As populism replaces pragmatism, Angela Merkel exits the political stage October 29, 2018 While others in Europe were losing their heads, it seemed Merkel was just about keeping hold of hers. Brexit, the rise of the far right in eastern Europe, the economic turmoil threatening to engulf Italy – while this storm swelled on Germany’s borders, Merkel was just about finding shelter. However, since 2015 the long-serving Chancellor [...]
MPs call for new tribunal system to help SMEs take on big banks October 26, 2018 A row is brewing over how to prevent another RBS-style asset stripping scandal after MPs backed a new tribunal system to help small businesses take on banks. The Treasury Select Committee is throwing its weight behind establishing a special system for settling disputes involving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large banks. The plan goes [...]
Budget windfall to tackle rise of antisemitism October 26, 2018 Charities combating antisemitism are set to receive £1.7million in Monday's Budget in a bid to tackle a rise in the hate crime. Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce the pot of money to fund visits to Nazi concentration camps for students, as well as additional school projects such as first hand testimonies from Holocaust [...]
Theresa May does little to reassure her Brexit critics at crunch backbenchers meeting October 24, 2018 Theresa May faced down her fractious party this evening but offered no new reassurances to the many critics of her beleaguered Brexit policy. The Prime Minister spoke to a meeting of backbench Conservative MPs – known as the 1922 committee – for just under an hour in a bid to win support for her negotiating stance with the [...]
Dominic Raab accused of ‘unacceptable’ behaviour for dodging parliament Brexit committee October 24, 2018 Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has been accused of keeping parliament in the dark by refusing to give evidence to a committee on the UK’s negotiations with Brussels. Raab told the Lords committee on the EU on Tuesday he would not be able to appear before them until after the Brexit deal has been finalised. Lord [...]
Theresa May says the UK must ‘hold our nerve’ in Brexit talks amid rumours of leadership plots October 22, 2018 Theresa May told her warring party it was time to “hold our nerve” in the Brexit talks as she once again hit out at a Brussels plan to siphon off Northern Ireland. Speaking in the Commons after yet another weekend dominated by claims her time as Prime Minister is almost up, May urged her MPs [...]
Theresa May’s bungled Brexit backstop plan means that once again nothing has changed October 18, 2018 The gathering of EU leaders in Brussels this week was supposed to bring clarity, not confusion, to the Brexit negotiations. After the PR disaster of Salzburg, both sides needed to at least act like the talks were going in the right direction and a deal was doable. But as with so much of the Brexit [...]
Theresa May rows back from Brexit transition extension after Tory backlash October 18, 2018 Theresa May has tried to downplay anger over a plan to extend the UK’s post-Brexit transition period, just hours after flagging the idea to EU leaders. Speaking in Brussels, the PM claimed keeping the UK signed up to EU rules for a further year was not her idea – but could indeed be a solution [...]
EU leaders did not discuss extending Brexit transition period, reveals Donald Tusk October 18, 2018 EU leaders did not discuss extending the UK’s post-Brexit transition period last night despite Theresa May floating the offer as a way to jumpstart negotiations. The PM made the proposal to her EU counterparts on Wednesday, but European Council president Donald Tusk revealed it was not talked about after she had left the room. German [...]
Dominic Raab seeks to scupper MPs’ ‘meaningful vote’ on Brexit October 17, 2018 MPs will face a straight 'deal or no deal' vote on any agreement struck with the EU, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has claimed in a blow to those hoping to reopen negotiations. In a letter to the Commons procedural committee, Raab spelled out that any motion relating to the Brexit agreement must deliver an “unequivocal [...]
