Two more Labour frontbenchers have resigned ahead of a vote on the Article 50 Bill February 1, 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has lost two more frontbenchers ahead of a House of Commons vote on an Article 50 Bill. Corbyn has ordered his MPs to support the Bill, which faces its first vote tonight. However, two Labour shadow ministers stepped down last week saying they could not back the decision, and they have been followed [...]
The prospects of the UK quitting the EU without a trade deal are rising, not falling February 1, 2017 With all the bluster of the Supreme Court ruling on Article 50 and now the drama of the European Union Bill going through Parliament, many businesses have been diverted from the more pressing issue – that Brexit could happen much sooner than March 2019 – it could even happen before 2017 is out. When the [...]
Liam Fox admits the UK is unlikely to hit its trillion pound export target February 1, 2017 International trade secretary Liam Fox has said it is "unlikely" the UK will achieve a long-stated goal of reaching one trillion pounds in exports of goods and services by 2020. Former chancellor George Osborne established the goal in the 2012 "march of the makers" Budget as part of plan to bolster the British economy and boost manufacturing. But [...]
Japan PM hits back at Trump currency manipulation claims February 1, 2017 The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe has refuted suggestions that his government is deliberately manipulating the yen, which has fallen by 15 per cent against the US dollar since Trump’s election in November. Abe and his officials said Japan was fully committed to its obligations as a member of the G7 and G20 not to [...]
Goerge Osborne: Brexit talks with the EU will be “bitter” February 1, 2017 In a rare intervention, former chancellor George Osborne has predicted the government faces "bitter" talks when it gets around the negotiating table with the EU. Speaking as MPs debated the passage of a Bill granting Prime Minister Theresa May the power to launch divorce proceedings, Osborne said the government had not "put the economy first" in the [...]
EU leaders don’t believe UK will walk away from trade talks, according to the UK’s former ambassador to Europe February 1, 2017 Senior European leaders do not believe the UK will follow through on Theresa May's claims "no deal is better than a bad deal", according to the UK's former ambassador to the EU. May made the claim as part of her landmark Lancaster House address last month, warning EU leaders against seeking a punitive deal with the [...]
Downing Street will publish its Brexit white paper tomorrow February 1, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that Downing Street will publish a white paper on Brexit planning tomorrow. Speaking from the despatch box at Prime Minister's Questions, May confirmed the arrival of the paper in response to a question from Tory backbencher Maria Miller. It means that MPs will be able to scrutinise the government's Brexit plan [...]
After Donald Trump sacked the acting attorney general, are America’s checks and balances under threat? February 1, 2017 Dr Brian Klaas, fellow in comparative politics at the London School of Economics, says Yes. Students of American democracy around the world learn that the brilliance of the system lies in three magic words: checks and balances. The problem is that the checks and balances themselves are not magic. America’s democratic institutions are only as [...]
The Department for Transport pledges to improve accessibility on trains for disabled people February 1, 2017 The Department for Transport (DfT) has committed to improving disabled access to toilets on trains and stages. Clearer information will be made about the availability of accessible toilets in advance of journeys and the DfT will work with train companies to assess how staff training can be improved. It added that where facilities are out [...]
Sajid Javid is preparing to unveil his long-awaited housing plans next week January 31, 2017 Ministers are preparing to unveil a long-awaited blueprint to tackle the UK's housing crisis by boosting the supply of new homes. Barring any last minute delays, communities secretary Sajid Javid hopes to finally publish a housing white paper as soon as this Monday, months after it was first set for publication. The plans had previously [...]