EU
Breitbart
The European Union will introduce a government-controlled and cross border “digital identity” app for EU citizens as a part of the bloc’s post-pandemic “transition”.
In a speech given to the EU’s 2021 Digital Assembly on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that Brussels is planning to develop a government digital wallet, saying: “We want to offer to Europeans a new digital identity.”
“It will allow everyone to control their identity online, and to interact with governments and businesses, across the EU,” von der Leyen said.
The top Eurocrat claimed that such a government system would protect individual privacy from big tech Silicon Valley companies, with the safeguarding of information being left up to the globalist institution.
“With our proposal, we are offering an alternative to the models of big online platforms. We believe in a human-centred digital transition,” the EU Commission leader said.
The EU digital wallet scheme is expected to be rolled out live sometime next year, according to a report from the Financial Times.
The app would store information on users, such as official documents like drivers licenses and passports, as well as payment details and passwords. The app would be able to be accessed with biometric data such as a fingerprint or retina scan.
The digital identity would give citizens the ability to access local government websites, pay utilities, and even rent cars in all 27 member states through the use of the centralised app.
Scotland
Express
NICOLA STURGEON has issued an outrageous list of demands ahead of a crunch Covid summit with Boris Johnson today.
Today’s online meeting will bring together the Prime Minister Ms Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill. But ahead of the crunch meeting, Ms Sturgeon has listed a number of demands.
The Scottish First Minister demanded the Government extends the furlough scheme, rule out a return to austerity and prioritise a just recovery from the pandemic.
She also called for the Government to ensure pre-existing inequalities are not further exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We have made significant progress on the way out of this pandemic, which has devastated the lives of so many.
“But we are clearly still in a precarious situation, and it is vital to make sure that we support the people who have been most badly affected by the past 14 months.
Fisheries
Telegraph
Britain and the European Union on Wednesday agreed the first ever annual deal on the management of shared fish stocks after Brexit.
In anticipation of a potential backlash from British fishermen, Whitehall sources on Wednesday night cautioned that agreement would not “please everyone”.
Brussels said the new fishing agreement proved that the UK and EU could work together after months of tensions since the UK left the Brexit transition period on December 31.
The European Commission said the new deal created a “strong basis for continued EU-UK cooperation in the area of fisheries” after months of negotiations, which began in January.
The agreement sets out the total allowed catch (TAC) for more than 75 shared stocks in UK and EU waters for the rest of the year.
The TAC, which aims to prevent overfishing, is then divided between the two sides on the basis of quotas agreed in the Brexit deal on fishing on Christmas Eve. Both sides had agreed to use the 2020 TAC until a deal could be found.
Illegal immigrants
Telegraph
France should be required to take migrants turned back at sea, say MPs, after more than 700 successfully crossed the Channel in five days.
At least 50 migrants crossed the Channel by small boats on Wednesday – the total to make the dangerous journey in 2021 now nears 4,000.
It followed 132 migrants who reached UK shores in six boats on Tuesday. That in turn came after more than 560 reached the UK over the weekend, including 336 in 19 boats on Friday, a record for a single day in 2021, surpassing the previous high of 209 on April 28.
The latest arrivals took the total for the year so far to at least 3,859, about double the rate compared with the same period last year.
Dover and Deal MP Natalie Elphicke said the French needed to recognise that the only way to end the trade was to deter them by showing they would be turned round and returned at sea, or removed from the UK if they reached its shores.
BBC
Express
A VETERAN Tory MP has hit out at the BBC for seemingly cancelling his on-air interview because he “had the wrong views for their storyline”.
Sir John Redwood has been vocal on Twitter about his desire to see the final set of lockdown restrictions lifted this month, saying ministers need to “just get on with it”. He has pointed to the low number of Covid infections and deaths being declared each day and argued it is time for Britons to return to normal, despite the presence of the Indian variant in communities.
On Wednesday he claimed the BBC had asked him to appear on their flagship Newsnight programme to discuss the ongoing pandemic.
But hours after agreeing to the interview he claimed the Beeb cut him from the panel of guests when he divulged his views on coronavirus and the lockdown.
The Conservative lawmaker took to social media to explain what had happened to his followers.
Trade
Express
Liz Truss is negotiating a major Brexit boost for the Scotch whisky industry in Australian trade talks.
The International Trade Secretary wants to make exporting the premium tipple cheaper by axing tariffs. Britain and Australia are in the final stages of negotiations on new trading terms and want to have an agreement signed off within weeks. A source close to Ms Truss said: “This is why we left the EU – to do deals like this and benefit key industries like whisky. Liz is locked in intense negotiations to get a deal over the line that will boost Scotland and all the whole United Kingdom.”
The Cabinet minister is pushing for the five percent tariff on Scotch exports to be axed and stronger legal protections for the product.
Scotland’s whisky trade accounts for one fifth of all UK food and drink exports.
Ms Truss said: “A UK-Australia trade agreement would be significant for Scotch whisky and the Union. Part of the promise of leaving the EU was striking deals with countries well beyond Europe, opening new opportunities for iconic British goods like Scotch overseas.
“I am fighting hard to get these tariffs cut and secure a deal that benefits producers in Scotland and helps the whole of the UK.”
