Some recent non-Cummings news you may have missed. First a good @instituteforgov on implementing the Northern Ireland protocol which says "it is very difficult to see how preparations to implement the protocol can be completed before the end of the year" - https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/implementing-brexit-northern-ireland-protocol.pdf">https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/def...

Another Brexit milestone which may not be met by the end of the year - to have 50,000 new customs agents, as reported by the FT. https://www.ft.com/content/be64c437-3ef2-4290-bf30-4cd3a97aa870?segmentId=bf7fa2fd-67ee-cdfa-8261-b2a3edbdf916">https://www.ft.com/content/b...

In a development that seems likely to have been influenced by the PM& #39;s desire to shore up his own Conservative Party support, it looks like Hauwei will after all not be allowed to provide any equipment for the UK& #39;s 5G rollout. https://www.ft.com/content/1c226144-a3a9-4533-ab14-88d65142ba05">https://www.ft.com/content/1...

There are also indications the government will introduce new inward investment screening rules predominantly targeting Chinese inward investment. https://www.ft.com/content/b333c8c0-9c25-11ea-871b-edeb99a20c6e">https://www.ft.com/content/b...

It brings us back to a huge economic problem - economic rebalancing in the UK if you& #39;re going to put in place barriers to inward investment, and trade with the EU (a protectionist US doesn& #39;t help much here). Or is it all to be funded by borrowing? https://www.ft.com/content/e7f23f2b-4aa8-449e-8362-a6fcc084fee3?segmentId=bf7fa2fd-67ee-cdfa-8261-b2a3edbdf916">https://www.ft.com/content/e...

Measures making trade and investment harder are a common response to domestic troubles - this is a global, cross-party phenomenon. But it strikes to the heart of the still unresolved question - what is post-Brexit UK?