A gym member punches a boxing bag containing an image of Britain's former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson during a Brexfit gym class at Gym Box in London, Britain September 27, 2018.
Londoners fed up with Brexit can vent their rage with a special gym routine that includes high-intensity exercises like pummelling punchbags bearing photographs of some of the main players like Boris Johnson and Jean-Claude Juncker.
The 30-minute circuit also features the "Theresa May Sack Race," "Jacob Rees-Logg lifts" and "Politico Headslammer" in which participants slam balls on to pictures of British Prime Minister Theresa May and opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
There is also a "Cameron Quitters' Corner" named after May's predecessor David Cameron to take time out.
The Brexfit classes are being offered by fitness company Gymbox, whose boss Marc Diaper said the theme was chosen by a members' poll of their main frustrations with living in the British capital.
The European Union's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Thursday he was working for a Brexit deal and a close economic relationship afterwards.Barnier said after meeting Spain's industry minister in Brussels: "The EU continues to work for an orderly Brexit and an ambitious future partnership with the UK that should include a close economic relationship." May calls for businesses to invest in post-Brexit UKEU negotiator seeks orderly Brexit, new partnership respecting UK sovereignty
EU's Barnier says working for Brexit deal, close economic ties later
Fifty two percent of respondents said Brexit, followed by rent prices and train delays.
"We thought well, what better way to actually release frustration and anger than actually put on a Brexfit class as we've called it, where you can actually punch your most hated politician in the face on a punch bag," he told Reuters.
The course was designed with the help of an anger management expert, said fitness instructor Boriss Visokoborskis.
"Members are leaving our classes feeling relieved, lighter and they do something good for themselves, they work on their body," he added.
Any escalation of trade friction involving the United States could cause a major recession in Germany and Europe, Germany's leading economic institutes said on Thursday.The institutes also said U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on car imports from the European Union would cost jobs and harm productivity and prosperity in Germany."Retaliatory measures by the EU would probably ease the economic downturn in the EU and cause a major recession in the United States," the institutes said in a report, which had been flagged by Reuters on Wednesday.The EU has said it would respond in kind if Trump imposed further car tariffs while the two sides discuss how they could cut trade barriers.China says does not interfere in other countries' internal affairsSignificant and widespread further tariff measures from Washington, meanwhile, "would probably trigger a major recession in Germany and Europe," the report states.The institutes gave no timeframe for that scenario.They cut their 2018 GDP growth forecast to 1.7 percent from 2.2 percent.The move comes after the BDI industry association cut its 2018 forecast to 2.0 percent from 2.25 percent on Tuesday, citing weaker demand for German exports due to U.S. trade policy and Brexit, as well a threat to the economy from xenophobia at home.Germany, where one in three jobs depend on exports, would be hard hit by any U.S. tariffs on car imports given the large size of its automotive sector. Tensions rose last month after Trump rejected an EU offer to eliminate auto tariffs.
German institutes warn of recession if trade conflict escalates
Student Ania Jarzabkiewicz, 26, originally from Poland, said she felt "amazing" after the class.
"I have a problem to get my student loan because of Brexit, so today I really take out my frustration on this whole situation and I feel really good," she said.
Fitness coach George, 25, said his favourite exercises were the sack races and punch bags. In this particular class, leading Brexiteer and former Foreign Secretary Johnson bore the brunt of his frustration.
British Prime Minister called for businesses on Wednesday to invest in a post-Britain U.K., by praising free trade, innovation and cooperation between trading partners.With uncertainty surrounding the U.K. leaving the European Union, May said Britain’s relationship with the EU will change, but the two will continue to be close trade partners."We are looking for a frictionless trade," May said in her speech at Bloomberg Global Business Forum 2018 held in New York.Looking beyond the EU, she said the U.K. wants to engage in the "most ambitious" trade relations with other countries and businesses around the world."Whatever is your business, if you invest in post-Brexit Britain, we will give you the lowest tax rate in [the] G20," May said."We are seeing more investment in [the] U.K. in [the] past three years, compared to [the] rest of the EU combined," she said, adding "Post-Brexit Britain will be a trusted partner and will face the challenges of global economy."May also called for a change in the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying it should adapt to changes in global economy."We need to give the WTO a broad ambitious mandate reform to maintain trust in the system," she said, highlighting some of the issues such as legitimacy and transparency.EU negotiator seeks orderly Brexit, new partnership respecting UK sovereignty
May calls for businesses to invest in post-Brexit UK
"It'd be wrong to punch him in the face in real life so ... doing it on a punch bag there's nothing wrong with that, and it's definitely a great way to get your frustration out," he said.
With six months until Britain leaves the EU, May has yet to reach a deal on the terms of the divorce, and her plan for future trade ties has been rebuffed by both the EU and many in her own Conservative Party.
Corbyn said this week that Labour would vote against a Brexit deal based on May's proposals, the strongest warning yet to a prime minister whose plan to leave the EU is hanging by a thread.