MPs seeking to relieve the government of its authority are playing a dangerous game January 13, 2019 Ahead of tomorrow's vote on Theresa May's proposed withdrawal agreement, it is worth reflecting on the legislative events that have brought us to this point. 554 MPs voted in favour of holding a referendum. It was presented, by the government of the day as well as leading Remain campaigners, as a once-in-a-lifetime event. Campaign material [...]
MPs plot to wrestle Brexit agenda away from Theresa May as vote on deal fast approaches January 13, 2019 A cross-party group of MPs is reportedly plotting to seize control of the Brexit negotiations as the countdown to vote on Theresa May's deal fast approaches. Senior backbenchers, including former minister Nick Boles and Labour MP Dominic Grieve, are reportedly spearheading efforts to shake up the Commons rulebook so that backbenchers' motions take precedence over [...]
Police arrest man over alleged MP abuse incidents outside parliament January 12, 2019 A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences after an MP was subjected to alleged verbal abuse outside parliament last week. The Metropolitan Police said the man was detained outside St James’s Park tube station in central London shortly before midday in connection with incidents in Westminster on Monday. [...]
Chris Grayling: Blocking Brexit could prompt surge in right-wing extremism January 12, 2019 The UK could see a huge surge in right-wing extremism if the government blocks or weakens Brexit, a cabinet minister has warned. Transport secretary Chris Grayling said any moves to block Theresa May’s Brexit deal would cause the 17m people who voted to leave the EU feel “cheated”. Grayling told the Daily Mail any intervention [...]
Government considers scrapping prison sentences under six months January 12, 2019 Prison sentences under six months are ineffective and should be scrapped, the prisons minister has said. Rory Stewart said he is “looking very carefully” at bringing in new legislation that would see up to 30,000 offenders convicted of crimes such as burglary and shoplifting spared jail every year. Stewart said the move would ease pressure on the [...]
Four single mothers win legal battle with government over universal credit January 11, 2019 Four single working mothers have successfully challenged the government in the High Court over its universal credit benefits system. The women had lost hundreds of pounds in benefits each year and had seen large variations in universal credit awards because of the dates on which their payday and benefit assessment periods fell. If the mothers [...]
Top Brexit donors Odey and Hargreaves say Britain will not leave the EU January 11, 2019 Two of the Leave campaign's biggest donors believe Brexit will not happen as time runs out for the government to finalise its plan for leaving the EU. Peter Hargreaves and Crispin Odey, who both donated vast sums to the Brexit campaign, told Reuters today that they now expect the UK’s referendum decision to be reversed. [...]
Brexit ‘likely to face delay beyond 29 March’ as essential bill backlog builds January 11, 2019 Brexit will be delayed beyond 29 March, it is reported, as six key bills must be passed before the UK can leave the EU. The backlog of essential bills, which includes the Immigration Bill, means the Brexit timetable must be extended, the Evening Standard reported today. Read more: Top Brexit donors fear UK will never [...]
Jeremy Hunt warns Brexit paralysis could keep Britain in EU January 11, 2019 Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned that Brexit paralysis could lead the UK to stay in the EU and would damage the long-term future of the country. Hunt urged MPs to pass Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement next week and said the failure to deliver Brexit would be “incredibly damaging”. Speaking on the BBC’s [...]
Trump has gone to war with the US model of government January 11, 2019 There’s an ancient Greek fable about some frogs who ask Zeus for a king. The god gives them a log to be their ruler, which proceeds to do exactly what you’d expect: nothing. Disappointed, the frogs complain that their king isn’t getting anything done, and ask for a more active one. Zeus gives them a hydra, [...]