Political news

• UK Should Drop Tariff Barriers Against EU Even If There's No Brexit Deal, Says Top Australian Diplomat

  27-06-2017 23:56
  
  One of the UK’s closest allies has urged Theresa May not to put up trade tariffs against the EU, even if Brexit talks end without a deal being struck.
  The Australian High Commissioner to the UK told an audience of economists and business leaders that Britain should adopt the “mindset” of being a free-trade country, even if Brussels decides to introduce the potentially damaging barriers for exporters.
  Such an action would mean tariffs being dropped against every country in the
  
  Read more

• Jeremy Corbyn to put pressure on Tories over public sector pay cap

  27-06-2017 23:00
  
  Labour leader will table amendment to Queen’s speech calling for 1% ceiling on public sector pay to be scrappedJeremy Corbyn will seek to exploit the anti-austerity mood in the new House of Commons and put pressure on Conservative MPs by tabling an amendment to the Queen’s speech calling for the public sector pay cap to be scrapped.Many public sector workers have seen their real living standards fall as a result of the 1% a year ceiling imposed by George Osborne in 2012 after two yea
  
  Read more

• Lib Dems: Davey rules himself out of leadership race

  27-06-2017 22:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The former energy secretary says he is putting his family first by not running.
  
  Read more

• Reality Check: What does the Queen cost us?

  27-06-2017 22:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Reality Check looks at the Sovereign Grant, which is paid to the Queen, as it is set to increase next year.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• New City minister vows reform of insurance claims system

  27-06-2017 21:48
  Barclay promises revamp of ‘Ogden’ rate change that caused car premiums to leap
  
  Read more

• Philip Hammond at odds with David Davis over Brexit transition

  27-06-2017 21:45
  
  Chancellor takes jab at Boris Johnson and advocates softer EU departure while Brexit secretary says UK will be out of customs union by 2019Philip Hammond has taken a swipe at Boris Johnson and appeared at odds with David Davis over a post-Brexit transitional deal, in fresh evidence of tensions between cabinet colleagues.The chancellor warned in a speech in Berlin that negotiations would be jeopardised if parties allowed “petty politics to interfere with economic logic”. Continue read
  
  Read more

• Scottish Independence Referendum 'Reset' Still Means Another Vote 'Likely' By 2021, Nicola Sturgeon Says

  27-06-2017 20:53
  
  Nicola Sturgeon has been accused of trying to fudge her position on independence, as she said her supposed u-turn could mean a second referendum only two years later than she was planning anyway.
  The Scottish First Minister announced she would “reset” the SNP’s referendum plans on Tuesday, after the party had geared up for one since last year’s Brexit vote but was badly diminished by the General Election that cost it 21 MPs.
  She said there would not be a referendum &
  
  Read more

• May pledges ‘national investigation’ into high-rise cladding

  27-06-2017 20:51
  Local MP says rules ‘watered down’ as number of buildings failing tests rises to 95
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• May pledges ‘major investigation’ into use of flammable cladding

  27-06-2017 20:51
  Local MP claims rules ‘watered down’ as number of buildings failing tests hits 95
  
  Read more

• David Davis: Brexit 'as complicated as moon landing'

  27-06-2017 20:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Brexit secretary also suggests UK will not be in the EU's customs union during "transition" phase.
  
  Read more

• The economic origins of the populist surge

  27-06-2017 19:46
  Inequality and joblessness will fuel and sustain the wave of voters’ anger
  
  Read more

• Troubled past: the paramilitary connection that still haunts the DUP

  27-06-2017 19:18
  
  On Monday, the Northern Irish party agreed to prop up Theresa May’s government. But 30 years ago some of its key figures were central to the creation of the paramilitary Ulster Resistance group, whose gun-running activities still cast a long shadowOn the night of 10 November 1986, more than 2,000 men descended on Ulster Hall, a grand Victorian concert venue in the centre of Belfast, for an invitation-only event organised by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). They had been bussed into the
  
  Read more

• Ministers set up business advisory group with Brexit focus

  27-06-2017 19:13
  Government initiative aims to give companies a voice after months of disquiet
  
