Political news

• Porto crush Leicester 5-0 to ease into last 16

  07-12-2016 23:59
  (Reuters) - Porto eased into the Champions League knockout stages on Wednesday with a 5-0 win over Leicester City's hapless second-string side, who suffered the heaviest defeat ever by an English side in the European Cup. With their qualification as Group G victors assured, the English champions changed 10 of their first-team line-up, leaving their hosts to cash in hungrily with a double from Andre Silva and fine strikes from Jesus Corona, Yacine Brahimi and Diogo Jota. No English team had suffe
  
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• The Latest: Michigan wants recount halted if judge rules

  07-12-2016 23:48
  
  LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on recounts in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania (all times local):
  
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• U.N. chief to appoint New Zealand lawmaker as South Sudan envoy

  07-12-2016 23:41
  By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to name New Zealand lawmaker David Shearer as head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, which has been wracked by violence since 2013. Ban notified the 15-member Security Council on Wednesday of his decision to choose Shearer to succeed Ellen Loj of Denmark, who stood down at the end of November. Ban said Shearer would bring to the role "extensive political and humanitarian experience."
  
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• Trump fills homeland security, environment, China ambassador jobs

  07-12-2016 23:37
  By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday picked a fossil fuel industry defender as his top environmental official, another retired general as homeland security chief and Iowa's governor as U.S. ambassador to China in choices at odds with some of his recent pronouncements. Trump, continuing to build his Cabinet as he prepares to take office on Jan. 20, said Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, 48, would be nominated to head the Environmental Protection
  
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• Exclusive - U.S. regulator set to fail Wells Fargo on community lending test -sources

  07-12-2016 23:35
  By Patrick Rucker WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. bank regulator is ready to fail Wells Fargo on a national scorecard for community lending, sources familiar with the decision said on Wednesday, in a move that could limit near-term expansion for the bank. The ruling from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the main regulator for national banks, is due by early January, said the sources with knowledge of the plans. A Wells Fargo spokesperson declined to comment.
  
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• Trolled MP Luciana Berger calls for other online victims to come forward

  07-12-2016 23:32
  Luciana Berger has called for more victims to report abuse by online bullies. Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who turned 24 on Wednesday, wrote five hate-filled blogs about the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree after fellow far-right extremist Garron Helm was jailed for four weeks in 2014. Bonehill-Paine, who smirked in the dock as he was sent down, faces up to two years in jail when he is sentenced on Thursday.
  
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• EU official hopeful for trade deal under Trump presidency

  07-12-2016 23:32
  WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior European Union official on Wednesday expressed hope that the incoming Trump administration will continue talks on a comprehensive free trade agreement with Europe.
  
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• This Light of Reason: choral work for Jo Cox sung in Westminster

  07-12-2016 23:29
  
  Parliament Choir premieres piece composed by Nicholas O’Neill in honour of MP murdered by rightwing terroristA newly composed piece of choral music created in honour of Jo Cox has been sung in public for the first time, being premiered at the annual Christmas concert by a choir of MPs, peers and parliamentary staff. This Light of Reason, from a John Donne sermon, was composed by Nicholas O’Neill, who has worked with the Parliament Choir for more than a decade. The choir sang the piec
  
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• Next North Carolina governor says he can carry out agenda

  07-12-2016 23:24
  
  RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's incoming Democratic governor says he's optimistic he'll be able to repeal the state's law limiting the state's LGBT protections, vowing to use an array of strategies to pull back on the conservative agenda of a Republican-dominated legislature.
  
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• Trump picks longtime friend of Beijing as U.S. ambassador to China

  07-12-2016 23:13
  By Dominique Patton and Steve Holland BEIJING/NEW YORK (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump will nominate Iowa Governor Terry Branstad as the next U.S. ambassador to China, choosing a longstanding friend of Beijing after rattling the world's second largest economy with tough talk on trade and a telephone call with the leader of Taiwan. Branstad has visited China at least six times, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has travelled to Iowa twice, including once while Branstad was governor.
  
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• Trump chooses pro wrestling magnate Linda McMahon to head SBA

  07-12-2016 23:13
  By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will nominate professional wrestling magnate and former Senate candidate Linda McMahon as his choice to head the Small Business Administration. Trump's announcement said McMahon would be a key player in his effort to generate stronger job growth and roll back federal regulations. McMahon, 68, is a co-founder and former CEO of the professional wrestling franchise WWE, which is based in Stamford, Connect
  
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• Teams qualified for the Champions League last 16

  07-12-2016 23:13
  LONDON (Reuters) - Teams qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League following Wednesday's final group matches. Group winners Arsenal Napoli Barcelona Atletico Madrid Monaco Borussia Dortmund Leicester City Juventus Runners-up Paris St Germain Benfica Manchester City Bayern Munich Bayer Leverkusen Real Madrid Porto Sevilla Last-16 draw takes place on Monday (Compiled by Toby Davis; editing by Ed Osmond)
  
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• 'Mr. President' Biden as GOP, Dem senators pay tribute

  07-12-2016 23:13
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — For one afternoon, Senate Republicans and Democrats gleefully referred to Joe Biden as "Mr. President."
  
