Brexit latest: Oliver Letwin urges MPs to back programme motion October 22, 2019 Oliver Letwin has urged MPs to back the government on tonight’s programme motion as “the least of the evils”, after the Prime Minister threatened to pull the entire Brexit bill if he was defeated. Introducing the Brexit bill, formally called the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, Boris Johnson this afternoon told MPs he would abandon the bill [...]
Donald Tusk opens door to Brexit extension ahead of key vote October 22, 2019 The president of the European Council Donald Tusk has indicated he is minded to back an extension to the Brexit process if MPs vote against the government’s timetable today. Speaking in Strasbourg today for the first time since he received the Benn Act-compelled letter from Boris Johnson, Tusk told MEPS: “The situation is quite complex [...]
Government borrowing jumps by a fifth in run up to Brexit October 22, 2019 UK public borrowing shot up by a fifth in the first six months of the financial year, figures have shown, as promises of extra spending spelled the end of Conservative debt reduction. Read more: Sajid Javid promises to increase national living wage to £10.50 The UK public sector had to borrow £9.4bn in September to [...]
What’s in the WAB? Government’s Brexit bill explained October 22, 2019 Today MPs will begin debating the government’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill – covering everything from the £39bn divorce settlement to EU citizens and setting out the path for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. But what is in it – and will it pass? What is the WAB? Brexit brings out the best (or worst) [...]
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal faces first of three crucial days October 22, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will face its first parliamentary hurdle today with the PM facing a tough battle to deliver his promise to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October. Johnson is attempting to push through the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which was published last night, in just three days. Read [...]
Canada election: Justin Trudeau forced to form minority government October 22, 2019 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has retained power but must form a minority government after only just winning the Canada election. Trudeau’s Liberal Party must now rely on a smaller left-wing ally to govern after a campaign in which scandals beset the politician, including an old photo in which he wore blackface. Read more: Why [...]
‘Legitimacy crisis’: Bank of England needs new policies and more transparency, says report October 22, 2019 The Bank of England needs major reform to maintain the public’s trust, including the creation of a credit policy and a new approach to choosing the next governor, research and campaign group Positive Money has said. Read more: Bank of England’s Mark Carney defends move not to publish governor shortlist However, some economists have pushed [...]
Timetable vote threatens to derail PM’s Halloween Brexit pledge October 21, 2019 A normally run-of-the-mill vote on parliamentary business today threatens to derail Boris Johnson’s last chance to get Brexit done by 31 October. A programme motion, setting out the timetable for debating the crucial Withdrawal Agreement bill (WAB), could be rejected by the alliance of opposition MPs and Tory Remainers who argue that it does not [...]
Speaker John Bercow blocks vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal October 21, 2019 Speaker John Bercow has rejected the government’s request for a meaningful vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal today. Bercow denied the government a second vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement after Johnson first put it to parliament in a special sitting on Saturday. Read more: Sterling trades around $1.30 as markets optimistic of [...]
Brexit: Scottish court delays decision over Benn Act letter October 21, 2019 Scotland’s highest court has delayed making a decision about whether the Prime Minister fully complied with the law when he wrote an unsigned letter requesting a Brexit extension. Boris Johnson was forced to write a letter to European Council president Donald Tusk after losing a key vote in the Commons on Saturday afternoon. The unsigned [...]