Tag: Liam Fox

  • Britain could be like Turkey and remain part of the customs union after leaving the EU, says Liam Fox in first TV interview since promotion

    Britain could be like Turkey and remain part of the customs union after leaving the EU, says Liam Fox in first TV interview since promotion

    g osborneAccording to The Telegraph Britain could be like Turkey and stay part of the customs union after leaving the European Union, Liam Fox has said in first broadcast interview since his promotion to Cabinet.

    The news came as George Osborne, the former Chancellor, said that Mrs. May should not to have “red lines” on issues like immigration in her Brexit negotiations.

    The customs union includes all 28 EU member states, alongside Turkey, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and non-EU UK territories such as the Channel Islands.

    Turkey’s customs union only covers goods, but not services or finance which is a large part of the UK’s GDP. Crucially there is also no freedom of movement between Turkey and the EU.

    Pressed on the Andrew Marr programme, Dr Fox, the international trade secretary, said: “We want to look at all the different things, it’s not binary.

    “I hear people talking about hard Brexit and soft Brexit as though it’s a boiled egg we’re talking about.

    “It’s a little more complex. So Turkey, for example, is in parts of the customs union, but not in other parts.”

    When asked whether he was open to staying inside the customs union, Dr Fox said: “I’ll argue my case inside Cabinet, rather than on the programme. I remain… instinctively a free trader.”

    “The Government will come to a collective view on this once we’ve looked at all the issues.

    “It’s correct that we do so, because we can’t go for a quick result, we have to get the right result.

    “Whatever result we do come to, we have to be able to put in front of the British people the reasoning for coming to that result.”

    He also indicated that the Government would pursue a transitional arrangement with EU officials to preserve single market access before striking a fresh trade deal with the bloc, saying “we can’t go for a quick result”.

    Last week Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, lent his support for Britain to agree a transitional trade deal with the European Union after Brexit.

    He said it would be “generally helpful” to have a longer period than the two years afforded under the Article 50 process to hammer out future trade arrangements.

    On the same programme, Mr Osborne Britain needed a “hard-headed assessment” about issues such as whether to leave the customs unions.

    Mr Osborne – who was one of the leaders of the failed Remain campaign ahead of the EU referendum – told the Andrew Marr programme: “I would not go into this negotiation necessarily drawing red lines.

    “I would say we are leaving the EU – that’s the only red line I would draw – let’s go in there and try and get the best deal for Britain.”

    Mr Osborne urged the Government not to discard existing free trade deals in Europe in the search for new ones elsewhere.

    He said: “You can’t say we are a beacon of free trade in the world and the main thing you achieve is a huge act of protectionism, the biggest in British industry.”

    Mr Osborne also criticised the target Mrs May agreed to as Home Secretary to get net migration down to the tens of thousands, which he said should not include students.

    He said: “When I was the chancellor I thought it was not sensible to include them in the figures. But that’s got to be a collective decision.”

    He warned jobs in the financial sector could move to New York if Britain gets its Brexit negotiations wrong.

  • ‘bankrolled by corporate intelligence firm and Israel lobbyist’

    ‘bankrolled by corporate intelligence firm and Israel lobbyist’

    Adam Werritty: Liam Fox’s friend ‘bankrolled by corporate intelligence firm and Israel lobbyist’

    Adam Werritty, the Defence Secretary’s unofficial “adviser”, was funded by a corporate intelligence company and the chairman of an Israeli lobbying organisation, documents have disclosed.

    PojuBy Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor

    Mr Werritty is reported to have paid for travel around the world from a company that received funds from G3 Good Governance Group and Tamares Real Estate, an investment company owned by Poju Zabloudowicz, the chairman of Bicom.

    Jon Moulton, a venture capitalist, is also said to have provided money to Pargav Ltd, the firm which is alleged to have bankrolled Mr Werritty.

    Over the past few days, speculation has mounted as to how Mr Werritty was able to join Liam Fox on more than 20 overseas trips including official visits, conferences and holidays.

    It has now emerged that six different people and companies each paid up to £35,000 to Pargav since last year.

    Mr Werritty is said to have withdrawn more than £140,000 from Pargav’s bank account to fund his travel around the world to meet up with Dr Fox, The Times reported.

