Political news

• Stop Brexit pessimism, Liam Fox and David Davis tell Tories

  03-10-2017 23:39 via bbc.co.uk
  Davis Davis says the UK will be "good Europeans" - and Liam Fox urges an end to pessimism.
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson Libya 'dead bodies' comment provokes anger

  03-10-2017 23:38 via bbc.co.uk
  Boris Johnson says Sirte could be the new Dubai - "all they have to do is clear the dead bodies away".
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson: Let the British lion roar

  03-10-2017 23:38 via bbc.co.uk
  Foreign Secretary says the UK can "win the future" as he praises Theresa May's leadership.
  
  Read more

• Theresa May to tell Tories it's time for Brexit infighting to cease

  03-10-2017 23:30
  PM will use conference speech to demand end to squabbling as cabinet colleagues lambast Boris Johnson’s latest commentsTheresa May will issue a call for unity within the Conservative ranks on Wednesday after a string of cabinet ministers told the Guardian they were deeply frustrated with Boris Johnson for creating days of headlines about party division.The prime minister will use her centrepiece conference speech to demand an end to the infighting, declaring a “duty to Britain”
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Ruth Davidson leadership 'would be great', suggests Villiers

  03-10-2017 23:30 via bbc.co.uk
  Former minister Theresa Villiers appears to back Ruth Davidson as the next Tory leader.
  
  Read more

• Theresa May tells Conservative Party conference, 'Let's shape up'

  03-10-2017 23:00 via bbc.co.uk
  The PM will tell the Tories to "do our duty by Britain", after insisting she still has the authority to lead.
  
  Read more

• Theresa May Set To Unveil Council House Building Boom, Tory Sources Claim

  03-10-2017 22:48
  
  Britain’s biggest council house building programme in a generation is set to be unveiled by Theresa May in her keynote Tory conference speech, senior party sources have told HuffPost UK.
  The Prime Minister will make housing a central focus of her address as she wraps up the event in Manchester, with radical plans to use public land to embark on a new drive to creating more flats and houses.
  In an attempt to outflank Jeremy Corbyn on the issue that drew young voters to Labour in the electi
  
  Read more

• Theresa May: Boris Johnson isn't undermining me

  03-10-2017 22:07 via bbc.co.uk
  The PM insists she has the authority to lead as Boris Johnson praises her in his conference speech.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Steve Bell on Boris Johnson's conference speech – cartoon

  03-10-2017 22:00
  Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Donald Trump Compares Puerto Rico Death Toll With Katrina’s ‘Real Catastrophe’ During Extraordinary Visit

  03-10-2017 21:59
  
  Donald Trump has visited Puerto Rico and appears to have said little to help ease the concerns of devastated Americans, suggesting the hurricane-battered US territory had not faced a “real catastrophe” and joking about the cost of the recovery effort.
  The US President landed on the island on Tuesday, almost two weeks after Hurricane Maria pummelled the country.
  Despite recovery efforts, Puerto Rico and its 3.4 million residents are still without electricity and about h
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson Faces New Calls To Be Sacked After Joking About 'Dead Bodies' In Libya

  03-10-2017 21:53
  
  Boris Johnson faces renewed calls to resign after he made a joke about the “dead bodies” getting in the way of businesses investing in Libya after its bloody civil war.
  Speaking on the fringes of the Conservative Party conference on Tuesday evening, the foreign secretary said British businesses wanted to invest in the North African country.
  “They have a got brilliant vision to turn Sirte, with the help of the municipality of Sirte, into the next Dubai. The only thing they&rsqu
  
  Read more

• Sirte can become a holiday destination if it 'clears the dead bodies', says Johnson

  03-10-2017 21:45
  Opposition politicians call for Theresa May to sack foreign secretary, saying his comments about those killed in fighting in Libyan city are ‘unbelievably crass’Theresa May is facing further calls to sack Boris Johnson after he said that a war-torn Libyan city only has to “clear the dead bodies away” to become a world-class tourist and business destination.
  Johnson was accused by Labour of being “unbelievably crass, callous and cruel” about those who died in t
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson: Sirte can be next Dubai once it 'clears the dead bodies'

  03-10-2017 21:45
  Tory and Labour MPs call for Theresa May to sack foreign secretary over ‘unbelievably crass’ comments about ruined Libyan cityTheresa May is facing further calls to sack Boris Johnson after he said that a war-torn Libyan city only has to “clear the dead bodies away” to become a world-class tourist and business destination.
  Johnson was accused by Labour of being “unbelievably crass, callous and cruel” about those who died in the battle to reclaim Sirte from Isl
  
  Read more

• Absence of young people rattles Conservatives

  03-10-2017 21:34
  Party obsesses over youth vote as average age of members rises to 72 
  
