Old age 1) MPs urge Hammond to divert foreign aid to support social care ‘The £12billion foreign aid budget should be used to tackle the crisis in social care, MPs said last night. Their call to put Britain’s elderly first came amid warnings that the system supporting the vulnerable was close to ‘toppling over’. And […]
May 1) Prime Minister attacks Corbyn over Labour anti-Semitism “Theresa May will today take a swipe at Labour over its abject failure to clamp down on anti-Semitism in its ranks. The Prime Minister will announce that under her government, Britain will become one of the first countries to adopt a new international definition of anti-Semitism. The move […]
If the Government leaves a news gap, the media will fill it. Proof One: Morgan barred from Downing Street meeting by May’s Co-Chief of Staff Fiona Hill after she criticises Prime Minister’s £995 brown leather trousers “The ‘Trousergate’ clash came after Hill met Morgan and Tory pro-European cheerleader Alistair Burt at No 10 and invited […]
Johnson refuses to apologise for Saudi remarks or change his ways ‘Boris Johnson has made it clear that he will not change his approach to the role of foreign secretary following a meeting with Theresa May to discuss his condemnation of Saudi Arabia for fighting “proxy wars”. The prime minister summoned Mr Johnson to Downing Street […]
Conservatives retain Sleaford and North Hykeham. Ukip distant second. Labour now fourth ‘The Conservatives have comfortably held the Sleaford and North Hykeham seat with Ukip the runner-up in the parliamentary by-election. Tory candidate Caroline Johnson will be the new MP after winning 17,570 votes, beating Ukip’s Victoria Ayling, who had 4,426. It was a bad result for […]
Government wins Article 50 vote ‘Theresa May has won the overwhelming backing of MPs for her timetable to start Brexit talks in March 2017 — but only after agreeing to publish a plan setting out her objectives and promising MPs a vote on the final “divorce deal”. Labour agreed to back the prime minister’s timetable […]
May’s dramatic counter-stroke. She seeks to head off a backbench rebellion and outfox Labour by asking MPs to back her on Article 50… “MPs will be asked to back the Government’s plan to formally serve Article 50 by the end of March 2017. Mrs May also committed to revealing the official plan for Brexit before the […]
Casey: ‘Saris, samosas and steel drums’ integration attempts fail to address ‘misogyny and patriarchy’ ‘The “misogyny and patriarchy” in some ethnic minorities is contributing to widening social division in the UK, the government’s cohesion adviser warned yesterday. Dame Louise Casey took aim at critics for ignoring problems that had often resulted in difficulties being allowed […]
Renzi resigns after big defeat in the Italian referendum “Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has resigned after suffering a heavy defeat in a referendum over his plan to reform the constitution. In a late-night news conference, he said he took responsibility for the outcome, and said the No camp must now make clear proposals. With […]
Brexit 1) As court case looms, ‘short as possible’ legislation being drafted to allow triggering of Article 50 ‘Ministers are considering 16 key words to formally begin Britain’s journey to leaving the European Union as they prepare for defeat in the Supreme Court. They are so determined to start Brexit talks by the end of […]
Grayling to end Network Rail’s monopoly “Network Rail will be stripped of its control over Britain’s train tracks and power will be handed to operators in the biggest shake-up of the railways for decades, the Government is to announce. In an attempt to end delays and to lower fares for consumers, Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, […]
Zac Goldsmith loses Richmond Park by-election to the Lib Dems “The Liberal Democrats have caused a major upset in the Richmond Park by-election, overturning a 23,015 majority to oust ex-Tory MP Zac Goldsmith. Mr Goldsmith stood as an Independent after leaving the Conservative Party in protest at the government’s decision to back a third Heathrow runway. But […]
Brexit 1) Johnson ‘personally in favour of free movement’ ‘Boris Johnson has been “openly telling” European Union ambassadors that he is in favour of free movement, despite the government’s insistence that it must end after Britain cuts ties with Brussels. The foreign secretary told ambassadors at an official lunch last month that he “was personally […]