Brexit deal is 90 per cent agreed, says Barnier, but Northern Ireland impasse may scupper it October 19, 2018 A Brexit deal between the UK and the EU is very close to completion, politicians on both sides of the table said this morning. However, the prospect of reaching an agreement is still in doubt, said the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. “Ninety per cent of the accord on the table has been agreed with [...]
Brexit deal still possible within 48 hours, says Cabinet Office minister David Lidington November 13, 2018 A Brexit deal may still be achieved within the next 48 hours, according to a government minister. Cabinet Office minister David Lidington told Radio 4’s Today programme that “we are almost within touching distance now” this morning. Lidington said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the prospects of negotiators striking a deal in the next two [...]
British academic Matthew Hedges lands back in London after seven-month detention in UAE November 27, 2018 Matthew Hedges, the British academic freed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday after being sentenced to 25 years in jail as a spy, landed back in London this morning. The 31-year-old PhD student thanked the Foreign Office and the British embassy for securing his release, and thanked his wife, Daniela Tejada, who has spent [...]
Done deal: EU leaders approve Brexit withdrawal agreement and future relationship November 25, 2018 Months of wrangling between Theresa May and Brussels came to an end on Sunday after all EU 27 leaders approved the Prime Minister’s contentious withdrawal agreement. EU member states agreed to the legally binding document that maps out the terms of the UK’s exit from the bloc. They also approved the declaration on the future [...]
Mayor of London: Capital must prepare for no-deal Brexit August 17, 2018 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has tasked the body responsible for preventing a repeat of the Grenfell Tower fire with examining London’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit scenario. The London Resilience Forum will seek to establish what access the capital has to food, medicine, energy and emergency services in the event of the UK leaving [...]
Follow the money: Brexiter Tories stuff their war chests ahead of leadership election May 10, 2019 The one thing that is always guaranteed to raise eyebrows in British politics – not least since the scandal that rocked this country exactly ten years ago – is MPs’ finances. Amid a greater focus on transparency, Commons members must declare money they earn outside of their salary as an elected representative. For some, this could be [...]
Donald Tusk offers UK a Canada-style trade deal in blow for Theresa May’s Brexit plan October 4, 2018 Donald Tusk has delighted the 'chuck Chequers' group of Tories by offering the UK a Canada-style free trade deal. Speaking just days after Boris Johnson urged Theresa May to shelve her Brexit plan, the European Council president backed striking a looser arrangement with the UK. The comments were welcomed by leading Brexiteers, with one claiming [...]
The digital revolution comes to healthcare: NHS unveils new app designed to empower patients July 2, 2018 The government has today unveiled plans for a free NHS mobile app to make accessing health services quicker and easier. Not only does the app give patients remote access to their medical records, it also allows them to make appointments with their GP and order repeat prescriptions as well as get medical advice from the [...]
Going for gold: How the Bank of England became a battleground of the Venezuela crisis February 10, 2019 While tens of thousands of Venezuelans continued their revolt against the regime of discredited strongman Nicolas Maduro last week, a rather different form of protest popped up in the Square Mile. A group of far-left protesters, who counted Ken Livingstone and Labour MP Chris Williamson among their ranks, accused the Bank of England of “theft” [...]
PM to make mystery statement to MPs today September 5, 2018 Update: The statement will be an update on the attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury earlier this year, after British authorities revealed they have charged two suspects with multiple counts including conspiracy to murder and attempted murder. Theresa May is expected to make a mystery statement to members of parliament today, following her [...]