    The disclosure is likely to put Dr Fox under growing pressure as those previously close to the pair become increasingly alarmed at Mr Werritty’s activities.

    Mr Zabloudowicz is the head of Bicom, a prominent organisation which promotes Israeli-British relations. His companies have also donated money to the Conservative Party and he is a supporter of David Cameron.

    Last night, he confirmed donating £3,000 to Pargav.

    A spokesman said: “For many years, Poju Zabludowicz has helped fund not-for-profit organisations, not individuals, due to his passion for the promotion of peace and understanding between peoples in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.”

    G3, a company that specialises in international security and risk management, has previous links with Dr Fox in connection with his attempts to help with the reconstruction of Sri Lanka. The firm is thought to have donated £15,000 to Pargav.

    Earlier this week, The Daily Telegraph disclosed that Mr Werritty had being working out of the offices of Michael Hintze, a hedge fund tycoon and donor to the Conservative Party. Oliver Hylton, an adviser to Mr Hintze is the sole director of Pargav.

    Mr Hylton and Mr Hintze are now apparently attempting to distance themselves from Mr Werritty and are thought to believe they asked more questions of Dr Fox’s friend and best man.

    Last night, Mr Hylton told The Times: “He [Mr Werritty] came into my office and said I want to set up a new company. It sounds ridiculously niave, in hindsight, but I agreed. I signed the documents and nothing more.

    “I saw Adam as an adviser [to Dr Fox] of some sort. Anything he did was for the good of Liam Fox and supporting his office. Adam is a good and honest man.”

    Asked about Pargav, a spokesman for the Defence Secretary said: “Adam Werritty does not work for the Defence Secretary as an official or unofficial adviser.”

    www.telegraph.co.uk, 14 Oct 2011

  • Turkey in Europe magazine launched

    Turkey in Europe magazine launched

    British citizens publish a magazine on Turkey

    Anatolia News Agency

    LONDON – A new magazine that aims to better acquaint Europe with Turkey was introduced Monday at the House of Commons in London. The magazine is run by a group of British citizens who support Turkey’s accession into the European Union.

    Speaking at the introductory reception, the editor in chief of “Turkey in Europe,” Osman Streater, said more and more people in Europe were finally understanding Turkey’s significance. Another speaker, Edward Davey, shadow foreign secretary and a Liberal Democrat Parliament member, said he hoped the magazine would reach its goal of helping Turkey gain full membership in the EU.

    According to Davey, the launch of the magazine was a key step in Turkey’s membership campaign. He added that Turkey was important for Europe in terms of economic, political and strategic reasons, and that its membership would send a clear message with historical significance that the EU is open to all religions.

    The magazine’s first issue contains articles in support of Turkey’s EU membership by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Shadow Secretary of State for Defense Liam Fox of the Conservative Party and Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Caroline Flint.

    Turkish Ambassador to London Yiğit Alpogan, Turkish Consul General in London Bahadır Kaleli, former British Ambassador to Ankara David Logan attended the gathering.

    Source: www.hurriyet.com.tr, May 16, 2009

    Turkey in Europe magazine launched

    by Fatih Cansiz

    "Turkey In Europe"
    "Turkey In Europe"

    A NEW magazine aimed at promoting Turkey’s application to the EU was launched on Monday at a reception at the Houses of Parliament.

    It was launched on behalf of the patrons of Turkey in Europe who are Michael Gove MP, Dr Denis MacShane MP and Graham Watson MEP.

    Editor Osman Streater spoke about the first issue of the magazine which was established to bring international business together and to promote Turkish membership of the European Union. He added that Turkey in Europe magazine is independent of the Turkish and UK governments and funded by its members, allowing it to be an independent business-focused voice in support of Turkish membership.

    Turkish Ambassador Mr Yigit Alpogan and Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey were special guests at the event.

    Mr  Davey spoke briefly about relations between Turkey and the European Union.

    The magazine includes messages from politicians and will be published as a quarterly magazine to promote Turkey to key stakeholders in the EU, organise events in the UK, Brussels and Turkey, to promote Turkey’s EU membership and lobby for Turkish membership more generally.

    Source:  www.londragazete.com, 14 May 2009