Brexit 1) Major’s ‘extraordinary attack’ on May “Sir John Major has launched an extraordinary attack on Theresa May’s Government over Brexit and warned that leaving the EU could mean cutting the NHS and welfare state. In his first intervention since the referendum, Sir John said Brexit is an “historic mistake” and warned Mrs May that she must […]
Brexit 1) May urges Scottish voters to reject second independence referendum at polls “Theresa May fears the Scottish government will call another referendum as she triggers the formal Brexit process. Downing Street is preparing for Nicola Sturgeon to use the start of the country’s exit from the European Union to call a new vote on Scottish […]
Brexit 1) Ministers plan five-year visas and a ban on benefits for migrants ‘The biggest shake-up of immigration policy in a generation is expected to see multi-year visas handed to migrants who get jobs in key sectors of the economy but limit access to benefits for new arrivals. Under plans advocated by senior ministers the government […]
By-election 1) May celebrates “astounding” win in Copeland “Theresa May has said the Conservatives’ “astounding” victory in the Copeland by-election shows her government “is working for everyone”. The Tories swept aside Labour, which had held the Cumbria seat for 80 years, to record the first by-election gain by a sitting government in 35 years. Mrs […]
By-election 1) Copeland. Conservatives power to victory in first Government by-election gain in 35 years “Jeremy Corbyn was humiliated today as Labour lost Copeland to the Tories in the worst by-election defeat for an Opposition since 1945. MPs accused the veteran left winger of ‘insulting’ the public after he bizarrely blamed ‘the failed political consensus’ […]
Quince attacks Labour over its ‘mothers will die’ by-election tactics “An MP who with his wife suffered the agony of a stillborn baby today attacked Labour for its claim that mothers and babies will die if the Tories win the Copeland by-election. Will Quince, Tory MP for Colchester, Essex, says he is angry and saddened […]
Rates Row 1) Tory rebels threaten to block the Budget ‘Conservative MPs have dismissed ministers’ reassurances over business rates and warned that they will block the budget if the policy is not rethought. Government sources all but ruled out one of the key demands of Tory rebels, saying that emergency legislation would not be needed […]
Business rates 1) Javid under fire from MPs over ‘distorted’ figures ‘The communities secretary was accused of misleading his own MPs yesterday to head off a backbench rebellion over business rate rises. Sajid Javid wrote to all Conservative MPs on Saturday claiming that the revolt was based on “distortions and half-truths”. He attached a list […]
Lawyers and bosses demand right to block ‘unpatriotic’ Brexit “Dozens of senior business figures, academics and lawyers are demanding that ministers give parliament the power to block an “unpatriotic Brexit” that would go against the national interest. In a letter to The Times the signatories, including a major donor to the Conservative Party and a […]
Brexit 1) Disagreements among ministers and officials over using aid money to help with EU deal ‘Ministers are at war over plans to divert billions of pounds of foreign aid spending to eastern Europe in an effort to get a better Brexit deal. Downing Street officials and senior cabinet ministers believe part of Britain’s £12bn […]
Brexit 1) Johnson opens fire on Blair over arch-Remain stance “Boris Johnson laid into Tony Blair over his ‘condescending’ bid to reverse the EU referendum vote today – saying people should switch off the TV when the former PM appears. Mr Blair faced a huge backlash after he used a speech in London to unveil […]
Ministers 1) Clark in urgent Paris talks over Vauxhall jobs “Business secretary Greg Clark rushed to Paris last night in a desperate bid to save 3,500 British jobs threatened by a proposed takeover of Vauxhall. The French car giant that owns Peugeot and Citroen is in talks to buy Vauxhall – taking control of its […]
May hits out at Labour during visit to Copeland ‘Labour have tried to focus their campaign on the NHS — including a controversial leaflet claiming “mothers will dies, babies will die” with “a vote for the Tories.” But Mrs May hit back: “There has been a lot of scaremongering about hospital services in the NHS […]
Davis indicates that ministers are preparing for Lords Brexit bill rewrites… ‘Ministers are preparing for the Article 50 legislation to be rewritten by the House of Lords, David Davis has indicated. The Brexit Secretary said he expected some parliamentary “ping pong”, with the Bill being sent back and forth between the Commons and the Lords, suggesting […]
Hammond launches campaign to protect businesses from cyber-attacks ‘Philip Hammond, the chancellor, will on Tuesday launch a secondment programme in which up to 100 staff of large British businesses will be trained at the new National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of GCHQ, Britain’s electronic eavesdropping agency. Speaking at the opening of the NCSC’s […]