People’s Vote campaign pivots to ‘issues of social inequality’ December 15, 2019 The campaign group for a second EU referendum has admitted defeat and will instead lobby the government on social issues related to phase-two of Brexit negotiations. Any chance of a second Brexit referendum slipped away on Thursday, after the Conservatives picked up the largest election majority since 2001. Read more: New People’s Vote chief faces [...]
Boris Johnson sets sights on BBC licence fee as bias row heats up December 15, 2019 Boris Johnson is reportedly ramping up plans to decriminalise non-payment of the BBC licence fee, in a move that could spark a showdown between No 10 and the broadcaster. The Prime Minister has asked aides to launch an urgent review into whether viewers should face prosecution for failing to pay the £154.50 fee, which applies [...]
Boris Johnson plans ‘revolutionary’ Whitehall overhaul December 15, 2019 Boris Johnson is planning a radical overhaul of Whitehall, with plans to abolish departments, sack a third of the cabinet and reform how civil servants are hired. Work has begun by Number 10 on abolishing or merging several departments, including scrapping the Department for Exiting the European Union. Read more: General Election 2019: Boris Johnson [...]
John McDonnell apologises for loss before blaming the media for the result December 15, 2019 John McDonnell has apologised this morning for Labour’s crushing election defeat, while also blaming the media for Jeremy Corbyn’s unpopularity. The shadow chancellor said he must “own this disaster” and he apologised to Labour MPs who lost their seats. Read more: Boris Johnson urges to ‘let the healing begin’ However, when pressed about the unpopularity [...]
Boris Johnson thanks north of England for ‘breaking voting habits of generations’ December 14, 2019 Boris Johnson has thanked the north of England for “breaking the voting habits of generations” during a visit to Sedgefield today. The Prime Minister visited the former seat of Tony Blair after celebrating the Conservative’s 80-seat majority – the party’s largest since 1987. It was the first time the Country Durham constituency has been held [...]
‘We are not there to defy the will of the people’: Lord Heseltine admits defeat in campaign to Remain December 14, 2019 Lord Heseltine has said the election result is a clear sign that he and fellow Remain supporters have “lost”, admitting there was no point in “fighting on”. The former Conservative deputy Prime Minister had called on voters to support the Liberal Democrats or independent candidates expelled by Johnson from the Tory party. However he now [...]
Boris Johnson reiterates opposition to indyref2 in phone call with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon December 14, 2019 Boris Johnson told Nicola Sturgeon in a phone call on Friday night that he is still firmly opposed to a second Scottish independence referendum, according to Downing Street. Sturgeon had called SNP’s election success, in which they won 48 seats, a clear mandate for indyref2 on Friday. However, Johnson “reiterated his unwavering commitment” to the [...]
UK stocks and sterling surge after Conservative election win shuts out Labour December 13, 2019 UK stocks surged today after the Conservatives secured a decisive majority in the General Election, boosted by rallying retailers, housebuilders and utility firms. The FTSE 100 index climbed over one per cent in morning trading, but was held back slightly by a strong sterling, while the FTSE 250, however, leapt as much as four per [...]
General Election 2019: Boris Johnson urges UK to ‘let healing begin’ December 13, 2019 This was a live blog, thank you for following along Read more: UK stocks and sterling surge as Tories triumph at pollsRead more: Election live: Who were the big MP casualties?Read more: UK housebuilders rejoice as shares rise after Tory win 04.30pm: Over and out! That’s it for today – we’re off to get some [...]
Jeremy Corbyn: Election was ‘taken over by Brexit’ December 13, 2019 Jeremy Corbyn has said he did “everything he could” to get the Labour party into government in the General Election, and that he will not “walk away” until another leader is installed. The Labour leader said the election was “taken over by Brexit,” after the Conservatives stormed to victory in its traditional bases. Read more: [...]