Today’s political headlines include MPs plotting to ‘seize control’ of Brexit, May’s claim that no Brexit is more likely than no-deal, the cost of air pollution and the EU is preparing to delay Brexit.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
MPs plot \u2018to seize control of Brexit\u2019<\/span> May to claim no Brexit is more likely than no-deal<\/span> New strategy shows cost of air pollution<\/span> EU prepares to delay Brexit<\/span> Labour suggests creation of \u2018regulator of regulators\u2019<\/span> 30,000 offenders would have been spared jail under Government plans<\/span> HS2 considers reducing capacity to tackle costs<\/span> Concern over uncompetitive contracts<\/span>
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>\u00a0leads<\/a>\u00a0with details of what it calls a \u2018plot by rebel MPs to seize control of Brexit\u2019. Should May\u2019s deal be defeated tomorrow, a bill drafted by Nick Boles, Sir Oliver Letwin and Nicky Morgan would empower the Commons Liaison Committee (dominated by remainers) to draw up a proposal backed by MPs, which the Prime Minister would have to negotiate with the EU, unless she can come up with an alternative within 21 days.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May is to use a speech today to try to persuade MPs to back her Brexit deal in tomorrow\u2019s vote. She will claim that no Brexit is more likely than a no-deal Brexit and warn of \u2018catastrophic harm\u2019 to the \u2018democratic process\u2019 if Brexit does not go ahead.
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\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0the Government\u2019s Air Pollution Strategy, which will be published today, will show that it is costing hundreds of millions of pounds more in damaged health than had previously been admitted. However, almost all of its measures have already been announced and action on many big sources of pollution has been deferred.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that the EU is preparing to delay Brexit until July at least, as it prepares for Theresa May\u2019s Brexit deal to be rejected by Parliament. The bloc is expecting an extension request in \u2018the coming weeks\u2019 and will then call a special summit to agree a \u2018technical\u2019 extension.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to the\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>, a report commissioned by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell calls for the creation of a \u2018pyramid structure\u2019 of watchdogs, overseen by an overall \u2018business commission\u2019, with measures to ensure that regulators aren\u2019t too close to the industries they regulate.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Sun<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that 30,000 offenders would have been spared jail under plans to axe prison sentences of under six months which the Prison Minister, Rory Stewart, is considering. Stewart said that these sentences are \u2018long enough to damage you and not long enough to heal you\u2019, and abolishing them would \u2018relieve a lot of pressure on prisons\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that HS2 is considering whether to reduce capacity by nearly a fifth to try to tackle \u2018spiralling\u2019 costs. The paper says that if the decision is made, this \u2018is likely to renew questions over the value of the project\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Research<\/a>\u00a0by the\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0shows that over the last three years, Government outsourcing has become \u2018markedly less competitive\u2019, with 23% of contracts being awarded without a tender in 2018, raising concerns about value-for-money and corruption.<\/p>\n