  Read more

• Jeremy Corbyn is a politician. Stop pretending he's the messiah

  27-06-2017 19:11
  
  People need to open their eyes and journalists need to get off their knees
  
  Read more

• Labour Demands To Know Results Of Fire Safety Tests On Schools and Hospitals

  27-06-2017 19:00
  
  Labour is demanding to know how many schools, hospitals and other buildings have been assessed for fire safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower blaze.
  Shadow Housing Secretary John Healey has written to Communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid asking for more information about the safety of thousand of buildings.
  The Government confirmed that each of the 95 tower blocks tested so far since the fire in Kensington two weeks ago had failed fire safety tests.
  However, no information
  
  Read more

• British citizens living in EU fear they will become May's 'sacrificial lambs'

  27-06-2017 18:54
  
  Campaign groups for Britons living abroad urge UK government to reciprocate EU proposals that would maintain status quoBritish citizens settled in Europe have expressed concern that Theresa May is willing to sacrifice some of their rights post-Brexit to cement immigration limits on EU citizens coming to the UK. They have renewed calls on the UK to reciprocate the proposals made by the EU rather than continue with the plan unveiled by May in the House of Commons on Monday. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Nuclear power still has a ‘key role’ in UK energy mix

  27-06-2017 18:43
  Energy minister rejects suggestions government cooling on plans for new generation of reactors
  
  Read more

• Vince Cable Set For Coronation As Ed Davey Rules Himself Out Of Lib Dem Leadership Race

  27-06-2017 18:39
  
  Lib Dem veteran Vince Cable looks set to be coronated as party leader after Ed Davey ruled himself out of the running this afternoon.
  The 74-year-old, who made a triumphant return to the Commons in his former Twickenham seat, appears to be the only contender poised to take over from Tim Farron when he stands down in July. 
  After former favourite Norman Lamb announced last week he would not stand for the leadership, Cable’s last obvious rival was Davey.
  But the former Energy Secretary
  
  Read more

• UK defence secretary threatens military strikes against hackers

  27-06-2017 18:39 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The UK could carry out military strikes in retaliation for cyber attacks, the defence secretary warns.
  
  Read more

• Blurred job definitions serve nobody’s interest

  27-06-2017 18:34
  In the UK, no single piece of law defines an employee, a contractor and a worker
  
  Read more

• Arts Council cuts funding for four biggest recipients

  27-06-2017 17:44
  Grants to Royal Opera House, Southbank Centre, National Theatre and RSC will fall
  
  Read more

• Philip Hammond mocks Boris Johnson over Brexit in Berlin speech

  27-06-2017 17:38
  UK chancellor tells Germans Britain cannot ‘have its cake and eat it’ when leaving EU
  
  Read more

• Grammar School Plan Shelved, Justine Greening Quietly Reveals In Written Statement

  27-06-2017 17:33
  
  Justine Greening has confirmed the plan to open a new generation of grammar schools is dead.
  The Education Secretary slipped out the announcement in a written answer today, dodging the opportunity to confirm the policy change in the Commons chamber.
  Unleashing a new wave of grammar schools was one of Theresa May’s flagship policies in the General Election campaign, but it was not included in last week’s Queen’s Speech - used by the Government to set out the legislation it plan
  
  Read more

• DUP and Sinn Féin intensify talks to restore power-sharing

  27-06-2017 17:32
  Balance of power between Northern Irish parties reversed by £1bn windfall from Tories
  
  Read more

• BBC's Laura Kuenssberg Defended After Telegraph Suggests She's 'Most Divisive Woman On TV'

  27-06-2017 17:20
  
  The BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg has been defended by colleagues and a former adversary after the Telegraph’s front page asked if she was “the most divisive woman on TV today”.
  As the face of the avowedly neutral BBC’s politics coverage, Kuenssberg is attacked from all sides. Social media is usually awash with criticism alleging that she is either a Tory or a left-winger.With rabidly tory Laura Kuenssberg as political editor?— John Arnold (@floyduk
  
  Read more

• Indyref2 is still on the table

  27-06-2017 16:49
  
  Apart from the timescale nothing much has changed
  
  Read more

• Nicola Sturgeon puts Scottish independence referendum bill on hold

  27-06-2017 16:42 via bbc.co.uk
  
  First minister puts her referendum plans temporarily on hold, but says one is still likely by 2021.
  