Similar reports appear in the Telegraph, Times, Guardian
Buy British
Express
PATRIOTIC Britons have vowed to “just buy British” products after they were warned of a proposed price hike on goods imported from the continent due to EU red tape.
The British Retail Consortium said shoppers should brace for possible higher price tags on EU foods this year, saying “with the additional Brexit red-tape this autumn, retailers may be forced to pass on some of these costs onto their customers.” Furious Express.co.uk said the expected price increase was yet another reason to support British businesses and farmers while shunning overseas firms.
Responding to the article warning people of what lies ahead, more than 1,300 readers made their feelings known.
In comments, many readers refused to be panicked by the warning and said they would simply leave EU products off their weekly shopping list.
One reader said they would “just buy British” while another vowed to “buy British” only from now on.
Education
Times
The prime minister has been accused of failing hundreds of thousands of children by the man he appointed to lead the government’s coronavirus recovery task force for schools.
Writing in The Times today, Sir Kevan Collins says that he had “no option” but to resign after Boris Johnson rejected his proposals for a £15 billion package to provide pupils with extra time and teaching to catch up on lost education over the next three years.
Collins accuses Johnson of taking a “half-hearted approach” that risks failing pupils and damaging Britain’s long-term economy after ministers announced they would only guarantee a tenth of the funding he recommended.
Mail
Boris Johnson’s education recovery tsar last night said he had ‘no option’ but to quit as he accused the Prime Minister of taking a ‘half-hearted approach’ that risks failing hundreds of thousands of children.
Sir Kevan Collins claimed Mr Johnson rejected his proposals for a £15billion package to provide pupils with extra time and teaching to catch up on lost education due to successive lockdowns over the next three years.
Writing in the Times, he said the Government’s approach risked failing children and damaging Britain’s long-term economy after ministers revealed they would only guarantee a tenth of the funding he recommended.
‘The support announced by government so far does not come close to meeting the scale of the challenge and is why I have no option but to resign,’ he wrote.
‘It is too narrow, too small and will be delivered too slowly. A half-hearted approach risks failing hundreds of thousands of pupils.’
Similar reports appear in the Morning Star, Guardian
Foreign aid
Times
Rebel Tory MPs are preparing to hijack government legislation to force Boris Johnson to restore Britain’s aid budget.
In the biggest Tory revolt since the election, more than 30 Conservative MPs will publicly back an amendment next week that would oblige ministers to reverse the 0.7 per cent aid cut next year.
Those behind the plan include four former cabinet ministers and the chairmen of eight parliamentary select committees. The rebels believe that they have the numbers to overturn the government’s 85-seat working majority and inflict the first defeat of this parliament on the prime minister.
Similar reports appear in the Independent, Guardian, BBC News.
HS2
Sun
THE next phase of HS2 could be scrapped or scaled back, some Tory MPs fear.
Furious Red Wallers say that canning the Birmingham to Leeds leg would blow up Boris Johnson’s levelling up promise, with the delay already costing the region £5billion.
Many were elected on the basis they would bring the high-tech line and its economic boost to their regions.
So far ministers have agreed to plough ahead with the London to Birmingham branch, before heading up to Crewe and Manchester.
Last week Transport Sec Grant Shapps pledged to continue the line to Leeds – but warned of a rethink on how it’s achieved.
In a warning shot to the PM, the MPs have released a campaign video highlighting the benefits the line would bring their communities.
The nine MPs, including rising star Miriam Cates, say the railway needs to be built in full.
Speculation is rife among MPs that the line could sit on existing rail track, or end at East Midlands Parkway.
Three cheers for J.R. and Liz Truss is doing well also.
Thumbs down for the ‘restore the overseas aid budget’ mob. What on earth are they on about.
As for the E.U. having their own digital I.D. system because they are frightened of the U.S. based system, well at least we are out of that. Now we just have to prevent our own government imposing one. Incidentally J.R. is opposed to us having a domestic covid passport also.
Illegal immigrants:
Those trying to cross the Channel must surely have entered France illegally via another EU country of its southern seaboard. Forced return of those illegals might force them or the EU to deal with those borders effectively. As we saw with Australia a firm and legal policy worked.
One might think the present situation is an attack by proxy mounted by the EU.
You are correct in what you say should be done but will it? I am not in any way expecting numbers crossing the Channel to be dealt with effectively. No Tory MP fears either deselection by their constituency association or fears losing their seats at an election by their inaction on this issue .
Perhaps we need a fleet of privateers to patrol and turn them back the second they exit French territorial waters. Of course any in a life threatening situation would have to be rescued but still returned by any practicable means.
Agree jake. Numbers will rise. Some tough talk and then more millions quietly siphoned off to Serco (and other government ‘partners’). Expect most likely action will be to shut down any attempts to bring this policy to a wider audience or criticise government. Illegal immigration is being made safe and orderly according to the UN global migration compact. Legality will follow when the government think the time is right. There is no way to oppose this whilst our senior politicians are all sponsored by globalist interests and we have only token representation in government.
Johnson may get his amnesty after all!
EU
“The top Eurocrat claimed that such a government system would protect individual privacy from big tech Silicon Valley companies, with the safeguarding of information being left up to the globalist institution.”
Surely no-one with any common sense would trust that “globalist institution” to brew up let alone manage any important information?