Matrix’s Legal Support Service provides a weekly round-up of Brexit-related links and news.

Brexit and the UK constitution

1. For the UK Constitutional Law Association blog, Colin Harvey and Daniel Holder have argued that Brexit is proving to be profoundly destabilising for the peace process and constitutional politics of Northern Ireland.
2. The Times (paywall) has discussed the risk of a lack of parliamentary scrutiny resulting from the ‘tsunami’ of legislation that will be required following Brexit to bring 45 years’ worth of legislation onto the domestic statute book.

The UK’s post-Brexit deal with the EU

1. Returning to campaigning, Theresa May has rejected a ‘half-in, half-out’ Brexit deal, stating that she does not want to ‘fudge’ the withdrawal. Meanwhile the editor in chief of InFacts, Hugo Dixon, has discussed in a podcast how pro-Europeans should vote in the election to stop a destructive Brexit. The Financial Times analysed the so-called Brexit election, and the BBC set out the main parties’ Brexit positions. Reportedly, EU negotiators were bracing themselves for a ‘big crisis’ over Brexit soon after the election, including a possible walkout.
2. The Guardian has claimed that “Brexit-lite back on the table” following the General Election. But Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that Labour supports leaving the Single Market. Jeremy Corbyn told The Independent “there will have to be an arrangement made.”
3. According to The Guardian, the EU is considering a €1bn defence fund as Britain’s impending departure raises hopes of deeper military cooperation in the bloc.
4. The National Farmers Union has launched a vision for post-Brexit Britain, with The Guardian assessing this as demonstrating increasing concern about the future deal.
5. Nicola Sturgeon has stated that Theresa May will struggle with Brexit negotiations due to her character and because it is difficult to establish a rapport with her.
   
6. Following the General Election result, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the Telegraph have all analysed the possible impact on Brexit and the negotiations.

Impact of Brexit on the economy

1. For the LSE Brexit blog, John Mills has given his views on the need for a radical change in the UK’s economic policy, claiming a hard Brexit could create a favourable environment.
2. Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that Labour supports leaving the Single Market.
3. The Financial Times has considered the risk of European entrepreneurs leaving the UK due to Brexit as a result of concerns about future competitiveness. It also reports on insurer QBE which is to set up an EU base in Brussels to deal with the loss of passporting rights from London which will result from Brexit.
4. Wealth funds are questioning the UK’s future as the EU investment hub, saying that Brexit poses a threat to the UK’s long-term appeal.
5. Politico reports that Germany is pushing for a post-Brexit trade deal with India, an agreement which the UK is also aiming for. Meanwhile Polish fintech start-up companies are among the businesses most anxious about the detail of the Brexit deal as many located their HQ in London to take advantage of the UK’s fintech-friendly regulatory regime.
6. Since the Brexit vote, Europeans have ceased to be the largest group of overseas buyers in the housing market in districts such as Chelsea and Kensington.
7. The OECD has warned that the UK’s economic growth will slow in 2018 due to ‘hard Brexit’ jitters.

Brexit as it affects Practice Areas:

Criminal

Annika Suominen of the University of Bergen has published a paper considering the impact of Brexit on EU criminal law in the UK, considering the Norwegian and alternative approaches.

Immigration

Data discussed on the LSE Brexit Blog emphasises that immigration, and reducing its levels, was the key motivation behind the Leave vote, rather than sovereignty as has been claimed by Brexit leaders including Boris Johnson.

Lawyers for Britain have published a paper considering the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit.