Dear John,







Welcome to the final Weekend Wire of 2023, this week coming at you from Belfast where by time of reading I will have finished at least three tins of pringles... the large ones.



Let’s have a look in our Christmas stocking of news. For all the coal we received this year (both figuratively and literally <[link removed]>) we must have been very naughty.



Bone’s by-election buzzer beater







Yes, the Tories have pulled it off, managing to squeeze in confirmation of yet another scandal induced by-election before year's end. It brings the total number to six in 2023 from the party of Government.



Following accusations of bullying and serious sexual misconduct, the prominent Brexiter and unfortunately named Peter Bone, was subject to a recall petition which this week achieved the required support of 10% of his electorate to be successful. It means that Bone has now lost the seat of Wellingborough <[link removed]>, which he had held since 2005 and a by-election will be held early in the new year.



Bone took the news with all the grace, humility and contrition we have come to expect from the Conservative Party, posting on X/Twitter <[link removed]> to argue it’s “bizarre” that a minority of voters can decide who is and isn't an MP. He’ll be fuming when he finds out how MPs are elected <[link removed]>. 



While Wellingborough would previously have been considered an ultra-safe bet to stay Conservative - Bone having won last time round with a majority of almost 20,000 - the Tories have lost four other ‘safe’ seats this year alone and Labour, 2nd place in 2019, will be licking their chops to add to this tally. 



Astonishingly there could yet be more! The recall petition for the similarly nominative-determinative Scott Benton continues to take signatures after he fell prey <[link removed]> to perhaps the most obvious corruption sting imaginable. Benton’s defence was that he could not hear the undercover journalists when they offered him money to leak government policy as the place they were meeting was too noisy. Hilariously, he confirms <[link removed]>exactly the opposite in the incriminating tape. If successful, the much more marginal seat of Blackpool South will be up for grabs as well.



Down and out in Colorado







This week, the Supreme Court of Colorado ruled <[link removed]>that Donald Trump will be struck off ballots across the state if he is selected to be the Republican candidate for the US presidential election next year.



The split decision was in reference to the events of 6th January 2021, where Trump incited a mob to storm the US Capitol during the certification of Joe Biden’s victory after which Trump expressed his love <[link removed]> for said mob.



The court found that Trump would be ineligible to run under the 14th Amendment to the US constitution, which prevents people who have commited treason or insurrection, or who ‘give aid or comfort’ to enemies of the USA from running for office. Here’s that clip again <[link removed]>.



The ruling is likely to be overturned by the US Supreme Court, where Donald Trump himself installed a Republican supermajority. It’s also likely he has seen donations and support flood in <[link removed]> following the ruling as he paints himself as a victim of the deep-state and not all the horrible stuff he’s done.





Legacy litigation







This week the Irish Government confirmed <[link removed]>it would be taking legal action against the British Government over their Troubles Legacy Act. The Act prevents prosecution for things like the shooting of unarmed civilians and bombings during the decades of violence, and came into effect in September. It was opposed by all of the main political parties in Northern Ireland as it prevents victims of state and paramilitary forces alike from seeking justice.



The case has been taken under the European Convention on Human Rights offering further ammunition <[link removed]> to the wingnuts on the Conservative right, pushing for the UK to join Russia and Belarus as the only European nations not signatory to it as a way to advance the odious Rwanda Plan <[link removed]>.



Brexit Corner



A veritable Quality Street tin of developments for you this week!



Finance deal with Switzerland



The UK signed a deal <[link removed]>to deepen ties with the home of yodelling, triangular chocolate and covert banking this week. The agreement, which will be welcomed by the City, is also a tacit acknowledgement from the Government that regulatory certainty between British industries and their most important overseas markets is a good thing. Co-convener of the UK Trade and Business Commission Paul Blomfield MP says <[link removed]> beneficial regulatory alignment is something that should be offered to other UK industries most of which deal primarily with the EU.



Modern slavery in social care



I would say “put this on the side of a bus” but this one’s just grim. A committee of MPs heard this week <[link removed]> that modern slavery has become a feature of Britain’s struggling social care sector post-Brexit with experts citing that ending freedom of  movement has significantly increased the possibilities of exploitation, including cases of care workers not being paid for months and dozens being squeezed into overcrowded lodgings. They said cases of modern slavery are on track to have increased tenfold in the last three years.



Getting worse not better



60% of UK exporters claim trading has got more difficult over the last year because of Brexit red tape and are urging the government to make improvements to Johnson’s dud-deal including through regulatory alignment and veterinary agreements. Oh, what’s this...  <[link removed]>



Carbon tax Commission win



As recommended <[link removed]> by the UK Trade and Business Commission, the Government has announced <[link removed]> a new carbon border levy that will help prevent UK climate commitments from being undermined through unregulated importing of carbon intensive goods and materials. But as always with this government, there’s a catch. It won't be up and running until 2027 and is likely to create more costs and red tape for businesses if not aligned <[link removed]>with the system used by our largest market.



Tragedy in Prague







Horrific scenes unfolded on a university campus in the centre of one of Europe's most beautiful capitals on Thursday as a gunman killed <[link removed]>14 people. He is also reported to have murdered his own father and two others.



To the victims of this tragedy, their friends and family, and to all Czech people we extend our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathies.



And that’s your final Weekend Wire for the year. From all of us at Best for Britain we wish you and yours a restful or raucous festive period, whichever you prefer.



Weekend Wire will be back in the new (ELECTION!) year. 



Until then, Nollaig shona daoibh.







Niall McGourty

Director of Communications

Best for Britain







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