“A female Brexit supporting minister who serves as a Royal Naval reservist has replaced Priti Patel as International Development Secretary after she resigned from the Cabinet. Penny Mordaunt, who was minister for disabled people, has been appointed by Theresa May as she attempts to retain the balance between Leavers and Remainers in her Cabinet. As only female MP who is a Royal Navy reservist, she was also touted as a possible replacement for Sir Michael Fallon after he resigned as defence secretary last week.“ – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Mordaunt replaces Patel at DFID – as ConHome recommended
>Today:
“The government has this week published a cross-party backed amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill which puts on the face of the Bill the date of our departure from the European Union. Let no-one doubt our determination or question our resolve, Brexit is happening. It will be there in black and white on the front page of this historic piece of legislation: the United Kingdom will be leaving the EU on March 29, 2019 at 11pm GMT.” – Daily Telegraph
More comment:
>Today: Lord Ashcroft in Comment: Voters are losing confidence that a good deal on leaving the EU will be secured for Britain
“British hopes of opening Brexit trade and transition talks this December were thrown into renewed doubt as it emerged that Ireland is making fresh demands over the Northern Ireland border question, the Telegraph can reveal. The toughened Irish stance, reflected in a leaked European Commission document obtained by The Telegraph, blindsided British officials at Brexit negotiations in Brussels on Thursday as Ireland piled on pressure in the talks.“ – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
More Brexit
“Boris Johnson has sidestepped questions about the future of jailed British woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe after Iranian state TV reported that he had made an “unintended confession” that she was training journalists in the country. The Foreign Secretary is facing calls to step down over his mistaken comments – made to MPs last week – amid fears the Iranian authorities have taken the claims as a justification for her continued imprisonment.” – Independent
Editorial:
“Philip Hammond is planning extra money for the NHS in the budget despite signs of Treasury irritation at outspoken appeals from the head of the health service. The chancellor is understood to be considering a cash injection and is also likely to boost pay for frontline workers such as nurses, after unions signalled a willingness for contract reform. Other public services are more likely to miss out, given Mr Hammond’s wish not to increase borrowing.” – The Times
>Today: Ideas for the Budget 5) James Kirkup: Ditch the surplus target. Build new towns. Raise inheritance taxes and boost universal credit.
“John Bercow has backed demands for MPs to be told details of offences they are accused of as he claimed they were being treated like terrorists. Speaking to students at the Mile End Institute in east London, the Commons Speaker said MPs are “entitled” to be told of the allegations. The principle is analogous to the way we behave in relation to terrorists,” he said. “We have certain standards that we insist in upholding… we believe in fair trial, we believe in innocent until proven guilty, we believe in due process.”” – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
More Conservatives
“Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on “chronic trade abuses” on Friday, warning an audience of world leaders at a summit in Vietnam that he will always “put America first”. The US president also resumed his tough talk on North Korea as he sought to rally Asia-Pacific nations into confronting the “twisted fantasies” of Pyongyang’s young leader Kim Jong-un.“ – Daily Telegraph
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