  Read more

• Saying 'Loony Left' Stigmatises Mental Health Conditions, Says Tory

  03-10-2017 21:15
  
  A Tory campaigner hit out at his own party for using terms such as “the loony left” to attack Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party. 
  Louis Mosley said the Conservatives were guilty of contributing to the “everyday stigma” of mental health problems by using the phrase to attack opponents. 
  Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, he said: “Fighting injustice, like charity, begins at home. 
  “When we resolve to root out injustice
  
  Read more

• UK will be ready if Brexit talks with EU fail, says David Davis

  03-10-2017 21:00
  Brexit secretary bullish at Tory conference but business minister warns of over-optimism about Commonwealth tradeBritain will be ready if the Brexit talks fail, as a lack of preparation would be a dereliction of duty, David Davis, the Brexit secretary, has said.Speaking to the Conservative party conference, the senior cabinet minister said there was “cause for optimism” that a deal would be achieved but the government would be braced for the possibility of failure. Continue reading..
  
  Read more

• Alan Duncan on Brexit immigration 'tantrum'

  03-10-2017 20:46 via bbc.co.uk
  The minister says the referendum campaign "stirred up a lot of sentiment" in working-class voters.
  
  Read more

• How did conference speeches by Liam Fox, David Davis and Boris Johnson go down?

  03-10-2017 20:41
  Delegates at the Tory conference who saw all three speeches give their verdicts on what was said – and their loyalty to the PM• Boris Johnson backs ‘steadfast’ Theresa May to get ‘great Brexit deal’ Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Alan Duncan says migration 'tantrum' led to Brexit

  03-10-2017 20:40 via bbc.co.uk
  Sir Alan Duncan says working class voters were "stirred up" on the subject of immigration.
  
  Read more

• Hammond tells business leaders to stand up against Corbyn

  03-10-2017 20:32
  Chancellor says executives must ‘combat this menace’ or be seen as collaborators
  
  Read more

• The Tories are playing peek-a-boo. But we can see them. And their failure | Rafael Behr

  03-10-2017 20:29
  Despite the party’s desperate antics at conference, it can’t hide its paralysing Brexit schisms from the British public – or from EU negotiatorsChildren under the age of five struggle with the difference between seeing and being seen. They cover their eyes and suppose that they are invisible. Brain development eventually corrects that error, but some mental residue lingers. Confronted with a stressful task we retain the psychological urge to cover our faces and pretend that the
  
  Read more

• Brexit transition set to defy Boris Johnson’s ‘red line’

  03-10-2017 20:19
  Tory tensions re-emerge with idea of EU deal extended to end of 2021
  
  Read more

• Boris the orgasmatron tickles Tory faithful but fails to end with a bang | John Crace

  03-10-2017 20:05
  Foreign secretary did not deliver the knockabout comedy the faithful hoped for, but ersatz fun is better than no fun at allYou couldn’t ask for a better warm-up man than Mogadon Michael Fallon. After the defence secretary’s speech, all Boris Johnson had to do was make it to the podium in one piece to be guaranteed the undying thanks of everyone in the hall. Seldom can a bar have been lower than at this year’s party conference.For the first time all week it was standing room onl
  
  Read more

• Tory conference is like a North Korea rally, says Jacob Rees-Mogg

  03-10-2017 20:04
  Backbench Conservative MP said ordinary members had no power to debate policy compared to when he entered politicsJacob Rees-Mogg has compared this year’s Conservative conference to a North Korea-style rally, saying the party will face a crisis unless members are given more stake in it.The backbencher, who has been packing out fringe meetings, said ordinary party members had no power to debate policy compared to when he entered politics.Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• The Guardian view on the Tories and Brexit: Debate? What debate? | Editorial

  03-10-2017 20:02
  Like Labour, the Conservatives preferred not to debate the difficult practical issues at the heart of the Brexit processLast week in Brighton, Labour strong-armed the debate on the detailed issues about Brexit. This week in Manchester, the Conservatives have done almost exactly the same thing in their own way. Anyone who – like the European parliament, which debated the state of the Brexit process on Tuesday – was looking for clarity or precision from the Brexit session in Manchester
  
  Read more

• Frugal students won't need help from their parents, says Jo Johnson

  03-10-2017 19:56
  Universities minister says those struggling to live on maintenance loan can choose to get by in other waysStudents facing high living costs at university can choose to live frugally and it is not always up to parents to supplement loans, universities minister Jo Johnson has said.Responding to questions about the pressure on parents to supplement maintenance loans, the minister conceded there may be a gap between the loans provided and the actual cost of living at university.Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Tories' Three Brexiteers see leaving EU as a great adventure

