Politics

Geoffrey Cox seems to be so busy tying himself in knots over Theresa May’s bad Brexit he’s forgotten his own constituents says GMB Union Geoffrey Cox MP has been accused  of a dereliction of duty as the famous Appledore shipyard looks set to close in his constituency. The North Devon yard has built almost 200 vessels since it opened in 1855 and is absolutely crucial to the South West economy and British shipbuilding. On Friday Appledore will fall silent –...

Scottish Labour delegates packed into a fringe event on democratic reform this weekend to hear bold proposals for a ‘new constitutional settlement’ under a Labour government. The meeting, co-sponsored by Unison Labour Link, the Red Paper Collective and Politics for the Many, saw Corbyn’s constitutional adviser launch key proposals (dubbed the ‘Bryan Paper’) to update the party’s democratic reform platform. The paper argues Labour must embrace ‘progressive federalism’ under a clear, codified constitution for the UK. It proposes a ‘partnership...

Attorney general says May's new deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. In a huge blow to the PM the Attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, has indicated that the UK could still be trapped in the backstop, even after the concessions May negotiaited last night. The government’s top lawyer did say the prime minister’s efforts had reduced the risk of being trapped in the backstop however he admitted it could still happen. Theresa May is to put her...

But he says it all hinges on Attorney General's legal advice

Theresa May’s Brexit deal will be rejected by 363 MPs today, according to spread betting firm Sporting Index. The under-fire Prime Minister faces a second vote in the House of Commons later today and they believe May will inevitably face more disappointment, predicting ‘ayes’ to be at 275. Following late night talks with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker around changes to the deal – mainly the Irish backstop – the Prime Minister will claim she has delivered what Parliament have...

A former Australian PM has not held back on his thoughts on the potential Brexit trade plan with the Commonwealth. Kevin Rudd called the idea ““the nuttiest of the many nutty arguments” and more tellingly “utter b*llocks.” He was PM of Australia from 2007 to 2010 and from June to September 2013. Rudd told the Guardian: “I’m struck, as the British parliament moves towards the endgame on Brexit, with the number of times Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India have...

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed suspicions aired in the Commons last night that nothing has fundamentally changed in relation to the backstop in the withdrawal agreement. Labour's Shadow Brexit Secretary waved a fat wad of legal papers in the chambers last night and asked: "Is a single word of the Withdrawal Agreement different now to the document that was agreed on November 25?" Having studied the documents, he confirmed this morning that there is unlikely to be changes sufficient to...

UK automotive industry puts the record straight on ‘no deal’ Brexit impact, as Parliament debates the meaningful vote Many commentators and politicians cite the automotive industry in Brexit discussions so, as Parliament debates the meaningful vote, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has today published a clear rebuttal of some of the many arguments that have been used about the sector in recent years. The clock is ticking down to 29 March and automotive businesses are in paralysis....

The Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell has said that the Chancellor has shown “cowardice” over Brexit. McDonnell claims Philip Hammond could have done more to ensure Brexit isn't hugely damaging to the economy. He made the comments at a speech at Bloomberg today. McDonnell said: "The position of the chancellor of the exchequer comes with a responsibility which I think Philip Hammond actually has abdicated in his current role. If Brexit ends up leading to even half of what the government’s...