[1andrew1]

More evidence that BoJo is using the state aid provisions to prevent the EU signing a free trade deal with the UK.

Indeed, all too often, state aid rules provided a useful excuse when businesses came begging for bailouts: "Oh, we'd love to help you but unfortunately those annoying Brussels bureaucrats won't let us."
That's the first ironic thing about the current situation, where Number 10 is holding up the state aid regime as the main reason it is considering leaving the EU without a deal. How can we create national champions, they ask, if we are constrained by these rules?
The second ironic thing is that it's not altogether clear the rules do prevent you from creating national champions.
After all, even within the EU, Britain spent far more on state aid - providing grants and supports for its companies - than most of its European neighbours. There is nothing in the treaties or case law to prevent it, say, supporting a car battery manufacturer in the future. We know as much because France and Germany already do precisely that.

https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-th...talks-12069035