Archive for: Political Services

Today’s Political Headlines include David Davis in open rebellion against Theresa May, Hunt’s significant increase to the NHS budget, uni fees cut if diversity doesn’t increase and MPs call for more women to give evidence to select committees. 

David Davis in ‘open rebellion’ against Prime Minister
The Daily Telegraph claims that Brexit Secretary David Davis is in ‘open rebellion’ against the Prime Minister and is refusing to front her plans for a customs backstop in order to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland. While Downing Street has insisted that this will be ‘time-limited’, no end date has been included in details of the plan sent to the EU. The Times claims that Eurosceptic cabinet ministers are accusing Theresa May of deception, with remain-supporting ministers being shown the plans days before they were given them.

Hunt confirms ‘significant increase’ to NHS budget
Speaking to The Guardian, Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed that Theresa May will announce a ‘significant increase’ to the NHS’s budget when it celebrates its 70th birthday in July. He also admitted that he is unlikely to meet his target of 5,000 more GPs in England by 2020, that ‘patient safety in the NHS is still deeply flawed’ and that Brexit had contributed towards NHS staff shortages.

Regulator warns universities that he’ll cut tuition fees if diversity doesn’t improve
Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Sir Michael Barber, chair of the Office for Students, has warned that universities which don’t improve diversity will see their tuition fees cut by a third. However, Professor Graham Virgo, vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, has instead that his institution will not give black and minority ethnic applicants ‘special treatment’, despite criticism from Universities Minister Sam Gyimah.

MPs call for more women to give evidence to select committees
The BBC says that the House of Commons Liaison Committee has called for more women to give evidence to select committees, after it found that just 33% of witnesses in the last year were female. A target of reaching 40% female ‘discretionary witnesses’ (i.e. not ministers or senior officials) has been set for the end of this parliament.

Javid promises ‘fairer, more compassionate’ immigration regime
The Guardian reports that Home Secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee that he wants a ‘fairer, more compassionate’ immigration system. He admitted that the treatment of those affected by the Windrush scandal was not ‘personal enough and not sympathetic enough’ and that things had gone ‘profoundly wrong’.

Gove attacks ‘crony capitalists’
The Daily Mail says that Michael Gove, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, has called for a crackdown on ‘crony capitalists’ who have ‘rigged the system’. He called for the tax system to be changed to encourage investment and for bosses’ bonuses to be curbed. He also criticised quantitative easing, which he claimed had made the wealthy wealthier.

1.5m Britons living in destitution
The Daily Mirror carries details of a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that reveals that over 1.5m British people are living in destitution. The charity has warned that social security policies are leading to destitution ‘by design’ and has called for changes to the system, including to the use of Universal Credit sanctions.

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for higher taxes
According to The Daily Telegraph, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has called on the Government to find the ‘courage’ to increase taxes to fund public services, including the NHS. He also called on the Government to increase borrowing, saying that interest rates showed that there was ‘little reason to be so afraid’ of doing so.

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Today’s Political Headlines include amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, Northern Rail chaos, and plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. 

MPs to vote on amendments to EU Withdrawal Bill as Brexit white paper is postponed
The Times reports that the Government has scheduled votes by MPs on the House of Lords’ amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill for next Tuesday, giving it a week to win over potential rebels. The paper adds that the twelve backbenchers who are threatening to rebel on customs arrangements doubt that the Government will be able to reach a satisfactory compromise. The Financial Times claims that the Government has abandoned plans to publish a white paper on the future UK-EU relationship ahead of this month’s European Council meeting and it will now be published at a later date.

May under pressure over Northern rail chaos
The Guardian says that Theresa May is coming under further pressure to act on the rail chaos in Northern England, as 25 newspapers across the region united to call for an emergency summit to find a solution and a review of rail franchising. Facing questions from MPs yesterday, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced an inquiry into the problems.

Heathrow plans to be approved by cabinet sub-committee
The BBC reports that the Cabinet’s economic sub-committee is expected to approve plans for a third runway at Heathrow today. The plans will then be sent to full cabinet, with MPs expected to vote on them in ‘the coming weeks’. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has previously said that he would ‘lie down in front of bulldozers’ to stop the proposal.

Government announces action plan for carers
The Daily Mail says that the Government is to announce a series of measures to support informal carers today. The care action plan, published by six Government departments, includes flexible work hours, paid ‘carers’ leave’, and emotional support, and is being led by care minister Caroline Dinenage.

