Brexit defeat in Parliament

Political Headlines – Government defeated three times over Brexit

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Today’s political headlines include the Government defeated three times over Brexit, leavers call on May to renegotiate backstop, Brexit notification could be withdrawn and former chief whip to vote against Brexit deal. 

Government defeated three times over Brexit
As The Guardian reports, Theresa May suffered three defeats in Parliament yesterday. A motion finding the Government in contempt of Parliament for not publishing its Brexit legal advice was passed, as was a compromise amendment it had put forward. Then the Government was defeated over an amendment tabled by Conservative backbencher Dominic Green which strengthens the role of Parliament if May’s deal is defeated.

Leavers to call on May to renegotiate backstop
The Times reports that Brexiteers in the Cabinet are to call on Theresa May to return to Brussels to negotiate a unilateral exit from the backstop, despite being told at a meeting yesterday that the EU was not prepared to reopen negotiations. Other members of the Cabinet are reported to prefer the Norway option, although a source told the paper that the soft-Brexiteers were not united.

ECJ Advocate General suggests Brexit notification can be withdrawn unilaterally
As the Financial Times reports, the European Court of Justice’s Advocate General, Manuel Campos Sánchez-Bordona, has issued advice to judges that the UK’s notification that it wishes to leave the EU could be withdrawn unilaterally. While the Advocate General’s opinion is non-binding, it is generally followed in rulings of the court.

Former chief whip to vote against Brexit deal
Mark Harper, the former chief whip, uses an article in The Daily Telegraph to say that he will vote against the Government for the first time in 13 years and reject Theresa May’s Brexit agreement. He warns that the plans ‘threaten the integrity of our country, keep us trapped indefinitely in a customs union and leave us in a weak negotiating position for our future relationship.’

49% of voters think Brexit was a mistake
A poll conducted by YouGov for The Times finds that 49% of voters, the highest level ever recorded, believe that leaving the EU was a mistake, compared to 38% who think it was the right decision. Support for May’s Brexit deal has fallen from 27% to 23% in a week, and the Conservatives’ lead over Labour has narrowed, with the Tories on 40% and Labour on 38%.

Farage exits UKIP
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Nigel Farage reveals that he has left UKIP, warning that the party was becoming one of ‘street activism’, not ‘elections’, and would be ‘damaged beyond repair’ unless it excluded extremists and leader Gerard Batten ceased association with the EDL founder Tommy Robinson

Carney brands Norway-style Brexit ‘highly undesirable’
The Financial Times reports that Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has claimed that a Norway-style Brexit would be ‘highly undesirable’ as it would leave the UK subject to rules it couldn’t influence which would pose difficulties for financial stability, adding that the risks posed by this would go ‘up over time’.

Home Office criticised by Windrush report
The Guardian carries details of a National Audit Office report looking at the Windrush scandal, which finds that the Home Office is failing ‘to be proactive in identifying people affected’, especially those of non-Caribbean heritage. The department is also criticised for poor-quality data, risky use of targets and poor value for money.

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Political Headlines – Government faces charge of contempt of Parliament

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Today’s political headlines include the Government’s charge of contempt, Rees-Mogg clashing with the PM’s adviser, criticism of Grayling and Javid’s bullying. 

Government to face charge of contempt of Parliament
The Guardian reports that a senior minister may be suspended from the Commons after the Speaker approved the submission of an emergency motion accusing the Government of holding Parliament in contempt over its refusal to publish full legal advice on Brexit. Labour, the DUP, and four other opposition parties have tabled a motion to be voted on today ahead of the five-day debate on Theresa May’s Brexit agreement. The Conservatives have tabled an amendment referring the matter to the Commons Privileges Committee in an attempt to delay the process.

Rees-Mogg clashes with Prime Minister’s adviser
The Daily Telegraph reports on clashes between Oliver Robbins, Theresa May’s Europe Adviser, and Jacob Rees-Mogg at a committee evidence session yesterday. Robbins claimed that the Brexit backstop would be ‘uncomfortable’ for both the UK and the EU, while Rees-Mogg insisted that the EU had ‘got us exactly where they want us’. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay got the UK’s date of departure from the EU wrong at the same session.

Report criticises Grayling over timetable changes
The Times says that the Commons Transport Committee has called on Chris Grayling to accept responsibility for the failure of rail timetables over the summer, concluding that he was at ‘the apex’ of the railway system and had the power to prevent changes. The committee found he ought to have been ‘more proactive’, but decision-making in his department sometimes ‘simply did not exist’.

Javid’s bully identified
The Daily Telegraph identifies a Royal Navy veteran as the boy who bullied Home Secretary Sajid Javid at school and apologised to him decades later, as Sajid Javid recalled recently when speaking about the case of a Syrian refugee being bullied at a Huddersfield school.

Lords criticises HMRC’s approach to tax avoidance
The Financial Times carries details of a report by the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, which find that HMRC’s approach to dealing with tax avoidance is aggressive, disproportionate and undermines the rule of law. It recommends a full review of HMRC’s powers and criticises Treasury minister Mel Stride for refusing to give evidence.

Legal challenge against voter ID trial
The Guardian claims that a legal challenge could prevent the second stage of the trial of photo ID for elections from going ahead. A case, backed by Labour, is expected to focus that the Government acted beyond the scope of the law by using secondary legislation to order the trial.

Truss suggests Javid should prepare to challenge May
According to the Daily Mail, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, was overheard by a Green Party candidate suggesting that Sajid Javid needed to prepare for a leadership challenge against Theresa May, that Jeremy Hunt was another candidate and a ‘game-player’, and that May was a ‘pacifist’ at managing people. Truss has not commented on the alleged remarks.

Not enough scientific evidence to support energy drink ban, MPs conclude
The Sun reports that the Commons Science and Technology Committee has concluded that there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support the Government’s proposed ban on energy drink sales to under-18s, but that broader concerns, such as the experience of teachers and pupils, meant that such a ban could be justified.

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Brexit cut out

Political Headlines – Brexit warnings, DUP threats, legal advice and no confidence

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Today’s political headlines include Brexit adviser warned May against customs backstop, DUP threatens to withdraw support, former attorney general rejects Government’s legal advice position, Labour would table vote of confidence if Commons rejects deal. 

Brexit adviser warned May against customs backstop
The Daily Telegraph reveals that Oliver Robbins, the Prime Minister’s chief Brexit adviser, warned her that the backstop on customs would be a ‘bad outcome’ for the UK, and that an extended transition period would provide a ‘cast iron escape route’ instead. The letter was given to the paper by ‘a concerned minister’.

DUP threatens to withdraw support in confidence vote
The Times says that the DUP has threatened not to support Theresa May in a confidence vote, should the Brexit deal fail to get through the Commons. A source said that the party felt that the Conservatives were not keeping to the terms of the confidence-and-supply deal, by risking creating a sea border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Former attorney general rejects Government’s legal advice position
According to The Daily Telegraph, Lord Goldsmith, who served as Attorney General under Tony Blair, has said that the Government’s use of the Iraq War as precedent for keeping its legal advice on Brexit secret is wrong as the Commons never formally requested it. The Government is to publish a legal position statement today, with Attorney General Geoffrey Cox taking question from MPs.

