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WORLD NEWS Monday 21 noveMber 2022

As British voters cool on Brexit, U.K. softens tone towards EU

By JILL LAWLESS BBC, and predicted that
Associated Press the "vast majority" of barri-
LONDON (AP) — The Brit- ers would be removed – al-
ish government on Sunday though it would take years.
denied a report that it is Any move to rebuild ties
seeking a "Swiss-style" rela- with the EU will face op-
tionship with the European position from the power-
Union that would remove ful euroskeptic wing of the
many of the economic Conservative Party. Even
barriers erected by Brexit — the opposition Labour Par-
even as it tries to improve ty — reluctant to reopen a
ties with the bloc after debate that split the coun-
years of acrimony. try in half and poisoned
Health Secretary Steve Bar- politics — says it won't seek
clay told Sky News "I don't to rejoin the bloc, or even
recognize" the Sunday A Union flag waves behind a European Union flag, outside the the EU's single market, if it
Times report, insisting the Houses of Parliament, in London, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. takes power after the next
U.K. was still determined Associated Press election.
to "use the Brexit freedoms Sunak, who took office
we have" by diverging from expressed optimism that can no longer live and last month, is a long-time
the EU's rules in key areas. trade barriers between work freely across Europe, Brexit supporter, but also a
Switzerland has a close the U.K. and the EU would and EU citizens can't move pragmatist who has made
economic relationship with be removed in the coming to the U.K. at will. repairing the economy his
the 27-nation EU in return years. Now, according to The British government's fis- top priority. Russia's inva-
for accepting the bloc's polling expert John Curtice, cal watchdog, the Office sion of Ukraine, which has
rules and paying into its 57% of people would vote for Budget Responsibility, rocked European secu-
coffers. to rejoin the bloc and 43% said last week that leaving rity and sent energy pric-
The U.K. government said to stay out. the EU has had "a signifi- es soaring, has put Brexit
"Brexit means we will never When the U.K. was nego- cant adverse effect on U.K. squabbles into perspective
again have to accept a tiating its divorce from the trade." for politicians on both sides
relationship with Europe EU, Conservative govern- Yet only recently have of the English Channel.
that would see a return to ments under Prime Minis- members of the govern- Sunak wants to solve a
freedom of movement, un- ters Theresa May and her ment begun acknowledg- festering feud with the EU
necessary payments to the successor Boris Johnson ing Brexit's downsides. Hunt, over trade rules that have
European Union or jeopar- ruled out remaining inside who last week announced caused a political crisis in
dize the full benefit of trade the EU's borderless single a 55 billion-pound ($65 bil- Northern Ireland, the only
deals we are now able to market or its tariff-free cus- lion) package of tax in- part of the U.K. that shares a
strike around the world." toms union. Politicians who creases and spending cuts border with an EU member
But despite the denials, the wanted closer ties were ig- to shore up an economy nation. When Britain left the
new Conservative govern- nored or pushed aside. battered by soaring infla- bloc, the two sides agreed
ment led by Prime Minister The divorce deal struck by tion, acknowledged Brexit to keep the Irish border
Rishi Sunak wants to restore the two sides in 2020 has had caused "trade barri- free of customs posts and
relations with the EU, ac- brought customs checks ers" with the U.K.'s nearest other checks because an
knowledging that Brexit has and other border hurdles neighbors. open border is a key pillar
brought an economic cost for goods, and passport "Unfettered trade with our of the peace process that
for Britain. Treasury chief checks and other annoy- neighbors is very benefi- ended 30 years of violence
Jeremy Hunt last week ances for travelers. Britons cial to growth," he told the in Northern Ireland.q

2 volcanoes rumble into action in Russia’s far east

MOSCOW (AP) — Towering tute said that at Klyuchevs-
clouds of ash and glowing kaya Sopka, which at 4,754
lava are spewing from two meters (nearly 16,000 feet)
volcanoes on Russia's Kam- is Eurasia's tallest active vol-
chatka Peninsula and sci- cano, as many as 10 explo-
entists say major eruptions sions an hour were being
could be on the way. recorded.
The peninsula, which ex- Lava flows and ash emis-
tends into the Pacific sions also are coming from
Ocean about 6,600 kilo- the Shiveluch volcano, the
meters (4,000 miles) east institute said.
of Moscow, is one of the Kamchatka is sparsely pop-
world's most concentrated ulated. The town of Klyuchi,
areas of geothermal ac- with about 5,000 people,
tivity, with about 30 active lies between the two vol-
volcanoes. canoes, 30-50 kilometers
The sudden new activ- (20-30 miles) from each.
ity followed a strong earth- The volcanoes are about Flames and smoke billowing during the Klyuchevskaya
quake on Saturday, news 450 kilometers (270 miles) volcano's eruption on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, on
reports said. from the peninsula's only March 8, 2021.
The Russian Academy of major city, Petropavlovsk- Associated Press
Sciences' vulcanology insti- Kamchatsky.q