Brexit and the Deaths of Alan Yentob and Marcel Ophuls
On 24th May 2025, two giants of the UK and French Cinema/ Television Worlds, Alan Yentob and Marcel Ophuls, sadly passed on.
They were both from immigrant families who made good in their respective host countries .
Alan Yentob was born in London and grew up in London and Manchester and became at different times the controller of BBC 1 and BBC 2 and subsequently creative director of the BBC with overall responsibility across all of the BBC’s platforms. He commissioned hugely popular entertainment shows such as “Absolutely Fabulous” and ”Strictly Come Dancing” and in later years became known for producing his absorbing “Imagine” series of interviews with serious celebrated figures from the Arts.
Marcel Ophuls was born in Germany but settled in France and was the son of the highly regarded film director, Max Ophuls, who made such iconic films as “La Ronde” ( 1950).
Marcel was a compelling controversialist director who focused on difficult subjects such as life in France under the Nazi Occupation in the Second World War ( Le Chagrin et la Pitie, 1969). According to his obituary in “The Times”, Marcel professed a love for “British eccentrics” and made a well – received series on the subject of Neville Chamberlain ( though whether Marcel regarded Chamberlain as one of those eccentrics is not clear from the obituary).
Both individuals were internationally influential and did much to bring their local experiences to the attention of a wider Europe and indeed a wider world.
Brexit and Serbia
Serbia has a complicated relationship with the EU and the UK and West generally, because of the legacy of the Balkans Wars in the ‘nineties and because of its close continuing relationship with Russia and for a number of other reasons. Despite this, Serbia remains a candidate country for membership of the EU and has been so since 2012, having applied for EU membership in 2009.
In this context, it is interesting and hopefully instructive to focus on the state of trade and investment between the UK and Serbia at this time.
According to a factsheet published by the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on 2nd May 2025, total trade in goods and services ( exports plus imports) between the two countries was £1.1 billion in the four quarters to the end of Quarter 4 (Q4) 2024, an increase of 3.6% or £38 million in current prices from the four quarters to the end of Q4 2023.Of this £1.1 billion:
- Total UK exports to Serbia amounted to £521 million in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024 ( an increase of 7.9% or £38 million in current prices , compared to the four quarters to the end of Q4 2023); and
- Total UK imports from Serbia amounted to £562 million in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024 ( a change of less than £1 million in current prices, compared to the four quarters to the end of Q4 2023).
The factsheet showed that Serbia was the UK’s 88th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2024 accounting for O.1% of total UK trade.
The DBT factsheet also showed that, in 2023, the outward stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the UK in Serbia was £225 million, 16.5% or £45 million lower than in 2022. In 2023, Serbia accounted for less than 0.1% of the total UK outward FDI stock.
In 2023, the factsheet showed that the inward stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UK from Serbia was £252 million, 13% or £38 million lower than in 2022. In 2023, Serbia accounted for less than 0.1% of the total UK inward FDI stock.
These facts and figures present a mixed picture of trade opportunity but decline in investment. Hopefully, as the UK pursues its post-Brexit destiny, the picture may improve for the better in due course.
Brexit and Gibraltar
On 11th June 2025, the BBC news app reported that the UK has agreed a deal with the EU over Gibraltar’s status after Brexit.
According to the report, the UK Government has said that the agreement would avoid the need for checks on people and goods crossing the Gibraltar-Spain border.
Reportedly, for travellers arriving at Gibraltar airport, checks will be carried out by Gibraltar and Spanish officials.
Furthermore, both the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy MP, and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, have reportedly confirmed that the agreement preserves British sovereignty over Gibraltar.
From the Spanish point of view, a big advantage of the deal is ( reportedly, according to The Times) the ending of the VAT- free regime in Gibraltar and its replacement by a higher rate of import duty called a “transaction tax”.
According to The Times, under the deal,” Gibraltar will in effect become part of the Schengen area , allowing freedom of movement for workers with entry checks only carried out at its port and airport. Gibraltar will become closer to the EU’s customs union – which it was not in before Brexit – opening up new commercial opportunities.”.
Reportedly, all parties have committed to finalising a UK-EU treaty text on Gibraltar as quickly as possible.
A piece of good news , it seems!
Brexit and the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy
On 23rd June 2025, the UK’s Department for Business and Trade reportedly published a policy paper, entitled “The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy”, that sets out the UK government’s new approach to industrial strategy. The ten-year strategy document makes clear the government’s intention to focus on eight high-growth industrial sectors: advanced manufacturing, creative industries, life sciences, clean energy, digital and technologies, professional and business services, financial services and defence.
The policy paper identifies initiatives to be taken by the UK government to implement its strategies, including:-
- A proposed consultation on updating the definitions of the 17 sectors subject to mandatory notification under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 and notice of an upcoming announcement on new exemptions to the mandatory notification regime;
- A statement that the government will prioritise regulatory reform to ensure that company law and national security processes support the competitiveness of the eight high – growth sectors; and
- Committing to publishing consultations on simplifying non-financial reporting requirements under the Companies Act 2006 and on the introduction of a corporate re-domiciliation regime to simplify the process for foreign companies moving to the UK.
The Executive Summary to the policy paper sets out 15 steps to “ make it easier and simpler for companies to do business, giving them the stability to make long-term investments” and also confirms the government’s intention to strengthen the resilience of the eight high-growth sectors “ by supporting the foundational industries and their supply chains which provide vital materials and parts, from steel to chemicals, or manage essential infrastructure, from ports to electricity networks”.
There has been some mixed reaction to the Strategy policy , including some frustration on the part of the hard-hit Retail and Hospitality sectors that they have not been included in the list of priority sectors.
Let us see what happens!
Disclaimer: This article contains general commentary only and should not be relied upon as legal advice.
