Theresa May’s hated compromise is the only workable Brexit on offer March 15, 2019 “The deal we have negotiated is the best and indeed only deal available.” So claimed a dejected Theresa May on Tuesday night, smarting in the aftermath of the fourth biggest defeat for a sitting government in modern parliamentary history. Obviously, parliament does not agree. An overwhelming majority of MPs want May to go back to [...]
Brexit delay on the way after MPs back Theresa May’s postponement plan March 14, 2019 MPs have given the green light for Brexit to be delayed beyond March 29, but the divisions at the heart of Theresa May’s government were once again laid bare. The Commons voted 413 to 202 in favour of asking the EU to postpone the Brexit date – either by three months if MPs back a deal by [...]
Brexit vote live: MPs vote to delay Brexit by extending Article 50 beyond 29 March March 14, 2019 Hello and welcome to City A.M.’s Brexit live blog for the second of potentially three huge votes on the UK’s departure from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May was defeated in the House of Commons in a second vote on her Brexit deal on Tuesday, losing by 391 votes to 242. Last night, MPs voted [...]
Tory MPs despair as May loses another Brexit vote, with Article 50 delay on the horizon March 14, 2019 Brexit is set to be delayed beyond 29 March after a tumultuous night in parliament saw a complete breakdown in Conservative party discipline. MPs backed taking no-deal off the table by 321 to 278, with 12 members of the government – including four cabinet ministers – refusing to follow Theresa May’s orders and vote against [...]
Spring Statement: Philip Hammond demands Brexit consensus as he warns of no deal dangers March 13, 2019 Philip Hammond used his Spring Statement today to urge MPs to compromise on Brexit as he launched a savage assessment on the economic risk of ‘no deal’. Speaking a day after parliament again voted down Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement, the chancellor said leaving the EU without a deal would increase unemployment and food prices, and [...]
Theresa May suffers second Brexit deal defeat as MPs take control of the next steps March 12, 2019 Theresa May has lost control of Brexit after suffering a second humiliating defeat on her withdrawal deal. The PM’s plan was voted down by a majority of 149 MPs after she failed to win changes to the treaty that would allow UK to unilaterally exit the controversial Irish border backstop arrangement. MPs will now vote on [...]
The Conservative party needs to rediscover its economic way March 12, 2019 For most people, the Conservative’s 2015 “long-term economic plan” is now a distant memory. But as someone who was deeply immersed in that election campaign, I still sometimes wake up at night reciting its contents. Though much mocked for its repetition, the plan was more than just a catchphrase. From deficit reduction and tax cuts [...]
May prepares to face MPs after last-minute talks with EU March 12, 2019 Prime Minister Theresa May claimed victory in a last-minute round of negotiations with the EU last night, as she set out new legal guarantees over the controversial Irish backstop protocol. Speaking in Strasbourg after a late-night meeting with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, May claimed a new, legally-binding agreement would sit alongside her withdrawal deal [...]
Forget Brexit, corporate debt is a bigger issue March 11, 2019 As a few of you might have been told many times already, today is the latest Brexit D-Day for the UK, and for Theresa May in particular. Now, despite the fact that I am – at the moment that you are reading this – down on a chilly College Green in Westminster reporting on the latest [...]
Sterling falls as Downing Street admits Brexit talks are ‘deadlocked’ ahead of meaningful vote March 11, 2019 Downing Street has admitted that Brexit talks with the EU have reached a stalemate before Theresa May puts her deal to MPs in another meaningful vote tomorrow, sending sterling to a three-week low. The Prime Minister spent her Sunday night in talks with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after a last-ditch visit to Brussels by the [...]