Today’s political headlines include May’s defeat of the no confidence motion, Hammond’s leaked conference call, Hague’s general election warning and May refusing to rule out the customs union.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
May defeats no confidence motion as Corbyn rejects talks offers<\/span> Hammond\u2019s conference call leaked<\/span> Hague warns of general election<\/span> May refuses to rule out customs union<\/span> Corbyn under pressure to back second referendum<\/span> MPs call for global ocean protection agreement<\/span> Hitachi to announce future of Welsh nuclear power project<\/span> Statistics Authority under fire over RPI failings<\/span>
\n<\/strong>As\u00a0The Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>, last night Theresa May survived the challenge against her leadership by 325 votes to 306 with the backing of rebel Conservatives and the DUP. She invited the leaders of opposition parties for talks after the vote, meeting the Lib Dem leader and the Westminster leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru, but her invitation was turned down by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who insisted that she first rule out the possibility of no-deal.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0has\u00a0obtained<\/a>\u00a0a recording of Chancellor Philip Hammond\u2019s phone call with business leaders after Theresa May\u2019s deal was rejected. He told participants that Nick Boles\u2019 cross-party plan to force an Article 50 extension could led to the \u2018threat\u2019 of a no-deal Brexit being removed and even to Article 50 being \u2018rescinded\u2019 altogether, suggesting that ministers might even back the bill when it is voted on.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Lord Hague has told Citigroup clients that \u2018the media are underplaying the chances of a general election in the coming weeks\u2019. Three cabinet ministers have also told the paper that a general election is possible, with May trying to seek public support if she cannot reconcile her MPs, and free herself from the DUP.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May has repeatedly refused to rule out staying in a customs union with the EU as cross-party talks on Brexit, led by Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, begin. She refused to give a direct answer to Jeremy Corbyn at yesterday\u2019s Prime Minister\u2019s Questions when asked if the Government had \u2018ruled out any form of customs union with the European Union as part of their reaching-out exercise\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Jeremy Corbyn is coming under increasing pressure to back a second Brexit referendum. Yesterday, 71 Labour MPs signed a letter demanding that the party \u2018unequivocally\u2019 backed a second vote, while the Liberal Democrats challenged Corbyn to clarify his position, announcing plans to try to make MPs vote on the measure on Monday.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that the Commons Environmental Audit Committee is calling for a new global agreement to protect the oceans. Its new report warns of the harmful effect of plastic pollution, overfishing and climate change, and claims that the Government has treated the oceans as \u2018out of sight, out of mind\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that a decision about whether Hitachi will continue with its plans to build the new Wylfa Newydd power station on Anglesey will be announced this morning according to Ken Skates, the Welsh Economy Secretary. According to the Japanese press, Hitachi will announce that construction is to be suspended.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0carries details<\/a>\u00a0of a new report by the Lords Economic Affairs Committee that calls the decision of the UK Statistics Authority not to improve the RPI measure of inflation \u2018untenable\u2019. Problems with the way it is calculated have led to higher rail fares and student loan interest rates, and higher payments to index-linked gilt holders.<\/p>\n