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 [...]
Brexit delay on the way after MPs back Theresa May’s postponement plan March 14, 2019 MPs have given the green light for Brexit to be delayed beyond March 29, but the divisions at the heart of Theresa May’s government were once again laid bare. The Commons voted 413 to 202 in favour of asking the EU to postpone the Brexit date – either by three months if MPs back a deal by [...]
City Hall at risk of Momentum takeover after Labour changes reselection rules March 14, 2019 City Hall could be targeted by hard-left Labour activists after the party changed rules to make the deselection of moderate candidates more likely. Labour’s governing body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), voted to change party rules for the Assembly last month, which one Labour Assembly Member (AM) said had sparked a “climate of fear and [...]
Brexit vote live: MPs vote to delay Brexit by extending Article 50 beyond 29 March March 14, 2019 Hello and welcome to City A.M.’s Brexit live blog for the second of potentially three huge votes on the UK’s departure from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May was defeated in the House of Commons in a second vote on her Brexit deal on Tuesday, losing by 391 votes to 242. Last night, MPs voted [...]
Police discover unexploded Second World War bomb in no-deal Brexit lorry car park March 14, 2019 An unexploded bomb from World War Two has been found in the abandoned airport that is to be used as a lorry car park in a no-deal Brexit. Read more: ‘Wrecking ball’: Grayling refuses to resign over £33m Eurotunnel fiasco Police and army bomb disposal experts arrived at Kent’s Manston Airport this morning to investigate [...]
Westminster’s Brexit deadlock means the only realistic route forward is a second referendum over May’s deal March 14, 2019 Observing the dog’s breakfast that is the Brexit process in Westminster brings to mind the saying attributed to Albert Einstein that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results. The second meaningful vote has gone the same way as the first, and hints are now dropping that [...]
The UK’s elites have a habit of ignoring the will of the people March 14, 2019 On 20 April 1653, Oliver Cromwell marched into parliament saying, “you have sat here too long for any good you have been doing here lately” – words that surely chime with current events. Cromwell was utterly frustrated with an establishment which denied the will of the people. Obviously, no one is suggesting that the army should [...]
Tory MPs despair as May loses another Brexit vote, with Article 50 delay on the horizon March 14, 2019 Brexit is set to be delayed beyond 29 March after a tumultuous night in parliament saw a complete breakdown in Conservative party discipline. MPs backed taking no-deal off the table by 321 to 278, with 12 members of the government – including four cabinet ministers – refusing to follow Theresa May’s orders and vote against [...]
Spring Statement: Hammond warns against no deal as UK slashes 2019 growth forecast March 13, 2019 The UK chancellor Philip Hammond slashed the 2019 growth forecast in his Spring Statement and said future spending and economic wellbeing are dependent on an orderly Brexit. Hammond announced that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had cut the country’s 2019 growth forecast to 1.2 per cent, down from the 1.6 per cent predicted in [...]
All at sea: To save the maritime sector from a no-deal Brexit we must extend Article 50 March 13, 2019 As the representative body for the UK’s maritime sector, we find ourselves yet again having to respond to parliament failing to provide the certainty and clarity that our country needs. It really is worth restating that we are just 16 days away from the UK’s scheduled departure from the European Union. Read more: Brexit vote [...]