EU27 warned against direct dealings with UK on Brexit September 5, 2018 The European Commission has warned member states not to attend a series of Brexit mini-summits being held in London over fears they are another tactic to drive a wedge between Brussels and the EU27. According to Politico, officials were last week told not to attend the UK government-organised technical seminars in the belief they are [...]
Labour slammed over free speech caveat on IHRA antisemitism definition September 5, 2018 The Labour Party has accepted the international definition of antisemitism but it was slammed by members and Jewish groups for adding a freedom of speech "caveat" . The party's National Executive Committee (NEC) has agreed to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition, with an added clarification over freedom of expression on Israel and Palestine. Read more: Labour activist in [...]
Lord Mervyn King labels Brexit preparations ‘incompetent’ September 5, 2018 Former Bank of England governor Lord Mervyn King has condemned the government’s Brexit preparations, claiming they leave the UK in a weak negotiating position. Calling plans to stockpile food and medicine in the event of a hard Brexit “incompetent”, the Brexit voter told the BBC that “a government that cannot take action to prevent some [...]
Stop shutting the door in the face of international students September 5, 2018 As we leave the European Union, it is accepted across the political divide that the government should be doing all it can to promote our key export industries and help to support the vision of a truly global Britain. However, there is one area where we seem to have a blind spot: international students, a [...]
The Salmond scandal won’t save the Union from the SNP September 5, 2018 There are quite a few people cheering from the aisles following the revelations that Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader and first minister of Scotland for seven years, is being investigated by police after complaints were made against him alleging inappropriate sexual behaviour by two civil servants. I suggest that people drop the schadenfreude and [...]
Unemployment down, GDP up – there’s no logic for a public spending boost now September 5, 2018 Despite the warmth of the days, there is a distinct autumn feel to the mornings. And in the autumn, thoughts begin to turn to the Budget. Speculation has already begun about what the chancellor Philip Hammond might or might not do. Read more: Corbyn won’t stop until the government controls everything For Labour, recent weeks have [...]
David Davis aims to see off Chequers by backing fully fledged ‘Alternative Brexit Plan’ September 4, 2018 Former Brexit secretary David Davis is poised to throw his weight behind a fully-fledged alternative to the government’s Brexit strategy as part of a major intervention ahead of the Conservative party conference. City A.M. understands the pro-Brexit big-hitter, who resigned in the wake of Theresa May’s Chequers plan, will endorse detailed proposals for an advanced [...]
Dominic Raab: UK will be ‘ready for Brexit, deal or no deal’ September 4, 2018 Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs today that the UK will be "ready for Brexit, deal or no deal". Raab said the UK had received "positive and constructive feedback" from its EU counterparts on its Brexit plans. Speaking in the House of Commons Raab said: "pace and intensity has been injected into Brexit negotiations". Read [...]
Russian bank boss apologises for calling Boris Johnson a ‘prat’ September 4, 2018 The boss of one of Russia’s largest banks has apologised for calling former foreign secretary Boris Johnson a “prat”. Andrei Kostin, chief executive of VTB, made the comments at Moscow State Institute of International Relations University, with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov also in attendance. “Look at, excuse me, the prats in the West, say at [...]
Tory voters snub Chequers deal as Brexiter MPs flex their muscles ahead of party conference September 4, 2018 Conservative voters continue to be unimpressed with Theresa May's vision for Brexit, with a new poll suggesting the Chequers plan has actually lost support over the summer. ConHome's latest survey of its readers found that just 23 per cent of members thought the proposals being touted across the capitals of the European Union over the [...]