UK flights could be disrupted: minister

UK flights could be disrupted after Brexit, Britain’s transport minister has conceded, but he said the European Commission would be to blame for not starting talks earlier.

Chris Grayling told the Airport Operators Association annual conference in London that disruption was “unlikely” but that talks to secure an aviation agreement had not yet started.

“Failing” Grayling, as he is known, said there was “no way that flights will stop” with the EU but the pro-Brexit campaigner admitted: “It is theoretically possible that Easa [the European Aviation Safety Agency] could refuse or delay the certification of UK-certified planes. I think it is highly unlikely.”

The legal basis for flights with the EU is unclear without a new agreement. Grayling added that London could fall back on bilateral agreements with each EU member states but was hoping for a “barebones” aviation agreement with Brussels, saying he had not met “one single person” in the European Commission or any member state who said there would be an interruption to aviation.

“I’ve offered the commission to prepare a barebones deal if there is no broader agreement,” the transport boss said. “They are not yet ready to begin but the commission has said very clearly it expects there to be an agreement.”

Replace May?

The right-wing, pro-Brexit Sun claims nearly twice as many voters want UK Prime Minister Theresa May replaced before the Brexit deadline in March than the number who want her to stay.

The populist tabloid said pollster ORB found 43 per cent of UK voters wanted a change of leader to take over Brexit negotiations, compared to 23 per cent who supported May.

A new poll found that only 23 per cent of voters supported May remaining in charge to lead Brexit negotiations. 

It claimed a third of voters would be in favour of Britain walking away from talks with the European Commission and prepare for a no-deal, “Armageddon” Brexit.

The pollster said 35-per-cent opposed pulling out of negotiations at this stage. 

It said there was support for a change in prime minister before Brexit across all age groups.

Half of those aged between 25 and 34 wanted to see a change, with only 15 per cent backing her to stay.

People’s vote

Pro-EU Labour MP David Lammy said there was a consensus in Westminster that May would not be able to get a deal through parliament, opening the way for a people’s vote.

Lammy said: “We had a referendum in which the people gave the British prime minister an instruction to go off and negotiate. It is entirely acceptable once you have that negotiation comes to an end and you have a deal to ask the British people if they like the deal.”

 

 

 

Pro-EU protesters in Birmingham this month. Picture credit: Eurasia Times