Government sells shares in RBS at £2.1bn loss
The Financial Times reports that the Government has sold a 7.7% stake in Royal Bank of Scotland, making a loss of £2.1bn, and that further shares could be sold later this year. Chancellor Philip Hammond has argued that public ownership is a drag on the firm, but as the paper adds, both Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable have criticised the Government for making a loss on the sale.

Government considers investment in Welsh nuclear plant
The Times reports that the Government is considering investing billions of pounds in a new nuclear plant in Wales, which could deliver cheaper electricity than Hinkley Point. Sources suggest that the Government could invest £1-2bn in the Wylfa plant, near Anglesey, with equal investments by Hitachi and the Japanese government, with the rest of the £15bn cost met by Government-guaranteed loans.

Committee criticises aid spending in China
The Daily Telegraph says that the Commons International Development Committee has released a critical report on aid spending in China. The committee warns that spending aid on projects to develop the Chinese film industry and reduce Chinese children’s salt intake risks ‘undermining faith in UK aid’.

Brown calls for NI increase to fund NHS
According to the Daily Mirror, Gordon Brown has made a ‘dramatic intervention’ in the debate about NHS funding, calling for a 1p increase in National Insurance to help meet funding pressures. He has warned that the service is currently in ‘mortal danger’.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Sajid Javid’s counter-terror plans, Sajid Javid’s challenge of Government policy and Sajid Javid’s part in the visa cap being lifted on doctors. 

Javid to announce new counter-terror plans
The BBC reports that Home Secretary Sajid Javid is to announce an update to the Government’s counter-terror strategy in a speech today. He will set out plans for MI5 to declassify and share information on citizens suspected of having terrorist sympathies across the Government, local authorities and the police. The Guardian adds that figures from the Sentencing Council show that the police and security services are facing a surge in convicted terrorists released from prison.

Two ministers challenge Government policy
The Times claims that Theresa May’s authority has been ‘dealt a blow’ after two ministers publicly challenged Government policy. Home Secretary Sajid Javid promised to review immigration policy, while Tobias Ellwood, the Minister for Veterans, called for a statute of limitations on offences committed by British troops in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

May planning to lift visa cap on doctors
The Daily Telegraph reports that Theresa May will lift the visa cap on doctors from outside the EU ‘within weeks’, in order to meet the demands of the NHS. According to the paper, discussions have reached a ‘fairly developed stage’ following interventions from Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

‘No strong business case’ for diverging from EU regulations, thinktank says
The Guardian says that the thinktank Open Europe, which it claims is one of the ‘closest to Downing Street’ has claimed in a report that there is ‘no strong business case’ for immediately diverging from EU regulations and that an ‘enhanced mutual recognition agreement’ should be agreed between the UK and the EU. The paper also reports that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on MPs of all parties to support amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill put forward by the House of Lords.

May facing rebellion over Heathrow vote
The Daily Telegraph claims that the Prime Minister is facing a rebellion from Boris Johnson and other senior Conservative MPs over Heathrow expansion. Theresa May is reportedly considering imposing a three-line whip on the issue as she is worried that the Government may lose the vote and that allowing a free vote would set a dangerous precedent.

MPs call for companies to disclose climate risks
The Financial Times reports that the Commons Environmental Audit Committee has called on the Government to introduce new rules requiring pension funds and UK-listed companies to disclose climate-related risks. Mary Creagh, the committee’s chair, said that she also wanted pension trustees to ‘have a duty to consider long-term sustainability, not just short-term returns’.

Cross-party group seeks to up pressure over Northern Ireland abortion law
The Guardian reports that a cross-party group of MPs is to increase pressure on the Prime Minister to decriminalise abortion in Northern Ireland by demanding an emergency debate. MPs include Labour’s Stella Creasy and Lib Dem Jo Swinson hope to force the Government to come to the Commons and defend its position.

EU gives UK just weeks to agree dozens of trade deals
According to The Times, the UK will have just a matter of weeks to negotiate trade deals with over 40 countries including Japan and South Korea, as the EU has refused to assist with extending existing trade agreements until the Brexit treaty has legally been signed-off.

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Today’s Political Headlines include France blocking a Brexit security deal, NHS hospital deficit, Jewish leader accusing Corbyn of antisemitism and Muslin Council of Britain calling for investigation into Conservative party Islamaphobia. 