Labour would table vote of confidence if Commons rejects deal
The Guardian says that Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has indicated that his party would almost certainly try to hold a vote of no confidence in the Government if its Brexit deal is rejected by the Commons. He said that if it couldn’t obtain a general election, it would then ‘press on to other options such as a public vote’, which should not include a no-deal Brexit as this would be too damaging.

Gove warns there’s a ‘real risk’ of another referendum
The Times reports that Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove has warned rebel Conservative MPs that there was a ‘real risk’ of a second referendum if they failed to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal, but did not rule out backing a Norway-style deal is the Commons rejected May’s. The Sun suggests that the Government has considered scrapping the vote on the deal so that May can reopen negotiations, either to extract concessions or to demonstrate that there is no better deal on offer.

Brexit TV debate dispute continues
The Guardian reports on the dispute over the proposed Brexit television debate. Several Conservative Brexiteers have written to the BBC complaining about their exclusion, while Sir Vince Cable, the Lib Dem leader, has made a similar complaint to the BBC, ITV and Sky. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn still haven’t agreed on a format or a broadcaster.

Questions raised about Osamor following resignation
The Times reports that Sir Alistair Graham, former head of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, has claimed there are ‘questions about’ Kate Osamor’s ‘suitability to be an MP’. She stepped down as Shadow International Development Secretary at the weekend after the paper reported that she knew about her son’s conviction on drugs offences earlier than had been claimed, and she threatened one of the paper’s journalists, throwing water at him.

Javid and May in low-skilled migration disagreement
In an exclusive, The Sun says that Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Theresa May are arguing about how quickly to restrict low-skilled immigration after Brexit. Javid wants to keep the system as it is for a period, while May favours more immediate restrictions to encourage firms to recruit British workers instead.

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Tory party

Political Headlines – 100 Tories oppose May, no debate, more time and doctors

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Today’s political headlines include 100 Tory MPs opposing May’s Brexit agreement, May rules out debating Brexit campaigners, EU prepared to give UK more time and Government relaxes doctor rules. 

100 Tory MPs now oppose Brexit agreement

The Daily Telegraph reports that a hundred Conservative MPs have now declared that they will vote against the Government’s Brexit agreement. The hundredth to declare his position was Matthew Offord, who warned that it would leave the UK ‘bound’ to the EU. The paper adds that Theresa May’s de-facto deputy David Lidington has promised the UK would follow the same single market rules as Northern Ireland if the backstop came into force, providing ‘reassurance to people that the commitment to the Union is very, very deeply felt.’

May rules out debating with Brexit campaigners

The Guardian says that Theresa May has agreed to participate on a TV debate on the Brexit deal so long as it is only against Jeremy Corbyn. Campaigners for a People’s Vote and hard Brexiteers, such as Boris Johnson, have called for their inclusion in any debate, so that a wider spectrum of views are represented. May has agreed to debate plans put forward by the BBC, but Labour prefers a proposal put forward by ITV.

EU prepared to give the UK more time to agree softer Brexit

The Times suggests that European leaders would be prepared to extend Article 50 by three months, allowing a second referendum or Norway-style Brexit to be agreed. However, this would only be offered if Parliament was clear on the form of Brexit it wanted. Yesterday, May claimed that extending Article 50 would lead to negotiations reopening and a potentially worse deal emerging.

Government relaxes limit on non-EU doctors

In an exclusive, The Guardian reports that the Government will relax rules on immigration in order to allow more non-EU medics to work in the UK under the medical training initiative, potentially increasing the cap from 1500 to 3000 and the amount of time spent in the UK as part of the scheme from two to three years.

Whips threaten to shorten Christmas break

The i claims that Conservative MPs have been warned by their whips that a defeat to the Government’s Brexit deal could lead to their Christmas break being curtailed and Parliament being recalled before the New Year. Rebels have apparently also accused whips of using ‘emotional blackmail’ and threatening that they risked Brexit not happening.

May to raise journalist’s death with Saudi crown prince

According to The Guardian, Theresa May has said that she intends to speak about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and the conflict in Yemen when she meets the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman at this weekend’s G20 summit, calling for a ‘full and transparent investigation’ into the journalist’s death, and a ‘political solution’ for Yemen.

Labour MP uses debate to reveal he’s HIV-positive

The BBC reports that Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle used a House of Commons debate to reveal that he is HIV-positive, making him the first to do so in the Commons and the second in total. He called on ministers to review cuts to sexual health budgets which were taking the country in the ‘wrong direction’, and talked about his ‘long journey’ to acceptance.

BBC defends itself against ‘fake pastor’ accusation

The Daily Mail claims that the BBC is ‘under fire’ after Lynne Hayter, an actress who claims to be a pastor but seems not to have an actual church, appeared on Newsnight to discuss Brexit, leading Lord Adonis to dub her a ‘fake pastor’. Presenter Emily Maitlis warned Adonis against becoming ‘a peddler of fake news’, while the show claimed that Hayter was a ‘genuine participant’.

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Security

Political Headlines – Brexit security, Brexit finance, Brexit referendum and Brexit deal

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Today’s political headlines include warnings over the UK’s security with a no-deal Brexit, no-deal Brexit to cause worst financial crisis since 1930s, McDonnell claims Labour would inevitably back a second referendum and Leadsom backing Theresa May’s deal. 

Minister warns of no-deal Brexit’s impact on the UK’s security
The BBC reports that Security Minister Ben Wallace is to warn that a no-deal Brexit ‘would have a real impact on our ability to work with our European partners to protect the public’, adding that the Government’s agreement laid the foundations for the broadest security relationship between the EU and another country. However, Diane Abbott, the Shadow Home Secretary, has described the proposed agreement as ‘dangerously flimsy’ and ‘simply unacceptable’.

No-deal Brexit to cause worst financial crisis since 1930s
The Times says that analysis by the Bank of England shows that the UK ‘would be plunged into its deepest recession since the 1930s’ in a no-deal Brexit scenario. In the worst case, house prices would plummet by 30%, interest rates grow to 5.5%, and the economy reduce by 8%. This followed the release of Government analysis which showed that the UK would become worse off under all versions of Brexit.

McDonnell claims that Labour would ‘inevitably’ back a second referendum
The Guardian reports that Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that Labour will ‘inevitably’ back a second referendum if the Government loses a vote on the EU withdrawal agreement, admitting that while the party would prefer a general election, this would be ‘very difficult to do’. Theresa May has claimed that this shows that Labour wants ‘to overturn the will of the British people’.

Leadsom backs Brexit deal
The Daily Mail reveals that Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, has written to constituents to confirm that she is backing Theresa May’s Brexit deal, claiming that it ‘delivered’ on the referendum vote, though she admitted that she still had concerns about the Irish backstop.

NHS plan delayed by Brexit row
According to The Sun, the Government has delayed Monday’s planned release of the NHS’s 10-year plan after internal objections to the Prime Minister’s claim that extra funding could only be guaranteed by backing her Brexit deal. The plan will now be revealed after the vote on the deal, with Government sources claiming that this was because it is not yet complete.

Police defend knocking suspects off mopeds
The Times says that the Metropolitan Police is defending itself after Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot criticised its new ‘tactical contact’ technique of knocking suspected criminals off mopeds, claiming that it should ‘not be legal’. Inspector Richard Bern, of Camden police, said that the technique had helped deliver a 90% reduction in moped-enabled theft.

