Leo Varadkar confirms that a General Election will be held in Ireland on Saturday 8 February rte.ie/news/post/1032… via RTÉ

📣New Weekly Briefing by Open Europe's David Shiels: Devolution restored in Northern Ireland as the British and Irish Governments prepare for the next phase of Brexit openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/wee…

From Stephen Booth of Open Europe: We’re about to take back control – but what do we want to do with it? bit.ly/30MV1rC

"Whatever the exact form our new relationship with the EU takes, it will mean greater freedom for the UK to set its own course on trade, regulation and immigration. The question is what the UK should do with this independence." - Stephen Booth in ConservativeHome conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/…

Important piece from Open Europe Acting Director Stephen Booth - the Government needs to start giving meaning to what "taking back control" after Brexit will mean conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/…

"With greater freedom and independence comes opportunity but also greater risks. No longer can the EU be blamed, rightly or wrongly, for the nation’s ills. We will all be forced to up our game." - Stephen Booth writes in ConservativeHome conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/…

The UK is about to "take back control" - but do politicians know what they want to do with it? Stephen Booth on the challenges and opportunities of Brexit in ConservativeHome ✍️ conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/…

Quick summary of this week's Brexit, trade and EU developments from me: openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/wee…

NEW Weekly Briefing from Dom Walsh: - Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed into law - Sajid Javid clarifies comments on alignment and divergence - Tensions between 🇬🇧 and 🇺🇸 over digital sales tax - The Telegraph: 🇪🇺 may not offer 🇬🇧 mutual recognition openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/wee…

Seen some confusion this morning about what happens to free mobile roaming after Brexit- specifically the idea that roaming charges will come back after the transition period, either automatically or in the absence of an agreement with the EU. This isn't quite right. Quick thread

The EU Council adopted today the decision on the conclusion of the #WithdrawalAgreement. This step marks the end of the ratification process ahead of #Brexit day tomorrow. Press release: europa.eu/!Gc88my

#Brexit presents opportunities and challenges both for the EU and the UK. My new The Telegraph comment: telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/… And Thread hereunder:

As reported in London Playbook by Jack Blanchard , some personal/work news. Open Europe is closing down, and myself, David Shiels and Stephen Booth are moving across to the Britain in the World Unit at Policy Exchange 👇🏻 #reshuffle 1/3

NEWS: Open Europe's London-based team - Stephen Booth, Dom Walsh and David Shiels - is joining Policy Exchange to lead the work of the Britain in the World Unit. Brexit marks the end of the story for Open Europe, which will be closing. Statement here: 👇 openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/new…

Many thanks to Open Europe and everyone involved for (almost) twelve wonderful years at the forefront of EU politics. I'll keep everyone posted about my future plans, which are being developed. x.com/openeurope/sta…

As announced today, Open Europe is closing. While I’ve enjoyed working there for the last 15 months, I am delighted to start work Policy Exchange this week in the Britain in the World Unit along with my London OE colleagues openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/new…

NEWS: Policy Exchange is delighted to announce that Open Europe’s team of experts – Stephen Booth, Dom Walsh and David Shiels – is joining us to lead the work of our Britain in the World Unit. Read the full announcement here: policyexchange.org.uk/press-release/…

Further to this, a public service announcement: Open Europe’s website is being shut down today. If for whatever reason you ever want to read any of our old reports, blogs etc, let me know - I’ll have access to an archive.