Today’s political headlines include May heading to Brussels in an attempt to finalist Brexit, Jacob Rees-Mogg comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring, Growing support for Theresa May and the DUP intending to vote against the Brexit deal.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
May heads to Brussels as EU states raise objections to future relationship agreement<\/span> Eurosceptic coup attempt likened to \u2018Dad\u2019s Army\u2019<\/span> Growing support for May among voters<\/span> \u2018Of course\u2019 we\u2019ll vote against Brexit deal, DUP claims<\/span> Tory remainers have \u2018role to play\u2019 in building soft Brexit coalition, Sturgeon says<\/span> UK leads successful attempt to block Russian from becoming Interpol President<\/span> Mordaunt to announce new focus on low-paid women<\/span> Labour promises to end compulsory GCSE resits<\/span>
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May is heading to Brussels today amid attempts to finalise the Brexit deal before European leaders meet on Sunday. A deadline to settle the agreement on the future relationship was missed last night, with EU members raising objections to proposals covering UK access to the single market, fishing rights in British waters, and Gibraltar.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>As the\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>, Jacob Rees-Mogg has admitted that his attempt to oust Theresa May has become a bit like \u2018Dad\u2019s Army\u2019, comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring. He warned that the Tories would be stuck with May as leader at the next election unless they acted now.\u00a0The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0adds<\/a>\u00a0that the \u2018old guard\u2019 of Eurosceptics have claimed that Rees-Mogg has exhibited \u2018naivety\u2019 and suggested that the focus should be on defeating May\u2019s deal in the meaningful vote.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>A\u00a0poll<\/a>\u00a0conducted for\u00a0The Times<\/em>\u00a0shows that voter support for Theresa May has increased over the last week. A week ago, YouGov found that 33% of voters wanted the Prime Minister to remain and 47% wanted her to leave, but those figures are now 46% and 34% respectively. Detailed analysis shows that May\u2019s support has increased most among Conservative voters.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that the DUP has announced that it will \u2018of course\u2019 vote against Theresa May\u2019s Brexit deal despite hopes by ministers that it would abstain. Last night, the Government accepted Labour and SNP amendments to the Finance Bill after the DUP indicated that it was planning to abstain on the votes.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Guardian<\/em>, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that remain-supporting Conservative MPs have a \u2018role to play\u2019 in creating a soft Brexit coalition in the Commons. Apparently, SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have been talking with Tory remainers in an attempt to agree an alternative to Theresa May\u2019s Brexit deal, such as Nick Boles\u2019 proposed Norway-style plan.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Kim Jong-yang from South Korea has been elected as the new President of Interpol, defeating the Russian Alexander Prokopchuk, allegedly a former KGB agent. The paper says that the UK and the USA had been leading a last-minute attempt to prevent the Russian candidate from winning. Lib Dem Leader Sir Vince Cable had warned that if Prokopchuk won, Interpol would become a \u2018branch of the Russian mafia\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0reveals<\/a>\u00a0that Penny Mordaunt, the Minister for Women and Equalities will use a speech today to announce that the Government will shift its focus away from issues affecting middle class women, including the gender pay gap, towards those affecting women in low-paid jobs, with limited qualifications or who care for relatives.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Labour\u2019s Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner has announced details of her party\u2019s plan to reform further education, pledging to end the \u2018remorseless cycle\u2019 of compulsory GCSE maths and English resits and promising to \u2018put learners first\u2019.<\/p>\n