What can we learn from Theresa May’s Christmas cards? December 8, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has unveiled the designs of three Christmas cards that she will send this year. All three were drawn by schoolchildren from her constituency of Maidenhead, and chosen personally by the Prime Minister. But with the PM remaining tight-lipped on her Brexit strategy ahead of triggering Article 50 next year, could she be [...]
MPs have overwhelmingly backed a motion calling demanding the government publish Brexit plans December 7, 2016 MPs have overwhelmingly backed a motion calling on the government to publish its Brexit plans, while also making clear support for triggering Article 50 early next year. In a vote in the House of Commons, MPs voted by 448 to 75 in favour of Labour's motion calling on the government to reveal information before triggering Article [...]
Some CBI members would be tempted by customs union exit, says Fairbairn December 7, 2016 CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn has told MPs that leaving the customs union would have “pros and cons” for many of her business group's members, with many tempted by a free hand in trade negotiations. Addressing Parliament's, Brexit select committee, Fairbairn said that while the CBI had not yet taken a view on leaving the [...]
Tata and unions agree to rescue plan for the Port Talbot steel works December 7, 2016 Tata Steel has forged an agreement with the UK’s largest steel unions to rescue the Port Talbot steelworks and other sites, throwing a lifeline to 11,000 jobs provided that changes can be made to the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS). Senior union representatives met Tata Steel executives yesterday to hammer out the deal, which will [...]
David Davis says it is “inconcievable” that MPs won’t get a vote on the final Brexit deal December 7, 2016 Brexit secretary David Davis has said MPs will get a vote on the final terms of a new relationship with the European Union. Speaking in the House of Commons today, Davis made clear the government's support for "the spirit" of a Labour motion demanding it publishes a plan for its talks with the EU, "with [...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plan must include Single Market objectives, say Labour December 7, 2016 Labour is laying out the characteristics of a Brexit plan in the House of Commons, calling on the government to reveal its hopes for Single Market status. MPs are debating a motion in parliament today calling on the government to reveal its plans for negotiations with the EU, and the government has lent its support [...]
The SNP and the Lib Dems won’t back Theresa May’s Brexit amendment today December 7, 2016 More than 60 MPs are set to fight an amended motion backing the government's timetable for Brexit later today. The Lib Dems and the Scottish National Party have both said they will reject the motion in the House of Commons, which calls on the government to publish a Brexit plan ahead of the triggering of [...]
The Liberal Democrats have been hit with the largest possible penalty over 2015 election spending December 7, 2016 The Liberal Democrats have been hit with a £20,000 fine by the UK's election watchdog. The fine is the maximum possible penalty the Electoral Commission can issue, with the watchdog claiming that more than 300 payments totaling £184,676 were excluded from party spending returns. The Lib Dems suffered from “systemic failures” during last year's General [...]
May doubles-down on Brexit timetable with a challenge to Remainers December 6, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has moved to see off a potential Commons defeat by accepting a Labour motion requiring the government to set out its Brexit plans to MPs. However, the PM also doubled-down on her Brexit timetable. While the Prime Minister has accepted the Labour motion the government has tabled an amendment which further [...]
Corbyn-backing Unite general secretary Len McCluskey resigns to seek early re-election December 6, 2016 The Corbyn-supporting boss of Britain’s biggest trade union has resigned to seek a fresh term at the helm. Len McCluskey will seek a third term as Unite general secretary early next year in a contest due to run to 28 April. Unite is the biggest donor to the Labour party, and provided support to Jeremy Corbyn’s [...]