  03-10-2017 19:49
  For Johnson, Fox and Davis, Brits will be buccaneers on high seas of trade, where ‘prizes for success are enormous, as are costs of failure’ Britain faces the Brexit equivalent of an All Blacks rugby haka, nervous Tories were told on Tuesday: “tongue-wagging, bulging eyeballs and chest-thumping” from their European Union opponents, but nothing that a stiff upper lip won’t see off.Never fear, was the rallying cry of the three Brexiteers who took turns on the conferen
  
  Read more

• The Tory Three Brexiteers brandish boasts and the best gags

  03-10-2017 19:49
  Johnson, Fox and Davis were rhetorical rather than rebellious, but business leaders fear that even their bluster carries risks Britain faces the Brexit equivalent of an All Blacks rugby haka, nervous Tories were told on Tuesday: “tongue-wagging, bulging eyeballs and chest-thumping” from their European Union opponents, but nothing that a stiff upper lip won’t see off.Never fear, was the rallying cry of the three Brexiteers who took turns on the conference stage in Manchester to
  
  Read more

• Conservative conference 2017: Boris Johnson urges Tories to 'let the lion roar' in upbeat speech - live

  03-10-2017 19:42
  Rolling coverage of the Conservative party conference in Manchester, including Theresa May’s morning interview round and Boris Johnson’s conference speech Theresa May’s morning interviews - Summary and analysisBoris Johnson’s speech - Snap verdictMay’s evening interviews - SummaryAfternoon summary 6.41pm BSTIf you look at the issues that Boris has been talking about they reflect the position we’ve taken in the Florence speech, setting out a vision of what this
  
  Read more

• UK defence spending should increase above 2% of GDP - Michael Fallon

  03-10-2017 19:31 via bbc.co.uk
  "Intensifying" threats mean UK spending should rise beyond Nato's target, Sir Michael Fallon says.
  
  Read more

• Donald Trump's Latest Tone-Deaf Response To Las Vegas Is His Most Baffling Yet

  03-10-2017 19:12
  
  Donald Trump has baffled many by calling the Las Vegas massacre “in many ways, a miracle” against a backdrop of calls for stricter gun controls in the US.
  The US President was hailing the quick response of the police after suspect killer Stephen Paddock opened fire on a concert venue, killing at least 59 people and killing and more than 500. He had an arsenal of 42 weapons and explosives, police have discovered.
  The deadliest mass shooting in modern US history has once again opened u
  
  Read more

• Unmarried Men Are 'A Problem' For Society, Says Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith

  03-10-2017 19:08
  
  Unmarried men often grow into “dysfunctional” human beings and become “a problem” for society, Iain Duncan Smith has said.
  Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, the Tory MP also claimed cohabiting couples have “inherently unstable” relationships.
  He went on to claim men out of wedlock were “released to do all the things they wouldn’t normally do” such as committing crimes, drinking too much, taking dr
  
  Read more

• Tory MP Bernard Jenkin urges visa deal for EU musicians

  03-10-2017 19:02 via bbc.co.uk
  Ex-opera singer Bernard Jenkin fears the music world is being paralysed by Brexit talks indecision.
  
  Read more

• Watch Theresa May Insist She Has Feelings After Maybot Jibe

  03-10-2017 18:56
  
  Theresa May insists she does have feelings as she reacted to her Maybot nickname.
  The Prime Minister was branded with the tag in November 2016, when Guardian columnist John Crace mocked the Tory leader for her repetitive answers in an interview about Brexit.
  The nickname slipped into common usage during this year’s General Election campaign, with May repeatedly accused of lacking emotion when engaging with the public.
  This included her now infamous response to a nurse who asked for a pay
  
  Read more

• Welsh budget: Tax cut on average home sale

  03-10-2017 18:40 via bbc.co.uk
  Changes under the new Welsh version of stamp duty could save homebuyers hundreds of pounds.
  
  Read more

• Liam Fox: No Brexit Deal Would Be 'Damaging' For The UK

  03-10-2017 18:27
  
  Liam Fox has admitted that no Brexit deal would be “damaging” for the UK in a marked change of tone from the International Trade Secretary.
  The Brexit-backing Cabinet Minister previously claimed the UK could “survive” without signing a free trade deal with the EU.
  That would see the UK trading with the bloc on World Trade Organisation terms – meaning an average tariff of 5% on all goods, with some sectors such as food and agriculture seeing duties of 20% or more.
  P
  
  Read more

• Royal Mail workers vote for industrial action

  03-10-2017 18:21
  Majority of Communication Workers Union members working for company back action that could hit deliveries in run-up to ChristmasPostal workers are on the verge of a historic strike after a dispute over pensions, pay and conditions that could grind Royal Mail to a halt before Christmas.The Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced on Tuesday that a majority of its 111,000 members in Royal Mail had voted for industrial action, the first since the company was privatised four years ago. Continue r
  
  Read more

• May's Brexit reboot is starting to fall apart

  03-10-2017 18:20
  
  As Boris Johnson and Liam Fox circle, May is desperately throwing her Florence promises overboard.
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson Speech Snap Analysis: Brexy Beast’s Free Lions On His Shirt

