“Theresa May was last night urged to sack four British trade envoys who have spoken out against Brexit. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said it was ‘absurd’ for those who were ‘viscerally opposed to Brexit’ to represent the UK during trade negotiations. David Cameron appointed a cross-party network of 20 ‘trade envoys’ in 2012 to represent the UK in emerging markets around the world. But four of them are battling to keep Britain in the EU, even though this would make it much harder to strike trade deals around the world.” – Daily Mail
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>Yesterday: ToryDiary: What price democracy?
“The BBC was accused of a ‘whitewash’ last night after it rejected claims of anti-Brexit bias out of hand. In a dismissive letter to MPs, the corporation’s director of news James Harding insisted the corporation was ‘impartial’ over Brexit. A cross-party group of MPs wrote to the BBC last month to complain that the corporation’s coverage of the EU had become biased against Brexit in the wake of last year’s referendum. MPs cited analysis of BBC Radio Four last year suggesting listeners were two-and-a-half times more likely to hear a pro-EU voice than a pro-Brexit one.” – Daily Mail
“Jeremy Corbyn may force a vote on continued membership of the single market and customs union in the autumn and appeal to Tory MPs for support. The Labour leader has embraced retaining single market membership during a transition phase and the party has not ruled out backing continued membership after Brexit. Both positions could be put to the test within months with some Tories admitting that they might side with Labour to avoid a hard Brexit. Even with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party it takes only seven MPs to defeat the government if all the opposition parties are united.” – The Times (£)
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>Today:
>Yesterday: John Baron MP in Comment: No transition – we must not loiter in the EU departure lounge
“Removing speed bumps to improve air quality is a “daft and irresponsible” idea, road safety campaigners have claimed as they urged ministers to rethink the plans. The Government’s newly published strategy to reduce air pollution urges councils to change road layouts and get rid of street furniture to cut down on harmful emissions. Ministers have insisted that road safety must not be compromised by any changes. But campaigners fear that ripping up speed bumps would make pedestrians less safe and could actually cause pollution to increase.” – Daily Telegraph
>Yesterday: Robert Halfon MPs’ column: A fair deal for diesel drivers is a social justice issue
“Ministers are to change the national planning rules to put pressure on landlords to offer tenancies of three years rather than one. It is part of a switch in government policy to encourage developers to build new rental properties rather than concentrate on houses for sale. The government is seeking to push councils and developers to boost the private rental sector and tackle affordability with a scheme known as Build to Rent. Institutional landlords have promised to offer three-year tenancy agreements after pressure from the government to make renting more family friendly.” – The Times (£)
>Yesterday: MPs Etc.: Revenge-and-tell? Perhaps. But Nick Timothy’s return to journalism promises much more.
“A key ally of Jeremy Corbyn has criticised the United States for imposing sanctions on Venezuela amid accusations that the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, is behaving like a “dictator”… The US has reacted to the election by imposing financial sanctions on Mr Maduro, with Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, accusing him of acting like the “dictator of an evil regime”. But Chris Williamson, a shadow Home Office minister, condemned the move by the US as he said it “can’t be right” to impose sanctions at a time of “massive crisis” in the country.” – Daily Telegraph
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>Today: ToryDiary: Britain must be a champion of freedom above all things
>Yesterday: Henry Hill’s Red, White, and Blue column: DUP accuse Irish Taoiseach of ‘going backwards’ on Brexit
“Eccentric Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg today pledged support for a young fan who has had the word “Moggmentum” tattooed on his chest. The backbencher invited 24-year-old Conservative activist Ross Atkinson to have tea with him in Parliament after hearing about his extreme devotion. He said he was “enormously flattered” when he heard about the tattoo – and warned his fan not to turn to the left or he would risk regretting his decision. Mr Atkinson, from Doncaster, paid £50 to get the word “Moggmentum” tattooed on his pectoral muscle.” – The Sun