Boosting international trade to create more jobs:
1. The UK's new Board of Trade has held its first meeting to agree principles and future programme of work. The Board will play an important role in Britain's trade strategy. Read more
2. The UK has signed a free trade agreement with Japan, which is the UK’s first major trade deal as an independent trading nation. Read more.
3. The government has set out further details around how it will create a number of new innovative Freeports across the UK to create jobs, drive investment and regenerate communities. Read more.
4. The Port of Liverpool and the Merseyside Resilience Forum were given extra cash by the Government to support the development of robust Brexit plans and for continued preparedness activities, including additional staffing costs. The total funding allocated by the government to help local areas prepare for Brexit to £77 million to date. Read more
5. The Government has announced a major addition to the UK Government’s ability to attract foreign investment, in the form of a newly established Office for Investment. The new Office will support the landing of high value investment opportunities into the UK which align with key government priorities, such as reaching net zero, investment in infrastructure and advancing research and development.
Controlling immigration:
1. The Home Office has confirmed that EU criminals could be barred from entering the UK under tougher border rules designed to make the country safer. The rules for EU criminals will come into force from 1 January 2021 when free movement ends. Read more
2. The Immigration Bill has been introduced to end the European Union’s rules on free movement. It represents an important milestone in paving the way for the new UK points-based immigration system from January 2021. Read more
3. The Home Secretary Priti Patel has appointed a Clandestine Channel Threat Commander – a new role leading the UK’s response to tackling illegal attempts to reach the UK. Dan O'Mahoney has previously held senior positions in the National Crime Agency, and the Border Crime Command at Border Force Heathrow and the Royal Marines, including operational deployments in Kosovo and Iraq. More here.
Taking back control:
1. From 1 January 2021, the UK will become solely responsible for our seas and begin new trading relationships with the EU and the rest of the world. For some fishers and merchants, there will be big changes required to ensure they can still compete successfully in the international market place. Read more.
2. Treaties are now being signed as the UK prepares to leave the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy at the end of December and become an independent coastal state. From 1 January, the UK will be able to decide who can access its waters and on what terms, in the best interest of its marine environment and its seafood and fishing sectors. Agreements have been signed, so far, with Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands
3. We have abolished the Department for International Development and, instead, put the UK's overseas aid budget under the control of the Foreign Secretary. Read more.
4. We will no longer be part of the EU's drive to create it's own army and defence force and will, instead, work with NATO to maintain peace and strong defence, while maintaining our seat at the United Nations Security Council.
5. The Government’s landmark Agriculture Bill has now become law and provides a boost to industry after years of inefficient and overly bureaucratic policy dictated to farmers by the EU. Read more.