Brexit latest: Oliver Letwin urges MPs to back programme motion October 22, 2019 Oliver Letwin has urged MPs to back the government on tonight’s programme motion as “the least of the evils”, after the Prime Minister threatened to pull the entire Brexit bill if he was defeated. Introducing the Brexit bill, formally called the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, Boris Johnson this afternoon told MPs he would abandon the bill [...]
Donald Tusk opens door to Brexit extension ahead of key vote October 22, 2019 The president of the European Council Donald Tusk has indicated he is minded to back an extension to the Brexit process if MPs vote against the government’s timetable today. Speaking in Strasbourg today for the first time since he received the Benn Act-compelled letter from Boris Johnson, Tusk told MEPS: “The situation is quite complex [...]
Brexit can spark a Big Bang for life sciences October 22, 2019 Whether or not Halloween marks a new chapter in the UK’s relationship with the EU, it also marks over 30 years since the “Big Bang” reforms to the City of London. And it is this milestone – rather than any Brexit deal – which is more instructive for how the country can make its way [...]
What’s in the WAB? Government’s Brexit bill explained October 22, 2019 Today MPs will begin debating the government’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill – covering everything from the £39bn divorce settlement to EU citizens and setting out the path for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. But what is in it – and will it pass? What is the WAB? Brexit brings out the best (or worst) [...]
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal faces first of three crucial days October 22, 2019 Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal will face its first parliamentary hurdle today with the PM facing a tough battle to deliver his promise to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October. Johnson is attempting to push through the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which was published last night, in just three days. Read [...]
Timetable vote threatens to derail PM’s Halloween Brexit pledge October 21, 2019 A normally run-of-the-mill vote on parliamentary business today threatens to derail Boris Johnson’s last chance to get Brexit done by 31 October. A programme motion, setting out the timetable for debating the crucial Withdrawal Agreement bill (WAB), could be rejected by the alliance of opposition MPs and Tory Remainers who argue that it does not [...]
Sterling slips back from $1.30 after John Bercow blocks Brexit vote October 21, 2019 Sterling dropped back from a six-month high against the dollar this afternoon after House of Commons speaker John Bercow refused to let the government put its deal to parliament for the second time in three days. Read more: Speaker Bercow could obstruct Boris Johnson’s bid for Brexit deal vote The pound opened around 0.6 per [...]
Speaker Bercow could block Boris Johnson’s bid for Brexit deal vote October 21, 2019 Speaker John Bercow could refuse to grant Boris Johnson a second bite at the cherry today as the Prime Minister attempts to push through a meaningful vote on his Brexit deal. The government has confirmed it will introduce the Withdrawal Agreement Bill – the legislation required to implement the Brexit deal – in today’s Commons [...]
Brexit latest: Minister hits out at customs union as DUP backs off October 21, 2019 Any attempt to tweak Boris Johnson’s deal to include remaining in the customs union would be “procedural tricks” aimed at blocking Brexit, a minister at the Treasury has said. Speaking to the Today programme this morning, Rishi Sunak said anyone wanting to “amend legislation are ultimately wanting to frustrate, delay or cancel Brexit altogether, and [...]
Top City PR quits People’s Vote campaign amid blistering boardroom row October 20, 2019 City public relations tycoon Roland Rudd is set to quit his top role in the People’s Vote campaign as the anti-Brexit movement is rocked by a fierce boardroom battle. Rudd, founder and chairman of financial PR firm Finsbury, is reportedly set to resign as chairman of Open Britain, one of the key organisations behind the [...]