“Michael Gove is facing the sack as Justice Secretary in the wake of his decision to oppose the Prime Minister’s bid to keep Britain in the European Union, The Telegraph understands. David Cameron is being urged by ministerial allies to remove Mr Gove from his post in the weeks following the in-out referendum on June 23 after he questioned the legal basis of Britain’s deal with Brussels.” – Daily Telegraph
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“Eurosceptics have attacked as an “insult to democracy” a decision to ban ministers who are campaigning to leave the European Union from accessing official briefings and papers. Sir Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, has drawn up strict rules forbidding civil servants from drafting speeches for pro-Brexit ministers or allowing them access to documents relating to the referendum.” – The Times (£)
Security:
Comment:
>Yesterday:
“European Parliament president Martin Schulz has left the door open for a second referendum if the UK votes to leave the EU. The German socialist refused to rule out the idea floated by Boris Johnson that Britain could go back to Brussels to try and get further concessions before voting again.” – Daily Mail
“Nigel Farage was accused of ‘paranoia’ last night after sacking rising Ukip star Suzanne Evans in a row over the EU referendum. Suzanne Evans was fired as the party’s deputy chairman after refusing to ditch the Vote Leave campaign group and switch to a rival supported by Mr Farage.” – Daily Mail
>Today: Lord Ashcroft in Comment: “Would we need a passport to go to Belfast?” – my Brexit focus groups in Dublin
“David Cameron has urged Scottish ministers to use their new powers to cut taxes to attract more businesses and people north of the Border. The Prime Minister told the Commons that Holyrood could “sharpen incentives” for taxpayers to come to Scotland and he was sure Ruth Davidson will make that case ahead of May’s election.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: Henry Hill’s Red, White, and Blue column: Mundell unconvinced by SNP’s separatist threat over Brexit
“Boris is presenting himself now as the man who could outperform Cameron, who could negotiate better deals in Europe and lead us into a glorious future. There’s not a shred of evidence for that. Boris, who came to office promising an end to Tube strikes, hasn’t even managed to convince the transport unions. He’s scarcely likely to have more success with Putin, the EU, Iran or the Chinese trade negotiators than he’s had with the RMT.” – The Times (£)
“Jeremy Corbyn has sparked fresh infighting in the Labour Party by confirming today that he will speak at an anti-nuclear weapons rally in London this weekend. The long-standing unilateralist will join SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and the Green party’s Caroline Lucas at the ‘Stop Trident’ rally on Saturday.” – Daily Mail
PMQs
>Yesterday: Andrew Gimson’s PMQs sketch: Cameron’s mother goes for Corbyn
“John McDonnell wants to abolish the Labour unit that is fighting to stop hard-left entryists joining the party to shore up Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, it has emerged. In comments that have infuriated senior Labour figures, the shadow chancellor said that he wanted to close the compliance unit, which weeded out thousands of far-left activists from outside the party who attempted to vote in Labour’s leadership election last year.” – The Times (£)
London:
>Yesterday: Polat Urundel in Local Government: Why should Turks back Zac in May?
“The scale of Jeremy Corbyn’s task of returning Labour to power is made clear by analysis of the data to be used to draw the new electoral map of Britain. Of the 50 Commons seats to be cut Labour loses almost half — 24 — while the Tories suffer only 14 losses in a reorganisation that will pit party colleagues and constituency neighbours into a series of battles for survival, according to research for The Times.” – The Times (£)
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