Social media risks creating loneliness, minister warns
The Daily Telegraph reports that Digital Minister Margot James will today tell social media companies that their networks risk making people lonely, by acting as a substitute for meeting face to face, and that they should do more to bring people together in person. She said that the Government’s Online Harms White Paper would ‘ask searching questions about the effect new technology has on mental health and wellbeing’.

MPs want law on rapist fathers changed
The Guardian says that MPs and campaigners are calling for changes to a law which allows rapists to apply for a role in the life of children born as a result of the rape they committed. The campaign, inspired by a case in Rotherham, has been backed by the victims’ commissioner, Lady Newlove, and MPs Louise Haigh and Sarah Champion.

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Treasury forecast

Political Headlines – Treasury forecasts, May’s deal, immigration plans and Government to defy Parliament

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Today’s political headlines include bleak Treasury forecasts, May’s deal considered the best deal, immigration plans delayed by Cabinet split and the Government to defy Parliament by not publishing Brexit legal advice. 

Treasury forecasts to show economic impact of Brexit scenarios
The Daily Telegraph reports that Treasury forecasts will show that the UK’s GDP would be 7.6% lower in a no-deal Brexit compared to staying in the EU (the equivalent of £150bn), and that under May’s deal it will be 1-2% lower. According to the paper, the analysis has ‘provoked fury in the Cabinet’, with both Andrea Leadsom and Chris Grayling criticising it.

Poll finds voters think May’s deal is best on offer
A poll conducted by Survation for the Daily Mail reveals that 52% of voters agree that Theresa May’s Brexit deal is the best on offer, compared to just 19% who disagree. The poll also found that voters favoured the plan to a Labour government by 46% to 31%, and that 41% of voters thought that MPs should vote for the agreement, while 38% believed they should vote it down.

Immigration plans delayed by Cabinet split
In an exclusive, The Sun suggests that the Government’s post-Brexit immigration policy may be delayed because Cabinet members do not agree with Theresa May’s desire to reduce low-skilled immigration. Ministers including Philip Hammond and Greg Clark are reportedly concerned about the impact this would have on the economy.

Government to ‘defy Parliament’ by not publishing Brexit legal advice
The Daily Telegraph says the Government is to ‘defy Parliament’ by refusing to publish its full legal advice on Brexit, instead providing a ‘position statement’, despite a vote by MPs. The decision drew criticism from Brexiteers, with Peter Bone claiming that the Government had something to hide, and from Labour, whose Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer vowed to ‘use all the mechanisms available to force this information to be published’.

Ambassador claims UK and US are ‘perfect partners’
Writing in The Times, Woody Johnson (US Ambassador to the UK) offers a conciliatory message after President Trump criticised May’s deal. Johnson claims Trump ‘hopes there will be room for an ambitious trade deal with the United States’, describing the two countries as ‘perfect partners’. In what the paper calls a ‘highly unusual’ move, Number 10 has briefed that Theresa May will not seek to meet Trump at the weekend’s G20 summit.

May visits Scotland to sell her deal
The BBC says that Theresa May is visiting Scotland today as part of her efforts to gain support for her Brexit deal. She will meet factory workers in Glasgow, and claim that the plan would ‘protect jobs’, provide ‘even greater opportunity to Scottish exporters’ and pledge to continue to be ‘robust in defending the interests of Scottish fisherman’.

Labour considers giving customers a vote on executive pay
The Guardian reveals that a report commissioned by the Labour Party suggests that the pay packages of executives at the country’s top 7,000 companies should be voted on by all of their stakeholders, including employees and consumers. The report also makes a number of other recommendations, including banning share options and golden handshakes.

Zuckerberg criticised for not attending evidence session
The Sun reports that Mark Zuckerberg has been criticised for not attending an evidence session on fake news run by politicians from nine countries yesterday. Lord Allan, who represented Facebook, admitted the firm had ‘damaged public trust’, while Damian Collins, who chairs the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, revealed that internal emails showed Facebook was warned about Russian interference four years ago.

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Trump May

Political Headlines – Trump’s criticisms of May’s deal and MPs want May to set resignation date

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Today’s political headlines include Trump’s criticism of May’s Brexit deal, MPs want May to set a resignation date and judges to consider if UK can withdraw the Brexit notification. 

Trump criticises May’s Brexit deal
The Daily Telegraph reports that US President Donald Trump has claimed that Theresa May’s Brexit deal means that the UK ‘may not be able to trade with the US’, and that it ‘sounds like a good deal for the EU’. The paper claims that his comments ‘will spark panic in Downing Street’, with Theresa May having hoped that she could promote her deal to world leaders, including Trump, at this weekend’s G20 summit.

MPs want May to set resignation date to secure their support for bill
The Times suggests that some Tory MPs are calling on Theresa May to set a date for her departure if she wants to secure their support for her Brexit deal, allowing them to push for a Canada-style agreement after Brexit. The paper adds that May has established a Whitehall unit, made up of Downing Street advisers, Brexit negotiators and Brexit department civil servants, to work with the chief whip to co-ordinate efforts to sell her deal to MPs.

Judges to consider if UK can withdraw Brexit notification
The BBC reports that the European Court of Justice is to start examining whether the UK can revoke its Article 50 notification that it is leaving the EU, in a challenge brought by a group of Scottish politicians. A ruling is not expected immediately, but those supporting the case believe that if they are successful, it would give MPs an extra option.

Hunt suggests that May should debate Blair
The Daily Telegraph says that Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, used yesterday’s Cabinet meeting to suggest that Theresa May should debate senior remainers, such as Tony Blair, rather than Jeremy Corbyn if she wanted to win MPs over to her deal, while Eurosceptic Tory MPs have called for a Leave campaigner, such as Boris Johnson, to take part.

Labour would block People’s Vote from appearing in TV debate
The Guardian claims that the Labour Party would block a representative of the People’s Vote campaign from taking part in the television debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, believing that this format would allow the Labour leader to broaden the debate to include issues such as austerity. Formal talks with broadcasters have yet to start.

Research warns May’s deal would hit living standards
The Financial Times carries details of new research by a consortium of academics and thinktanks, which warns that the Prime Minister’s Brexit agreement would hit living standards by up to £2,000 per person a year, with GDP between 1.9% and 5.5% lower by 2030.

Gauke blocks Javid’s knife crime plans
According to the Daily Mail, Justice Secretary David Gauke has blocked Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s plans to introduce ASBO-style ‘knife crime prevention orders’, whose breach could be punishable by imprisonment. Gauke warned they would ‘accelerate the criminalisation’ of young people and questioned their affordability, given the pressures faced by the prison service.

Foodbanks face record demand this Christmas
The Mirror reports that foodbanks will be facing record demand this Christmas due to the five-week delay to the first payment of Universal Credit, with volunteers expecting to serve 1.5m meals. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on the Government to open ‘its eyes to the misery its causing’.

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May Juncker

Political Headlines – May and Juncker’s warnings, TV debate and the Norway option

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Today’s political headlines include May’s warning to MPs about voting down her deal, May’s challenge to Corbyn to a TV debate, Juncker’s warning is the only deal possible and Cabinet ministers pushing for a Norway option. 