  Read more

• British Expat Teacher Living In Spain Fears She May Be Forced Out Over Brexit

  27-06-2017 16:29
  
  A British expat in Spain says she fears she will be forced to leave and has ‘no confidence’ in the ability of the Government to look after the interests of UK citizens living abroad. 
  Theresa May set out her ‘serious offer’ to EU nationals living in Britain in the Commons this week - saying nobody would be forced to leave - and wants the same assurances extended to British citizens overseas.
  But Rebecca Sylvan, who has worked as a pre-school teacher at an internatio
  
  Read more

• Jeremy Hunt accused of 'sleeping at the wheel' during NHS data loss scandal

  27-06-2017 16:28
  
  Health secretary forced to respond to urgent Commons question after withering NAO report on loss of 700,000 health documentsJeremy Hunt has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel” while a private firm co-owned by the Department of Health built up a backlog of over 700,000 pieces of medical correspondence it never delivered to GPs.
  The health secretary was summoned to the House of Commons to answer questions from MPs after a damning National Audit Office report found that the scan
  
  Read more

• UK business frustrated by Theresa May’s offer to EU citizens

  27-06-2017 16:12
  Chiefs have warned prime minister is failing to consider the needs of labour market
  
  Read more

• David Davis blames 'badly designed' campaign for Tory losses

  27-06-2017 16:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  David Davis attacks Tory election campaign - and Grant Shapps blames "world's worst manifesto".
  
  Read more

• Davis and Clark set up business advisory group with Brexit focus

  27-06-2017 16:00
  UK ministers’ initiative aims to give companies a voice after months of disquiet
  
  Read more

• Brexit will cement disenfranchisement of millions of citizens

  27-06-2017 15:54
  
  Democracy will be poorer with millions of long-term residents who have no power at ballot box to influence national government
  Brexit Britain will be home to 3 million second-class European Union “settled citizens” who have been fingerprinted, registered and issued with a residence identity document and with no vote in general elections.
  That is the “between the lines” message of the British government’s offer on EU citizens’ rights after Brexit. The 3 million
  
  Read more

• Jon Snow 'Has No Recollection' Of 'Shouting F**k The Tories' At Glastonbury

  27-06-2017 15:48
  
  Legendary news anchor Jon Snow has said he has no recollection of chanting “f**k the Tories” at Glastonbury after a reveller tweeted he had while partying with them.
  The Channel 4 News host, one of the most recognisable faces of British news, said his day at Glastonbury included taking more than 1,000 selfies but he did not remember one reveller’s account of him chanting it with them.
  One man tweeted: “Boss place that Glasto. Having a dance with Jon Snow and hearing him s
  
  Read more

• Top UK judge warns over ‘enormous’ legal task post-Brexit

  27-06-2017 15:43
  Lord chief justice says leaving the EU is ‘most complex’ legal issue in recent history
  
  Read more

• Second Scottish Independence Referendum Delayed By Nicola Sturgeon In Wake Of Election Losses

  27-06-2017 15:42
  
  Nicola Sturgeon has delayed plans to hold another Scottish independence referendum, following the general election which saw the SNP lose 21 MPs.
  Scotland’s first minister said today she would “reset” her plan for another vote on breaking up the United Kingdom until after Brexit.
  Sturgeon had previously said she wanted a second independence referendum to be held between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019.
  But in a statement to the Scottish Parliament, she said the SNP would no longer
  
  Read more

• Number of Britons in long-term poverty rose in 2015

  27-06-2017 15:08
  UK has fifth-lowest persistent levels in EU but scored worse on short-term measures
  
  Read more

• The UK needs a radical shake up to solve its housing problems

  27-06-2017 14:40
  
  If the UK is serious about fixing the housing crisis it should be taking lessons from Europe
  
  Read more

• Donald Trump Looks Exceptionally Uncomfortable Hugging Narendra Modi

  27-06-2017 14:13
  
  Donald Trump got up close and personal with the Indian prime minister on Monday and we can’t help but wince slightly at their meeting.
  After speaking in the White House’s Rose Garden, Trump went in for a handshake.
  Bit Narendra Modi had other ideas, it seems...Pres. Trump, Prime Minister Modi share a hug following Trump's remarks at the White House https://t.co/STbsygKfU2 pic.twitter.com/KQyNOwrlvW— ABC News (@ABC) June 26, 2017
  He told the US president: “I deeply appreci
  
  Read more

• Theresa May Calls For 'Major National Investigation' Into Tower Block Cladding As 95 Buildings Fail Fire Safety Tests