  03-10-2017 18:14
  
  Packed with sex, slapstick and supercharged Brexit optimism, Boris Johnson’s speech certainly hit the conference G-spot. He won the biggest cheers of the Manchester gathering so far after reassuring activists he was utterly loyal to the PM, while making a better job than she does in attacking Labour and boosting Tory morale.
  The usual Johnsonian phrasing was deployed. Remoaners were full of “gloom and dubitation [doubt]”, wishing “a plague of boils or a murrain [fever] o
  
  Read more

• Rodney Bickerstaffe obituary

  03-10-2017 18:06
  One of the most important trade union leaders of the 1980s and 90s who served as the general secretary of UnisonFor more than three decades, Rodney Bickerstaffe, who has died aged 72, was one of the best known faces of the British trade union movement. Bickerstaffe, or “Bick” as he was almost universally known, was immediately recognisable by his dark, heavy-framed NHS spectacles and a shock of hair that had many comparing him with Buddy Holly. His tough, uncompromising oratory often
  
  Read more

• DUP and Sinn Féin clash on identity at Tory conference

  03-10-2017 18:06 via bbc.co.uk
  Sinn Fein's claim that Northern Ireland "isn't British" is described as "ludicrous" by Arlene Foster.
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson's Best Gags From His Conference Speech

  03-10-2017 18:05
  
  Boris Johnson delivered his keynote speech to the Conservative Party Conference this afternoon, and during his wide-ranging address managed to get some laughs.
  Jeremy Corbyn, the media and his own colleagues were the butt of the jokes, with the Labour leader being subject to most of the gags.
  Here are the best jokes from the Foreign Secretary’s speech.
  On the media’s coverage of Brexit
  Every day a distinguished pink newspaper manages to make Eeyore look positively exuberant and acro
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson suggests 'space cadet Corbyn'

  03-10-2017 18:01 via bbc.co.uk
  The Labour leader should be the first person that the UK sends into space, suggests Boris Johnson.
  
  Read more

• In full: Kuenssberg interviews May

  03-10-2017 17:59 via bbc.co.uk
  Prime Minister Theresa May's party conference interview with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson backs 'steadfast' Theresa May to get 'great Brexit deal'

  03-10-2017 17:59
  Foreign secretary tells Tory party conference that cabinet is united on ‘every syllable’ of PM’s Florence speech
  Boris Johnson protested his loyalty to Theresa May in an exuberant speech at the Conservative annual conference after a week in which the foreign secretary has been at the heart of stories about party division. Related: Conservative conference 2017: Boris Johnson urges Tories to 'let the lion roar' in upbeat speech - liveContinue reading...
  
  Read more

• Johnson to Conservative conference: Let the lion roar

  03-10-2017 17:55 via bbc.co.uk
  Conservatives can win the future as they "are the party that believes in this country", Boris Johnson has told his conference.
  
  Read more

• Royal Mail Workers Vote Overwhelmingly To Strike Over Jobs, Pay And Pensions

  03-10-2017 17:34
  
  Royal Mail workers have overwhelmingly voted to take strike action over jobs, pay and pensions with a turnout of 73.7% - easily overcoming the 50% threshold for industrial action to be legal.
  The Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced on Tuesday afternoon that a ballot of 111,082 members saw 89.1% vote in favour of a national strike.
  It is the first time Royal Mail workers have for industrial action since the organisation was privatised four years ago.
  At the heart of the dispute is the fi
  
  Read more

• Boris Johnson steps back from clash with Theresa May

  03-10-2017 17:30
  UK foreign secretary plays down splits in wide-ranging conference speech
  
  Read more

• Michael Gove made a pig's ear of it over EU animal rules, say farmers

  03-10-2017 17:14
  Environment secretary’s claim that directive on tagging prevented UK from capitalising on Chinese demand dismissedMichael Gove has been accused of making a pig’s ear of his explanation of EU animal rules, after farmers dismissed his claims that Brussels was stopping them bringing home the bacon.Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative party conference this week, the environment secretary said Britain had been unable to capitalise on Chinese demand for the “delicacy”
  
  Read more

• Jacob Rees-Mogg Will 'Flee The Country' If Conservative Party Abandons Brexit

  03-10-2017 16:54
  
  Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he would “flee the country” should the Conservative Party decide to abandon Brexit.
  The backbench MP, who has drawn huge crowds at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, admitted that Jeremy Corbyn had stolen a march on the Tories since the election.
  “Yes, momentum in all senses is with the Left,” he told a meeting hosted by the Policy Exchange think-tank on the fringes of the conference on Tuesday afternoon.
  “What would I least l
  
  Read more

Follow @political_UKnws on Twitter!