May warns MPs against voting down her deal
The Times claims that Theresa May will use a statement in the Commons today to warn MPs that if they vote down her Brexit deal, they risk going ‘back to square one’ and that they should listen to constituents who want to ‘move on’ from Brexit. The paper adds that up to 90 Conservative MPs are currently threatening to vote against the agreement with the EU.

May to challenge Corbyn to TV debate over deal
According to The Daily Telegraph, Theresa May is to challenge Jeremy Corbyn to a debate over her Brexit deal. The vote is expected to take place on December 12, and she will outline her plans for a fortnight’s ‘media blitz’ at a meeting of the Cabinet today. Her plans also include visiting ‘every part of the UK’ and a major speech the day before the vote. A Labour spokesperson welcomed the proposed debate.

Juncker warns agreement ‘is the only deal possible’
The Financial Times reports that European leaders approved the Brexit deal at a summit yesterday which ‘felt more like a wake than a breakthrough’, with European Council President Donald Tusk saying that EU leaders has achieved ‘one of the hardest tasks of our lives’ and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker adding that ‘this is the only deal possible’.

Cabinet ministers push for Norway option if May’s deal fails
The Sun claims that cabinet ministers Amber Rudd and Michael Gove have joined forces to push for the UK to join the European Free Trade Association, but will only push for this if the meaningful vote fails, followed by attempts to call for a general election and a people’s vote, in order to ensure maximum support from Labour MPs.

New analysis shows economic cost of May’s Brexit deal
The Times outlines new analysis by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, commissioned by the People’s Vote campaign, which reveals that Theresa May’s Brexit deal would leave the country’s GDP around 3.9% lower than remaining in the EU. Remaining in the backstop, GDP would be 2.8% lower, while in a no-deal scenario it would be 5.5% lower.

Academic pardoned by UAE following lobbying by Hunt
The Guardian reports that the Durham University academic Matthew Hedges, jailed by the UAE on spying charges has been pardoned following lobbying efforts by the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The country continues to claim that Hedges was an MI6 agent, and that clemency had been given in response to a letter from his family.

Jenrick to embrace ‘new methods of construction’
The Sun says that Treasury minister Robert Jenrick will today call for ‘new methods of construction’ to be ‘embraced’ as he announces £600bn of infrastructure spending, allowing building projects to be sped up by pre-building components in factories, cutting the construction time of a school from a year to four months and reducing waste by up to 90%.

Shortage of carers will increase costs for pensioners
The Daily Telegraph carries details of a new report by the thinktank IPPR, which warns that there will be a shortage of 350,000 social care workers by 2028, unless their pay increases. The problem will especially affect pensioners, who could face rising care costs as a result.

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Pedro Sanchez

Political Headlines – May’s fight, advertising online, Mike Ashley and the CBI

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Today’s political headlines include May’s fight to save her Brexit plans, the committee telling advertisers to boycott tech giants, Mike Ashley’s demands to give evidence on saving the high street and the CBI’s doubts over Brexit deal.  

May fights to save her Brexit plans
The Guardian claims that Theresa May is fighting to save her Brexit deal on two fronts, following the publication of the text of the political declaration yesterday. Tory backbenchers repeatedly called on her to renegotiate the deal during a debate yesterday, while the EU has warned that no further concessions can be made. The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez [pictured] has even claimed that he will ‘veto Brexit’ over Spain’s concerns about Gibraltar.

Advertisers should boycott tech giants, committee says
The Times reports that Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee has called for advertisers to boycott tech companies like Facebook and Google unless they demonstrate a serious commitment to tackle terrorist material online, warning that this had been a key contributor to incidents including the Manchester bombing. Dominic Grieve, the committee’s chair, said that firms should follow the example of advertisers such as Unilever.

Mike Ashley demands to give MPs evidence on saving the high street
According to The Guardian, Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has demanded to give evidence to the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on how to save the high street. The committee originally asked for a representative from House of Fraser to speak as part of a panel of four, but Ashley felt that this ‘wouldn’t achieve anything’.

Internal email reveals CBI’s doubts about Brexit deal
An email accidentally sent to ITV News has revealed a difference in opinion within the CBI over Theresa May’s Brexit deal. While the organisation’s Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn has publicly welcomed the deal, while admitting that it is ‘not perfect’, an internal email from the business groups’ head of EU negotiations described it as ‘not a good deal’.

New teams to tackle drugs in prisons
The Sun reports that Justice Secretary David Gauke has announced the creation of new ‘SWAT teams’ in 100 prisons to tackle gangs behind drug-fuelled violence in jails. The teams of specially-trained prison officers will detect drugs, mobile phones and other illicit items, and have already been deployed at eight high-security prisons.

New report criticises smart meter rollout
The Daily Mail carries details of a report by the National Audit Office that warns that plans to install smart meters in every home by 2020 will not succeed, will cost at least £500m more than estimated and the devices may not deliver the cuts to energy bills which were originally promised.

Home Office admits to failings over settlement visas
The Financial Times says that the Home Office has admitted that it wrongly applied rules, leading it to refuse settlement visas to professionals over tax discrepancies. Immigration minister Caroline Nokes said that the findings of the department’s inquiry would be ‘used to inform our future decision-making’.

Farage calls for UKIP leader to be sacked
The Daily Telegraph reports that Nigel Farage has called for Gerard Batten to be sacked as UKIP leader after he appointed the EDL founder Tommy Robinson as an adviser, warning that if UKIP continued heading on its current trajectory, it would be ‘finished’. Robinson is banned from joining UKIP under a rule barring those with EDL links from becoming members.

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angela Merkel

Political Headlines – Brexit talks, Merkel’s boycott, Matthew Hedges and Cabinet’s criticisms

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Today’s political headlines include May’s return to Brussels as Merkel threatens to boycott the summit, criticism of the Foreign Office’s handling of Matthew hedges’ case, more criticism but this time of the Brexit deal, and the People’s Vote.  

May to return to Brussels for talks as Merkel threatens to boycott summit
The BBC reports that Theresa May is to return to Brussels for talks at the weekend after talks finished yesterday without the final text of the political declaration on the future relationship between the UK and the EU being settled. Outstanding issues include Spanish concerns about Gibraltar and access to UK waters for EU fishermen. The Timesadds that the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has threatened to boycott Sunday’s summit unless all the negotiations have been completed in advance.

Foreign Office criticised after UAE gives British student life sentence
The Times reports that Daniela Tejada, the wife of the British student Matthew Hedges who has been imprisoned by the UAE for spying, has criticised the conduct of the Foreign office, describing it as ‘appalling’. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is thought to have been assured that Hedges would be treated leniently, but instead he received a life sentence yesterday. Hunt has warned that ‘serious diplomatic consequences’ will follow.

Cabinet’s Brexit deal criticisms revealed
The Daily Telegraph has obtained details of the criticisms of Theresa May’s Brexit deal made by Cabinet ministers at their meeting last week. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that it was a ‘Turkey trap’, using the country as an example of how temporary arrangements become permanent, while Home Secretary Sajid Javid warned that the deal would prevent the UK from striking new trade agreements.

Pro-EU MPs disagree over People’s Vote timing
The Financial Times claims that pro-EU MPs are in disagreement about the best time to table a Commons vote on holding a People’s Vote. Some want to force a vote in early December, before a vote on Theresa May’s deal, while other believe that it would be better to wait for the deal to be voted down or a vote of no confidence to be passed in the Government, as acting earlier would make it look like they were trying to block Brexit.

