- Passengers going to the EU will be able to buy duty-free alcohol and tobacco products like they can now for non-EU destinations.
- But they will no longer be allowed to bring in unlimited amounts of goods from the EU for personal use. Instead, there will be specific limits.
- The government is getting rid of tax-free sales to all destinations (that will hit retailers in airports, like Dixons) - they had to do that because WTO rules demand equal treatment for all countries, so it was either that or extend tax-free sales to EU destinations.
- The government is getting rid of the ability of non-EU visitors to get VAT refunds on stuff they carry home with them. This will make the UK less attractive as a shopping destination for well-heeled foreigners. (Instead, they have to have the products sent overseas by stores!)
Summary: some positives, some negatives - but as a whole, the negatives outweigh the positives. We lose tax-free shopping in UK airports, and tourists lose cheaper products. We can no longer bring unlimited amounts of stuff back from the EU. But we gain duty-free booze to the EU.
Of course, since alcohol is more expensive in the UK than almost anywhere else in Europe, it's hard to see how many people will be queueing up to load up on alcohol before heading overseas. More than they do now, I mean.
If you're a consumer, the new rules will take getting used to, especially the limited personal allowance for "everything else".
If you're a business, especially an airport retailer, the changes could be devastating.
Thanks, Brexit!
/END
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For the first time, we could demote the Tories to third. Winning fewer seats than the LibDems would wipe them out as a political force.
Polls suggest this is within reach, but we need tactical voting to get us over the line.
1/12
Our choice is stark:
5 long years of the Tories in Opposition, pushing a hate-filled agenda of culture wars and immigrant-bashing.
Or the LibDems in Opposition, holding Labour to account on the issues that matter, with the Tories fuming, impotent, on the back benches.
2/12
If the Tories are in Opposition as the 2nd largest party, they get:
- 6 questions a week at PMQs
- Guaranteed coverage from media outlets with "due impartiality" requirements
- 17 Opposition Days to push their agenda and hold votes
- Almost £1 million in extra Short Money
1) Tories in Opposition. 5 years of endless culture wars & immigrant-bashing.
2) LibDems in Opposition. Tories powerless & voiceless on the back benches.
If the Tories are pushed into third, everything changes. Here's why:
1/12
Coming second would let the Tories rebuild as the official Opposition and continue to push their divisive hate-fuelled agenda.
But coming third should finish them. It might take time, but they'd be walking dead.
Second place brings substantial benefits:
2/12
Benefits of being the official Opposition:
- 6 questions at PMQs
- Guaranteed media coverage from outlets with "due impartiality" requirements, e.g. the BBC
- 17 Opposition Days to set the agenda and force votes
- Extra Short Money (nearly £1 million)
Tories in Opposition. 5 years of endless culture wars & immigrant-bashing.
OR
LibDems in Opposition. Tories powerless & voiceless on the back benches.
If the Tories are pushed into third, that changes everything. Here's why:
1/12
Coming second would let the Tories rebuild as the official Opposition and continue to push their divisive hate-fuelled agenda.
But coming third should finish them. It might take time, but they'd be walking dead.
Second place brings substantial benefits:
2/12
Benefits of being the official Opposition:
- 6 questions at PMQs
- Guaranteed media coverage from outlets with "due impartiality" requirements, e.g. the BBC
- 17 Opposition Days to set the agenda and force votes
- Extra Short Money (nearly £1 million)
Here's a significant new Tory scandal, a hit job on Keir Starmer which somehow contrived to draw in an indirect attack on Jewish faith.
(Long tweet. It is necessary to cover the scandal in full. Please expand to see the whole thing.)
They are attacking him for saying that he would "clock off work at 6pm if he became Prime Minister".
They also said "You deserve better than a part-time Prime Minister."
There are two big problems with this.
Problem number one: That's not what he said. The Tories are quoting selectively out of context, like a film poster which reads "spectacular effects" when the original review said "spectacular failure, with lacklustre effects".
It was only ever about Friday evenings, not every day.
Here's what Keir Starmer actually said:
-- transcript starts --
Keir Starmer: We have had a strategy in place and we will try and keep to it, and that it is to carve out really protected time for the kids. And so on a Friday - I have been doing this for years - I will not do a work-related thing after 6 o'clock - pretty well come-what-may.
Chris Evans: Regardless?
Keir Starmer: Yeh. Now there are a few exceptions but that's what we do. My son goes kick-boxing and so I often take him there. My daughter goes swimming and cheer-leading now, so I have been to see her in cheer-leading competitions.
Chris Evans: So you're going to ringfence that time?
Keir Starmer: Yeh. And I want to. One, because I am a dad and I love them. They're my pride and joy and I don't want to lose that time. Two, I don't believe in the theory that you are a better decision-maker if you don't allow yourself the space to be a dad and to have fun for your kids. Actually, it helps me. It takes me away from the pressure. It relaxes me. I think actually, it's not only want I want to do as a dad, it is better.
-- transcript ends --
SOURCE
Problem number two: There is also an essential and important faith element to the story.
Keir Starmer has been completely up front about carving out time on Friday evenings to participate in his wife and family's Shabbat dinners. This is something he has repeatedly talked about, for many years, for example in this Jewish Chronicle story of July 2023.
So the Tory attack was not only in bad faith (forgive the pun) but it could also be taken as a slight on Keir Starmer's family's choice of religious practices.
And yet it's not just the official Conservative Twitter account putting the boot in. (Tweet linked below, with screenshot in case they make it go away.) Individual Tory MPs are at it too.