Goerge Osborne: Brexit talks with the EU will be “bitter” February 1, 2017 In a rare intervention, former chancellor George Osborne has predicted the government faces "bitter" talks when it gets around the negotiating table with the EU. Speaking as MPs debated the passage of a Bill granting Prime Minister Theresa May the power to launch divorce proceedings, Osborne said the government had not "put the economy first" in the [...]
EU leaders don’t believe UK will walk away from trade talks, according to the UK’s former ambassador to Europe February 1, 2017 Senior European leaders do not believe the UK will follow through on Theresa May's claims "no deal is better than a bad deal", according to the UK's former ambassador to the EU. May made the claim as part of her landmark Lancaster House address last month, warning EU leaders against seeking a punitive deal with the [...]
Downing Street will publish its Brexit white paper tomorrow February 1, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May has confirmed that Downing Street will publish a white paper on Brexit planning tomorrow. Speaking from the despatch box at Prime Minister's Questions, May confirmed the arrival of the paper in response to a question from Tory backbencher Maria Miller. It means that MPs will be able to scrutinise the government's Brexit plan [...]
After Donald Trump sacked the acting attorney general, are America’s checks and balances under threat? February 1, 2017 Dr Brian Klaas, fellow in comparative politics at the London School of Economics, says Yes. Students of American democracy around the world learn that the brilliance of the system lies in three magic words: checks and balances. The problem is that the checks and balances themselves are not magic. America’s democratic institutions are only as [...]
The Department for Transport pledges to improve accessibility on trains for disabled people February 1, 2017 The Department for Transport (DfT) has committed to improving disabled access to toilets on trains and stages. Clearer information will be made about the availability of accessible toilets in advance of journeys and the DfT will work with train companies to assess how staff training can be improved. It added that where facilities are out [...]
Sajid Javid is preparing to unveil his long-awaited housing plans next week January 31, 2017 Ministers are preparing to unveil a long-awaited blueprint to tackle the UK's housing crisis by boosting the supply of new homes. Barring any last minute delays, communities secretary Sajid Javid hopes to finally publish a housing white paper as soon as this Monday, months after it was first set for publication. The plans had previously [...]
Vote Leave chief Matthew Elliot has joined a top think tank January 31, 2017 The chief executive of the official Brexit campaign group has joined think tank The Legatum Institute to focus on a future trading relationship between the US and the UK. Matthew Elliot served as chief executive of Vote Leave during the referendum campaign, and previously founded the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group. He will join Legatium as [...]
MPs’ gambling report criticised by bookies January 31, 2017 A report into fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) has been criticised by bookmakers as a biased inquiry and a threat to jobs. Backed by a cross-party group of MPs, the report has recommended that the maximum stake on FOBTs be reduced from £100 to £2 in a bid to reduce addiction to gambling and antisocial [...]
MPs will debate Donald Trump’s state visit next month January 31, 2017 MPs will next month hold a debate on whether US President Donald Trump should be granted a state visit to the the UK in light of his harsh new immigration regime. Trump instituted new rules last weekend, temporarily blocking passport holders from seven Muslim majority countries in Africa and the Middle East from travelling to America. [...]
Donald’s views on Donald: Tusk hits back at Trump’s remarks on the EU January 31, 2017 Donald Tusk has today slammed the "worrying declarations" about the EU made by new US President Donald Trump. "For the first time in our history, in an increasingly multipolar external world, so many are becoming openly anti-European, or Eurosceptic at best," read a letter from the president of the European Council to EU member state [...]