Boris Johnson promises Theresa May ‘full-throated support’ if she beats Brexit backstop with a ‘freedom clause’ January 28, 2019 Boris Johnson today upped the pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May by calling on her to persuade the European Union to ditch the so-called Irish backstop. May’s widely unpopular Brexit deal – the result of two years of negotiations with the EU – was resoundingly rejected by parliament before Christmas, largely over concerns created by [...]
We’re not as stuck as the Brexit blues would have you believe January 28, 2019 IF YOU’RE looking for a meaningful vote of confidence tomorrow, look elsewhere than the sentiments of our 650 MPs. Instead try the 650,000 British businesses registered last year – each one a vote of confidence in the future. But when you’re surrounded by extremes, it’s hard not to get swept away by it all. As [...]
DEBATE: Will the new Franco-German pact help heal the EU’s divisions? January 28, 2019 Will the new Franco-German pact help heal the EU’s divisions? Dr Andrew W M Smith, historian of modern France at the University of Chichester, says YES. From its inception, European integration revolved around the axis of Franco-German unity. In 1963, Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer tied the knot at the Elysee palace, and Emmanuel [...]
Dyson’s move is not hypocrisy – it’s shrewd January 28, 2019 Among some of the more committed anti-Brexit activists it has become fashionable to levy the charge of hypocrisy against pro-Leave business figures whose commercial activity appears insufficiently patriotic. For those Remainers for whom Brexit is synonymous with an inward-looking philosophy and a narrowing of the UK’s horizons, it is incompatible for someone to support Brexit [...]
Brexit shows it’s time for an economic shake-up from the Tories January 28, 2019 The Brexit weather forecast remains distinctly foggy in all areas as we enter yet another crucial week in Westminster. Will we ever see daylight and opportunity out of this sickening political morass? As I said to the BBC Question Time audience last week, I think this parliament ranks as the most dismal in living memory. [...]
Social media firms could face ban if they fail to remove harmful online content, warns Matt Hancock January 27, 2019 Social media firms face being banned if they fail to remove harmful content, health secretary Matt Hancock has suggested. "We are a nation state, parliament is sovereign – as we are discovering in the Brexit process – and we can legislate if we need to. It would be far better to do this in concert with the [...]
Imposing martial law in a no-deal Brexit is ‘on the statute book’, says Matt Hancock January 27, 2019 Health secretary Matt Hancock has said imposing martial law in the event of a no-deal Brexit was "on the statute book" and that the government was looking at "all possibilities". The UK is on the brink of declaring a state of emergency in case disorder breaks out if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on [...]
Justice Secretary David Gauke claims there is a case for free votes on Brexit January 26, 2019 Justice Secretary David Gauke has said “there is a case for free votes” when Parliament debate the Brexit motion on Tuesday. Gauke has joined Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd in suggesting that MPs should be able to vote according to their personal views ahead of Tuesday’s Commons vote where Article 50 could be extended. [...]
Inquiry into Deutsche Bank links with Trump launched by US House Committees January 25, 2019 Deutsche Bank confirmed that it had received an inquiry from two US House Committees last night, in a development that comes at the height of Democrat interest in investigating links between Trump and the bank. "The bank has received an inquiry from the House Financial Services and Intelligence Committees," Deutsche Bank said today. "Deutsche Bank is [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond refuses to rule out resigning after a no-deal Brexit January 25, 2019 Chancellor Philip Hammond has refused to say that he would not resign if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal. Speaking at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos the chancellor said the government is looking for a deal with the European Union which will allow Britain to continue trading closely with [...]