With Biden, Britain's Brexiteers lose cheerleader

14 Sept 23:01 Key points summarised by AI

President Biden, unlike his predecessor, prioritizes strengthening ties with the European Union and does not share the Brexiteers' enthusiasm for Britain's 'go it alone' strategy.
Biden, an Irish-American, issued a strong warning against any hard border in Northern Ireland, influencing Britain's deal with Brussels and making the issue a critical factor for the US-UK relationship.
Prospects for a comprehensive US-UK trade deal are significantly diminished under Biden, who is not prioritizing new sweeping agreements and will soon lose fast-track negotiation authority.
While Britain seeks to be a key strategic security partner, Biden's administration may find comparable capabilities within the larger EU, potentially reducing Britain's unique leverage post-Brexit.

Speculation growing over merger between Bhumjaithai and Kla Tham parties

Yesterday 16:46 Key points summarised by AI

A dinner between Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul and Kla Tham leader Capt. Thamanat Prompow ignited widespread speculation about a potential merger between their parties.
The meeting is viewed as a strategic message to coalition partner Pheu Thai, indicating Bhumjaithai's alternative options following Pheu Thai's chief whip's remarks about not fully defending all ministers in the upcoming no-confidence debate.
A direct merger between parties with sitting MPs is currently prohibited by Section 99 of the Constitution until the House's term expires, though MPs can switch parties through dismissal or party dissolution.
These constitutional rules aim to prevent financially strong parties from easily absorbing smaller ones, a practice that historically led to single-party dominance, as seen with Thai Rak Thai's 2005 election victory.