French blocking Brexit security deal
According to The Times, France is blocking the UK’s attempts to reach a post-Brexit security deal. The country is objecting to the UK continuing to participate in the Prüm Convention, which allows for the sharing of DNA, fingerprint and vehicle information to identify criminals. Continued UK participation is reportedly backed by Germany.

NHS hospitals record deficit of almost £1bn
The Financial Times reports that NHS hospitals ended the year with a deficit of £1bn, almost twice the amount expected. Data released today by NHS Improvement shows that the service has been affected by a ‘surge in demand’ but the body claims that the figure is £1.5bn better than that for 2015-16. The Nuffield Trust, however, described the figure as ‘window dressing’ and claimed that ‘the true, underlying figure is much, much worse’.

Jewish leader accuses Corbyn of holding antisemitic views
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Jonathan Arkush, the outgoing president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held ‘antisemitic views’ which had left Jews asking ‘do we have a future here?’ He also criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury for not speaking out with a ‘stronger, clearer voice’.

Muslim Council of Britain calls for investigation into Islamophobia in the Conservatives
As the BBC reports, the Muslim Council of Britain has called on the Conservatives to launch an inquiry into Islamophobia in their party. In an open letter to Brandon Lewis, the party’s chair, the council complains of ‘more than weekly incidents’ of Islamophobia and specifically cites the MP Bob Blackman.

Cleverly accuses Labour of playing party politics over Northern Irish abortion
The Guardian reports that James Cleverly, one of the Conservative Party’s Deputy Chairs, has accused Labour of exploiting the campaign to change abortion law in Northern Ireland for political gain. However, at least 13 female Conservative MPs back a change in the law, with a number backing a free vote on an amendment tabled by Labour’s Stella Creasy.

Former cabinet ministers trying to unite Tories behind ‘sensible Brexit’
The Times reports that former cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, Damian Green and Justine Greening are trying to unite Conservative MPs behind a ‘sensible Brexit’. The trio held a meeting with Theresa May yesterday, having consulted with backbench MPs, that a large majority of the parliamentary party was in favour of a compromise with the EU.

UK to be offered ‘less privileged and more expensive’ deal on research after Brexit
In an exclusive, The Guardian claims that the EU is preparing to give the UK a ‘less privileged and more expensive’ deal on science and research collaboration than that offered to some non-EU countries, such as Israel. Instead, the UK will be offered the same deal extended to countries such as Canada and South Korea, but plans to try and change this through its participation in EU budget negotiations.

Businesses warn May that they won’t invest due to Brexit uncertainty
According to the Financial Times, when a delegation of European business leaders met the Prime Minister and David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, yesterday they warned them that they would not invest in the UK until the uncertainty of the negotiations were over. The group was led by Carl-Henric Svanberg, outgoing chairman of BP, and included representatives of Vodaphone, Nestlé, BMW, E.ON and others.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Theresa May challenged to ‘prove’ she is a feminist over abortion laws in Northern Ireland, Uk participating in EU budget negotiations, the Treasury and Bank of England at loggerheads and the NHS wasting resources. 

Prime Minister asked to back abortion law change in Northern Ireland
The BBC reports that Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti has challenged Theresa May to prove that she is a feminist by backing reform of abortion law in Northern Ireland and showing that she would ‘stick up for all women’. MPs from all parties have called on the Prime Minister to support a change in the law, following the successful referendum in Ireland.

European Commission and Brexiteers angry at UK participation in EU budget negotiations
The Times claims that the European Commission and Brexiteers are ‘united in anger’ after the European Council invited the UK to take part in negotiations to determine the EU’s budget up to 2027. The offer, which the UK has accepted, was made because the UK will still be paying into the budget after Brexit.

Treasury and Bank of England in post-Brexit regulatory clash
The Financial Times reports that the Treasury and the Bank of England have clashed over the regulation of the City of London after Brexit. Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, wants to keep the UK close to the EU rule book, but the Bank of England does not want to become a ‘rule taker’. One source described relations as ‘very, very bad’ and another as ‘terrible’.

Senior doctor accuses NHS of wasting resources
The Daily Telegraph says that a senior doctor has accused the NHS of a ‘ridiculous waste of resources’. Writing for the paper, Professor Keith Willett, medical director for acute care, warns of the problems caused by a failure to tackle bedblocking, leaving ‘highly skilled surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses sitting around waiting for patients’.

Number of leave voters in Labour seats could be lower than thought
The Guardian reports that a new study by the pro-remain group Best for Britain has found that the number of Labour leave voters in each constituency might be lower than had previously been thought. It claims that this means that Labour MPs in pro-Brexit seats who fear being punished by their electorate unless they adopt a hardline stance on Brexit may be worrying unnecessarily.

Free schools programme to be redirected to the North East
The BBC reports that the Government is to redirect its free schools programme towards the worst-performing areas of England, especially the North East. The money forms part of £680m which the Department of Education has allocated to help create 40,000 more good primary and secondary school places by 2021.

‘Influential Tories’ call on Government to introduce online sales tax
According to The Sun, ‘influential Tories’ are lobbying the Government to introduce a 3% sales tax on internet firms such as Amazon, eBay and Google in order to create a level playing field. Neil O’Brien MP has claimed that as much as £500m could be raised through the tax and this could be used to cut business rates.

Government announces plans to extend badger cull
The Daily Mail reports that the Government has announced plans to ‘dramatically extend’ the badger cull, allowing farmers to kill badgers in areas where cows are at a low risk of bovine TB on a case by case basis. The paper adds that Natural England is facing two legal challenges over the programme.

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Today’s Political Headlines include NHS Funding, the UK’s exclusion from the Galileo programme and Corbyn’s visit to Northern Ireland. 

Households need to pay £2000 a year extra to fund NHS, report says
The Guardian says that a new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Health Foundation shows that British households will need to pay an extra £2000 a year in tax so that the NHS can cope with the country’s aging population. The report was commissioned by the NHS Confederation, which represents 85% of NHS bodies, and its Chief Executive, Niall Dickson, warned that ‘the current system and funding levels are not sustainable’.

Efforts to exclude UK from Galileo programme driven by ‘German-led clique’
According to The Times, the EU’s attempts to exclude the UK from the Galileo satellite navigation programme are being driven by a ‘German-led clique’ and have caused a rift between Germany and France, which has joined other countries in objecting to the policy. In an official document, the Government will today say that it will reopen the ‘divorce settlement’ if it is not allowed to participate.

Corbyn to visit Northern Ireland
The BBC reports that Jeremy Corbyn is to make his first visit to Northern Ireland as Labour leader today and will pledge that Labour will not support any Brexit deal which leads to a hard border. The Daily Telegraph adds that Corbyn has sparked anger among unionists by renewing his calls for a united Ireland.

UK to request second Brexit transition period
The Times claims that the Government is to request a second Brexit transition period until 2023 to avoid a hard border in Ireland. The proposal, which has not yet been put forward, would see UK maintain customs and regulatory alignment with the EU. Additionally, MPs will vote on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill next month, despite reports that this might be delayed.

Gauke to announce changes to prisoners’ education
The Daily Telegraph reports that Justice Secretary David Gauke is to announce changes to education and employment support for prisoners today. He will say that prisoners should be ready to enter work when they leave prison, as part of a plan to cut reoffending rates in which prison governors will be given greater freedom over education.

HMRC head claims that ‘max fac’ could cost businesses £20bn
The Financial Times reports that Jon Thompson, Head of HM Revenue & Customs, has claimed that the ‘max fac’ Brexit customs proposal could cost businesses up to £20bn a year in extra bureaucracy. He said that there would be negligible extra costs with the Prime Minister’s proposed customs partnership, but that the EU was unlikely to reciprocate it.

Pro-EU campaign’s plans leaked
The Daily Mail has obtained a leaked document from the pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain showing its six-month plan to stop Brexit. The group, backed by George Soros, aims to spend almost £6m on the campaign to get MPs to vote down the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal in October.The group’s plans include working with trade unions, a Labour against Brexit speaker tour, and advertising, social media and local campaigns.

Almost 300 schools not inspected for over a decade
The Independent says that a National Audit Office report has revealed that changes to school inspections introduced by Michael Gove have led to 296 schools not being inspected for over a decade, with over 1600 not having been inspected for at least six years.  Under the policy, which Ofsted wants to be changed, schools rated ‘outstanding’ are not routinely reinspected.

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Today’s Political Headlines include clean air, scrapping NHS reforms, Ken Livingstone resigning and Grenfell Tower.

Clean air strategy to be launched
The Daily Telegraph says that Michael Gove, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, and Jeremy Hunt, the Health and Social Care Secretary, are to announce a new clean air strategy today. Wood burning stoves are to be targeted, having been identified as the ‘UK’s biggest environmental threat to human health’. Writing in the paper, the ministers claim that the UK will set a ‘gold standard’ for air quality after Brexit, going ‘further and faster’ than proposed changes to EU regulations.

Government considers scrapping some of the 2012 NHS reforms
The BBC claims that the Government is considering scrapping some of the controversial reform to the NHS in England introduced in 2012. The Prime Minister has committed to a better deal for the health service, but the BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, has been told that extra funding would come with more reform attached.

Ken Livingstone resigns from Labour
As The Guardian reports, Ken Livingstone has announced his resignation from the Labour Party. He said that issues surrounding his suspension for antisemitism had become ‘a distraction from the key political issues of our time’ and that he would continue to work towards achieving a Corbyn-led Government.

Grenfell Tower inquiry opens with tributes to victims
The Times reports on the opening of the inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower. Families of six of the 72 victims paid tributes, with the remainder to follow over the next two weeks. The inquiry’s chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, said that the tributes were an ‘integral part of evidence for this inquiry’.

Gove in gaffe at thinktank launch event
The Daily Mirror says that Michael Gove made a gaffe at the launch event for the new thinktank Onward, aimed at attracting young people to the Conservatives. He compared himself to Ike Turner (described by the paper as an ‘infamous wife-beater’) and joked about Meghan Markle’s ‘exotic’ heritage. The Sun adds that Ruth Davidson used the event to call on the Conservatives to ‘speak to the entire nation’.

Theresa May: customs union backstop would only apply in ‘very limited’ circumstances
The Guardian says that Theresa May has claimed that her backstop plan to keep the UK aligned to the customs union post-2020 would only apply in a ‘very limited’ set of circumstances and that ‘nobody wants this to be the solution that is achieved’. The Financial Times reports that the Government has published a plan to be implemented if there is disruption at channel ports after Brexit, involving closing 13 miles of the M20 to hold lorries.

Nuclear defence programme will cost £50.8bn over next decade
The Financial Times reports that the National Audit Office has assessed the cost of the nuclear defence programme over the next decade for the first time. The total cost is £50.8bn from 2018 to 2028, with a £2.9bn shortfall predicted if cost-cutting is delivered.

Northern Ireland Secretary urged to ‘redouble’ efforts to restore devolution
The BBC carries details of a new report by the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, which calls on Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley to ‘redouble’ her efforts to restore devolution. It also calls on her to outline how ‘urgent’ decisions will be made in the interim.

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Today’s Political Headlines include turning a blind eye to Russian money, AI to save lives, Johnson’s warning and the UK’s Galileo rival.

Government criticised for turning ‘blind eye’ to Russian money
The BBC says that a new report by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has found that London is being used to hide ‘corrupt assets’ of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies, with the UK turning a ‘blind eye’ to ‘dirty money’. Ben Wallace, the Security and Economic Crime Minister, has cast doubt on the report’s findings because he was not called to give evidence to the committee. Separately, the Financial Times reports that the UK has not renewed the visa of Russian oligarch and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, leading him to miss the FA Cup final.

May pledges to use artificial intelligence to save lives
The Times reports that Theresa May is to deliver a speech today in which she will promise to use artificial intelligence to study patient data to stop cancer or dementia before people know that they have it. She will say that this new technology is key to national prosperity and will save tens of thousands of lives a year within fifteen years.

Johnson delivers ‘thinly-veiled warning’ over customs union
The Guardian claims that Boris Johnson has ‘delivered a thinly-veiled warning’ to the Prime Minister that he still expects her to deliver a deal which would avoid a backstop keeping the UK aligned to the customs union after 2020. He said that ‘Brexiters fearing betrayal over the customs backstop must understand that the PM has been very clear that it is not an outcome we desire; we want a deal with the EU and she will deliver it.’

UK may partner with Australia to deliver Galileo rival
According to the Financial Times, the UK is aiming to launch the first tenders for a satellite navigation system to rival the EU’s Galileo project later this year, and hopes that Australia will become a partner in the programme. The BBC adds that Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, is to launch the UK’s first space strategy today, claiming that the UK needs to be ready to counter ‘intensifying threats’ in space, such as the ‘jamming’ of satellites.

