Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson) profile picture

Economist and former analyst and negotiator of trade, environment and agriculture policies.

Joined March 2011
Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)Photo by Derrick Wilkinson (@DGWilkinson)
Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
This is absolutely brilliant. ♥️ 🎶🎻
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Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
By moving away from regulatory autonomy over plant and soil safety to match the EU rulebook. Permission will be revoked for 14 specific pesticides and fungicides that Britain approved for use during wet weather but which the EU had explicitly banned. So much for UK Farmers :-(
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As I said about Starmer's reset deal in 2025 "by agreeing to dynamic alignment rather than mutual recognition on SPS issues, this agreement will cause legal conflicts with our trade agreements with other countries, notably Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the CPTPP group."
Burnham’s dire EU Reset Deal looks like it could have dire consequences for the UK’s trade relations with other countries The UK aligning with the EU on SPS & emissions appears to be incompatible with our membership of the CPTPP, which requires us to have regulatory autonomy Is this part of a wider plan to rip up the UK’s trade relationships outside the EU or did Labour not realise the 2nd order consequences of the deal? It could be either quite frankly wilj.org/2026/09/23/the-inco…
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At just 16, Marcin was already making his guitar sing with captivating, mesmerizing melodies. It’s no wonder he’s been hailed as the “Paganini of the guitar”!
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Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
What started as trade and cooperation turned into unelected commissioners rewriting national law, punishing governments that refuse to line up, and selling every new power grab as "European and democratic values". The EU is not a union of free countries. It's a TOTALITARIAN system calling itself a democracy.
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Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
Britain now has a speech kill switch, and as of Monday it’s armed. Large platforms must keep a crisis censorship plan they don’t have to publish, ready to fire the moment speech regulator Ofcom’s definition of a crisis is merely “likely.” That definition covers local events, regional events, and even events overseas. The content in scope includes “foreign interference,” which can apply to information that is entirely true if it’s presented the wrong way. Ofcom admits political speech will get caught and calls the extra false positives “proportionate.” Police get a dedicated line to the platforms, and they don’t need a court order to use it. The reviews afterwards happen in private too... reclaimthenet.org/britains-o…
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Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
Here are the figures for the UK's participation in the Erasmus Scheme when we were members. Labour has agreed to pay the EU £810 million a year for this scheme, which covers short-term trips to the EU of 2 days to a year. If the same number of students use the scheme, that works out to £42,100 per trip. Enough to pay for a 4-year university course in the UK. #StoptheReset
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This is critical! With a growing population and more and more farmland returned to wildlife, forestry and net zero projects, domestic food security is under grave threat. This outrageous decision to give the EU full control over our food production makes the threat much greater
Life for UK farmers under the EU's Agri-food regulations and SPS regime.
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The greatest betrayal of sovereignty in British history! In many ways this is worse than rejoining as it gives Brussels full control over British food production and many other parts of the UK economy, but without having any say at all over the rules.
The British Businesses That Will Answer to Brussels Without Ever Trading There Andy Burnham's Brexit reset contains a remarkable bargain. In exchange for easier trade with the European Union, Britain is preparing to accept rules written in Brussels, including those governing businesses that have never exported a single product to Europe. Consider the family butcher in Yorkshire, the dairy farmer in Wales or the small food producer supplying local shops. Their customers are British. Their businesses operate under British law. Yet the Government's proposed agrifood agreement would bring them within a regulatory system whose future rules will be decided by institutions in which Britain has no vote. The Government's own guidance confirms it. The agreement will apply domestically whether businesses trade with the EU or not. As Brussels changes its rules, British regulations will change accordingly. This principle, known as dynamic alignment, reaches far beyond removing paperwork at Dover. The scope is considerable. Food safety, pesticides, animal health, nutrition labelling, organic production and marketing standards are included. Dozens of EU regulations and directives would fall within the arrangement. Future changes could affect what farmers grow, which products manufacturers use and how food is sold. Burnham argues that closer alignment will reduce costs and improve trade. Removing unnecessary border checks makes sense. Exporters have faced genuine difficulties since Brexit, and businesses would welcome relief from costly certificates and inspections. But a government surrendering future regulatory freedom should explain precisely what Britain receives in return. The promised economic prize is £5.1 billion a year by 2040. That