Women descend on Westminster to mark 100 years of being able to stand for Parliament
The Guardian reports that 317 women visited 238 MPs at Parliament yesterday as part of #AskHerToStandDay, celebrating 100 years since women first good the right to stand for Parliament. The event was claimed to be the first time women had outnumbered men at Westminster. The founder of 50:50 Parliament, Frances Scott, said that the aim was to get gender parity in Parliament in ten years.

Motorists who pass cycling proficiency to get cheaper insurance
The Daily Telegraph claims that motorists who pass cycling proficiency tests offered cheaper insurance as part of new Government plans to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety. Other measures include giving councils powers to use surveillance cameras to catch people parked in cycle lanes and getting people to send dashcam footage of road rage to a new police unit.

Former ministers urge Government to freeze rail fares
According to The Sun, three former Conservative ministers – Michael Fallon, Grant Shapps and Tim Loughton – are urging the Government to ditch plans for a 3.2% increase in rail fares in the new year and instead to freeze prices. Fallon said that the increase was ‘outrageous’ given the problems experienced by commuters over the last year.

Families affected by benefit cap should consider taking lodger, MP says
The Guardian says that work and pensions minister Justin Tomlinson has been attacked by charities and Labour for suggesting that families in poverty because of the benefit cap should consider taking in a lodger. He admitted that no analysis was being done on the effectiveness of the cap and suggested that families could also move or try to renegotiate their rent.

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Brussels

Political Headlines – May heads to Brussels, Dad’s Army, growing support for May and the DUP

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Today’s political headlines include May heading to Brussels in an attempt to finalist Brexit, Jacob Rees-Mogg comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring, Growing support for Theresa May and the DUP intending to vote against the Brexit deal. 

May heads to Brussels as EU states raise objections to future relationship agreement
The BBC reports that Theresa May is heading to Brussels today amid attempts to finalise the Brexit deal before European leaders meet on Sunday. A deadline to settle the agreement on the future relationship was missed last night, with EU members raising objections to proposals covering UK access to the single market, fishing rights in British waters, and Gibraltar.

Eurosceptic coup attempt likened to ‘Dad’s Army’
As the Daily Mail reports, Jacob Rees-Mogg has admitted that his attempt to oust Theresa May has become a bit like ‘Dad’s Army’, comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring. He warned that the Tories would be stuck with May as leader at the next election unless they acted now. The Daily Telegraph adds that the ‘old guard’ of Eurosceptics have claimed that Rees-Mogg has exhibited ‘naivety’ and suggested that the focus should be on defeating May’s deal in the meaningful vote.

Growing support for May among voters
A poll conducted for The Times shows that voter support for Theresa May has increased over the last week. A week ago, YouGov found that 33% of voters wanted the Prime Minister to remain and 47% wanted her to leave, but those figures are now 46% and 34% respectively. Detailed analysis shows that May’s support has increased most among Conservative voters.

‘Of course’ we’ll vote against Brexit deal, DUP claims
The Financial Times says that the DUP has announced that it will ‘of course’ vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal despite hopes by ministers that it would abstain. Last night, the Government accepted Labour and SNP amendments to the Finance Bill after the DUP indicated that it was planning to abstain on the votes.

Tory remainers have ‘role to play’ in building soft Brexit coalition, Sturgeon says
According to The Guardian, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that remain-supporting Conservative MPs have a ‘role to play’ in creating a soft Brexit coalition in the Commons. Apparently, SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have been talking with Tory remainers in an attempt to agree an alternative to Theresa May’s Brexit deal, such as Nick Boles’ proposed Norway-style plan.

UK leads successful attempt to block Russian from becoming Interpol President
The Times reports that Kim Jong-yang from South Korea has been elected as the new President of Interpol, defeating the Russian Alexander Prokopchuk, allegedly a former KGB agent. The paper says that the UK and the USA had been leading a last-minute attempt to prevent the Russian candidate from winning. Lib Dem Leader Sir Vince Cable had warned that if Prokopchuk won, Interpol would become a ‘branch of the Russian mafia’.

Mordaunt to announce new focus on low-paid women
The Times reveals that Penny Mordaunt, the Minister for Women and Equalities will use a speech today to announce that the Government will shift its focus away from issues affecting middle class women, including the gender pay gap, towards those affecting women in low-paid jobs, with limited qualifications or who care for relatives.

Labour promises to end compulsory GCSE resits
The Guardian reports that Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner has announced details of her party’s plan to reform further education, pledging to end the ‘remorseless cycle’ of compulsory GCSE maths and English resits and promising to ‘put learners first’.

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Theresa May

Political Headlines – the stalled attempt to topple May and the DUP abandoning the Government

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Today’s political headlines include the stalled attempt to topple May, DUP abandoning the Government in Budget votes, Hunt condemns rebels and May’s secret plan to abandon the backstop. 

Attempt to topple May stalls
The Daily Telegraph says that Conservative Brexiteers have admitted their attempt to remove Theresa May as leader has ‘stalled’ and that ‘bitter in-fighting’ has broken out among them, with it now appearing unlikely that enough support will be received for a confidence vote in the Prime Minister before her Brexit deal is voted on next month. The paper adds that the ‘gang of five’ Brexiteer cabinet ministers has also broken up, after they were unable to reach a united position.

DUP abandons Government in Budget votes
The Times says that the Government was abandoned by the DUP in votes on the Finance Bill last night, which the paper claims has ‘all but killed off’ the deal between the two. The DUP abstained on three votes and voted with Labour on a further one. The DUP has claimed that the deal between the two parties is not dead, although party sources linked the decision to its displeasure with May’s Brexit deal, and the Government has not commented.

Rebels risk causing ‘the most appalling chaos’, Hunt says
The Guardian says that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned that if rebels succeed in toppling Theresa May, they risk causing ‘the most appalling chaos’. He said that the Prime Minister had an ‘incredibly challenging’ job and was ‘by far the best-placed person’ to carry out. He said that he was in talks with European counterparts to ‘clarify both sides’ intentions’ in the political declaration on the future UK-EU relationship.

May’s ‘secret plan’ to abandon the backstop
The Sun claims that Theresa May has a ‘secret plan’ to abandon the Irish backstop through a clause in the Withdrawal Agreement which says that ‘alternative arrangements’ can be agreed to keep the border open, such as the use of new technology. A delegation of Brexiteers including Iain Duncan Smith, Owen Paterson, Lord Lilley and Lord Trimble discussed the plan with the Prime Minister yesterday.

Spain demands veto over Gibraltar
The Guardian reports that Spain will reject the Brexit deal unless it is given a special veto to prevent any future UK-EU trade agreement from covering Gibraltar. Spain’s Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, said that future negotiations on Gibraltar must be ‘separate’ from those between the UK and the EU.

Rudd condemns UN poverty report
According to The Guardian, Amber Rudd, who was appearing in the Commons as Work and Pensions Secretary for the first time, has condemned a UN inquiry into poverty in the UK because of the ‘extraordinary political nature’ of its language, which she described as ‘wholly inappropriate’. The Times adds that Rudd used her debut to indicate that she would need more funding to fix problems with Universal Credit.

