TheNewsGuru

Tag: BREXIT

  • Brexit: UK to grant fast-tracked visas to Nigerians, other nationals

    Brexit: UK to grant fast-tracked visas to Nigerians, other nationals

     

    Baring any last minute eventualities, the United Kingdom, UK, is perfecting plans to amend its border control system to benefit citizens from 52 Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria.

    According to a report by UK Telegraph, 45 members of the UK parliament said Commonwealth countries may get fast-tracked visas to the UK after Brexit if the proposal sails through.

    The suggestion was made in a letter addressed to the home secretary, Amber Rudd.

    According to the letter, Commonwealth stood with Britain when it witnessed “existential threats”, but that UK has left its allies in the cold as it “pivoted to Europe.”

    The letter reads in full: “I am writing to urge you to extend the hand of friendship to our Commonwealth partners.

    “In the previous century, Commonwealth countries stood with Britain as we faced existential threats from abroad but as we pivoted to Europe, increasingly, our Commonwealth allies were left in the cold.

    “The lack of consideration for Commonwealth citizens is at its starkest at our border. While EU citizens are collecting their luggage or exchanging greetings with loved ones, our Commonwealth friends wait tirelessly in the ‘All other passports’ queue.

    “Firstly, signs at border control that class every non-EU national as ‘All other passports’ should be changed to ‘The Commonwealth and all other passports’. This is a small step but one that can be enacted quickly.

    “Secondly, the government must commit to examine ways to reduce wait times for Commonwealth citizens entering the UK, perhaps through the use of dedicated Commonwealth border control gates.

    “Entry processing may not be as quick as in the EU channel as several of the 52 Commonwealth nations require a visa for travel to the UK however, this would send out an important message about the value Britain places on its relationship with the Commonwealth.”

    Another suggestion made was that Commonwealth citizens be allowed access to the registered traveller scheme, which would allow them access to use UK/EU lanes and reduce time spent waiting in line.

    They added, “Finally, access to the Registered Traveller Scheme should be further expanded to include additional Commonwealth countries. This programmee, predominately aimed at the business traveler, allows some foreign nationals who meet specific requirements to register and use the UK/EU lanes and e-passport gates, dramatically reducing the time spent waiting in line.

    “Home secretary, you are in a position to effect real, positive change in our relations with our Commonwealth partners. It would be a shame to let this opportunity pass us by.‎”

  • British lawmakers to give green light for Brexit negotiations

    British lawmakers to give green light for Brexit negotiations

    British lawmakers are set to give Prime Minister Theresa May the green light to launch negotiations on leaving the European Union later on Wednesday.

    The House of Commons, parliament’s lower house, is scheduled to hold its final vote on May’s plan to trigger formal Brexit negotiations by the end of March.

    Opposition lawmakers had lost a vote on Tuesday to amend May’s bill to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which sets the rules for a two-year negotiating process for a nation leaving the EU.

    The Conservative government saw off a potential rebellion by promising parliament a “meaningful” vote on the final Brexit deal before it goes to the European Parliament.

    However, it warned the vote would be a “take it or leave it” decision, meaning Britain would leave the EU with no deal in place if lawmakers vote against it.

    May commands a working majority of 16 in the 650-seat parliament.

    She is likely to win Wednesday’s vote comfortably, with no more than a handful of lawmakers from her party expected to oppose the bill.

    Labour, the biggest opposition party, has ordered its 229 lawmakers to support the bill, and most of them are expected to do so.

  • ‘Brexit is going to be a wonderful thing for your country’, Trump tells Theresa May

    President Donald Trump has told Theresa May he believes Brexit will be a “wonderful thing” for Britain and open the door to new trade deals.

    In a joint press conference at the White House, Mr Trump said: “Great days lie ahead for our two peoples and our two countries. “On behalf of our nation, I thank you for joining us here today as a really great honour.”

    Mrs May said: “Thank you for inviting me so soon after your inauguration and I’m delighted to be able to congratulate you on what was a stunning election victory.

    “And, as you say, the invitation is an indication of the strength and importance of the special relationship that exists between our two countries, a relationship based on the bonds of history, of family, kinship and common interests.

    “And in a further sign of the importance of that relationship I have today been able to convey Her Majesty the Queen’s hope that President Trump and the First Lady would pay a state visit to the United Kingdom later this year and I’m delighted that the president has accepted that invitation.”

    Mrs May made a point of emphasising that during their talks, Mr Trump had given strong backing to Nato, an alliance that the president has previously called obsolete.

    Mr Trump was challenged about his support for torture and insisted that he would allow decisions to be made by his defence secretary James Mattis – who has different views on the issue.

    Challenged about his views on torture, Russia, banning Muslims and punishment for abortion by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Trump joked to Mrs May: “This was your choice of a question. There goes that relationship.”

  • UK, Malawi renew historic ties

    New British High Commissioner to Malawi, Holly Tett, has said the deep and strong bilateral relations between the United Kingdom (UK) and Malawi will be more important during this time that the countries are experiencing major changes like Brexit and the pushing of a reform agenda respectively.

    Tett was speaking to local press at Kamuzu Palace in the capital Lilongwe shortly after presenting her letters of credence to President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.

    Accompanied by her partner Mark Kalch and the deputy High Commissioner Stephen Phillips, Ms Tett said that as a long-standing development partner of Malawi, the UK will continue supporting Malawi in a range of priorities.

    “I talked to the President about a really true historic friendship that Malawi and UK have; we talked about deepening that friendship through what will be period of significant changes like Brexit in UK and as the President pushes through his reform agenda,” said Tett.

    Tett said she will support Malawi to deal with the current humanitarian crisis (where the UK has already provided £43 million, approximately K43 billion), to continue with the momentum of the reform agenda and a broad range of priorities like education, health and issues that affect women, girls and children, and to further boost the sporting links between the two countries.

    Holly Tett succeeds Michael Nevin whose tour of duty ended in September last year.

    Before her arrival into the country earlier this month, Simon Mustard served as the UK’s temporary High Commissioner. The UK currently runs a £150 million (approximately K150 billion) development programme in Malawi to help progress and lift her people out of poverty.