Brexit: EU threatens legal action against UK after ‘seriously damaging trust’ September 10, 2020 Brussels has threatened the UK with legal action for Boris Johnson’s attempts to breach the Brexit withdrawal agreement, claiming that his actions have “seriously damaged trust between the EU and the UK”. The European Commission’s vice president Maroš Šefčovič warned Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove today that the withdrawal agreement was a “legal obligation”, and that [...]
Grenfell inquiry: Oral evidence won’t be used to prosecute cladding staff February 26, 2020 Cladding companies have been given assurances that their oral submissions to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry will not be used to prosecute them for any role in the blaze. Attorney general Suella Braverman announced today that she had made the decision, after staff from companies involved requested that they be protected. Phase two of the inquiry [...]
Justice Committee chair calls for Attorney-General to make decision on Airbus bribery probe February 24, 2020 The chair of the Justice Committee Sir Bob Neill today called for the new Attorney-General Suella Braverman to take a decision on a bribery investigation into an Airbus subsidiary that has been in limbo for more than 18 months. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launched an investigation into Airbus GPT Special Project Management in 2012 [...]
Johnson pledges to ‘set foundations’ for gender balanced Cabinet in today’s reshuffle February 12, 2020 Boris Johnson will today operate a one-in-one-out policy for his highest ranking women today, as he looks to make good on his promise to prioritise gender diversity and new voices. A number of female Cabinet ministers, including environment secretary Theresa Villiers, business secretary Andrea Leadsom and culture secretary Nicky Morgan are among those expected to [...]
New-look cabinet to meet later after Sajid Javid’s shock exit February 14, 2020 Boris Johnson’s newly reshuffled cabinet will meet for the first time later today after the shock departure of chancellor Sajid Javid. His deputy, Rishi Sunak, is the new Treasury boss after Javid refused to sack his special advisers in order to keep his job. He said “no self-respecting minister” could agree to Prime Minister Boris [...]
French minister warns against London ‘blackmail’ as second stage of Brexit talks near February 24, 2020 France will not be “blackmailed” into a rushed trade deal between the UK and EU, an Elysee minister has warned, as Brussels prepares to publish its negotiating mandate for the next stage of Brexit talks. Amélie de Montchalin, France’s secretary of state for European affairs, told France24 this morning she would be bringing a “clear [...]
Fifth business secretary in a decade after bruising reshuffle February 13, 2020 The business community will today start building ties with its fifth secretary of state in a decade, after yesterday’s bruising reshuffle saw Andrea Leadsom one of the first to be sacked. Leadsom, who was widely expected to leave Boris Johnson’s Cabinet, is being replaced by former international development secretary Alok Sharma. Although she was not [...]
Cabinet reshuffle live: Chancellor resigns over turf war with No 10, as PM shakes up top team February 13, 2020 This is a live blog, please hit refresh to update 6pm – Live blog wrap Well, that’s your lot for today – at least, in terms of this live blog. My colleagues will be picking up on the rest of the appointments this evening and tomorrow. It was quite a day – certainly more of [...]
Free schools show how hard it can be to battle the Blob August 13, 2019 It was Michael Gove who popularised the term “the Blob” to describe the establishment forces battling his education reforms. It’s such a perfect description, because it captures the experience of anyone who tries to change the system – a constant, oozing pressure, flowing around your positions until they’re completely swallowed up. Another education minister, George [...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plans in tatters as DUP call for long delay over backing her ‘toxic’ deal March 26, 2019 Theresa May’s Brexit plans suffered another setback today as the Democratic Unionist Party said they would prefer to delay the UK’s departure from the EU over supporting her “toxic” deal. Sammy Wilson, the DUP’s Brexit spokesman, said his party’s 10 MPs would only vote for the deal if there are “significant changes” to the text [...]