Hunt seeks to repay Iran £400m to free prisoner
The Times reports that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is trying to get approval to repay £400m owed to Iran for four decades in a bid to release Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, currently imprisoned in Iran. A previous attempt to do so by his predecessor Boris Johnson was blocked by Downing Street to avoid breaching sanctions or being seen to pay for a hostage’s release.

Labour to scrap civil servant degree requirement
The Financial Times reports that Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner is to announce that the party would remove the requirement for civil servants to have higher academic qualifications unless they are genuinely relevant to the role in order to tackle ‘snobbery’ and establish a ‘genuine parity of esteem’.

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Theresa May

Political Headlines – ‘hunting down’ May, immigration, Corbyn’s Brexit and Barnier’s extension

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Today’s political headlines include Tory MPs warned against ‘hunting down’ May, a ‘fairer’ immigration policy, Corbyn’s alternative Brexit plan and Barnier’s suggestion that Brexit transition could be extended until 2022. 

Tory MPs warned against ‘hunting down’ May
The Times reports that former chief whip Andrew Mitchell has warned his colleagues against ‘hunting down’ Theresa May, warning that a leadership challenge would do ‘untold damage’. The Prime Minster claimed yesterday that a challenge to her would cause ‘uncertainty for people and their jobs’ and ‘a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated’. The Daily Telegraph claims that five Cabinet ministers will meet today to call for alterations to the deal, but that May will confront them and refuse to renegotiate the agreement.

May to tell CBI her deal delivers a fairer immigration policy
The Times says that the Prime Minister is to tell the CBI’s conference today that her Brexit deal will allow immigration to be controlled, while permitting businesses to recruit from abroad, creating a level playing field between EU citizens and those from other countries in a system ‘built around the talents and skills a person has to offer’. The Guardian adds that the CBI’s president, John Allan, will endorse May’s deal today, while admitting that it is ‘not perfect’. He will warn that the current uncertain situation is ‘damaging our country’ and say that the deal opens ‘a route to a long-term trade arrangement’.

Corbyn to set out alternative Brexit plan
According to The Guardian, Jeremy Corbyn will use a speech at the CBI conference to set out Labour’s alternative Brexit plan. He will call for a permanent customs union and protection of environmental standards and workers’ rights, as well as a ‘strong single market relationship’. He will say that May’s plan leaves ‘the country in an indefinite halfway house’.

Barnier suggests Brexit transition could be extended until 2022
The Financial Times reports that the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has proposed that the Brexit transition period could be extended until December 2022. He also told EU ambassadors that negotiations over the Withdrawal Agreement should not be reopened despite the ‘volatile’ political situation in the UK.

Six letters needed to trigger vote of no confidence in May
In an exclusive, The Sun reports that 42 Tory MPs have ‘given firm assurances’ that they have submitted letters of no confidence in Theresa May, meaning that six more are needed to trigger a vote in her future as leader. According to the paper, MPs admit that today is ‘judgment day’ and if the threshold is not passed today, it is unlikely that it will be before the vote on the deal in December.

Cyber security minister needed to tackle Russian threat
The Daily Telegraph carries details of a report by the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy which calls on the Government to appoint a minister for cyber security, as the current level of oversight was ‘wholly inadequate’ and countries such as Russia are expanding their capacity to deliver cyber-attacks.

Jeremy Hunt to call for Iran to release British prisoner
The Daily Mail reports that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is visiting Iran today and will use the trip to lobby for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, jailed on spying charges. Speaking ahead of the visit, he condemned using innocent people for ‘political leverage’.

Report calls for cap on number of peers
The Daily Telegraph says that a new report by the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee calls for the House of Lords to be capped in size at 600 members, a decrease of 200 from the present figure. It suggests achieving this through a ‘two-out-one-in’ policy.

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Brexit draft agreement feature

Brexit Draft Withdrawal Agreement – Key Events & Reaction

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Brexit draft agreement WP

The Brexit Draft Withdrawal Agreement has been published – all 585 pages of it. Since then, the Government has faced ministerial resignations and the future remains uncertain. 

The Vuelio Political Content Team has created the only guide you need to the draft agreement, including a timeline of key events, the major sectors covered by the draft, how it’s been received by the major political parties and the Top 10 Brexit Influencers you need to follow.

If you don’t have time to read all 585 pages, find out what’s happening with the transition period, Northern Ireland, governance, citizens’ rights, fishing, trade and finance.

Download the guide by filling out the form below.

Theresa May

Political Headlines – defiant May, Gove’s considerations, no confidence vote and business concerns

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Today’s political headlines include May’s vow to carry on despite the resignations, Gove considering his position after rejecting the Brexit Secretary, no confidence vote in May expected next week and businesses concerned by political turmoil.

May vows to carry on despite resignations over Brexit deal
The Guardian reports that Theresa May has vowed to ‘see this through’, despite the resignations of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and various junior figures over her Brexit deal yesterday. She warned that rejecting the deal would cause ‘deep and grave uncertainty’ and said it was ‘the right one for our country’. The Daily Telegraph adds that it has been told by ‘sources close to Arlene Foster’ that the DUP’s deal with the Conservatives will be abandoned unless May is replaced.

Gove considering position after rejecting Brexit Secretary role
The Times says the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove is considering his position. Yesterday Theresa May offered him the role of Brexit Secretary, but he would only accept on the condition that he could renegotiate the deal, and she was unable to agree. The paper adds that International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt is calling for a free vote on the deal and that this has yet to be definitively rejected.

No confidence vote in May expected next week
The Daily Telegraph claims that a no-confidence vote is expected in Theresa May next week after the chair of the European Research Group, Jacob Rees-Mogg said that he would write to the chair of the 1922 Committee calling for one, although he denied planning a ‘coup’ and said that he was not ‘offering myself as leader’.

Businesses concerned by political turmoil
The Financial Times says that businesses ‘expressed horror’ at yesterday’s political turmoil. Josh Hardie, the CBI’s deputy director general warned that crashing out of the EU without a deal ‘would be a disaster’, while Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce said that he was concerned about the reaction of ‘major international investors’ to the uncertainty which would be created if the deal collapsed.

EU members worried deal is too soft
The Guardian claims that some EU members are concerned that the proposed deal may be too soft on the UK, including France, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands. They are concerned about the implications of the UK remaining in a customs union with the EU and want tighter guarantees to make sure that it is prevented from being able to undercut EU standards. There are also worries about fishing rights post-Brexit.

Poll shows Tory supporters back May
A poll conducted for the Daily Mail shows that Conservative supporters do not support attempts to depose Theresa May, with respondents backing her by around 2 to 1 over both Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg. However, just 27% of all voters back the deal, with 49% being opposed. 42% of voters would back a People’s Vote, but 38% oppose it.

Chance of Labour MPs backing deal ‘ebbing away’
According to the Financial Times, the Prime Minister’s chances of persuading Labour MPs to back her Brexit deal are ‘ebbing away’, despite her hopes that some of them would vote for it to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Eurosceptic Labour MP Graham Stringer told the paper that he would not back the deal and that he hadn’t found anyone else who would.

Lords vote not to suspend peer accused of sexual harassment
The Times reports that peers voted not to suspend Lord Lester of Herne Hill, despite a report by the House of Lords standards commissioner finding that he offered the campaigner Jasvinder Sanghera ‘inducements’ to sleep with him. Peers raised concerns the investigation was unfair, but Sanghera said the vote left her feeling ‘bullied and re-victimised’.

