Barnier says Brexit deal ‘very difficult’ October 9, 2019 The EU’s chief negotiator has said a Brexit deal is now “very difficult, but possible” following a dramatic day of negative briefing against Brussels. Michel Barnier told reporters this morning that a deal before the 31 October deadline was looking unlikely, echoing comments made by Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and new president of the European [...]
Feeling the heat: Walmart sues Tesla after solar panel blazes August 21, 2019 In a clash of two of America’s best-known companies, Walmart has sued Tesla for alleged “widespread negligence” that led to solar panels made by the electric car giant catching fire. The supermarket behemoth has asked a court to force Tesla to remove the panels from more than 240 of its US stores after they were [...]
Brexit: Juncker blasts PM for not offering written proposals September 18, 2019 The President of the European Commission has called for “operational proposals in writing” to avoid the increasingly “palpable” risk of a no-deal Brexit. Speaking this morning, Jean-Claude Juncker said he has “no emotional attachment” to the Irish backstop – a softening towards the EU’s position on the matter. Instead he said he would “stand by [...]
This may be the ideal time for a debate on a written constitution October 31, 2019 Recent events in parliament have led many people to ask whether this country needs a proper – or at least written – constitution. This suggests that we do not possess either of these things already. This is to some degree misguided, as significant parts of our constitution are already written and enshrined in legislation, all [...]
Gina Miller to appeal as High Court rejects legal case against proroguing of Parliament September 6, 2019 Gina Miller has said she “will not give up the fight for democracy” after the High Court rejected her legal challenge arguing that Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted unlawfully by proroguing Parliament for five weeks ahead of the Brexit deadline. The case -which had the backing of former Prime Minister John Major – had challenged [...]
We should celebrate the glory of Britain’s unwritten constitution September 25, 2019 For most of the Cold War, there sat in a safe in Whitehall a 16-chapter document. It was a game plan for when the bombs started falling. In four minutes, as the warning sirens wailed, the United Kingdom would be turned from a constitutional monarchy to 12 regional mini-kingdoms. Each would be overseen by a [...]
Dominic Cummings: Anger at MPs ‘not surprising’ says Prime Minister’s adviser September 27, 2019 Boris Johnson’s special adviser has said that the abuse directed at MPs over Brexit is “not surprising”. Dominic Cummings, the former Vote Leave campaign director, said the threats and anger would stop if MPs were to “respect” the referendum result. Read more: Bank of England could cut interest rates if Brexit uncertainty persists, says MPC [...]
Belfast judge rules PM’s prorogation lawful September 12, 2019 The High Court in Belfast has ruled the Prime Minister’s decision to prorogue parliament was lawful, and would not damage the peace process in Northern Ireland. A judge dismissed the case on all grounds on Thursday. It is one of a series challenging Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy, and follows a landmark ruling by Scottish judges [...]
Heathrow third runway: Businesses react as High Court blocks expansion February 27, 2020 Climate groups reacted joyously this morning after the Court of Appeal upheld their challenge to the planned third runway expansion of Heathrow Airport. However, business groups expressed their “bitter disappointment” at the decision. In a seismic decision for environmental campaigners, the court found that the government’s policy statement for the third runway was “unlawful” as [...]
It may look shambolic, but this is functioning democracy in action October 2, 2019 Over the last three years, it has become fashionable to argue that the whole sorry Brexit saga has made the UK a laughing stock around the world. A government in chaos, a parliament unable to decide which way is up, a country divided straight down the middle. All very messy, unkempt, and disorderly. But messy [...]