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• Cool Sevilla hold off Lyon to reach last 16

  07-12-2016 23:11
  Sevilla kept their cool to hold Olympique Lyonnais to a goalless away draw and secure their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time since the 2010 season on Wednesday. The Spanish team, who have won the last three editions of the Europa League, came under intense pressure as Lyon needed to win by two goals to advance but ended up second in Group H with 11 points, three behind Juventus who beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0. Lyon, who finished third on eight points, will play in the Eu
  
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• Airbus to merge German research sites in restructuring - media

  07-12-2016 23:10
  European planemaker Airbus will concentrate its German research at a single site and shift towards employing more contractors to promote innovation as part of a previously announced restructuring, its chief executive told German media. "We can't continue to only work with life-long employees," Airbus Group Chief Executive Tom Enders told German "Muenchner Merkur" on Wednesday, adding that a shift towards more limited, project-based contracts would take place. Airbus will cut a net total of 934 j
  
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• Late Reus equaliser means Dortmund beat Real to top spot

  07-12-2016 23:06
  Real Madrid failed to win their Champions League group for the first time in four years when a late goal by substitute Marco Reus allowed Borussia Dortmund to equalise and clinch a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. Zinedine Zidane's side looked to be on their way to securing first place in Group F when Karim Benzema knocked in Dani Carvajal's cutback in the 28th minute and the French striker stretched their lead by nodding in James Rodriguez's cross in the 53rd. Dortmund hit back on the hour with a close-r
  
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• Keir Starmer pushes for detailed Brexit plan – video

  07-12-2016 22:57
  
  Keir Starmer, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, challenges David Davis in the House of Commons on Wednesday to produce a ‘detailed’ picture of his aims before article 50 is formally triggered. MPs voted overwhelmingly to back government plans to trigger article 50 by the end of MarchKeir Starmer calls for ‘detailed’ Brexit plan after MPs vote to trigger article 50
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• EU takes action against UK, Germany over VW emissions scandal - sources

  07-12-2016 22:57
  By Alissa de Carbonnel BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will take action on Thursday against seven nations including Germany and Britain for failing to police car emissions rules, EU sources said, after the Volkswagen cheating scandal showed suspicious behaviour in the industry. Amid frustration in Brussels over nations' responses to diesel vehicles flouting pollution limits, the European Commission is resorting to the strongest legal action it can take against members of the 28-nation bl
  
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• Trump chooses former WWE exec McMahon for small business

  07-12-2016 22:53
  
  President-elect Donald Trump is adding former wrestling executive Linda McMahon to his Cabinet as leader of the Small Business Administration. McMahon and her husband, Vince, founded and built World Wrestling ...
  
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• Trump fills top jobs for his administration

  07-12-2016 22:51
  (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate wrestling magnate Linda McMahon as his choice to head the Small Business Administration, Trump's transition team said in a statement on Wednesday. The following is a list of Republican Trump's selections for top jobs in his administration. All the posts but that of national security adviser require Senate confirmation: TREASURY SECRETARY: STEVEN MNUCHIN Mnuchin, 53, is a relatively little-known but successful private equity investor
  
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• Dissidents urge Trump to press China on human rights

  07-12-2016 22:50
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Exiled Chinese dissidents on Wednesday urged President-elect Donald Trump to champion human rights in China and recognize self-governing Taiwan as "a full democratic country."
  
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• Porto crush Leicester to ease into last 16

  07-12-2016 22:48
  (Reuters) - Porto eased into the Champions League knockout stages with an embarrassingly simple 5-0 win over Leicester City's hapless second-string side in the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday. With their qualification as Group G victors assured, the English champions rested key players, leaving their Portuguese hosts to cash in hungrily with a double from Andre Silva and fine strikes from Jesus Corona, Yacine Brahimi and Diogo Jota. Leicester had only conceded one goal in their previously unbeate
  
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• Spurs beat CSKA to grab Europa League spot

  07-12-2016 22:46
  Tottenham Hotspur dressed the wound of their Champions League exit with a 3-1 victory over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday that secured the consolation prize of a place in the continent's second-tier contest. A well-taken effort from Dele Alli, a Harry Kane tap-in and an Igor Akinfeev own goal helped Spurs overcome Alan Dzagoev's opener for CSKA and wrapped up their first win at their adopted Wembley home.
  