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brexit chess pieces

Political Headlines – Brexit deal forced through and ministers resign

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Today’s political headlines include May forcing through her Brexit deal but two ministers resign, Labour won’t back deal states Starmer, Brexit deal welcomed by Varadkar and special summit date confirmed by Tusk. 

May forces Brexit plan through Cabinet, but two ministers resign
The Times reports that Theresa May has forced her deal through, following a five-hour Cabinet meeting. May said a ‘decisive step’ had been taken, but the paper claims that nine ministers expressed concerns during the meeting. The details of the agreement show that the UK will remain in a customs union with the EU indefinitely unless a solution is found for the Irish border, with no right to withdraw unilaterally and Northern Ireland continuing to follow additional single market rules. According to The Daily Telegraph, however, eleven ministers spoke against the plan, including Esther McVey, who was described by sources as ‘emotional’ and ‘aggressive’. This morning, as The Guardian reports, both Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Northern Ireland Minister Shailesh Vara have resigned over the deal.

Starmer says Labour won’t back deal
The Independent reports that Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, has said that his party will vote against the Brexit deal. He claimed that it was ‘not good enough for manufacturing and services’ and was ‘a miserable failure of negotiation’ which would make reaching new trade agreements difficult.

Varadkar welcomes deal  
The Guardian says that Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that Ireland gained everything that it wanted from the Brexit negotiations, describing news of the deal as ‘one of the better days in politics’ and adding that ‘a satisfactory outcome’ had been achieved on ‘protecting the peace process and the Good Friday agreement’.

DUP criticises ‘bad deal’
The Daily Mail says that the DUP has described the proposed agreement as a ‘bad deal’, with Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson claiming that the party would vote against it. He criticised the plan for tying the UK to the customs union and EU regulations, and because the UK would not be able to leave it unilaterally.

Tusk confirms special summit date
The Financial Times reports that European Council President Donald Tusk has confirmed that EU leaders will hold a special summit on November 25 to agree the proposed deal. He said that he still saw Brexit as a ‘lose-lose’ situation, but that he would ‘do everything’ to make Brexit ‘the least painful possible’ for each side.

Immigration White Paper to be published before Brexit vote
In an exclusive, The Sun says Theresa May will publish the delayed Immigration White Paper in the first week of December, prior to the vote on the Brexit deal. The paper says that ‘insiders’ claim that it will be used to try and win over Eurosceptics who might be considering voting against May’s deal.

Betting stake plan brought forward
According to The Times, Theresa May was ‘forced into an embarrassing climbdown’ yesterday after the Government announced that plans to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals would be brought forward to April. The change followed a rebellion by over 20 Tory MPs and the resignation of Tracey Crouch from the Government.

Brokenshire announces housing courts
The Sun reports that Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire has released plans to establish housing courts to speedily settle disputes between landlords and tenants. He said the plan would be especially important ‘for families and vulnerable tenants’.

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EU Brexit

Political Headlines – Brexit showdown and legal advice

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Today’s political headlines include May’s Brexit showdown with the Cabinet, Government admitting defeat over Brexit legal advice, a second peer accused of sexual harassment and the Labour MP accused or misleading police in a speeding case. 

May prepares to present draft Brexit agreement to Cabinet
Nearly all the major newspapers this morning are leading with the announcement that a draft Brexit deal has been agreed between the UK and the EU, with Theresa May set to put the deal to Cabinet this afternoon. The Telegraph is reporting that May is facing a major backlash from ministers and MPs in her party, with Jacob Rees Mogg writing in the same paper that the deal would betray the Union. The Times is reporting that Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Environment Secretary Michael Gove are two figures said to be unhappy with the draft agreement. David Davis and Boris Johnson joined in with criticisms of the deal, with both former ministers calling on those in the Cabinet to resign rather than accept the deal.

Government admits defeat over Brexit legal advice
The Guardian has reported on the concession of defeat by the Government in the Commons yesterday. Conservative MPs were ordered to abstain on the vote over the publishing of the Brexit legal advice, with the Government aware that it would have been defeated by the alliance of MPs from Labour and the DUP. The Government will now have to publish the legal advice covering the withdrawal agreement before MPs vote on the deal.

Second peer accused of sexual harassment  
The Times is reporting that a second member of the House of Lords has been accused of sexually harassing younger women. The Peer, said to be in his early 60s, is the subject of a formal complaint submitted to the Lords commissioner. The revelation comes after Lord Lester of Herne Hill was found by the commissioner to have groped a charity campaigner, with the Lords set to decide on the recommendation that Lord Lester be suspended from the House until 2022.

Labour MP ‘misled police’ in speeding case
The Guardian is reporting on the trial of Labour MP Fiona Onasanya, in which the Old Bailey has heard that she deliberately misled police in claiming that a former lodger was behind the wheel when her car was caught speeding. Onasanya’s younger brother Festus admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice, with Onasanya facing the same charge at the Old Bailey.

Wage growth hits 10-year high
The Times has reported on official figures that show the speed of wage growth is the fastest since the financial crisis. The news means a lift in living standards for workers, with wages 3.2% higher in the three months to September than they were last year.

HS2 report warns that costs could be more than double that of comparable projects
The Times carries details of a report from PWC that claims HS2 would cost £81m per kilometre, compared to £32m for similar projects across Europe. Ministers are now under pressure to reduce costs in the construction phase, through measures such as reducing station size and limiting land purchasing.

Blair criticises Corbyn over Brexit stance
The Telegraph has picked up on comments set to be made by Tony Blair, criticising the Labour leader for refusing to back a second referendum. In a speech later today, Blair will argue that left-wing populism should not be the response to rising right-wing populism, and the far left is mistaken in distancing itself from the record of New Labour.

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Brexit roulette

Political Headlines – no-deal Brexit, legal advice, Lord suspension and Babcock

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Today’s political headlines include more Brexit news, with ministers telling May no-deal is preferable to accepting EU demands and Labour and Tory rebels trying to force the Government to publish Brexit legal advice, as well as Lord Lester facing a record suspension for sexual harassment and Babcock under extra scrutiny. 

Ministers to tell May no-deal is preferable to accepting EU demands
The Daily Telegraph reports that Eurosceptic ministers including Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox are to use a Cabinet meeting today to warn the Prime Minister that a no-deal Brexit would be preferable to giving into the EU’s demands. According to the paper, the latest round of negotiations broke down at 3am on Monday morning. Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, Theresa May said that she would not reach ‘an agreement at any cost’ and that negotiations were ‘now in the end game’.

Labour and Tory rebels in bid to force Government to publish Brexit legal advice
The Guardian says that Labour is to use a parliamentary procedure today to try to force the Government to publish its legal advice on the Irish backstop plan. The Sun adds that an amendment to Labour’s motion has been tabled by the European Research Group of Brexiteer Tory MPs, which is confident it has the support of over 40 backbenchers.

Peer recommended for record suspension from the Lord for sexual harassment
The Times has spoken to the women’s rights campaigner Jasvinder Sanghera following the publication of a report recommending that Lord Lester of Herne Hill be suspended from the Lords until 2022 for sexually harassing her. She said that she hoped that ‘by speaking out, victims were creating a climate in which people were more willing to listen’.

