Truss-Macron Avoid Issues, UK Could Join & Public Want Cuts
Liz Truss didn't discuss illegal migration with the French President.
Good morning and welcome to another edition of Heaver News. I hope this newsletter finds you well.
If you haven’t yet do become a subscriber below to receive Heaver News in your inbox.
And if you appreciate this newsletter and want to help it continue to grow, do consider becoming a paid subscriber.
As ever I enjoy reading the comments from paid subscribers. I think Adrian reflects the view of many when he recently posted:
“I, like many Conservative voters are giving Truss a honeymoon period in which to take promised drastic action on several fronts.
“This is the last chance for the Conservatives as I hope Truss is aware.”
It does feel like many Brexiteers who either have turned away from the Tories or are thinking of doing so, want to at least give Liz Truss a chance.
The demand is clear: don’t just talk about a conservative agenda. Actually deliver that fundamental policy change.
Truss-Macron Talks Miss Issues
Which makes it surprising to say the least that a meeting yesterday between PM Liz Truss and French President Emmanuel Macron ducked several very important issues.
Unbelievably it seems Truss and Macron didn’t even discuss the continuing record levels of illegal migration from France to England.
That of course is despite the UK having given the French authorities huge amounts of money to stop this madness.
It seems the UK has been completely ripped off with 2022’s level of illegal migration already higher than 2021’s 28,000 crossings.
On top of that it seems Truss didn’t raise the prospect of triggering Article 16 nor of the UK’s Protocol Bill making unilateral changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Instead a Spokesman for Truss said:
"We have the Bill that will progress through Parliament and we want to resolve this with the EU, this is not an issue that necessarily we believe can be solved through one single EU country."
It is expected that US President Joe Biden will discuss the Protocol with Truss however!
This seems a missed opportunity to have laid down a marker and let Macron know that the UK will be taking a much tougher line on illegal migration from France and taking unilateral action on the Protocol.
It is fair to give the new Prime Minister time and the benefit of the doubt. But this isn’t exactly reassuring.
UK Considers Joining European Political Community
Readers of Heaver News will be aware that I’ve covered extensively the new Macron idea of a ‘European Political Community’ group that some in the EU are desperate for the UK to join. I wonder why?
It seemed that as PM, Boris Johnson was not going to go anywhere near this new EU-dominated group.
Indeed Liz Truss also seemed to indicate that the UK would not be joining.
Pressure has apparently been applied to Truss by unnamed UK officials who want her to join.
Now we hear that yes indeed, the UK is considering joining. And that:
“Getting Britain around the table, to discuss core issues facing the continent, is now a key aim - according to some EU diplomats.
“There are hopes the gloomy economic outlook and energy crisis could bring Liz Truss to the table.
“However, there are concerns that the new UK Prime Minister will ultimately turn down the offer, in part to avoid antagonising some Conservative Eurosceptics.”
Conservative Peer Lord Moylan has been once of those commenting on the proposal, saying:
“Completely mad for the UK to sit in the naughty corner with the west Balkan states and the EEA. Best not attend.”
The first meeting is due to take place in October. Another key early test for Truss.
Public Want Tax Cuts
It does seem that Truss will thankfully be following through on her pledge to slash taxes across the board.
She must ignore the out of touch establishment and not shy away from a radical policy shift.
There is big public support for this shift away from high taxes. Redfield and Wilton’s latest research finds that a majority (51%) of the country now wants to see the Government lower taxes.
That is a decisive change from February, when only 38% of the public said the same then.
The public mood has clearly changed, to the point now where more Brits believe the Government is in a position to cut taxes.
Go for it Liz!
“Pressure has apparently been applied to Truss by unnamed UK officials who want her to join”. Wouldn’t we like to know who these “unnamed UK officials” are?
Hi Michael If She goes ahead with this it will be Political suicide, we voted to Leave the EU in 2016 so far between Theresa May and Doris, they've saddled this Country with more Debt, Now Liz is Considering this??? is she Mad?