«Breaking News» Ford warns no-deal Brexit would be 'catastrophic'

Ford today warned that leaving the EU without a deal would be 'catastrophic' - amid claims the car giant is preparing to move production out of the UK.

The company has added its voice to those sounding the alarm about the prospects of Britain crashing out next month.

The changes of a no-deal outcome appear to be rising with talks in Westminster and Brussels still mired in deadlock.  

Theresa May was reportedly told during a phone call with business leaders last night that Ford is stepping up preparations to shift operations out of the UK.

Ford has added its voice to firms sounding the alarm about the prospects of Britain crashing out next month

The PM responded that the government was putting together a package of aid for the car industry, according to The Times - but did not spell out what it would include. 

A Ford spokesman stopped short of confirming the details today, but said: 'We have long urged the UK Government and Parliament to work together to avoid the country leaving the EU on a no-deal, hard-Brexit basis on March 29.

'Such a situation would be catastrophic for the UK auto industry and Ford's manufacturing operations in the country.

Efforts to 'roll over' EU trade deals 'will go down to the wire' 

Trade Secretary Liam Fox has admitted that efforts to 'roll over' EU trade deals with third countries in time for Brexit will 'go down to the wire'.

Internal documents seen by the Sun suggest just six of the 40 deals Britain is seeking to roll over before its March 29 exit will be ready on time.

'A number of negotiations are at an advanced stage,' he told MPs. 

'As with all international negotiations and indeed any negotiations, they will go down to the wire. I would expect nothing different from these agreements - that is the way that countries do business.' 

'We will take whatever action is necessary to preserve the competitiveness of our European business.'

The car industry has been delivering increasingly panicked warnings about the impact of a no-deal Brexit, with some firms already cutting back on jobs and production plans.

Nissan said last week it would no longer build its X-Trail car in Sunderland.

Jaguar Land Rover has announced plans to cut 4,500 jobs in the UK, and Ford could cut about 1,000 jobs, mainly at its Bridgend engine plant.

Meanwhile, Trade Secretary Liam Fox has admitted that efforts to 'roll over' EU trade deals with third countries in time for Brexit will 'go down to the wire'.

Internal documents seen by the Sun suggest just six of the 40 deals Britain is seeking to roll over before its March 29 exit will be ready on time.

'A number of negotiations are at an advanced stage,' he told MPs. 

'As with all international negotiations and indeed any negotiations, they will go down to the wire. I would expect nothing different from these agreements - that is the way that countries do business.' 

Theresa May (pictured at No10 today) was reportedly told during a phone call with business leaders last night that Ford is stepping up preparations to shift operations out of the UK

Cross-Channel tensions continued to rise today amid Mrs May's bid to overhaul the Irish border backstop. 

Belgium's Prime Minister has jibed that a no-deal Brexit would be better than one on bad terms - but insisted the current deal is a good one.

Charles Michel said the UK crashing out in March would at least offer the EU clarity on the way forward with just 44 days to go.

But he warned hard Brexiteers in Parliament 'a good deal is on the table' and the attempts to frustrate the plan would boost the prospects of a 'bad deal'.

May faces Tory fury after EU envoy is overheard warning of Brexit delay 

Theresa May scrambled to defuse a bitter row with Brexiteers today after her EU envoy was overheard saying she will put off a vote on her deal until the last moment - and then threaten to delay the UK's departure unless they approve it.

Olly Robbins loudly told companions in a hotel bar that the 'week beginning end of March' would be critical, just days before the UK is due to leave the bloc.

He suggested MPs will be confronted with a 'long extension' to the Article 50 process if they do not give the plan the green light at that point.

The private conversation, which happened within earshot of an ITV journalist on Monday night, sent Brexiteers into meltdown.

Mrs May has repeatedly insisted that the UK will leave on schedule on March 29 - despite growing doubts among ministers over whether that is realistic even if her package was passed immediately.

She was grilled about the issue at PMQs this afternoon, with Tory Henry Smith asking her to reject the 'chatter'. Mrs May said the claims were based on what 'someone said to someone else, as overheard by someone else, in a bar'.

