Brexit

Surge in EU applications for UK settlement scheme

More than half a million applications for EU settled status were received by the UK’s Home Office in October, taking the total to 2.4 million.

Brexit frustration increases as EU censures UK over failure to nominate commissioner

The European Commission has launched a formal infringement procedure against the UK over its failure to nominate a Commissioner, in the latest sign of increasing frustration between Brussels and London.

‘Suspicious’ cyber attacks hit UK Labour’s election campaign

The UK's opposition Labour Party have been subject to several "sophisticated and large-scale" cyber-attacks across its digital platforms emanating from an unknown source, the party have revealed. The news comes as UK political groups jockey for influence in the run-up to the general election on December 12.

British MEP: Orban is not an extremist, would be ‘interesting’ to have him in ECR

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has done nothing really outrageous except to challenge the “EU orthodoxy” in some areas, and has been unfairly labelled as an extremist, the leader of British conservatives in the European Parliament, told EURACTIV.

A Brexit threat in Labour’s heartlands?

In places like eurosceptic Hartlepool in northeast England, long-held party allegiances being reshaped by Brexit could trigger a political earthquake at next month’s election.

UK set to backtrack and pick an EU Commissioner

The British government admitted on Monday (11 November) that it would “meet its legal obligations” and name a candidate to serve in Ursula von der Leyen’s incoming European Commission in Brussels.

Farage – Brexit party will not stand against Johnson’s Tories in ‘Leave Alliance’

Nigel Farage agreed to a ‘Leave’ alliance on Monday (11 November) announcing that his Brexit party will not stand candidates in seats won by the Conservatives.

Parliament guilty of ‘bias’ against Farage group over EU cash, ECJ rules

Brexit party Nigel Farage chalked up an unlikely victory on Thursday (7 November) when the European Court of Justice ruled that the European Parliament’s bureau was guilty of bias when it

EU institution staff ‘unaware’ of Microsoft data misuse, EU data chief says

Members of staff working across the EU institutions are “not aware” of the extent to which the US tech firm Microsoft collects and stores their data as part of the use of their products and services, the EU’s data protection watchdog has told EURACTIV.

A climate election? UK voters want parties to tackle crisis

With the climate emergency at the forefront of British voters’ minds as found by a recent poll, the Green Party made a dramatic campaign pledge on Wednesday to spend £100bn a year to tackle climate change.

Juncker says Corbyn Brexit strategy ‘not realistic’

The outgoing president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday (5 November) that British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn's plan to renegotiate Brexit again with Brussels was not "realistic".

UK fears stoked over data harvesting ahead of general election

UK political parties have been warned by the country's data protection watchdog that they must comply with relevant laws concerning the storing and safeguarding of data in the run up to the country's general election on December 12.

Farage rules out ‘Leavers Alliance’ with Johnson, targets Labour votes

Brexit party leader Nigel Farage ruled out the prospect of a ‘Leavers Alliance’ with the Conservative party on Monday (4 November), accusing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s party of “conceited arrogance”.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage will not run in UK election

Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain's upstart Brexit Party, said on Sunday (3 November) he would not stand in the next month's election, choosing instead to campaign countywide against Prime Minister Boris Johnson's EU divorce deal.

Trump says UK Labour leader Corbyn would be ‘so bad’ for Britain

US President Donald Trump waded into Britain's election campaign on Thursday (31 October), saying the leader of the left-wing opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, would be "so bad" for Britain if he wins.

The Brief, powered by BP – ’tis the season of ill-will

As UK lawmakers rejected the proposal for an early election three times in a month, only to suddenly change their minds this week, it is tempting to ask: what changed? The answer is in the numbers. When the Liberal Democrats...

Johnson gets his election as UK lawmakers finally agree December poll

The UK will go to the polls for a pre-Christmas general election on December 12, after opposition lawmakers finally abandoned their opposition to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s demands for an election at the fourth time of asking.

British MPs block Johnson’s bid for 12 December election

British lawmakers on Monday (28 October) blocked an attempt by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to hold an early general election on 12 December, as he sought to break the political deadlock over Brexit. A total of 299 MPs voted in...

German companies suffer Brexit extension angst

German businesses are nonplussed with the new Brexit extension, thanks to the uncertainty it preserves. But export forecasts are nonetheless seeing an increase, something which has more to do with Donald Trump than with the UK's pending EU exit. EURACTIV Germany reports.

EU approves Brexit ‘flextension’ until 31 January

The EU27 ambassadors agreed on Monday (28 October) to extend the Brexit negotiations for a further three months until 31 January although the UK will be able to leave as soon as the ratification of the withdrawal agreement is completed. 

Johnson pushes for poll as EU prepares Brexit delay

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a fresh push on Monday (28 October) for an early election as EU leaders prepare to back yet another Brexit delay, just days before the departure deadline.

EU delays decision on Brexit extension until lawmakers vote on election

The ambassadors of the EU27 decided on Friday (25 October) to postpone the final decision on a potential extension of the Brexit negotiations until next week following UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's calls for an early election. 

Johnson demands December election, abandons ‘do or die’ Brexit promise

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday (24 October) abandoned his promise to take the UK out of the European Union at the end of October and instead set out new plans to force a general election on 12 December.

Brexit extension means UK must propose new EU Commissioner, von der Leyen says

A Brexit extension will mean that the UK will have to nominate a member of the new EU executive, incoming Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed.