Live Panels

Following reports that the UK Governments was planning to unilaterally revise parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, this live panel saw the Commission’s Co-convener Hilary Benn MP, Irish politician Neale Richmond and former Conservative MP David Gauke discuss the diplomatic and economic implications for the UK if it takes unilateral action.

This panel was chaired by Naomi Smith.

The Commission’s first annual report was published on 11th March 2022 and it proposed 21 concrete interventions, aimed at improving cooperation and trade between the UK and its closest neighbours. 

The recommendations were written in support of the many business sectors that continue to bear the burden of costly red tape and barriers to trade, which are artificially increasing costs for them and consumers. The proposals were also aimed at removing points of political tension including around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

This panel was chaired the by journalist Peter Foster.

This live panel reflected on the work of the UK Trade and Business Commission during 2021 before looking ahead to the Future of Trade in 2022.

There was discussion about the impact of the UK Trade and Business Commission to date, before then turning to focus on the main issues and pinch-points that were anticipated to cause issues during 2022.

This panel was chaired the by journalist Jonathan Freedland.