These headlines have come from the same newspaper. The first one is the latest announcement that has been promised over the last few hours of a 16.5Bn increase in funding for the defence of our Nation. Now of course some of the money will be spent for attacking situations, but the reality is that as far as armed force issues are concerned, our 75th celebration of the end of World War 2 a few months ago should remind most of us that we have been very well defended as a nation from potential wars. There are of course many challenges we face and the armed forces are part of the protection from some of the challenges, but claiming we need to spend a lot more money of defence is unnecessary. On the other hand this will inspire many people. However today is meant to be the day we finally hear what the deal will be. It is not a problem for the negotiators to leave it until the end of December, but for those of us who need to know what the arrangements will be (and that is many businesses) the lack of a deal is potentially much more of a threat as things are in our current time than the lack of some money for the armed forces, as important as they are.

The two cases involve Boris Johnson and they are both being mismatched, perhaps intentionally today by him and his colleagues. This is very disturbing. The Headlines are from the Daily Mail but on this occasion they both have got the facts within the Headlines. Here are the facts from the Government which are based on September 2020 so one month of the current year. So in one month our nations exports are £25.9bn and our imports are £50bn. The EU aspect of these are £12.6bn and £21.5bn so just under 50% in both cases. The challenge is that on this page of the same website is an explanation of the tariffs we will be facing on 1st January if no deal is achieved. This should be focusing our attention far more than a decision to invest some funds into the armed forces!