Brexit and the US
The US is the UK’s largest individual country trading partner by far and it is worth looking at some recent trade and investment figures between the two countries.
According to a trade and investment factsheet ( one of a regular series) published by the UK’s Department for Business & Trade (“DBT”) on 1st August 2025, total trade in goods and services ( exports plus imports) between the UK and the US was £322.1 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 ( Quarter 1 ) 2025, an increase of 6.3% or £19.1 billion in current prices from the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024. Of this £322.1 billion:-
- Total UK exports to the US amounted to £200.8 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025 ( an increase of 5.4% or £10.3 billion in current prices, compared to the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024); and
- Total UK imports from the US amounted to £121.2 billion in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025 ( an increase of 7.8% or £8.8 billion in current prices, compared to the four quarters to the end of Q1 2024).
The DBT factsheet confirmed that the US was indeed the UK’s largest individual country trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q1 2025, accounting for 17.8% of total UK trade.
The factsheet also showed that, at the end of 2023, the outward stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) from the UK in the US was £513.2 billion , 0.3% or £1.7 billion higher than at the end of 2022 and accounting for 27.0% of the total UK outward FDI stock and that, in the same period, the inward stock of FDI in the UK from the US was £692.9 billion, 1.4% or £9.6 billion lower than at the end of 2022 and accounting for 31.8% of the total UK inward FDI stock.
These are impressive figures showing a trade balance in favour of the UK for the period in question and also a massive investment commitment by each country in the other( though the diminution in US FDI into the UK for the period in question is a little concerning).
It will be interesting to compare these figures with future figures in the Trump tariffs era and also following the 2025 UK-US trade deal.
Brexit and Human Rights and the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)
On 25th July 2025, the UK House of Commons Joint Committee on Human Rights launched a new inquiry , “ Human Rights and the Regulation of AI”.
The inquiry’s terms of reference reportedly sought submissions on :
- How AI can affect human rights, with particular reference to the areas of privacy and data usage, discrimination and bias, and effective remedies for violations of human rights;
- The existing legal and regulatory framework for the protection of human rights and whether there are sufficient protections for human rights in relation to AI; and
- Potential changes to the existing legal and regulatory framework.
As part of its remit, the inquiry would also be considering the regulation of AI in other countries and internationally in the context of human rights ( including the likely impact of the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law).
The deadline for submissions to the inquiry was 5th September 2025.
Changing times!
Brexit and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No.2
Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, known as the “ Resurrection” symphony because it concerns the journey from Darkness into Light, is a gigantic work in 5 movements, with full orchestra and choir and soloist operatic singers, which was performed at the Proms on 2nd August 2025 at a gigantic venue, the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The majestic performance of the work by Manchester’s Halle orchestra was stunning and the audience gave the orchestra a well-deserved standing ovation at the end.
Mahler was a citizen of the Austro-Hungarian empire and his second symphony was composed in the late 19th century and yet the universalist themes in his music reach out to all peoples and to all ages.
At the Royal Albert Hall, on this occasion, the UK’s very prominent role in the world of classical music was yet again amply demonstrated.
Hopefully, narrower political horizons will never be allowed to get in the way!
Brexit and the “Armada “ Effect
It is sometimes said that the English navy was able to get the better of the Spanish Armada back in 1588 because the English ships were small and nimble and were able to out – manoeuvre the more cumbersome larger Spanish galleons. Whether this story is true or apocryphal, it does seem to strike a chord with some Brexit – supporters’ view of the world. The view is that Brexit has given the UK the ability to strike trade deals in its own interests with other countries more quickly and in a much more targeted and effective way than was the case when the UK was part of the EU.
In an article for “City AM” published on 5th August 2025, entitled “Even Remoaners must now admit that there are benefits to Brexit”, Ben Ramanauskas, a senior research fellow in economics at the Policy Exchange think tank ( and who may or may not be a Brexit-supporter), illustrates the Brexit argument by contrasting the allegedly mutually favourable UK-US trade deal agreed in May 2025 with the allegedly more US- favourable trade deal struck between the US and the EU in July 2025.
The writer presses his point home further by referring to the post-Brexit Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) concluded between the UK and Japan which he argues is more favourable to the UK than the Japan – EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which applied to the UK when the UK was part of the EU. The UK’s post-Brexit membership of the CPTPP ( the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), of which Japan is also a member, should also help to strengthen the UK-Japan trade relationship, according to Mr Ramanauskas.
The Brexit – Remain debate continues to spark interest!
Brexit and Identity Verification for UK Companies House
On 5th August 2025, UK Companies House issued a press release, entitled “Companies identity verification rollout from 18 November 2025”, with the strapline: “ We are phasing identity verification over 12 months to make things simpler for companies and business owners.”.
According to the press release, “ From 18 November 2025:
- New directors will need to verify their identity to incorporate a company or be appointed to an existing company
- Existing directors will need to confirm they have verified their identity at the same time as they file their next annual confirmation statement, during a 12-month transition period
- Existing PSCs will need to verify their identity in line with an appointed day within 12 months of the commencement of mandatory identity verification on 18 November [2025]”.
Identity verification requirements for limited partnerships, corporate directors of companies, corporate members of limited liability partnerships (LLPs), and officers of corporate PSCs will commence later.
Changing times!
Brexit and the “Rule of Lawyers”
On 24th August 2025, The Sunday Times published an article by Labour peer and founder of “Blue Labour”, Lord Maurice Glasman, entitled “Strong leaders are needed to bury the rule of lawyers”.
The article talked about the tension between democratic control by politicians acting through Parliament and the rules of some overarching international legal order which, according to the article, had morphed from the rule of law into the rule of lawyers.
Lord Glasman wrote that “ For the UK this tension between treaty law and democratic sovereignty came to a head in the Brexit referendum. It was the beginning of an era in which the working class, far from being left behind, became the decisive factor; an era in which sovereignty, democracy and politics reclaimed their primacy from the claims of what Ronald Dworkin called “law’s empire”. It was an insurrection against the status quo and it still grows in energy and power”.
The writer instanced US President Trump’s MAGA movement as an example of how the people were taking back democratic control from the judges. He described the “small boats” issue in the UK and the frictions to which it has given rise as another example of the conflict between the rule of lawyers and the aspirations of ordinary people.
According to Lord Glasman, the new current era “is one of restoration: the restoration of sovereignty and borders, of the effectiveness and integrity of the state, of the authority of parliament, of the power of our armed forces, of industry, strong democracy and the dignity of labour. An era of bilateral partnerships, not multilateral treaties”.
Lord Glasman probes the heart of controversy. Time may ( or may not) tell who is right! “
Disclaimer: This article contains general commentary only and should not be relied upon as legal advice.
