Poll: Three-quarters of MPs think Theresa May made a bad job of Brexit negotiations January 9, 2019 Nearly three-quarters of MPs feel that Theresa May has done a bad job of handling Brexit negotiations, according to a new poll. The annual poll of MPs – conducted by Ipsos Mori on behalf of The UK in a Changing Europe think tank and the Mile End Institute at the Queen Mary University of London [...]
Theresa May defeated on ‘no deal’ vote as 20 Tories rebel January 8, 2019 MPs opposed to a ‘no deal’ Brexit drew first blood last night ahead of a momentous week for the government's EU withdrawal plans. Some 20 Tory MPs voted with Labour to restrict the chancellor's ability to cut or raise taxes in a ‘no deal’ scenario without the consent of Parliament. The move could severely tie [...]
EU happy to give assurances over the backstop, Irish PM Leo Varadkar claims in boost to Theresa May January 8, 2019 The EU is prepared to give fresh guarantees it does want to trap the UK in a backstop arrangement after Brexit, Ireland’s Prime Minister has said. Speaking in Mali, Leo Varadkar made it clear European leaders would be willing to give assurances which could help Theresa May win a parliamentary vote on her deal next [...]
UK not looking to delay Article 50, says Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay January 8, 2019 The UK is not looking to extend Article 50, Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay has said, rebuffing reports that officials were seeking to move the 29 March deadline date. The Telegraph reported that British and European officials are discussing the possibility of extending Britain’s formal notice to withdraw from the EU. “The government’s policy is clear [...]
Labour and Conservative MPs join forces to attempt to block a no-deal Brexit by stripping government of powers January 8, 2019 Labour and Tory MPs have teamed up to table an amendment that seeks to force the government to rule out a no-deal Brexit. Conservative backbencher Nicky Morgan and Labour MP Yvette Cooper’s proposed amendment to the Finance Bill would limit the government’s spending powers if the UK leaves the EU with no agreement. It reportedly [...]
A Brexit negotiated by Trump would have been a wild ride January 8, 2019 How would Donald Trump have approached negotiating Brexit? A few months ago, several commentators mused over this exact question. The current game of chicken between the President and Democrats in Congress, resulting in a partial US government shutdown, is perhaps the best insight we’ll get. And it shows the wild ride that a Prime Minister [...]
Time for a super-ministry to lead the fourth industrial revolution January 8, 2019 When I was elected to parliament, one of the first things that I campaigned on was the need to develop a comprehensive industrial strategy. The future of the country depends on a strong industrial base – not least because this is the starting point for the innovation that will maintain the UK’s position as a [...]
Theresa May hopeful of more EU reassurances over backstop as MPs vote looms January 7, 2019 Theresa May is hoping to get further reassurances from the EU over her Brexit deal as time ticks down to a crunch vote in Parliament. The Prime Minister confirmed on Monday she is continuing to work with Brussels to secure a guarantee the so-called ‘backstop’ – which effectively keeps the UK in the EU’s customs [...]
No-deal Brexit would be a ‘safe haven’ claims Tory and Labour Leave campaigners January 7, 2019 No deal with the EU would lead the UK to the “safe haven” of World Trade Organisation rules, according to a joint report from Conservative and Labour Brexiters Former Conservative cabinet minister Peter Lilley and Labour Leave activist Brendan Chilton made the claim in a dossier they dub as providing “30 truths” about leaving the EU [...]
NHS England says new 10-year plan could save up to 500,000 lives a year January 7, 2019 NHS England has unveiled its 10-year plan for the health service, which sets out how the £20.5bn funding injection announced by Theresa May will be spent over the next five years. NHS England said the money could save around 500,000 lives by preventing life-threatening diseases such as strokes, heart problems and cancer by detecting them [...]