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• Monte dei Paschi asks ECB to extend 5 billion euro rescue plan deadline

  07-12-2016 22:43
  By Silvia Aloisi and Stephen Jewkes MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's third biggest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena , has asked the European Central Bank for more time to wrap up a 5 billion euro (£4.2 billion) rescue plan that was thrown into doubt by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's defeat in a referendum at the weekend. The bank, the world's oldest, has asked the ECB to give it until January 20 to do the deal, from a previous year-end deadline, it said in a statement on Wednesday. The ECB could co
  
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• MPs back government's Brexit timetable

  07-12-2016 22:41 via bbc.co.uk
  
  MPs have voted to "respect" the government's timetable for triggering talks on leaving the EU.
  
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• The real battle in Aleppo and Mosul

  07-12-2016 22:37
  The world’s main body for protecting civilians in war zones, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is closely watching two tense and pivotal battles in the Middle East. One is Iraq’s assault on Islamic State forces in Mosul. The other is Syria’s attack on pro-democracy rebels in Aleppo.
  
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• The Latest: Trump picks WWE's Linda McMahon for SBA job

  07-12-2016 22:31
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump (all times EST):
  
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• Republicans urge federal judge to halt Michigan recount

  07-12-2016 22:30
  
  DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Republicans urged a federal judge on Wednesday to halt a recount of the state's presidential election results, after the state appeals court said Green Party candidate Jill Stein lacked the standing to request a second look.
  
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• Officials outline steps for resolving Guard bonus scandal

  07-12-2016 22:26
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Senior U.S. military officials sought to assure a House oversight panel Wednesday that they're taking aggressive steps to ensure that thousands of soldiers who received enlistment bonuses and served in combat won't be forced to return the money.
  
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• Wall Street jumps with bond prices as markets await ECB meeting

  07-12-2016 22:24
  By Sinead Carew NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose along with bond prices on Wednesday as investors prepared for the European Central Bank to signal an extension of its bond-buying at its Thursday meeting. The euro gained slightly against the dollar as investors also waited for possible indications on when the ECB will begin paring bond purchases under its quantitative easing programme. Prices on longer-dated U.S. Treasuries rose following a large block purchase of 10-year Treasury note futur
  
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• The Latest: Wisconsin recount more than 70 percent complete

  07-12-2016 22:19
  
  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on recounts in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania (all times local):
  
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• Trump taps Kelly for Homeland Security, third general for top post

  07-12-2016 22:18
  By Steve Holland and Warren Strobel NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate a third retired general for a top job in his new administration with the choice of a battle-hardened Marine commander to lead the agency set up after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to protect the U.S. homeland. Trump is expected to name former Marine General John Kelly, 66, as head of the Department of Homeland Security, a source familiar with the decision told Reuters on Wednesday. Kel
  
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• Ghana votes as President Mahama seeks a final term

  07-12-2016 22:12
  By Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Kwasi Kpodo ACCRA (Reuters) - Ghana voted on Wednesday in a presidential election that looks set to be a tight race, with the incumbent John Mahama seeking a second term in charge of an economy that has slowed since he took power. Lower global prices for Ghana's gold, oil and cocoa exports and a fiscal crisis caused the slowdown, which made Mahama's government vulnerable to a challenge from the main opposition leader, Nana Akufo-Addo. For years, Ghana was one of Africa'
  
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• Glencore says to inject only small equity into Rosneft deal

  07-12-2016 22:09
  Glencore said on Wednesday it would enter a new deal to buy oil from Rosneft as part of a broader move by the Russian government to sell a stake in its major oil firm with Glencore injecting limited equity into the transaction. The Swiss-based firm confirmed it was in final-stage negotiations to buy, as part of a consortium with the Qatar Investment Authority, a 19.5 percent stake in Rosneft for 10.2 billion euros. It said that under the proposed arrangements, Glencore would commit 300 million e
  
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• The Latest: Military officials talk about enlistment bonuses

  07-12-2016 22:02
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Congress (all times local):
  
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• Ellison says he'll resign from Congress if elected DNC chair

  07-12-2016 21:47
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Keith Ellison said Wednesday he'll resign his seat in Congress if he's elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
  
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• Israel's Netanyahu gives conditional 'No' to meeting Abbas in Paris

