Chuka Umunna downplays speculation Tory MP Nick Boles could join the Independent Group March 18, 2019 Former Labour MP Chuka Umunna has downplayed suggestions Tory MP Nick Boles could join the Independent Group (TIG), saying he does not share the same "progressive values" of its members. Asked why Boles, who quit his local party over his stance on Brexit, had not joined the rump of disaffected former Labour and Tory MPs, Umunna said: "I'm [...]
Want to break the Brexit deadlock? Change the negotiating terms March 18, 2019 Who knows, Theresa May’s deal may yet get through parliament at the third attempt. It seems unlikely given the scale of previous defeats. But making predictions about what will happen next in the Brexit saga is a mug’s game. If the deal fails again, the UK will request a long extension to the Article 50 [...]
City Hall accused of ‘repeating mistakes’ of Garden Bridge scandal over £22m housing loan March 18, 2019 City Hall has been accused of repeating the mistakes of the Garden Bridge after it agreed to loan nearly £22m towards the development of a controversial housing site in south London. The Greater London Authority (GLA) has agreed to loan American property developer Anthology £21.8m to build homes at Woodlands and Masters house in Lambeth, despite [...]
Once Brexit is sorted, Theresa May has to go March 17, 2019 Could this be the week that unlocks Brexit? Despite twice having voted down Theresa May’s proposed withdrawal agreement and despite having put on record its absolute opposition to a no-deal Brexit, parliament has failed to coalesce around an alternative proposal. A Norway-style deal, a second referendum, a general election and a significant extension to the [...]
Vote Leave chief urges MPs to back Theresa May’s deal as Brexiters start to turn March 17, 2019 The head of the Vote Leave campaign has urged MPs to swing behind Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, saying Brexit has “never been at greater risk”. Matthew Elliott, the former chief executive of the official Brexit campaign that had the backing of Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, said the UK’s departure from the European Union “probably won’t [...]
Labour hits back at social media giants over Christchurch attack footage March 17, 2019 Social media firms must be better at reacting quickly to take down live broadcasts, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said today. A gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on Friday, killing 50 Muslims. He live-streamed the attack on Facebook for 17 minutes, with footage of the event quickly spreading to other platforms such as [...]
Junk food ads set to be banned on TV and online before 9pm watershed in government crackdown March 17, 2019 Junk food advertisements could be banned from appearing on TV and online before 9pm, as the government today launched a consultation on measures to tackle the UK's growing obesity rate. Currently, ads for foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar are forbidden during broadcasts of TV programmes specifically aimed at children. The consultation by [...]
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 [...]