Reluctant European: Britain and the European Union from 1945 to Brexit by Stephen Wall This book could also be called “Life as a Continuous Negotiation”. It shows with great clarity that when Britain entered the European Economic Community, as it was then...
When does the talking stop being talks?
Earlier this week, we listed four possible outcomes from Boris Johnson’s visit to Brussels: triumph, sellout, last-ditch gamble, or simply showing willing before talks collapse. We omitted a fifth: talking followed by more talking. The new deadline for deal or...
Stephen Booth: The Northern Ireland Protocol deal – an improvement on what the EU envisaged a year ago
Stephen Booth is Head of the Britain in the World Project at Policy Exchange. Despite a succession of seemingly “make or break” moments, what is becoming clear is that the only Brexit deadline that matters is 31 December, when the transition period legally ends....
Daniel Hannan: How the EU must wish it had accepted May’s Chequers offer
Daniel Hannan is a writer and columnist. He was a Conservative MEP from 1999 to 2020, and is now President of the Initiative for Free Trade. Liam Fox was right. The former trade secretary has been much mocked for his remark that a trade deal with the EU would be “one...
Johnson to fly to Brussels. Triumph, sellout, last-ditch gamble – or simply showing willing before talks collapse?
A deal agreed by Boris Johnson in London and one agreed by him in Brussels ought to turn out much the same. But that is not how some Conservative MPs will see it. Neville Chamberlain…”I hold in my hand a piece of paper”…”peace in our...
Richard Holden: This first Johnson year demanded tough short-term decisions. The coming second will demand tough long-term ones.
Richard Holden is MP for North West Durham. The Sarnie Salon, Consett A week may be a long time in politics, but a year is an eternity. Another truth is that it is very rare that situations arise in politics that have never been encountered before. But the best-laid...
Alexander Downer: A forward-thinking UK should shift the weight of its strategic policy towards the Indo-Pacific region
Alexander Downer is the Chairman of Policy Exchange, a former Australian High Commissioner to the UK and former Australian Foreign Minister. Anyone who thinks Brexit represents the UK retreating pathetically from the modern world into “splendid isolation” – and that...
Mark Brooks: This International Men’s Day, we must do more to promote men and boys’ wellbeing
Mark Brooks was the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Batley and Spen in 2019, and has an OBE for services to male victims of domestic abuse. These are his personal views. It’s International Men’s Day today, which provides a real opportunity to focus on a whole...
The wind of Biden’s change is blowing through Johnson’s Government
One exotic claim floating around Westminster is that Dominic Cummings was fired to please Joe Biden. And that Boris Johnson will now scramble to fix an EU trade deal at any cost, since the President-to-be is hostile to Brexit in general and No Deal in particular....
Stephen Booth: Brexit-related concerns about a Biden presidency are overblown. The reality is more nuanced.
Stephen Booth is a policy analyst and political commentator. Much of the media commentary in recent days has suggested a potential Biden Presidency will create short-term diplomatic problems for the UK. From this viewpoint, the prospect of a Biden White House in...