MPs just voted overwhelmingly to back an Article 50 Bill February 1, 2017 An overwhelming majority of almost 500 MPs have expressed their support for a Bill granting Prime Minister Theresa May the power to begin Brexit negotiations. In the first vote in the House of Commons on the Article 50 Bill, 498 MPs backed the legislation moving to the next stage, where amendments can be tabled. By contrast [...]
Sadiq Khan splurging £33m a year on “ridiculous” free travel for the flatmates of TfL staff February 1, 2017 A perk for the flatmates of Transport for London employees is costing London taxpayers more than £33m a year in lost revenue, according to new figures. A new analysis by London Assembly Tories has called on mayor Sadiq Khan to scrap the “ridiculous” benefit, currently available to anyone sharing a residence with a TfL worker. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Vote Leave chief Matthew Elliot has joined a top think tank January 31, 2017 The chief executive of the official Brexit campaign group has joined think tank The Legatum Institute to focus on a future trading relationship between the US and the UK. Matthew Elliot served as chief executive of Vote Leave during the referendum campaign, and previously founded the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group. He will join Legatium as [...]
MPs will debate Donald Trump’s state visit next month January 31, 2017 MPs will next month hold a debate on whether US President Donald Trump should be granted a state visit to the the UK in light of his harsh new immigration regime. Trump instituted new rules last weekend, temporarily blocking passport holders from seven Muslim majority countries in Africa and the Middle East from travelling to America. [...]
