After an unprecedented rebuke from parliament, the British government was forced to publish the closely-guarded legal assessment of its Brexit deal with Brussels on Wednesday, a move that triggered searing criticism from politicians around Westminster.
Officials said Theresa May was preparing to introduce new concessions in the face of political fears over a so-called backstop arrangement in the deal, which would lock the UK into a customs union with the EU until a means of keeping the Irish border open was found.
In the full legal advice the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, warned a proposed temporary backstop deal with the European Union to avoid a hard Irish border could continue “indefinitely.” This led opposition parties to accuse the prime minister’s team of being in a “crisis” and “misleading the house inadvertently or otherwise.”
Mrs May faces a key deadline of December 11th to secure backing of the House of Commons for the compromise struck with Brussels last month.
Mr Cox said the arrangement, which would ‘temporarily’ allow the entire UK to retain friction-less trade, could be unbreakable if the EU and UK was unable to agree a permanent agreement over the Irish border.
“Despite statements… that it is not intended to be permanent, and the clear intention of the parties that it should be replaced by alternative, permanent arrangements, in international law the Protocol would endure indefinitely until a superseding agreement took its place, in whole or in part,” Mr Cox wrote in a letter to Mrs May in mid-November.
“Further, the Withdrawal Agreement cannot provide a legal means of compelling the EU to conclude such an agreement. In the absence of a right of termination, there is a legal risk that the UK might become subject to protracted and repeated rounds of negotiations,” he added.
The full legal advice was only published after legislators found the government in contempt of parliament. It was one of three embarrassing defeats for the government in parliament on Tuesday, the first of five days dedicated to debating the final terms of Brexit. The Attorney General recounted an initial overview earlier this week but refused to outline the full advice citing national interest.
Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, said such claims were “nothing of the sort. All this advice reveals is the central weaknesses in the government’s deal.”
Mr Starmer, the former director of UK public prosecutions, said it was “unthinkable that the government tried to keep” the information *rivate before a final vote next week. Mrs May denied the charge.
Despite this, loyalists of Mrs May rallied behind the prime minister in a day initially dedicated to security. Home secretary Sajid Javid conceded the EU deal was not perfect, but provided a solid foundation for future cooperation and ensured a “smooth transition.” He said the “comprehensive agreement” was the best the EU held with any third country.
Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, the opposition leader, did not use the chance to ramp up the Brexit pressure on Mrs May further, choosing instead to directly question her on topics such as universal credit at Wednesday’s prime minister’s questions.
Late on Wednesday the Scottish parliament voted against the UK's Brexit proposal. Overall, 92 voted to support a motion to reject the deal with 29 against.
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Heidi Sopinka
Scribe
Brown/Black belt finals
3pm: 49kg female: Mayssa Bastos (BRA) v Thamires Aquino (BRA)
3.07pm: 56kg male: Hiago George (BRA) v Carlos Alberto da Silva (BRA)
3.14pm: 55kg female: Amal Amjahid (BEL) v Bianca Basilio (BRA)
3.21pm: 62kg male: Gabriel de Sousa (BRA) v Joao Miyao (BRA)
3.28pm: 62kg female: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) v Ffion Davies (GBR)
3.35pm: 69kg male: Isaac Doederlein (BRA) v Paulo Miyao (BRA)
3.42pm: 70kg female: Thamara Silva (BRA) v Alessandra Moss (AUS)
3.49pm: 77kg male: Oliver Lovell (GBR) v Tommy Langarkar (NOR)
3.56pm: 85kg male: Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE) v Rudson Mateus Teles (BRA)
4.03pm: 90kg female: Claire-France Thevenon (FRA) v Gabreili Passanha (BRA)
4.10pm: 94kg male: Adam Wardzinski (POL) v Kaynan Duarte (BRA)
4.17pm: 110kg male: Yahia Mansoor Al Hammadi (UAE) v Joao Rocha (BRA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
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The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
Premier Futsal 2017 Finals
Al Wasl Football Club; six teams, five-a-side
Delhi Dragons: Ronaldinho
Bengaluru Royals: Paul Scholes
Mumbai Warriors: Ryan Giggs
Chennai Ginghams: Hernan Crespo
Telugu Tigers: Deco
Kerala Cobras: Michel Salgado
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.