Brexit Could Ruin Christmas Dinners Around the U.K.

Brexit threatens pigs in blankets

Pigs in blankets — the festive staple that wraps pork in more pork — could be in short supply this Christmas because of Britain’s continued non-departure from the EU. The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) tells the BBC that the job of wrapping cocktail sausages in bacon by hand is currently understaffed, with factories reliant on “seasonal labour” from the EU struggling to attract workers, because no-one has the slightest clue what is going to happen with Brexit as a new extension to 31 January 2020 comes into force. What’s clear is that Brexit causing a shortage of salt-cured pork is a deeply ironic twist of events. [BBC]

And in other news...

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• Peruvian chain Ceviche is on the verge of going bust, but founder Martin Morales is confident he will find a buyer.
• Revered Copenhagen craft brewery Mikkeller opens another London bar with 80s pop legend Rick Astley.
• This “mince pie sandwich” from Morrison’s supermarket can get in the sea. [Metro]
• Paul Hollywood’s ill-judged diabetes “joke” is cut from the Channel 4 and Netflix editions of Great British Bake Off. [Deadline]
• JD Wetherspoon’s 1.9 million Brexit beer mats may have breached the 2006 Companies Act, because the pub chain did not seek shareholder approval for political spending. [Guardian]
• Good tweet: