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Today’s Political Headlines include the Brexit bill votes, Afghan interpreters win right to live in UK, abortion laws in Northern Ireland and ‘unfair’ student fees and loans. 

May tells MPs to unite ahead of Brexit bill votes
The Daily Telegraph reports that Theresa May will tell backbench Conservative MPs that they need to unite, ahead of this week’s votes on amendments by the House of Lords to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. Addressing the 1922 committee this evening, the Prime Minister will say that MPs must ‘deliver on the decision made by the British people’. According to The Guardian, the Government is ‘quietly reassured’ that it has the votes to pass the bill.

Afghan interpreters win right to live in UK
The Daily Mail is claiming victory in its campaign to allow Afghan interpreters who worked with the British army to settle in the UK. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson writes in the paper that the Government will be introducing plans to make the existing relocation scheme ‘fairer’ and pledges to ‘do what is right to honour their extraordinary service’.

MPs target Javid over Northern Irish abortion law
According to The Guardian, over 30 MPs have promised to send the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, written questions demanding that the domestic abuse bill is brought before parliament by the autumn, so that an amendment giving Northern Irish women the right to access terminations can be tabled.

Student fees and loans ‘unfair’, Lords report claims
The BBC says a report by the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee claims the student fee and loan system is ‘deeply unfair’ and the Government is using ‘accounting tricks’ to conceal the cost of higher education, delivering poor value for money for taxpayers. It calls for ‘immediate reforms’ including lower interest rates and restoring grants.

Banks to tell committee that he told CIA about Russian meetings
The Times claims that Arron Banks, the founder of Leave.EU, will tell the Commons Digital Media and Sport Committee tomorrow that he briefed the CIA on his meetings with the Russian Ambassador. The meetings were revealed in emails leaked over the weekend.

Homelessness could be ended in a decade, report claims
The BBC carries details of a new report by the charity Crisis, which claims that the Government could end homelessness in 10 years, if its proposals are followed, including building 100,500 social homes a year. The Daily Telegraph says that a report by the Local Government Association warns that the Right to Buy scheme might collapse, as the UK is running out of council houses.

Hancock refuses to legislate on children’s access to devices
The Guardian reports that Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Matt Hancock does not allow his children to have mobile phones and thinks children shouldn’t have access to them overnight, but will not follow the French and legislate on the matter. Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph has launched a campaign calling for social media and online gaming firms to have a statutory ‘duty of care’ to protect children from mental ill health, abuse and addictive behaviour.

Doctors will not be sacked for ‘honest mistakes, Hunt says
The Times reports that Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt will announce that he is to accept the main findings of a review into the use of gross negligence manslaughter, claiming that doctors and nurses who make ‘honest mistakes’ should not be prosecuted. A system of medical examiners will be created, with the ability to refer cases to coroners.

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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 Labour’s new single market proposal, Heathrow expansion plans, accusations of Islamophobia against the Conservatives and raising National Insurance to fund the NHS. 

Labour proposes new single market Brexit amendment
The Times says that Labour is proposing a new amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, calling for ‘full access’ to the single market and ‘shared institutions and regulations’. The paper says that while this would be ‘the softest possible Brexit’ outside membership of the single market, the proposal has left pro-EU MPs ‘unhappy’ and the EU ‘baffled’. Meanwhile, The Sun claims that Exiting the European Union Secretary David Davis has ‘threatened to humiliate Theresa May’ by asking the Cabinet to overrule a decision not to publish a white paper before a key summit later this month.

Heathrow expansion plans announced
As the Financial Times reports, the Government has put forward the final plan for a third runway at Heathrow, and it will be voted on within the next 21 days. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has announced £2.6bn in compensation for local residents and that planning permission would only be granted if air quality obligations were met. The paper expects the proposal to pass ‘fairly easily’ as it is supported by the Conservative and SNP leadership and many Labour MPs. Boris Johnson, who has opposed the proposal, is expected to be overseas.

Conservative Muslim Forum chair accuses party of not taking action on Islamophobia
According to the BBC, Mohammed Amin, chair of the Conservative Muslim Forum, has accused the party of failing to take action on Islamophobia and called for an independent inquiry. He said that the party is seen as ‘anti-Muslim’ and had not taken ‘decisive action’.

Most voters back National Insurance increase to fund NHS
The Mirror reports that a new poll has found that 82% of voters would be willing to pay 1p more in National Insurance if the money went directly to the NHS. The poll also finds that voters are more likely to back the party which pledges extra funds for health and social care at the next election.

Westminster should not ‘impose its will’ on Northern Ireland, Bradley says
The BBC says that Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley has said that while she would personally like the abortion law in Northern Ireland to be changed, Westminster should not ‘impose its will’ and the matter ‘should be decided by the people of Northern Ireland’.

Deradicalisation programme found to be ineffective
The Times reports that a study for the Home Office has found that over 95% of deradicalisation programmes are ineffective. The study by the Behavioural Insights Team examined 33 schemes, mostly part of Prevent, and found that just two were effective, while some were counterproductive. The projects had claimed success rates of over 90%.

Poorer people eat fatty food for ‘comfort, solace and pleasure’, Gove says
The Daily Telegraph says that Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove told the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Environment that poorer people eat food which isn’t good for them because it gives them ‘comfort, solace and pleasure’. He said that the Government needed to be ‘more proactive’ and ‘more than a nudge’ was needed.

Military secondments to the EU will not be renewed
The Financial Times reports that the EU has told UK military staff that their secondments to Brussels will not be renewed after Brexit, while talks on security and defence co-operation have ‘proved much harder than expected’. The paper also reports that a threat by the UK to obstruct the procurement of the Galileo satellite navigation system has been neutralised after the EU agreed to take on the European Space Agency’s liabilities.

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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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