is a forecast, dependent on assumptions about future growth. Meanwhile, Britain's financial contribution to Brussels remains unclear. Ministers are asking the public to applaud the benefits before disclosing the full bill. More troubling is democratic control. Britain would be consulted during the development of relevant EU legislation. Consultation, however, guarantees no influence. We would have no vote in the Council of the European Union, and the European Court of Justice would remain the ultimate authority on questions of EU law covered by the agreement. Parliament would retain its legal powers. But exercising them against an international agreement could carry consequences, including disputes and retaliatory measures. Future governments might therefore face a choice between laws they oppose and economic penalties for refusing to follow them. That is an extraordinary position for a country whose voters chose to leave the European Union. Britain also imports food from countries far beyond Europe. Aligning our standards and import controls with Brussels could restrict our freedom to negotiate different arrangements with those suppliers. The Fresh Produce Consortium has warned of substantial additional costs for importers sourcing produce outside the EU. Such warnings deserve examination before commitments become binding. Brexit never meant Britain should stop trading with Europe or reject sensible cooperation. Restoring national control meant allowing elected British governments to decide which rules best served this country, while remaining answerable to the people who elected them. Burnham now proposes an arrangement under which future EU decisions could reach into British farms, factories and shops without those affected having a meaningful vote over the lawmakers responsible. The question Parliament should put to him is simple. Why must a business that never trades with Brussels surrender its regulatory independence for the benefit of one that does? Until Burnham answers that, his Brexit reset looks less like practical government and more like a transfer of democratic power whose full price remains unknown.
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Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
Labour’s Brexit reset with the EU could come at a significant cost to Britain’s food industry and economic growth. Our writer's latest column examines what Britain has given up – and what it stands to gain in return ⬇️ telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/11…
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Great summary by @CeeMacBee of the unconditional surrender! Worth adding the grave threat to the UK agritech industry is also a grave threat to the country's food security as more and more farmland is turned over to wildlife and net zero projects, and yields and production fall
“They call it 'the reset'. I call it unconditional surrender.” @CeeMacBee exposes Labour’s EU reset - from defence and youth mobility to energy, business regulation and food production. And is this is only the beginning! @ #BattleFest 2026 "Don't look back! Escaping the EU's economic doom loop" Find the full report here👇 gbbc.uk/wp-content/uploads/2…
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Thousands of small and medium sized food companies all across the land will be pushed closer to bankruptcy by this appalling decision!
Even small local bakeries that never trade with the EU will have to follow EU rules on ingredients, packaging, and nutritional information. Industry compliance costs are estimated at £2 to £3 billion. They will also face additional compliance costs every time the EU changes its rules. UK taxpayers will also have to pay the EU for its policy work to create and enforce these rules on UK firms. This could be up to £3 billion a year, every year.
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Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
The age demanded an image Of its accelerated grimace, Something for the modern stage, Not, at any rate, an Attic grace… All things are a flowing, Sage Heracleitus says; But a tawdry cheapness Shall reign throughout our days. Ezra Pound
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What a dreadful Christmas ad featuring two loathsome kids and their grandmother! 👎
Nope...not for me! 😠 This years John Lewis Christmas ad, in summary. Nan needs a hug, rude kids barge past her, ignoring her completely. Kids don't like Nans childhood presents, so Nan goes out shopping to John Lewis to buy things they like to placate them. Nan eventually gets her hug, when the spoilt grandkids get the presents they want. Oh, and a rickshaw ride round London for good measure! An absolutely dreadful story of kids attitudes towards the elderly today, and blatant consumerism - I for one, won't be shopping there this year! 🎁 🎅🎄
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Burnham agrees to pay reparations to the EU for the historic injustice of leaving!
🚨BREAKING: Andy Burnham has agreed a deal to fund poorer EU countries through a development projects programme This is a complete betrayal of the Brexit vote
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Derrick Wilkinson retweeted
🚨NEWS: Andy Burnham is preparing to ban sauce sachets in the UK to align with EU rules I wish I was joking This is what our PM is working on Meanwhile the country is falling apart
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Burnham agrees to hand over the running of the country to Brussels so he has time for the really important stuff!
🚨NEWS: Andy Burnham is preparing to ban sauce sachets in the UK to align with EU rules I wish I was joking This is what our PM is working on Meanwhile the country is falling apart
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It's a better deal than the EU are offering!
He should have done this all along. It's not too late.
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