{"id":112838,"date":"2018-02-22T09:21:36","date_gmt":"2018-02-22T09:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk?p=112838&preview=true&preview_id=112838"},"modified":"2018-02-22T09:21:36","modified_gmt":"2018-02-22T09:21:36","slug":"todays-political-headlines-22-february-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/blog\/todays-political-headlines-22-february-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Today\u2019s Political Headlines – 22 February 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today’s Political Headlines include Cabinet disagreements over May’s transition strategy, Unilever choosing the Netherlands over the UK, Williamson warning of a Russian threat and Abbott causing controversy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cabinet did not agree May\u2019s transition strategy
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>The Daily Telegraph<\/span><\/em> reports<\/a> that the Cabinet did not agree Theresa May\u2019s strategy for the transition period before it was sent to the EU. The strategy prompted a backlash after raising the prospect of an open-ended transition period. The paper also reports<\/a> that David Lidington has offered to transfer to Scotland all powers repatriated from the EU that involve devolved policy areas, in an attempt to break deadlock. As the BBC says<\/a>, ministers are to gather at Chequers this afternoon to agree the Government\u2019s approach to Brexit. The Times<\/span><\/em> adds<\/a> that Jeremy Corbyn is planning a major Brexit speech on Monday to set out his approach, while<\/a>\u00a0fears of defeat over the customs union have prompted the Government to delay the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Bill for up to two months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Government braced for Unilever to pick Netherlands as its new HQ
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>According<\/a> to the Financial Times<\/span><\/em>, Theresa May is braced for the Anglo-Dutch conglomerate Unilever to announce that it has chosen the Netherlands rather than the UK for its unified headquarters following months of political pressure. The paper adds that the UK hasn\u2019t lost all hope and believes\u00a0it could still benefit from the reorganisation in other ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

Williamson warns of Russian threat, announces new combat air strategy
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>Appearing before the Commons Defence Select Committee, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said that \u2018state-based threats\u2019 are his department\u2019s \u2018top priority\u2019, citing threats from Russia, China and North Korea. The Times<\/span><\/em> says<\/a> that this is a change from earlier policy, which put terrorism first. The Financial Times<\/span><\/em> adds<\/a> that Williamson promised a new combat air strategy in the summer and a review of national security capabilities by the end of March,<\/span><\/p>\n

Abbott causes controversy by comparing UK attitudes to immigration to 1930s Germany
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>The Daily Telegraph<\/span><\/em> claims<\/a> that Diane Abbott has \u2018sparked fury\u2019 by comparing those with concerns about immigration to the UK to people who \u2018scapegoated\u2019 minority groups in pre-Nazi Germany. Abbott used Weimar Germany as an example in a speech on immigration policy, arguing that \u2018economic collapse has always led to scapegoating the other\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Domestic abusers to be given longer sentences
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>According<\/a> to <\/span>The Times<\/span><\/em>, new guidance drawn up by the Sentencing Council will see domestic abusers given longer sentences than those who commit similar offences outside the home environment. The change has been made because such behaviour is rarely a \u2018one-off\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tories set to lose at least three London boroughs
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>The Mirror<\/span><\/em> reports<\/a> that a poll shows the Conservatives are set to face a \u2018humiliating\u2019 defeat in at least three London boroughs this May. Across the capital, Labour has 54% of the vote and the Tories have 28%. If this result is replicated at the London council elections in May, Labour would have the highest share won by a party in the elections since 1968.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gove asks Ofwat to investigate water companies\u2019 behaviour
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Michael Gove, has written to Ofwat asking it to investigate concerns over prices, leaks, executive pay and payments to shareholders by water companies, the BBC <\/span>says<\/a>. He is willing to give Ofwat new powers if it asks for them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sinn Fein says May has no plan to save powersharing
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/span>Sinn Fein has accused Theresa May of having no plan to save powersharing in Northern Ireland, and claim the Prime Minister is \u2018facilitating\u2019 the DUP in blocking the process, <\/span>The Guardian <\/span><\/em>reports<\/a>. The party\u2019s leader, Mary Lou McDonald warned that a political vacuum would be \u2018extremely dangerous\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find out more about Vuelio Political services<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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