Theresa May bids to head off Tory rebellion by agreeing to publish some Brexit planning December 6, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has responded to the threat of a Brexit rebellion by agreeing to publish a plan on quitting the EU if MPs back her plan to trigger Article 50 before April. A Labour motion due for debate tomorrow had called for May to publish details of her plans on Brexit ahead of [...]
Theresa May wants a red, white and blue Brexit, but her opponents say that’s “jingoistic claptrap” December 6, 2016 Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to deliver a "red, white and blue" Brexit for the UK, refusing to comment on whether that will include continued contributions to EU budgets, but her opponents say the comments are "jingoistic claptrap". Speaking from Bahrain, May was asked about comments from some of her ministers, which has suggested the [...]
EU negotiator Michel Barnier has given Britain 18 months to reach a Brexit deal December 6, 2016 One of the EU's top officials has warned the the British government it must reach a deal on Brexit within 18 months of activating Article 50. Michel Barnier, who will lead talks with the UK on behalf of the European Commission, said today it was "the sooner the better" for Prime Minister Theresa May to [...]
English students are trumping their OECD peers in science classes, according to new figures December 6, 2016 New international tests show English students are outperforming many of their peers overseas in science classes. Figures published in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 report this morning revealed that England is trumping averages scores for science. School children in England remain at average levels for mathematics, and marginally above average in reading when [...]
Chris Grayling will announce plans to destroy Network Rail’s monopoly later today December 6, 2016 Transport secretary Chris Grayling will today unveil ambitious plans to shatter Network Rail's monopoly over Britain's train tracks. Speaking at centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, Grayling will set out plans to bring closer together train operation and infrastructure maintenance, beginning on services between Oxford and Cambridge A new “East West Rail” organisation will lead on [...]
Financial sector’s tax contribution hits a record £71.4bn December 6, 2016 The tax take from Britain's financial sector has hit record levels, underscoring its economic importance as talks between the government and the City enter a new phase in the run up to Brexit. Fifty financial services firms, largely UK-listed and including the Square Mile's banking titans, paid £71.4bn into HM Treasury's coffers for the year [...]
Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson is demanding a Brexit truce and attacking “braying” Ukip politicians December 5, 2016 Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson is to call for a Brexit truce, warning both sides of the EU debate to cease accusations of “racism” and “remoaning”. Speaking at the Institute of Directors tonight, Davidson will tell both Levers and Remainers to “grow up” and heal the divides of the summer's referendum. And she will also [...]
Sadiq Khan has promised to spend £770m on supporting London’s cyclists by 2020 December 5, 2016 London mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed plans for a huge investment in the capital's cycling infrastructure, totalling a mammoth £770m over five years. The plans represent an almost doubling of the spending by Khan's predecessor Boris Johnson, but critics have questioned how the mayor will fund the investment, and why it will not help to [...]
Article 50 rematch: Government heads to top court with revamped Brexit argument December 5, 2016 All eyes will be on the Supreme Court today as the attorney general doubles-down on the government's claim that the Prime Minister does not need parliamentary approval to trigger Article 50. Jeremy Wright will be the first to put forward arguments in the four-day hearing, while lawyers for pro-parliament activists who won their argument at the [...]
