Theresa May to hold conference call with 150 business leaders October 17, 2018 Theresa May will hold a conference call with 150 CEOs on Friday to brief them on the state of the Brexit talks. The call is part of a charm offensive of the business community following a fractious period – summed up by former foreign secretary Boris Johnson claiming “f*** business” when it came to the [...]
Jeremy Corbyn slaps down Emily Thornberry for using Brexit to defend John Bercow October 17, 2018 Jeremy Corbyn today slapped down one of his closest allies for using Brexit to defend under-fire Speaker John Bercow – but stopped short of calling for him to quit. On Monday, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said with Parliament set to play a key role in the Brexit process it was “absolutely not the time” for the Speaker to step [...]
US says it wants to start trade talks with the UK ‘as soon as it is ready’ following Brexit October 17, 2018 The US said last night it wants to start trade talks with the UK as soon as possible after Brexit. The US trade representative’s office told Congress it wants to negotiate new trade deals with the UK, EU and Japan. “We will continue to expand US trade and investment by negotiating trade agreements with Japan, [...]
It’s time for Theresa May to use her secret Brexit weapon: business October 17, 2018 Two weeks ago, I was in Birmingham among my fellow Conservatives awaiting Theresa May’s closing conference speech. I expected her to take a strong stance on the Chequers-based plan for Brexit and finally call upon her most valuable and underused supporters – business leaders – to champion her vision, not least because I and my [...]
Chomping at the bit: The race is on to be the next Tory leader October 17, 2018 There will be no deal this week. It was intended, then hoped for, but a Brexit deal is now as far away as it has ever been. The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that there will be a late capitulation, the mother-of-all-compromises by Downing Street, presented as a victory for all [...]
Sadiq Khan cuts thousands of homes from Old Oak Common project amid funding pressures October 16, 2018 London mayor Sadiq Khan has slashed thousands of homes from a flagship housing project in Old Oak Common while it waits for approval for more government funding. Morning Wire understands that the decision to pull the 2,250 homes was due to concerns around a lack of government funding. In January, the Old Oak and Park [...]
Tory MP accused of hiding expenses in campaign to defeat Nigel Farage, court hears October 16, 2018 A Tory MP and two aides have been accused of being "complicit" in hiding their expenses in the 2015 general election to combat the prospect of electoral victory by former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, a court has heard. South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay faces two charges of making a false election expenses declaration under the [...]
Donald Tusk: No grounds for optimism on Brexit deal October 16, 2018 There are no grounds for optimism that a Brexit deal can be struck this week, European Council president Donald Tusk has warned just a day before a crunch summit. Speaking on the eve of EU leaders gathering in Brussels, Tusk called on Theresa May to put forward “concrete proposals” on how to break the deadlock [...]
Celebrities like Kanye West and Taylor Swift need to learn that we really don’t care what they think October 16, 2018 Taylor Swift, look what you made me do. Swifty has been a hallowed island of political neutrality in a sea of bad blood. But she’s now come out as a mid-term Democrat, and the love story is over. Maybe one day historians will look back and admire how Bob Geldof’s support for a People’s Vote [...]
John Bercow to quit as Speaker next summer, according to reports October 16, 2018 John Bercow will step down as Commons speaker next summer, it has been reported just a day after an inquiry into Westminster bullying called for Parliament to be put under new management. Bercow has told friends he will quit his position in June or July 2019 according to the BBC, a date which has been rumoured for [...]