Brexit 1) Strathclyde warns delays could force early election “Theresa May could be forced into an early election should parliament create a deadlock over her Brexit plan, a former cabinet minister has warned. Lord Strathclyde, leader of the House of Lords under David Cameron, said that attempts by MPs or peers to block the Brexit […]
Plan to drop Human Rights Act delayed, but improved “Plans to scrap the Human Rights Act have been kicked into the long grass until after the next general election in more than three years’ time. The Government has abandoned David Cameron’s idea of a British Bill of Rights on the grounds that it would cause a […]
Ministers back voter ID proposals as pilot schemes are planned for 2018 local elections ‘The Cabinet Office will pilot the use of ID for votes at local elections in 2018 after government anti-corruption tsar Sir Eric Pickles found local authorities were “turning a blind eye” to electoral fraud. Authorities will trial different forms of ID […]
MPs claim £450 million windfall for hard Brexit “Leaving the EU’s single market and customs union will give the UK a £450 million a week windfall, MPs claimed last night. New research by the Change Britain campaign showed that a huge £24 billion a year prize is up for grabs if Theresa May rejects a so […]
May’s first Christmas message as Prime Minister “As we leave the European Union we must seize an historic opportunity to forge a bold new role for ourselves in the world and to unite our country as we move forward into the future. And, with our international partners, we must work together to promote trade, increase […]
New prison riot puts pressure on Truss “Rioting inmates took part-control of a jail last night, prompting fears of copycat disturbances across the prison system. Fires were lit as up to 60 prisoners went on the rampage on a wing at Swaleside jail on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, which holds hundreds of inmates […]
Arch-critic of Corbyn in marginal seat to stand down from Parliament “Mr Reed is taking a job in the nuclear industry, insisting he can better serve his Copeland constituents in the private sector than as a Labour MP. Mr Reed narrowly won Copeland in 2015 by a majority of just 2,564 votes ahead of the Conservatives, […]
Security 1) British Voters will need proof of identity for first time ‘Voters will have to bring proof of their identity to polling stations for the first time next year as part of the government’s efforts to tackle electoral fraud. Pilot schemes in various areas of the country will require voters to show a driving […]
Downing Street: Strikers show ‘contempt for ordinary people’ ‘Union militants are showing a ‘shared contempt for ordinary people’ by disrupting Christmas, Downing Street said yesterday. As postal workers joined rail staff in staging walkouts, a spokesman for Theresa May accused the unions of trying to inflict ‘maximum damage and disruption during the festive period’. But […]
Unions: May under pressure to take tougher stance on strikers… “Theresa May was under mounting pressure last night to take a stand against union barons who are planning a Christmas of discontent. Senior Tory figures including party grandees and two Cabinet ministers said it was clear the unions were waging a ‘politically motivated’ attack on […]
Japanese banks demand May reveals Brexit plans “Japanese banks have threatened to move some operations out of London within six months unless Theresa May reveals more details of her Brexit plan. Executives from banks including Nomura and Daiwa Capital Markets – which employ thousands of people in the UK – gave the ultimatum on December […]
May to counter Russia’s “unconventional warfare” against Britain “Russia is waging a “campaign” of propaganda and unconventional warfare against Britain, government officials have acknowledged for the first time. Moscow is behind a concerted drive to undermine the UK through espionage, misinformation, cyberattacks and fake news, senior Whitehall figures believe. Theresa May will chair a National […]
Calls for British ambassador to the EU to be replaced “The knives were out last night for Britain’s ambassador to the EU over his ‘gloomy pessimism’ about Brexit. Sir Ivan Rogers had suggested it could take a decade to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with Europe – and even that could still collapse. Eurosceptics said he […]
Davis claims Britain won’t compromise on border control “Britain will not negotiate with Europe over immigration, David Davis said yesterday, as he pledged that control of the country’s borders would be brought “back here” after Brexit. The Brexit secretary’s tough stance will reassure Conservatives who are worried the government may concede higher immigration levels in […]
Aleppo debate 1) MPs say ‘Britain is shamed’ ‘Britain is shamed as a nation for failing to prevent the tragedy in Syria and allowing Russia to undermine world order with no consequences, MPs said yesterday. Ed Miliband was singled out for his part in defeating a government attempt to launch military action against President Assad […]