Philip Hammond says it is ‘physically impossible’ for UK to leave EU on 29 March March 17, 2019 Philip Hammond has said it is "physically impossible" for the UK to leave the EU on 29 March. Speaking to the BBC, the chancellor said a "short extension" to Article 50 – the mechanism that allows the UK to leave the EU – was necessary to enable the government to pass all the legislation required to [...]
Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will force another no confidence motion if May’s Brexit deal is defeated again March 17, 2019 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said the party could force another no confidence motion in the government if it fails to get Theresa May's Brexit deal across the line for a third time. Corbyn said he thought it was likely that the May's Brexit deal would voted down and that the government's strategy was to [...]
Senior Conservative MP Nick Boles quits local party over Brexit March 16, 2019 Pro-EU MP Nick Boles has resigned from his local Conservative party due to disagreements over Brexit. The MP for Grantham and Stamford in Lincolnshire claimed a "division has opened up" between him and his members. Read more: EU gives UK July deadline for Brexit delay In a letter to those members at his constituency's Conservative [...]
UK home secretary Sajid Javid warns tech giants over footage March 16, 2019 Home secretary Sajid Javid has warned social media companies to "clean up their platforms" after the attack by a gunman in New Zealand, killing 49 people at two mosques, was live streamed on Facebook. Javid told these firms they would face the "force of the law" if they did not more, with the video lasting 17 [...]
EU gives UK July deadline for Brexit delay if country doesn’t participate in European elections March 16, 2019 The EU will terminate Britain's membership of the bloc on 1 July if the country does not take part in the European elections scheduled for 23-26 May, according to a document seen by the Financial Times. The draft paper reportedly outlines that if the UK seeks an extension to Article 50 of more than three [...]
Hammond in Brexit talks with DUP as government tries to win over Northern Irish party March 15, 2019 Chancellor Philip Hammond is reportedly holding talks this afternoon with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in a bid to gain their support for Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal. The talks come ahead of a third vote on May’s deal next week in the House of Commons, as the PM looks for approval for her [...]
Theresa May’s hated compromise is the only workable Brexit on offer March 15, 2019 “The deal we have negotiated is the best and indeed only deal available.” So claimed a dejected Theresa May on Tuesday night, smarting in the aftermath of the fourth biggest defeat for a sitting government in modern parliamentary history. Obviously, parliament does not agree. An overwhelming majority of MPs want May to go back to [...]
State-centric and uninspiring: The Spring Statement wasn’t much to get excited about March 15, 2019 Who has time to care about a Spring Statement when the unfolding Brexit process feels like watching a cross between Saw 3 and a monster truck rally? This has been a problem for two and a half years – the Brexit black hole has sucked time and resources away from almost every other area of [...]
Editor’s Notes: The future of capitalism deserves more debate than a few viral tweets March 15, 2019 The desk in my office is groaning under the weight of books. They’re stacked up around the computer screens and at risk of blocking out natural light. I suppose it’s an appropriate look for an editor, though the scene has not been constructed deliberately. Indeed, none of these books have been read. They are unsolicited, [...]
Sir Vince Cable to step down as Lib Dem leader in May to make way for a ‘new generation’ March 14, 2019 Sir Vince Cable will quit as leader of the Liberal Democrats in May to make way for a “new generation.” Cable told party members that unless parliament “collapsed” into an early general election, a leadership contest would be called in May. Read more: Sir Vince Cable calls for probe into Treasury role in RBS GRG [...]