Dear John,

While this is normally your light-hearted look at the week just passed, it would be wrong for us to begin this edition without acknowledging the events unfolding in the Middle East. As committed internationalists we are deeply saddened by the pain and suffering that these horrific attacks have unleashed upon innocent people in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

It is our sincere hope that with support of international partners including the UK, this outbreak of intense violence can quickly be brought to an end.

Stalls, Shawarma, Speeches and Sparkles - Best for Britain at Labour Conference

With a feeling that they are on the cusp of greatness, the Labour Party’s Annual Conference in Liverpool this weekend was a much more upbeat affair than years past, notable by the influx of business bigwigs cosying up to what most now see as the government in waiting. Doing it before it was cool, Best for Britain was on the ground as usual to spread the good news of Brexit fixes and tactical voting to VIPS, MPs, policy makers and decision takers.

By day, our massive touch screen electoral map showed current MPs and hopeful Labour candidates what their constituencies thought about forging closer ties with our European neighbours (they’re all in favour) while our opposite stall confronted them with the human cost of Britain’s broken electoral system. 

By night, we networked with journalists, stakeholders and key people within the Labour movement, the highlight of which was the standing room only Best for Britain Reception which we hosted alongside SME for Labour. The event was addressed by, if polling is to be believed, future cabinet ministers, Hilary Benn and Nick Thomas Symonds, both of whom waxed lyrical about the incredible work we do and how important it is to fixing the problems that Britain faces after Brexit. Shucks. 

Starmer's pitch

Setting our ego aside, the focus of the conference was Keir Starmer’s own speech which quite literally added a little sparkle to the event, after a protester showered the Labour leader with glitter. Unfazed,  Starmer carried on with a speech centred around economic growth, house building  and breaking the "class ceiling". 

Following Labour's resounding victory in the Rutherglen by-election, Starmer’s re-announcement that  Great British Energy would be based in Scotland underscored Labour's intention of reclaiming Scottish political terrain for Labour.

While well received, the speech barely touched on the issue of Brexit, something picked up by Best for Britain CEO, Naomi Smith.

Legal Labyrinth

This week the government's plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda hit a legal snag as the Supreme Court began examining the legality of the move. The case, initiated by several asylum seekers set to be deported, challenges the government's multimillion-pound plan claiming that despite Brexit, EU laws still prohibit this strategy. 

The legal tussle highlights a broader issue: how the UK navigates international asylum laws post-Brexit. While the government argues the Brexit Withdrawal Act covers asylum regulations, opponents say it's not that cut and dry. Never missing an opportunity to trash Britain’s international reputation, the right of the Tory Party are using the case to call for the UK’s exit from the European Convention on Human Rights, which would in one swoop undermine the Good Friday Agreement (again) and put us in such good company as Russia and Belarus as the only European states not party to an agreement which bans things like torture. In the past, Best for Britain has opposed this lunacy and stands ready to do so again.

This judicial jousting comes amid a complex global asylum landscape, with the ultimate decision potentially setting a precedent for the UK’s post-Brexit migration policies. The verdict, which may take months, could either cement or crumble the government's Rwanda deal, making this a courtroom drama worth keeping an eye on.

Brexit Corner

Brexit Binds British Bank Balances

Post-Brexit bureaucracy  is preventing British pensioners  from accessing their funds overseas. A ripple effect of the UK's departure from the EU has led to a re-evaluation by British banks on account provisions for non-UK residents. The fallout? Many retirees residing across Europe are finding themselves locked out of their savings as their accounts face closure with reports that pension providers are turning a cold shoulder.

As expats scramble to navigate through the red tape, financial experts and planners are voicing concerns over the lack of clear guidance from pension providers. The scenario gets murkier with HMRC rules throwing a spanner in the works - expats can't switch their UK pensions to new companies, leaving them entangled in complex overseas transfer processes.

This fiscal fiasco not only highlights the new and varied negative Brexit aftershocks but also calls attention to the need for clearer cross-border financial frameworks as British people overseas grapple with the new barriers to their accessing essential funds. If only someone made recommendations to the government about this… 

HS2 Funds Fiasco

On that note, that’s all from me! Stay curious, and see you next week. We’ll be back with our External Affairs Guru, Ben Stead Lewis.

All the best, 
Elsie Gisslegard
Content Executive
Best for Britain