MPs cast doubt over Crossrail 2020 opening aim as they warn Elizabeth Line may need more than £2.8bn bailout April 3, 2019 MPs are “not convinced” that Crossrail will open in 2020 and fear the project will need more than the extra £2.8bn in funding it received to stay afloat, according to a damning report released today. Spending watchdog the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said the costs of the railway, also known as the Elizabeth Line, had [...]
The European Union is on the backfoot, but few seem to notice April 2, 2019 There is a very bad habit that many of our broadcasters have of focusing on what might befall us. It reminds me of Frankie Howerd in Up Pompeii bemoaning “woe is me, woe is me” – as if he might warn his master against leaving the Empire without a deal. It would be refreshing were there [...]
Brexiter fury as Theresa May seeks deal with Labour on EU withdrawal April 2, 2019 Theresa May has ignited a furious war with her own party as she announced a plan to work with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to deliver a soft Brexit. Conservative MPs claimed she had “handed control to a man who is not fit to run a whelk stall" as she called for talks with Corbyn to strike [...]
George Osborne tax scheme gave ‘unjustified preferential treatment’ to multinational companies April 2, 2019 The European Commission (EC) has found a UK scheme gave tax breaks to some multinational companies illegally, and has ordered Britain to recover the money from firms that benefited. Officials in Brussels said on Tuesday they found the scheme, first introduced in 2012, gave tax breaks to the firms under the guise of state aid. [...]
MPs to vote on forcing Theresa May to ask for longer Brexit delay April 2, 2019 MPs are set to create a law forcing Theresa May to ask for a delay to Brexit. Read more: UK ‘risks trashing relationship with Europe’ over Brexit A cross-group of parliamentarians, including Conservative Sir Oliver Letwin and Labour’s Yvette Cooper, will on Wednesday bring forward a bill instructing the Prime Minister to request an extension [...]
DCMS Committee launches new body to fight fake news as pressure on tech giants builds April 2, 2019 The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee today said it has launched a dedicated division to tackle the ongoing threat of disinformation to democracy. The new sub-committee follows the DCMS Committee’s report into disinformation and fake news, which called for a new regulator to monitor tech giants such as Facebook and Google. Read more: [...]
DEBATE: Is John Major correct that we need a cross-party government to steer the UK through Brexit? April 2, 2019 Is John Major correct that we need a cross-party government to steer the UK through Brexit? YES, says Ben Kelly, a commentator for Reaction. In the best-case scenario, a “strong and stable” government with a majority, clear priorities, and an overarching strategy would be leading the way on delivering Brexit. Instead, we have a shambolic [...]
Deadlocked MPs reject soft Brexit as Tory MP quits party in protest April 2, 2019 Parliament last night failed once again to back an alternative Brexit plan, just 11 days before the UK is set to leave the EU. Read more: UK service exports fall as Brexit and global economic slowdown bite None of the options voted on by MPs secured a Commons majority, although a call for the UK [...]
Tory Brexiter hints he will vote against government in no confidence motion April 1, 2019 A former Brexit minister has hinted he could resign from the Tories and back a no-confidence motion in the government. Steve Baker, one of the die-hard band of Brexiters who voted against Theresa May’s withdrawal plan on Friday, has warned the possibility of a general election was now “coming on to the table.” Baker, who [...]
‘Let history decide’: Downing Street coy on claim cabinet is most ill-disciplined ever April 1, 2019 Downing Street has refused to slap down a leading member of the government who claimed Theresa May’s top team are “the worst example of ill-discipline in cabinet in British political history.” Chief Whip Julian Smith made the remarks in an interview with the BBC, set to be broadcast on Monday evening, as he hit out [...]