness is a gorgeous book; sunny, sensual and absorbing. The author writes so brilliantly about the physicality of dance, and the scenes of childbirth and new life are exquisitely described. 'I was a friend's birth companion shortly after my son was born, and it made me realise that most women never see birth. 'My son was five months old, so it was vivid. I knew exactly what she was going through and how it felt, but it made me think that the only women who see birth now are professionals, and it must have been so different in the days when you helped your friend or your sister and would have known what was going to happen.' Lydia's baby is going for adoption, and she refuses to see him. My second son was a home birth, and the midwife told me that one of her most important roles, straight after the birth, was to hand the baby to the mother. She said that otherwise the mother might walk off 'I thought, how could anybody do such a thing, but I can, kind of, imagine it. All that work; hours and hours and hours of it — and you just want to lie down and have a cup of tea.' Sarah has always taught and has no trouble with public speaking. 'Put me in front of an audience of 500 and tell me to talk for an hour — I will be fine. But send me to a party, and I will want to hide behind a curtain with a book. I met the woman who is still my best friend at somebody's seventh birthday party. 'I hid behind one end of the curtain, and she hid behind the other. We met in the middle.' Currently on a year's break from UCD, Sarah is doing some freelance teaching. 'I absolutely love it,' she says, 'and can't imagine not doing it in some form. I find it very generative because it forces me to think properly about what I'm doing. So much of my practice is playful and experimental. It's a good being made to think rigorously about it.' What is the benefit to students of an MA in creative writing? 'It won't make a good writer out of people who are not, but it can intensify a process that would have happened over a long time. 'You can help people to experiment, to think well about reading and writing, and to bounce off each other. Done well, it can be exciting, productive, and generative, but that's not to say that it produces publishing contracts.' As someone who came from England half my lifetime ago, I can vouch for Edith's feelings about a dual nationality. I tell Sarah that she has got Edith's emotions exactly right. Currently applying for an Irish passport, Sarah says she wrote the novel as a hymn to Ireland, and to the Burren in particular. Does she intend to stay in the country indefinitely? 'I hope so,' she says. 'Friendship is hugely important in my life, and I have good friends here. They're the joy of my life. I have the occasional yearning, but you have to stop somewhere and its pretty good here.'
Press and Journal
2 days ago
- Press and Journal
Warning as Aberdeen man turned away from £1k holiday after being caught out by passport rule
An Aberdeen man has been left 'gutted' after being turned away at the gate of a holiday due to passport rules. James Clark, from Airyhall, was looking forward to embarking on a £1k trip to Tenerife yesterday to celebrate a friend's birthday – but it instead turned into 'the worst day of his life'. That's after RyanAir staff refused to let the 28-year-old on to the plane yesterday, due to his passport being deemed invalid. It left the student separated from his friends who boarded the flights to celebrate the birthday party abroad. Despite his documents being technically in date, he was denied due to a post-Brexit 'passport 10-year rule'. After the UK's exit from the European Union, EU countries no longer accept passports issued more than 10 years ago and with James' passport being issued in March 2015, he was out of luck. His passport was allowed through RyanAir's online booking system. James had spent £700 on flights and accommodation, and a further £200 on travel to and from Edinburgh. Speaking to The Press and Journal, James said he was devastated by yesterday's events. He said: 'It genuinely feels like one of the worst days of my life. He continued: 'I checked in with my passport number and put that in and it said everything was okay. 'But they wouldn't let me fly. 'I was just left there, and just had to walk out of Edinburgh Airport and had to trudge back up to Aberdeen out of my own pocket. 'I was just shocked, angry and confused. I'm gutted.' Travel expert and writer Simon Calder has previously spoken on this particular issue. His office told The P&J that this rule has caught out 'countless people' since its inception post-Brexit. A spokesperson said: 'This rule is catching so many people out. This happens all the time at different airports around the UK. 'It has ruined so many holidays, we can't even begin to count. 'We have always said that officials' voices are not saying enough on this particular issue because people are still experiencing these issues. It needs to be clearer. 'We receive calls about this situation at least twice a week. 'It's so frustrating for travellers.' James is currently in the process of trying to claim compensation from RyanAir. Previous communications from RyanAir on this issue read: 'Passports must meet the requirements for travel from the UK to the EU, which are set out by the European Commission Migration and Home Affairs Office – not Ryanair. 'Passports must be issued within 10 years of the date of departure into the EU. It is each passenger's responsibility to ensure that their passport is valid for travel in line with the relevant State requirements at the time of travel. 'These requirements are clearly set out on and passengers are reminded with pop-up messages during booking.' RyanAir was approached for comment.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK–India FTA sets stage for cross-border leasing growth