  27-06-2017 13:47
  
  Theresa May has called for a “major national investigation” into tower block cladding after the number of high rises which failed fire safety tests rose to 95.
  The Prime Minister urged the expansion of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster as her Cabinet was told that samples of cladding from every single high-rise building tested across 32 councils had failed.
  The “100% failure” rate was related on Tuesday morning by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid, as h
  
  Read more

• Theresa May Calls For 'Major National Investigation' Into Cladding As 95 Buildings Fail Fire Safety Tests

  27-06-2017 13:47
  
  Theresa May has called for a “major national investigation” into tower block cladding after the number of high rises which failed fire safety tests rose to 95.
  The Prime Minister urged the expansion of the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster as her Cabinet was told that samples of external material from every single high-rise building tested - including some private sector properties -had failed.
  The PM’s official spokesman said that she wanted the cladding issue t
  
  Read more

• Jacob Rees-Mogg's Instagram Should Break The Internet

  27-06-2017 13:17
  
  When you think Jacob Rees-Mogg, the bespectacled backbench Tory MP, you probably think Brexit. You might recall his long-standing nanny. And, if you write letters to the Daily Telegraph letters page, you might think of a future Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister.Jacob Rees-Mogg for PM! You read it here first @LettersDesk @Telegraph #Mogg4PM pic.twitter.com/uXqzTsix0J— Christopher Hope (@christopherhope) June 27, 2017
  It’s a strong case.Jacob Rees-Mogg - MP for the 18th Cent
  
  Read more

• Sturgeon postpones plans for second Scottish independence referendum

  27-06-2017 13:16
  SNP leader had been under pressure to drop demands for a plebiscite by spring 2019
  
  Read more

• Greens urge Sturgeon to stick to Scottish referendum plan

  27-06-2017 13:16
  SNP leader widely expected to soften her demand for a plebiscite by spring 2019
  
  Read more

• Britain's Largest Warship Uses Windows XP And It's Totally Fine, Says Michael Fallon

  27-06-2017 11:47
  
  Britain’s largest ever warship is not “vulnerable” to cyber-attacks despite running on Microsoft Windows XP, a 20 year-old operating system, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said.
  The Conservative minister defended the use of what many consider to be outdated technology on HMS Queen Elizabeth the day after it left its dockyard for the first time to begin sea trials. 
  Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft, meaning it does not receive updates to protect users f
  
  Read more

• The Brexit vision is over

  27-06-2017 11:22
  
  Brexit may still be happening but it won't be what many had hoped
  
  Read more

• Over 1,700 patients at risk in 'colossal' NHS mail blunder

  27-06-2017 10:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Cancer test results, child protection notes and medication advice were among notes left to pile up in a warehouse.
  
  Read more

• Michael Fallon defends £1bn DUP deal amid backlash

  27-06-2017 10:41
  
  Defence secretary says cash is not a ‘bung’ and it is in all the UK’s interests to help Northern Ireland A leading cabinet minister has rejected the idea that the £1bn of extra spending for Northern Ireland is a “bung” to the Democratic Unionists to prop up the government, arguing it is necessary investment for a more deprived part of the UK.Following a backlash over the deal in Scotland, Wales and parts of England, Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, said
  
  Read more

• Theresa May Wrote The 'World's Worst Manifesto,' Says Former Tory Chairman Grant Shapps

  27-06-2017 10:13
  
  Theresa May’s manifest the “world’s worst manifesto” and the Conservative Party will never win a general election again if it fails to learn the right lessons, Grant Shapps has said.
  The former Conservative Party chairman said this morning the prime minister lost her majority because her policy ideas “simply didn’t stack up”.
  May has been accused of offering the DUP a £1bn “bung” after she pledged extra money for Northern Ireland
  
  Read more

• The Waugh Zone Tuesday 27 June, 2017

  27-06-2017 10:10
  
  1. SOS BELFAST
  When Theresa May chairs Cabinet this morning, she will sit just a little more securely in her seat thanks to the DUP-Tory deal. Her sense of relief will be confirmed once the Queen’s Speech is passed tomorrow, part of the short-term tactic of ‘getting over the line’ of the magic date of July 20 and the summer recess. Yet as the PM looks around what we old hacks love to call the ‘coffin-shaped’ Cabinet table, the smell of her own political death is unm
  
  Read more

Follow @political_UKnws on Twitter!