Britain’s defence firms have been handed a major lifeline after Emmanuel Macron dropped his demands for a post-Brexit military deal to be dependent on fishing rights.
With the war in Ukraine still rumbling on, the French President has been urged by other EU leaders to treat the issues separately – which comes just days after the bloc’s own foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said France’s stance on the matter was “surprising”.
A deal could open the door for British firms to bid for contracts under the EU’s €150billion-valued defence fund, a mega investment drive unveiled last month and aimed at enabling countries re-arm quicker.
And one Brussels source told the Mail: “Even Emmanuel Macron isn’t stupid enough to let fish get in the way.”
It comes less than a week since reports emerged that a UK-France defence partnership to shore up support for Ukraine was being stalled over fishing rights.
Kallas admitted that the French were holding things up – she said: “I’m surprised how important the fish are given the security situation.”
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‘It’s a recipe for conflict!’ Labour’s workers’ rights Bill will cause MORE strikes, businesses warn
Labour’s looming workers’ rights Bill is a “recipe for conflict” and will lead to more strikes, Britain’s biggest business groups have warned.
In a joint letter to members of the House of Lords today, business groups from across the country will warn that new laws making it easier for unions to call walkouts at short notice are “a recipe for conflict not for cooperation”.
The Bill, if enshrined in law un-amended, will weaken the threshold currently required to trigger a strike, such as requiring at least half of a union’s members to participate in a vote before calling industrial action.
Unions could also make pay demands at firms where just two per cent of staff are members – down from the current 10 per cent.
It comes as Britain faces down further strikes after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner failed to reach a deal with unions and bin workers in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The letter to peers, signed by the “B5” club of business groups, says: “Many businesses work well with their trade unions, but some are faced with unions behaving unreasonably.
“By empowering trade unions rather than empowering whichever party is behaving reasonably, this legislation will guarantee continued conflict and prevent the reset in industrial relations that is needed.”
The B5 comprises the British Chambers of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry, Federation of Small Businesses, Institute of Directors and Make UK – and together represents the majority of British businesses.
A Government spokesman said the measures “have strong support amongst business and the public” – and businesses have been “consulted extensively”.
Starmer told to axe migrant hotels in bid to save billions – and place asylum seekers in SOCIAL HOUSING instead
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to can Britain’s multi-billion-pound migrant hotel contract spending
PA
Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to can Britain’s multi-billion-pound migrant hotel contract spending in a bid to stop the foreign aid budget being spent on the asylum system.
A letter signed by more than 100 international NGOs and pro-refugee charities has labelled the asylum set-up as “not fit for purpose” and “poor value for money” – but the groups have urged the Prime Minister to put migrants up in social housing instead.
Asylum seekers should be dropped into communities through “dispersal accommodation” like large houses, bedsits and flats across different local authorities, the letter recommends.
Such a move would allegedly be cheaper and help with integration – and the Home Office has the opportunity to terminate the contracts from January next year.
The letter, seen by The Times, vows that “community housing not only provides better value for money but also ensures higher-quality living conditions and better integration into society”.
“The 2026 break clauses in the accommodation contracts must be utilised to achieve this,” it adds.
RECAP: Emmanuel Macron BLOCKING crucial UK peace plans over Brexit row as France makes demands
France demanded access to UK waters last week – stalling a key peace plan for Ukraine
PA
Just days ago, it emerged that a key UK-France defence partnership to shore up support for Ukraine was being stalled over fishing rights.
French and British military chiefs had been thrashing out plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine if a potential peace deal with Russia comes to pass – but once again, France demanded access to UK waters.
That left EU foreign affairs boss Kaja Kallas “surprised” – but alongside France, Sweden’s EU affairs minister Jessica Rosencrantz warned of how fisheries could obstruct a crucial defence pact two weeks prior.
“Just to be clear, I think it’s really important that the EU and UK work together on defense and security,” Rosencrantz told Politico.
“Obviously, there are other sensitive issues as well for many member states which also need to be resolved – fisheries being one.”
READ THE FULL STORY ON THE EU’S FISHING DEMANDS HERE
Our top story: Trump officials pinpoint moment Britons can expect US trade deal in boost for Brexit Britain
As Emmanuel Macron steps aside for a UK deal in Europe, White House officials believe a trade deal with Britain can be finalised within three weeks.
An insider familiar with US strategy told The Telegraph that the UK was in a good position for a rapid deal – but will likely have to wait for a “second wave” of announcements, following Japan, India, and South Korea
The White House source said that an agreement was expected “soon” – and clarified: “Two weeks or maybe three.”
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