Defence contractor under extra scrutiny
The Financial Times says that Babcock, the UK’s second-largest defence supplier, has been placed under extra scrutiny, relating to a contract covering maintenance of the UK’s Vanguard submarines which carry the country’s nuclear deterrent. Officials told the paper that the department had ‘real concern’ and that relations were ‘strained’.

Johnson backs calls to offer Asia Bibi asylum in UK
The Daily Mail reports that former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is backing calls for the Pakistani woman Asia Bibi, cleared of blasphemy last month but at risk of attack from extremists, to be offered asylum in the UK. He has written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid to say that threats of violence against UK missions in the country should not ‘deter us from doing the right thing’.

Hundreds of civil servants complain about harassment and bullying
An investigation by The Guardian has found that while hundreds of civil servants have made complaints about bullying or sexual harassment by colleagues, just a fraction of those accused were subject to disciplinary action. Not all departments and bodies provided data as a result of the paper’s request and some of those that did failed to provide exact figures.

Government faces ‘almost certain’ defeat over betting machine stake cut
The Times claims that the Government is ‘almost certain’ to be defeated over its plan to delay the cut in the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals after 21 Conservative MPs signed amendments designed to bring forward the cut, including Boris Johnson, David Davis, Priti Patel and Justine Greening. Labour has also said that it will back the amendments, laid by Labour MP Carolyn Harris, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and SNP MP Ronnie Cowan.

No-deal Brexit to cost NHS £2.3bn
The Financial Times carries details of a report by the Nuffield Trust which warns that a no-deal Brexit would result in a £2.3bn ‘cost shock’ for the NHS in England, owing to an increase in red tape and trade barriers. This would take up all the funding available to improve patient care in the next two years.

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Brexit 48 hours

Political Headlines – 48-hour Brexit deal, Johnson’s rebellion, Cabinet mutiny and no confidence

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Today’s political headlines are still dominated by Brexit and are likely to remain that way, at least for the next 48 hours. The Government is hoping to agree the deal within the next two days – meanwhile, Boris Johnson has called for Cabinet mutiny and pro-EU MPs are preparing letters of no confidence in Theresa May. 

Government hoping for a Brexit deal in the next 48 hours
The Times claims that the Government is hoping to agree a Brexit deal with the EU in the next 48 hours, with outstanding issues including fishing rights in the backstop and the review mechanism to leave it. Over the weekend, Andrea Leadsom said the UK must be able ‘to decide to leave’ the backstop rather than being ‘held against its will’ by the EU. The Financial Times adds that the EU is trying to get the UK to agree to the inclusion of detailed ‘level playing field’ measures in the backstop, including environmental targets and state aid rules to be overseen by the European Court of Justice.

Johnson to join MPs rebelling over gambling machine stake cut delay
According to The Sun, Boris Johnson is to lead a cross-party rebellion against delays to implementing a reduction to the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals. An amendment, backed by 60 MPs, may be tabled by Iain Duncan Smith and Carolyn Harris  today. The Guardian adds that the Government’s decision to delay the policy was based on a report commissioned by the Association of British Bookmakers, which the company Paddy Power Betfair described as ‘unrealistic’.

Johnson calls for Cabinet ‘mutiny’ over Brexit
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson says that Theresa May is ‘on the verge of total surrender’ to the EU, describing her Brexit plans as ‘shameful’. He adds that the Cabinet ‘ought’ to mutiny over the proposals, but that it would make little difference as the Government’s ambition ‘is to remain in captivity’.

Pro-EU MPs prepare letters of no confidence in May
The Sun asserts that pro-EU Conservative MPs are preparing letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister. One told the paper that ‘we are now staring into the abyss’ and another described Theresa May as ‘the problem’. One of the MPs suggested that David Davis might be persuaded to back a short-term Norway-style Brexit if given May’s job.

Retailers to pay more for recycling in new strategy
In an exclusive, The Guardian says that retailers and major drinks brands face a large increase in the amount they pay towards recycling used packaging, with contributions increasing from around £70m a year to between £500m and £1bn. The proposal forms part of the Government’s waste strategy, which will be published later this month.

Truss excluded from Budget meetings
The Times claims that Liz Truss, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was excluded from meetings before the Budget owing to tensions between her and the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, who was apparently annoyed by her attendance at Andrea Leadsom’s Brexiteer ‘pizza club’ meetings.

Hunt to confront Saudi Crown Prince
The Daily Telegraph says that Jeremy Hunt will today become the first minister to meet the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Hunt will use the opportunity to ‘confront’ Mohammed bin Salman, express his ‘horror and outrage’ and demand that the country co-operates with the Turkish investigation into the death.

May open to ‘different’ relationship with Russia
The Guardian reports that Theresa May will use her address at the Lord Mayor’s banquet today to say that the UK is open to a ‘different’ relationship with Russia, adding that the country is ‘ready to respond in kind’ if Russia were to become more open to international co-operation.

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Ireland border

Political Headlines – Brexit borders and understanding & the four-day week

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Today’s political headlines continue with the Brexit theme, with a border in the Irish Sea proposed for a no-deal scenario, Raab criticised for a lack of understanding of UK trade. McDonnell looking into the case for a four-day week and crisis on the high street. 

Border in the Irish Sea if there is no Brexit deal
The Times reports on a leaked letter from Theresa May signalling that in the event of a no deal Brexit a customs border in the Irish Sea will be put in place. The PM has previously promised the DUP that she would not sign up to any deal that would result in Northern Ireland being separated from the rest of the UK. DUP MP for East Antrim, Sammy Wilson, has accused the PM of betrayal.

Raab criticised for lack of understanding of UK trade
The BBC reports that Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab is facing criticism for saying that he ‘hadn’t quite understood’ how the UK relies on trade in goods from the Dover-Calais crossing. Raab made these remarks when speaking about the deal the UK is seeking after it leaves the EU. In his comments the Brexit Secretary also accepted that UK consumers may face less choice of products if frictionless trade is not maintained.

McDonnell may look further into the case for a four-day week
The Shadow Chancellor has been working with economist Lord Skidelsky about an inquiry into changing the working week from five days to four as reported by the Guardian. McDonnell has previously said that Labour would investigate ways to reduce the working week. Skidelsky has said he is looking at reducing the standard working week and hopes his findings will be open to anyone to look at the results. France and Germany have higher levels of production than the UK and work less.

Crisis on the high street continues
Sky report on research produce by PwC and the Local Data Company that shows that 14 shops a day are closing on the high street and the crisis will continue. As well as shops closing at a rapid rate there is also fewer new shops starting up. Larger chains as well as independent retailers have been forced to close shops this year.

Fund set up to tackle rogue landlords
The Guardian reports on a Government fund that has been launched that will help councils in England tackle rogue landlords. The funding is intended to give councils more power to combat rogue landlords and ensure homes are of a good standard; £2m has been put forward but this works out at less than £6,000 for each council. Campaign groups hope that more funding will be put forward when the changes to the law are in place.

More than 450 missing foreign criminals lost by the Home Office since 2016
The Sun reports that the Home Office has lost more than 450 foreign criminals since 2016, 223 of those who absconded have since been found. Conservative MP, Tim Loughton said the findings are horrifying and that we should immediately deport these criminals. Since 2010, 44,500 foreign national offenders have been deported.

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