{"id":111000,"date":"2017-12-15T09:56:47","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T09:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk?p=111000&preview=true&preview_id=111000"},"modified":"2017-12-15T09:56:47","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T09:56:47","slug":"todays-political-headlines-15-december-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/blog\/todays-political-headlines-15-december-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Today\u2019s Political Headlines – 15 December 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

A round-up of the latest political headlines, including Theresa May at the European Council summit, Government to drop the Brexit date amendment, the threat of Russian cyber attacks and the Scottish government increasing income tax.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

May lobbies for swift transition agreement at European Council summit<\/strong><\/span>
\nAs the Guardian reports<\/a>, Theresa May lobbied for a swift agreement on a transition period at the European Council summit last night. Leaders are due to agree today that sufficient progress has been made in the first part of the talks, while Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister said that talks about the new trading relationship would have to wait for another three months.<\/p>\n

Government to drop Brexit date amendment<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe Times claims<\/a> that the Government is to drop its amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill setting the date of the UK\u2019s departure from the European Union, as it aims to avoid a second defeat in the House of Commons. Dominic Grieve, who has received death threats for his role in this week\u2019s backbench Tory rebellion, has said that he believes more MPs are prepared to oppose this amendment. The paper also says<\/a> that May is planning to create more Conservative peers \u2018within weeks\u2019, improving the Government\u2019s position in the Lords.<\/p>\n

Russian attack could disrupt the UK\u2019s internet access<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach has said that Russia\u2019s navy has the ability to disrupt the UK\u2019s internet access, The Daily Telegraph says<\/a>. He has called for naval forces to be strengthened to combat the threat. Peach\u2019s intervention comes amid an effort by the Ministry of Defence to secure more funding from the Treasury.<\/p>\n

Scottish government increases income tax<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe Guardian reports<\/a> on the decision by Derek Mackay, Scottish finance secretary, to make use of the Scottish Government\u2019s recently-strengthened tax powers. He will increase the higher and top rates of tax, whilst introducing a new starter rate for low earners, freezing the basic rate, and introducing a new intermediate rate. This will fund pay increases for public sector workers, and \u00a3400m extra for the NHS.<\/p>\n

Northern transport needs \u00a360bn over 30 years<\/strong><\/span>
\nTransport for the North has announced that it will unveil its 30-year plan in January, according<\/a> to the Financial Times. The body\u2019s chair has said that for its plans to succeed, Government transport spending in the region would have to increase by a third, whilst fixing the transport system will cost at least \u00a360bn over 30 years.<\/p>\n

Government targets for gender and ethnic diversity in quangos<\/strong><\/span>
\nA report in the Guardian says<\/a> that the Government is to set targets for the proportion of women and people from ethnic minority groups across all public appointments. Within five years, half should be women, and 14% from ethnic minorities. The paper also<\/a> reports that the only female Downing Street communications director since 2010 was paid \u00a315,000 less than the three men who held the position in that time.<\/p>\n

442 civil servants paid more than the Prime Minister<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe Sun reports<\/a> that 442 civil servants are paid more than the Prime Minister. The Network Rail chief Mark Carne topped the list, earning \u00a3750,000. 50 of those on the list work for HS2, which The Times says<\/a> is to be accused of covering-up unauthorised redundancy payments, in a Commons Public Accounts Committee report today.<\/p>\n

‘Youthquake’ is the word of the year<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe Daily Telegraph reports<\/a> that Oxford Dictionaries has picked \u2018youthquake\u2019 as the word of the year, in reference to Jeremy Corbyn\u2019s youthful supporters in the general election. The word apparently saw a 400% increase in usage between 2016 and 2017.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Vuelio political services<\/a>\u00a0are available to help you.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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