Today’s political headlines include UK officials attempting to extend Article 50, Skype appointments with your doctor, new social homes needed and the Brexit latest.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
UK officials sound out EU about extending Article 50<\/span> More patients to have Skype appointments, while NHS targets will be relaxed<\/span> Cross-party call for 3m new social homes by 2040<\/span> Cabinet ministers to urge May to \u2018play hardball\u2019 with EU<\/span> MPs seek to curb UK powers in no-deal Brexit scenario<\/span> Grayling seeks legal changes to tackle drones<\/span> MPs raise concerns about abuse outside Parliament<\/span> No-deal checks at Dover could lead to \u2018permanent gridlock\u2019<\/span>
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Daily Telegraph<\/em>, UK officials have been sounding out their EU counterparts about the possibility of extending Article 50, although one source described this as just officials \u2018doing their homework\u2019. \u00a0Digital Minister Margot James yesterday admitted that Article 50 might needed to be extended if Theresa May lost the vote on her Brexit deal, although 10 Downing Street denied this.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0on yesterday\u2019s NHS long-term plan, highlighting the news that 30m hospital visits a year will be avoided by using Skype, smartphones and other forms of technology, reducing face-to-face consultations by a third. However,\u00a0The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a> that the NHS leadership is \u2018preparing to risk a backlash\u2019 by relaxing waiting time targets, such as dealing with patients in A&E within four hours, following a clinical review that is due to report in the spring.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0carries details<\/a>\u00a0of a new report by a cross-party on social housing commissioned by the charity Shelter. It claims that over 3m new social homes are needed by 2040, at a cost of up to \u00a3225bn. However, economic modelling suggests that this investment would be repaid within 40 years. Ed Miliband, one of the commissioners, said that the Government needed to \u2018act now\u2019, while Baroness Warsi described the report as \u2018a vital opportunity\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that cabinet ministers will today urge Theresa May to \u2018play hardball\u2019 with the EU and give MPs a chance to vote on the deal with conditions attached, including Parliament having to approve entering the backstop. However, the paper adds that \u2018Downing Street figures\u2019 are sceptical that this would change the EU\u2019s position on the deal.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that MPs who want to block the UK from leaving the EU without a deal are putting forward an amendment to the Finance Bill later today, which will limit the Government\u2019s financial powers in a no-deal Brexit scenario. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox claimed that the amendment was \u2018irresponsible\u2019, but business minister Richard Harrington said that he was prepared to resign to stop a no-deal Brexit.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is seeking to change the law to give police and airports powers to tackle drones, allowing officers to rapidly respond to drone attacks. He also plans to expand no-fly zones around prisons and airports, following the recent shutdown of Gatwick Airport following sightings of a drone.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that over 50 MPs have written to Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to raise \u2018serious concerns\u2019 about the \u2018deteriorating public order and security situation\u2019 outside Parliament. Conservative MP Anna Soubry was verbally abused by protestors, including being called a \u2018liar\u2019, a \u2018Nazi\u2019 and \u2018scum\u2019 while giving TV interviews.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0has\u00a0obtained<\/a>\u00a0analysis produced for the Government by UCL which shows that if new customs checks at Dover were introduced following a no-deal Brexit, a 70-second delay to each vehicle would lead to six-day queues for ferries, while an 80-second delay would lead to a \u2018no recovery\u2019 scenario with \u2018widespread permanent gridlock\u2019.<\/p>\n