The UK–India free trade agreement, signed on 6 May after three years of negotiation, lowers trade barriers across a wide range of goods and services. With India projected to become the world's third-largest economy by 2028, UK leasing providers are positioning themselves to finance bilateral trade flows and support small businesses navigating new export and import opportunities. To great fanfare, on May 6, the world's fourth and sixth-largest economies finally signed a free trade agreement (FTA) that was three years in the making. The FTA strengthens a strategic partnership with India, with particular significance in a post-Brexit, conflict-riven world of increased trade protectionism railroaded by the US Trump administration. India is an enticing market that is growing rapidly by around 6-7% per annum in real terms, putting it on course to become the third-largest economy in the world by 2028, according to the UK's Department for Business and Trade. By 2030, India's middle class will number an estimated 60 million, and rising, potentially reaching a quarter of a billion by 2050. Official statistics indicate that the UK exported £17.1 billion of goods and services to India in 2024, including goods worth £7 billion, and services amounting to £10.1 billion. The UK in turn imported £25.5 billion from India (£10.8 billion of goods and £14.7 billion of services). India accounted for 2% of all UK exports in 2024, and it was the UK's 12th largest export market. Meanwhile, India was the 11th largest source of UK imports, accounting for 2.8% of the total. India's overall demand for imports is projected to grow by 144% in real terms between 2021 and 2035, to reach £1.4 trillion, according to the government. The FTA thus represents an ambitious and comprehensive deal that, over the long run (by 2040), is expected to increase the UK's GDP by £4.8 billion, and the UK's wages by £2.2 billion each year, with bilateral trade rising by £25.5 billion each year. The deal represents a significant opportunity for Swoop Funding, a UK-based fintech platform serving SMEs, which has been growing since its launch in 2018 by Andrea Reynolds and Ciaran Burke and has significant global reach. The FTA is 'a promising move,' says Dave Cummings, the firm's head of vendor & asset finance, who notes the fact that India is a massive and fast-growing economy, so 'anything that makes it easier for UK businesses to trade, invest, or expand there is a win.' The Swoop team is preparing to assist UK firms in financing Indian equipment purchases through leasing and asset finance products, while supporting exporters with trade and working capital. 'We are well placed to support Indian businesses accessing UK suppliers and partners,' says Cummings, 'and we are exploring partnerships in the region to build on this momentum.' It will not have gone unnoticed that a recent International Business Report from Grant Thornton indicated that 42% of UK businesses surveyed without an existing presence in India plan to build one in the next two years. Moreover, of those with an existing presence in the Indian market, 96% plan to expand further. Some 72% of UK businesses surveyed say that an FTA would encourage them to explore the opportunities the country offers. Cummings believes that will bolster the asset financing sector, sparking fresh demand from UK firms looking to lease equipment for new export opportunities, or from those tapping into more affordable machinery coming from India. He expects to see demand increasing across several areas, with working capital, trade finance and, crucially, asset finance bolstered, as firms gear up to take advantage of the new opportunities the FTA offers. 'It is one of those deals that, if backed up by practical support, could really shift the dial for small- and medium-sized enterprises,' he says. The FTA plans to lower import tariffs on key products, with reductions on 90% of tariff lines for UK exports, to eventually make 85% fully tariff free within a decade. The deal includes aerospace, electrical machinery, electrical circuits and conductors, and food items, among the various sectors and products covered, with automotive tariffs of more than 100% lowered to 10% under a new quota arrangement. The UK will eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian goods; among these are a range of manufactured products. Invariably, the British Chambers of Commerce welcomes the move, with the tariff reductions 'giving UK companies exporting to India a clear edge on increasing sales,' says William Bain, head of trade policy, who adds that 'the proposals for a follow-up Investment Treaty will also provide a solid platform to grow manufacturing and other sectors in our two economies.' There are new digital commitments to support electronic contracts and transactions, including support for SMEs to make it easier to enter the market. India has also agreed to release UK goods quickly at its customs points, provide a streamlined portal for trade, and publish all customs procedures and laws online in English. For the first time, UK businesses will be able to access the Indian procurement market worth more than £38 billion per annum. The automotive, construction, logistics and renewables sectors are likely to benefit, says Cummings, especially where firms need to upgrade or replace equipment, with a wave of competitively priced Indian machinery entering the UK market. That represents an opportunity, of course, to finance providers, 'helping customers acquire this new equipment through leasing, hire purchase, or other flexible arrangements,' while underlining the fact that 'It is also a chance to finance deals at both ends of the trade corridor.' Cummings sees the planned reduction in Indian import tariffs on UK vehicles and machinery as a big plus. 'It opens the door for leasing firms here to serve the growing Indian demand for high-quality kit.' Still, from a leasing standpoint, he says there is still a gap. More clarity on trade finance support, customs processes, and how smaller firms can access affordable cross-border finance would have been ideal. 'It's often these practical details that make or break a deal's impact for SMEs,' he says. 'We'd also like to see more accessible government-backed finance options, better awareness campaigns, and hands-on support to help businesses navigate red tape.' Without that, he says, the benefits of the deal risk being confined to bigger players. "UK–India FTA sets stage for cross-border leasing growth" was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
South Wales Guardian
3 days 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.'
