Today’s political headlines include May’s pledge to secure Labour support, Labour confirms backing for second referendum and Tory MPs rebel over plan for extending Brexit vote.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
May to make pledge on workers\u2019 rights to secure Labour MPs\u2019 support for Brexit deal Labour confirms backing for second referendum Tory MPs rebel over plan for vote on extending Brexit negotiations Norwegian sovereign wealth fund to increase investments in the UK despite Brexit Economic sentiment lowest in six years over no-deal Brexit fears Williamson suspended after Labour MPs revolt over antisemitism Burns under investigation over Thatcher library charity May to defend aid budget
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May is expected to use a ministerial statement next week to set out a series of pledges on workers\u2019 rights and to reduce restrictions on trade unions in a bid to secure Labour MPs\u2019 backing for her Brexit deal\/ Measures to be offered include a \u2018non-regression lock\u2019 after Brexit, votes by MPs on adopting future EU rules on workers\u2019 rights, and a reporting mechanism involving trade unions and the CBI on these. Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire is expected to announce a \u00a31.6bn fund for towns and coastal communities before the next meaningful vote.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>As the BBC\u00a0reports<\/a>, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed that his party is now backing a new Brexit referendum after MPs voted against his Brexit plans, and that he would vote to remain a member of the EU. He added that he will continue to pursue \u2018other available options\u2019, such as a general election or Labour\u2019s plan for a \u2018close economic relationship\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that over 100 Conservative MPs revelled yesterday against Government plans to give MPs a vote on extending Article 50 if Theresa May\u2019s deal is rejected. 20 of them, including Esther McVey, voted against the proposal with a further 88 choosing to abstain in protest, including Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Jacob Rees-Mogg.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Norway\u2019s sovereign wealth fund, the world\u2019s largest, has decided to increase its exposure to British investments whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations, claiming that the UK was still an attractive destination over the next 30 plus years. Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg welcomed the news, but Chris Leslie of the Independent Group said that Brexit meant that \u2018British assets are in the global bargain basement\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that economic sentiment in the UK has fallen this month, reaching its lowest level in six years according to a European Commission indicator. The CBI said that the best way to improve this was to avoid a no-deal Brexit and agree \u2018a deal that commands a majority in parliament and is acceptable to the EU and protects our economy\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that Labour only suspended its MP Chris Williamson for saying that the party was \u2018too apologetic\u2019 for antisemitism because 38 MPs and deputy leader Tom Watson pressed for this, with leader Jeremy Corbyn having initially \u2018intervened personally to block his suspension\u2019, pledging only to \u2018investigate\u2019 the remarks.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times\u00a0<\/em>claims<\/a>\u00a0that Conservative MP Conor Burns is \u2018under scrutiny\u2019 from the Charity Commission over his involvement in a campaign to build a library and museum dedicated to Margaret Thatcher. Much of the money raised by the campaign has apparently instead been spent on other things, including student exchanges between the UK and the USA.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Sun<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May is to use a speech at a conference on Jordan today to defend the \u00a314bn aid budget, pledging to continue spending 0.7% of GDP on foreign aid. She will promise that the UK will continue to be a \u2018global champion\u2019, spending aid \u2018innovatively and in a way that delivers value of money for the UK taxpayer\u2019.<\/p>\n