'Very unstable' Brexit deal could see UK miss out on vital investment, legal expert warns
Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaving 10 Downing Street, central London, for the House of Commons where MPs are to vote on the restrictions imposed in England's third national lockdown. - Credit: PA
Boris Johnson's Brexit deal is "very unstable" and could see the UK miss out on millions of pounds worth of investment, a legal expert has warned.
EU legal scholar Catherine Barnard told MPs companies may be put off investing in the UK because of unresolved questions on tariffs and trade.
This comes as customs professionals say that post-Brexit checks in the Irish Sea are "cumbersome" and hugely complex.
Warning of a "huge shortage" of customs agents, Robert Hardy, director of one of four companies tasked with handling new customs forms for goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, said pressure will continue to grow at the border as exports begin to ramp up.
Jonathan Owens, the owner of a small Northern Ireland grocer, said he already had to shut up shop because of an "extra layer of red tape" forcing him to pay double the price for items imported from Great Britain.
You may also want to watch:
This follows the insistence of Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis that "there is no Irish Sea border".
Travellers on an Iberia airline flight to Spain were not allowed board in their plane at Heathrow Airport after being told they did not have the correct proof of residency.
Most Read
- 1 This chumocracy is costing our country
- 2 Nigel Farage loses nearly 50,000 followers after Twitter suspends QAnon accounts
- 3 Fifteen ways to fix Britain
- 4 Michel Barnier tells UK to be 'very careful' in Brexit diplomatic status row
- 5 Bob Geldof takes swipe at No 10 saying 'lying is second nature' to them
- 6 Independent SAGE adviser gives scathing assessment of Priti Patel's £800 Covid fines
- 7 Jacob Rees-Mogg says it's 'all the EU's fault' musicians can't tour Europe
- 8 George Osborne hopes for Brexit dividend
- 9 Tory minister admits UK rejected EU's music visa offer in order to 'take back control' of borders
- 10 Holyrood in talks with EU to extend Erasmus scheme to Scottish students
UK nationals have also been barred from entering Sweden after Ryanair staff reportedly refused to accept a negative coronavirus test from the NHS.
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.