European Commission to ramp up warnings over no deal Brexit plans as press conference with Dominic Raab appears to be ruled out July 18, 2018 The European Commission will tomorrow urge member states, businesses and private individuals to step up their preparations for no deal, ahead of the first meeting between Michel Barnier and Dominic Raab. The Brexit secretary will meet his counterpart in Brussels tomorrow afternoon, however it is understood there will be no press conference at the end [...]
Brexit: Rebel Conservative and opposition MPs fail to defeat government on key customs union amendment to Trade Bill July 17, 2018 Remainer rebels in the Conservatives and Labour MPs have failed to derail Theresa May over her Brexit policy, leaving the Prime Minister bruised but not beaten yet again. An amendment to the government’s Trade Bill, requiring the UK to seek customs union membership if frictionless trade is not secure by January next year, was opposed by [...]
Another Commons battle looms as Labour vows to fight government on early recess motion and Brexit trade bill amendment July 17, 2018 Theresa May is facing rebellions on not one but two different votes today – including one about bringing the start of recess forward. Fresh from her pyrrhic victory yesterday, the Prime Minister is to go head-to-head with Remainers over another Brexit bill – this time on trade – and her decision to start MPs' summer [...]
Brexit: The damage inflicted by the ERG leaves Theresa May in power – but too weak to stop the Conservatives’ civil war July 16, 2018 A lot of ink has been spilled on whether the Prime Minister could face a vote of no confidence and be forced out of Downing Street. However, for many weeks now Brexiters have made it clear this is not the route they are seeking. Eurosceptics, represented in part by the European Research Group (ERG), know [...]
Chequers deal crumbles as Theresa May gives into ERG’s amendments on new Brexit bill, putting facilitated customs arrangement at risk July 16, 2018 The government has backed down on all four of the wrecking amendments put forward by Brexiter-in-chief Jacob Rees-Mogg last week, in order to avoid an embarrassing defeat in the House of Commons. Three of the amendments were relatively uncontroversial, but a fourth – tabled by former Cabinet minister Priti Patel – was widely viewed as [...]
Brexit: The damage inflicted by the ERG leaves Theresa May in power – but too weak to stop the Conservatives’ civil war July 16, 2018 A lot of ink has been spilled on whether the Prime Minister could face a vote of no confidence and be forced out of Downing Street. However, for many weeks now Brexiters have made it clear this is not the route they are seeking. Eurosceptics, represented in part by the European Research Group (ERG), know [...]
Chequers Brexit plan puts the Tories in a perilous position as Theresa May’s party sinks in the polls July 15, 2018 Theresa May's ongoing survival as Prime Minister is fascinating for the fact that it rests so heavily on the lack of a politically-viable, workable alternative. Her party, and Westminster as a whole, are so factious that no group has both the ability and the incentive to remove her from power, no matter how much they [...]
Pro-Trump supporters to march in Central London today July 14, 2018 Supporters of US President Donald Trump are to march in Central London today following yesterday’s vast anti-Trump rally. Trump’s first UK visit since becoming President has been marked by a series of protests, including yesterday’s well attended march in Central London. Today, supporters of the US President will stage their own march, starting at the [...]
Forget Trump’s visit, we must prepare for a new world order July 13, 2018 It was all going so well. The UK Prime Minister had secured the honour of being the first foreign leader to meet the new President of the United States. The visit appeared to be a success, the joint press conference ensued without any of the off-script tirades that had been feared, and the iconic shot [...]
Brexit paper ‘a real blow to the City’ July 12, 2018 The City blasted the government’s decision to drop its favoured post-Brexit trade model for financial services following the publication of the long-awaited white paper. A senior Canada policymaker said the move was “a real blow” to financial services, while a top lobby group called it “regrettable and frustrating”. The white paper, which sets [...]