Johnson visits Argentina
The Daily Mail reports on Boris Johnson’s visit to Argentina, the first by a British Foreign Secretary for 22 years. He laid wreathes with his Argentinian counterpart Jorge Faurie at a ceremony at the Monument to the Fallen in the Falklands, commemorating the Argentinian troops who died in the Falklands War. Argentina’s chief of the council of ministers, Mercos Pena, will reciprocate this gesture at St Paul’s Cathedral next month.

Gove and Davidson launch new thinktank
The Guardian says that Michael Gove and Ruth Davidson are to launch a new Tory thinktank, called Onward. Gove argues that his party ‘is at its best when it appeals beyond its core vote and puts forward a reforming, forward-looking agenda that responds to the concerns of the entire nation.’ Writing in the paper, Davidson calls on Conservatives to embrace the country’s ‘open liberal outlook as a positive – and not a threat.’

MPs criticise Motability over pay and reserves
The BBC reports that a report by the Commons Treasury and Work & Pensions Committees has found that the £1.7m paid to the chief executive of the Motability scheme is ‘totally unacceptable’, while funds of £2.4bn were being needlessly hoarded. The Government has said that the National Audit Office will look into the issues raised in the report.

Remainers accused of exploiting Irish border issue
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, former Conservative Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson and DUP Brexit Spokesman Sammy Wilson accuse remainers of having ‘cynically and recklessly exploited’ the Irish border issue. A new report released by Queen’s University Belfast finds that just one in five Northern Irish residents supports a united Ireland.

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Today’s Political Headlines include the cut to betting machine stakes, staying in the customs union beyond 2021, the Government’s 15th defeat on Brexit Bill in the Lords and the nationalisation of East Coast rail. 

Government cuts betting machine stakes
As the BBC reports, the Government has announced that the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals is to be reduced to £2 from £100 under new rules. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said that the change would ‘reduce harm for the most vulnerable’, but bookmakers have warned that the move could force them to close thousands of outlets

UK to tell EU it is prepared to stay aligned to customs union beyond 2021
The Daily Telegraph claims that the UK is to tell the EU that it is prepared to stay aligned to the customs union as a time-limited ‘backstop’, if new border technology is not ready by 2021. The plans were agreed at a meeting on the Brexit ‘war cabinet’ on Tuesday, despite objections from leading Brexiteers. Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned against creating ‘a position that is more attractive than a permanent deal’.

Lords inflect fifteenth defeat on Brexit bill
The Guardian says that the House of Lords has inflicted its fifteenth defeat on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, with the Government losing a vote on an amendment on increasing environmental protection after Brexit by 294 votes to 233. The Government now has to decide when to bring the bill back to the House of Commons to try to undo the changes.

East Coast rail franchise taken under state control
The Financial Times reports that the East Coast rail franchise has been taken under state control for the third time in twelve years. The line is to be rebranded as London & North Eastern Railway, with a public-private partnership expected to run the franchise from 2020. Despite stripping them of the franchise, the Government has admitted that Virgin and Stagecoach are a ‘probable future bidder’ for this partnership.

Review will not recommend cladding ban
The BBC reports that a review of building regulations being carried out by Dame Judith Hackitt following the Grenfell tragedy will not recommend an outright ban on flammable cladding. Instead the review will call for a new building safety management system and criticise the current building regulations for being complex and not fit for purpose.

Police chiefs consider arming rural officers
The Times claims that the National Police Chiefs’ Council is considering plans to arm frontline police officers to cope with terrorist threats in rural areas. As the paper notes, the move ‘will be seen as controversial’ given the UK’s tradition of unarmed policing, but a spokesman said that the move was being considered in areas where having fully trained units on standby was too expensive.

UK should spend as much on defence as NHS, minister claims
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood claimed that the UK should spend as much on the armed forces as it does on the NHS, warning that the UK is taking its ‘security for granted’. Health spending currently makes up 9.8% of the UK’s national income, compared to about 2% for defence spending.

Commons committee votes against Bercow investigation
The Guardian reports that an inquiry into allegations that John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, bullied member of staff has been blocked by MPs. The probe by the parliamentary commissioner for standards, requested by Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, was rejected by the Commons Standards Committee, by three votes to two.

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