Tag: brexit
DOMINIC LAWSON: Britain’s economic problems have little to do with Brexit
Huge exhibition celebrating Brexit Britain probed by watchdog after splurging £120million of taxpayer cash
A HUGE exhibition to celebrate Brexit Britain is being probed by the spending watchdog after spaffing £120million of taxpayer cash – and flopping spectacularly.
Just 238,000 visitors have gone to see the Government’s “Unboxed Festival” despite the original stretch target of 66million.
Just 238,000 visitors have gone to see the Government’s ‘Unboxed Festival’[/caption]
Now the National Audit Office has agreed to MPs’ calls to investigate the “irresponsible use of public money” and will publish a cost-benefit analysis later this year.
Evoking the 1951 Festival of Britain, the idea was unveiled in 2018 by Theresa May to showcase the “creativity across all four nations of the United Kingdom”.
It quickly became dubbed the “Festival of Brexit“, which the project’s director Martin Green admitted was “unfortunate”.
But after tanking spectacularly the Commons Culture Committee slammed the “unadulterated shambles” that led to a colossal waste of taxpayer funds.
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Tory chair Julian Knight said: “That such an exorbitant amount of public cash has been spent on a so-called celebration of creativity that has barely failed to register in the public consciousness raises serious red flags about how the project has been managed from conception through to delivery.
“The NAO’s investigation will bring welcome and thorough scrutiny and help get to the bottom of how so much tax-payer money could be frittered away for so little return.”
Auditor General Gareth Davis said his independent body will probe the “management as a programme including accountabilities and decision-making processes, and planning work undertaken, including forecasting of visitor numbers”.
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Hopes of breaking Brexit deadlock on Northern Ireland rise amid show of friendship from London and Dublin
HOPES of breaking the Brexit deadlock on Northern Ireland rose last night amid a show of friendship from London and Dublin.
After months of flared tempers, both sides emerged from talks yesterday with a commitment to thrash out a solution as soon as possible.
‘Brexit hardman’ Steve Baker – now a Northern Ireland Minister – praised the ‘spirit of friendship’ with Ireland[/caption]
Self-styled “Brexit Hardman” Steve Baker – now a Northern Ireland Minister – said overcoming the stalemate required a “transformation in our relationship”.
Mr Baker recently apologised to the EU and Ireland for taking such a fierce stance during the referendum.
And at a chummy press conference yesterday he praised the “spirit of friendship” with Ireland and said: “I think I’ve got a confession for you.
“I think I can say without fear of contradiction that we’ve all enjoyed one another’s company.”
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Irish Foreign Minister Simon Covney added: “This isn’t some kind of phoney friendship you’re looking at here.”
The Stormont government in Northern Ireland is paralysed because the unionist DUP refuse to form an administration with Sinn Fein over their opposition to the Protocol.
British Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris stressed he would call a new election on October 28 if the impasse remains.
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