Today’s political headlines include Hain’s claims that Sir Philip Green was responsible for the injunction dominating the press, Javid admits officials illegally requested DNA samples, DWP in denial over Universal Credit and May postpones her plans to present revised Brexit proposals.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Hain claims Sir Philip Green was responsible for injunction<\/span> Javid admits officials illegally requested DNA samples<\/span> Department of Work and Pensions \u2018in denial\u2019 about Universal Credit<\/span> May postpones plans to present revised Brexit proposals to Cabinet<\/span> Hannan claims EU citizens in UK will be able to vote<\/span> Defence to be given \u00a3500m bail out in Budget<\/span> Raab warns of French \u2018go slow approach\u2019 in no-deal Brexit<\/span> MPs recommend that FCA regulates commercial lending<\/span>
\n<\/strong>As\u00a0The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>, Lord Hain used parliamentary privilege to claim that the businessman Sir Philip Green was the subject of an injunction preventing the paper from running a story. Following the revelation, MPs including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable and Frank Field suggested that Green should lose his knighthood. Green refused to comment on events in Parliament but denied any \u2018unlawful sexual or racist behaviour\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Home Secretary Sajid Javid admitted yesterday that officials from his department had been illegally requiring DNA samples from people who wanted to stay in or visit the UK. Those affected include children of Gurkhas and Afghan translators who worked for the British military, but the scale of the error isn\u2019t known. Javid said that those affected would be reimbursed.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mirror<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that a new report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee has found that Universal Credit is creating \u2018unacceptable hardship\u2019 for many claimants, accusing the Department of Work and Pensions of being \u2018in denial\u2019 about the benefit and being unable to make improvements as a result.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Sun<\/em>, Theresa May cancelled plans to present revised Brexit proposals to her Cabinet yesterday because they were not ready. In a reference to Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, who has emerged as a critic of May\u2019s strategy, a source told the paper that the plan needed \u2018Cox-proofing\u2019. The paper suggests that May has just ten days to agree her offer to the EU if a November summit of EU leaders to discuss it is to go ahead.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Brexiteer MEP Daniel Hannan told his colleagues via WhatsApp that he had seen part of the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement and that it would give EU citizens voting rights in England and Northern Ireland (they are devolved in Scotland and Wales). He described this as an \u2018odd decision\u2019, claiming that bilateral agreements should be reached with each country instead.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>In an\u00a0exclusive<\/a>,\u00a0The Sun<\/em>\u00a0reveals that Chancellor Philip Hammond is to announce a \u00a3500m bailout for the Ministry of Defence in Monday\u2019s Budget. However, he has insisted that the department will not get \u2018special treatment\u2019 and its long-term funding will be settled in spring\u2019s spending review.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has warned that the UK should be ready for a \u2018go slow approach\u2019 by the French in the case of a no-deal Brexit, although he believes that border issues in such a scenario could be \u2018alleviated\u2019 through \u2018pragmatism on both sides\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0carries details<\/a>\u00a0of a new report by the House of Commons Treasury Committee, which concludes that commercial lending should be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The committee\u2019s inquiry followed scandals over the way small businesses were treated by RBS and HBOS.<\/p>\n