  07-12-2016 21:44
  By John Irish and Ori Lewis PARIS/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he had told French President Francois Hollande he would not meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas if France pushed ahead with an international peace conference in Paris later this month. France has been trying to convince Netanyahu, who has repeatedly rejected the conference proposal, to meet with Abbas in Paris to try to revive moribund peace talks between the two sides, Fore
  
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• Brexit poll swung by millions who do not usually vote

  07-12-2016 21:43 via ft.com
  Vote Leave triumphed after galvanising those who had become disengaged from politics
  
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• MPs vote to back Government’s timetable on Article 50

  07-12-2016 21:41
  
  MPs have voted in favour of the Government's timetable to trigger the formal process for leaving the European Union by March 2017. Faced with a revolt by up to 40 Conservative MPs, Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday bowed to pressure and backed a Labour motion which said she should publish a plan before triggering Article 50. In return, most of the rebels and Labour backed a compromise Government amendment to support Mrs May's pledge to invoke Article 50 to start Brexit before 31 March 2017.
  
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• Brazil top court rules Senate head can stay, defuses crisis

  07-12-2016 21:38
  By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court on Wednesday overturned an injunction that ordered the indicted head of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, to step down, voting to allow him to continue in the post but not in the presidential line of succession. The 6-3 ruling defuses a clash between the top court and the Senate that threatened to derail austerity legislation at the centre of President Michel Temer's plan to bring a widening budget deficit under control and end a two-year
  
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• What's the significance of Wednesday's article 50 vote? Our panel responds | Martin Kettle, Anne Perkins and Giles Fraser

  07-12-2016 21:37
  
  MPs have backed a Brexit plan to trigger article 50 by end of March with a majority of 373. Our writers give their opinions on Wednesday night’s vote Continue reading...
  
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• Kelly confirms he's been asked to be U.S. homeland security secretary - Fox News

  07-12-2016 21:35
  (Reuters) - Retired Marine Corps General John Kelly, reached while travelling in Australia, has confirmed that he has been asked to serve as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's homeland security secretary, Fox News reported on Wednesday. Fox quoted Kelly as saying he had been asked to be homeland security secretary and would consider it an honour. (Reporting by David Alexander in Washington; Editing by Eric Beech)
  
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• Steve Bell on Trump as Time magazine's person of the year – cartoon

  07-12-2016 21:34
  
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• AP source: Trump to tap Oklahoma AG Pruitt to head EPA

  07-12-2016 21:30
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a source close to Pruitt said Wednesday. Environmental groups quickly denounced the choice.
  
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• Ohio GOP official's US Senate bid could mean bitter rematch

  07-12-2016 21:29
  Republican Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel plans to again challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in 2018, setting up what could be a rematch of what was one of the country's most bitter, expensive and closely watched Senate races four years ago.
  
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• MPs back May's Brexit timetable

  07-12-2016 21:29
  By Elizabeth Piper and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - MPs backed Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit timetable on Wednesday after she headed off a rebellion in her Conservative Party over a lack of insight into the government's strategy to leave the European Union. After a sometimes rowdy session in parliament, MPs voted by 448 to 75 to support a motion calling on the government to offer up its Brexit plan, but also backed the government's timetable to trigger the divorce procedure by the en
  
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• Kremlin says Glencore, Qatari fund to buy 19.5 percent stake in Rosneft

  07-12-2016 21:25
  By Polina Devitt and Elena Fabrichnaya MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it sold a minority stake in oil giant Rosneft for 10.5 billion euros ($11.3 billion) to Qatar and commodities trader Glencore , confounding markets which believed the Kremlin's standoff with the West would scare off major investors. The deal -- which has yet to be confirmed by Qatar or Glencore -- suggests the lure of taking a share in one of the world's biggest oil companies outweighs the risks that come with Wes
  
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• MPs vote to demand Brexit plan and say article 50 should be triggered by end March – as it happened

  07-12-2016 21:24
  
  Rolling coverage of all the day’s political developments as they happen, including PMQs and the Commons debate on a motion saying the government should publish a plan for BrexitPMQs - Snap verdictOpening of the Brexit debate - SummaryLabour’s five conditions for a Brexit planList of Labour rebelsSummary 8.22pm GMT 8.19pm GMTAccording to the Lib Dems, these are the 23 Labour MPs who voted against the party whip on the first vote: Rushanara Ali: Graham Allen; Ben Bradshaw; Ann Coffey;
  
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• You're Hired? Inside the interviews as Trump picks Cabinet

  07-12-2016 21:22
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — When Robert Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, arrived to a recent meeting with Donald Trump, the president-elect greeted him with a blunt question.
  
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• May wins Brexit vote after agreeing to publish plan

  07-12-2016 21:21 via ft.com
  David Davis promises MPs vote on final deal but not on principle of leaving EU
  
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