However, she risked inflaming the situation by stopping short of ruling out a delay to the Brexit date,

Mr Michel insisted the backstop for the Irish border opposed by many Tory MPs was a crucial reason why the current deal was a good one. He said it guarantees peace in Ireland while boosting the economy. 

Mrs May's hopes of a Valentine's Day love-in with Tory Brexiteers have been dashed after they accused her of a 'sneaky' bid to rule out leaving the EU without a deal.

A furious row has erupted after the PM tabled a motion for crunch Commons votes tomorrow that seemingly accepts the UK must not crash out of the bloc.

The spat centres on a Remainer-backed amendment that was passed by MPs two weeks ago rejecting the idea of no deal.

Although that vote was not binding on ministers, the government motion due to be considered tomorrow endorses 'the approach to leaving the EU expressed by this House on 29 January'. 

That has been interpreted by Brexiteers as Mrs May admitting that no deal is off the agenda - despite the premier repeatedly insisting it is a possibility. 

One senior Conservative Brexiteer told MailOnline the clash showed the level of 'distrust' between Eurosceptics and the leader. 

Mrs May is also scrambling to defuse a bitter row with Brexiteers after her EU envoy was overheard saying she will put off a vote on her deal until the last moment - and then threaten to delay the UK's departure unless they approve it.

Olly Robbins loudly told companions in a hotel bar that the 'week beginning end of March' would be critical, just days before the UK is due to leave the bloc.

He suggested MPs will be confronted with a 'long extension' to the Article 50 process if they do not give the plan the green light at that point.

The private conversation, which happened within earshot of an ITV journalist on Monday night, sent Brexiteers into meltdown.

Mrs May has repeatedly insisted that the UK will leave on schedule on March 29 - despite growing doubts among ministers over whether that is realistic even if her package was passed immediately.

She was grilled about the issue at PMQs this afternoon, with Tory Henry Smith asking her to reject the 'chatter'. Mrs May said the claims were based on what 'someone said to someone else, as overheard by someone else, in a bar'.

However, she risked inflaming the situation by stopping short of ruling out a delay to the Brexit date,

Chief negotiator Olly Robbins was overheard talking in a bar about Mrs May and Brexit 

What will happen next in the unfolding Brexit drama? 

Valentine's Day 

MPs will hold another round of votes on Brexit.

They are not due to pass judgement on Theresa May's deal - instead debating a 'neutral' motion simply saying that they have considered the issue.

However, a range of amendments are set to be tabled. They could include proposals to delay the Brexit date beyond March 29. 

Labour is pushing a change that would force another 'meaningful vote' on the PM's Brexit deal by February 26, regardless of whether she has finished renegotiating the package with the EU.

February 24-25

Mrs May could have an opportunity to seal a new package with fellow EU leaders at a joint summit with the Arab League in Sharm el-Sheikh.

However, it is not clear how many will attend the gathering - or whether she will have completed the deal by then.

February 27

Downing Street is trying to head off a potential Tory Remainer mutiny by promising MPs will get another set of votes by this date regardless of whether there is a final deal.

March 21-22

The PM will attend a scheduled EU summit in Brussels that would effectively be the last opportunity to get agreement.

Some MPs fear that Mrs May is trying to delay for as long as possible, and might even try to hold a make-or-break vote in the Commons on March 26. That would be just 72 hours before Brexit, giving them a very stark deal-or-no-deal choice.

11pm, March 29

The UK is due to leave the EU with or without a deal, unless the Article 50 process is extended with approval from the bloc's leaders, or revoked to cancel Brexit altogether. 

 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2019/02/13/ford-warns-no-deal-brexit-would-be-catastrophic/
Main photo article Ford today warned that leaving the EU without a deal would be ‘catastrophic’ – amid claims the car giant is preparing to move production out of the UK.
The company has added its voice to those sounding the alarm about the prospects of Britain crashing out next month.
The...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





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