PM brings back pounds and ounces

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View in browser June 02, 2022 Boris Johnson spies return to 'imperial' glory, while Rees Mogg seeks expiry dates for EU law Boris Johnson wants return of imperial measurements in shops and markets. PA Wire/PA Images Bored of all the bunting? Tired of documentaries about the Queen? Boris Johnson can't get enough of flag-waving nostalgia. In fact, he appears to be weaponising the stuff as part of official government policy. The PM wants to re-introduce imperial measurements of pounds and ounces to post-Brexit Britain, attempting to bring a bit of "national culture" back to our woefully-internationalist shops. Meanwhile, Jacob Rees-Mogg is still looking for your suggestions on how to make Brexit blossom. His office has flagged the removal of EU limits on vacuum cleaner wattage as one of "best ideas" suggested by the public. High-powered hoover gimmicks aside, the Brexit opportunities minister is said to have his eye on around 1,500 pesky bits of EU law still on the statue books, telling fellow cabinet ministers he wants a five-year expiry date on as many of those rules as possible. If Rees-Mogg has an ounce of doubt in his Brexit "freedoms" plan (sixteen ounces in a pound, by the way), he's not letting on. The Brexit Headlines  Imperial measurements back to boost 'British culture' The return of imperial measurements will bring British "culture" back into shops, one minister claimed. The PM is set to announce details on the big push to boost use of pounds and ounces, feet and inches, this Friday. Rees-Mogg hails chance to scrap EU vacuum cleaner rules Jacob Rees-Mogg's office said scrapping EU regulations on vacuum cleaners was one of the "most interesting" ideas received from the public on the big Brexit boon. The minister asked Express readers for more suggestions. Top Tory calls for UK return to EU single market Senior Tory MP Tobias Ellwood made a surprising call for the government to take Britain back into the EU's single market. The bold backbencher, a critic of the the PM, said British business was being "strangled" by red tape. Opinion of the week Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill on Stormont stand-off: "The DUP are punishing the public – it is the public who are being held to ransom because of their actions." Stat of the week 1,500 Number of EU rules Jacob Rees-Mogg is said to want to ditch or change What you might have missed Post-Brexit rules preventing the export of seed potatoes from Scotland to Ireland could see a shortage of spuds by 2023, experts have warned. Graduates from the world's top universities will be eligible for a new UK work visa, under the latest post-Brexit scheme. Business owners have hit out at ongoing post-Brexit trading rule woes, with one describing it as "the same nightmare week after week". The road haulage sector must improve conditions for lorry drivers or face a new tax, a cross-party group of MPs has demanded. A Food and Drink Federation survey shows food and drink exports to the EU are down by 17.3% compared to a similar period in 2019. Articles driving the biggest conversations Aviation chaos: We need to talk about Brexit Articles available exclusively to subscribers Will the DUP's protocol stance come back to bite them? If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Brexit and beyond newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's Brexit and beyond newsletter, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.