Today’s Political Headlines include May’s insistence that Brexit negotiations won’t be extended, the leaked memo suggesting May will be forced to quit next Spring, rail timetable chaos caused by systematic failings and Paisley recall petition fails.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
May insists Brexit negotiations won\u2019t be extended<\/span> Leaked memo suggests May will be forced to quit next spring<\/span> Rail timetable chaos caused by \u2018systematic\u2019 failings, inquiry finds<\/span> Paisley recall petition fails<\/span> Labour plans to speed up handling of antisemitism cases<\/span> Law changes to make it easier for leaseholders to buy freeholds<\/span> Watson announces plans for \u00a3140m tax on gambling operators<\/span> Number of new social rent houses cut by over 200,000<\/span>
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May used a dinner with her EU counterparts in Salzburg last night to tell them that Brexit negotiations wouldn\u2019t be extended and a deal must be struck in the next two months. She insisted that the bloc rethink its position on the Irish border, but there are also suggestions that the UK will propose new regulatory checks to try to resolve the issue. The Maltese and Czech Prime Ministers told the BBC that they hope the UK will hold another referendum on Brexit. Meanwhile Sir Mike Penning, who helped to run May\u2019s leadership campaign, has\u00a0told<\/a>\u00a0The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0the Chequers plan is as \u2018dead as a dodo\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0has\u00a0obtained<\/a>\u00a0an internal memo, originally written in April but shared among Tory MPs recently, which claims that Theresa May will be forced to stand down \u2018soon after March 2019\u2019 and assesses potential successors. It claims that Michael Gove is \u2018on manoeuvres\u2019, Philip Hammond has \u2018not a hope\u2019, Liam Fox is \u2018fading\u2019, Boris Johnson won\u2019t win as \u2018the front-runner never wins\u2019 and Jacob Rees-Mogg is unlikely to be in the last two.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that an inquiry into this summer\u2019s rail timetable chaos has found that it could happen again owing to \u2018systematic\u2019 failings. Companies knew that there would be disruption, but did not warn passengers, the Department for Transport didn\u2019t ask them enough questions, and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling signed-off a key change to services. Grayling announced a \u2018root-and-branch\u2019 review of the rail system yesterday, to be led by John Lewis\u2019s deputy chairman Keith Williams.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that DUP MP Ian Paisley has held onto his seat after a recall petition against him gained the support of 9.4% of the electorate, rather than the 10% needed to trigger his recall. The petition, the first of its kind, was caused by Paisley\u2019s suspension from Westminster for failing to declare holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan government.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Guardian<\/em>, Labour\u2019s National Executive Committee has endorsed plans to double the parties disciplinary body in order to expedite the processing of antisemitism allegations. The plans, which the party\u2019s conference will need to vote on, would see the National Constitutional Committee gain 14 more members, amongst other changes.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that plans to be announced today by the Law Commission, at the request of the Government, will make it easier for leaseholders to buy their property\u2019s freehold by abolishing the minimum period before a purchase is possible. Additionally leases will be able to extended for longer, multiple times, and at lesser cost.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Sun<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0Labour\u2019s deputy leader Tom Watson has announced plans to introduce a 1% compulsory levy on gambling operators\u2019 gross yield, which would raise \u00a3140m each year. The money would be used to fund treatment for problem gamblers. Other policies include banning gambling promotions during live sport events and on using credit cards to gamble.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Mirror<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that the number of new social rent homes per year has been cut by over 200,000 since 2010, according to statistics it says are \u2018buried\u2019 in a Government report. Labour\u2019s John Healey has accused the Conservatives of \u2018making the housing crisis worse\u2019.<\/p>\n