Political news

• UK can 'turn a corner' if MPs back Brexit deal, says May

  31-12-2018 23:58 via bbc.co.uk
  In a new year message, Theresa May says the country can move on if MPs back her EU exit plan.
  
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• Theresa May hails ‘new chapter’ for Britain in 2019

  31-12-2018 23:30 via ft.com
  PM argues that backing her Brexit deal would free up government to tackle other issues
  
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• Theresa May hails ‘new chapter’ for Britain

  31-12-2018 23:30 via ft.com
  PM argues that backing her Brexit deal would free up government to tackle other issues
  
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• Two more Border Force vessels return to patrol Channel

  31-12-2018 21:22 via bbc.co.uk
  The home secretary says two vessels will be redeployed from overseas in response to migrant crossings.
  
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• Peter Schrank on 2019's Brexit crossroads – cartoon

  31-12-2018 20:48
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• UK brings in more patrol boats for English Channel

  31-12-2018 20:07 via ft.com
  Sajid Javid redeploys two vessels in response to rise in migrant crossings
  
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• Grayling under pressure over Brexit ferry contract

  31-12-2018 18:29 via ft.com
  Seaborne Freight was started two years ago and has yet to operate a route
  
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• There is a path to a second referendum – and only Labour can win it | Tom Kibasi

  31-12-2018 16:47
  As the political class returns to Westminster, this could be the time that, through the Brexit process, Labour finds its path to powerIf it was the season of peace and goodwill towards all, then politics failed to get the memo. Not only did hostilities continue through the Christmas period, some of the main protagonists announced in advance that they were incapable of taking a break. If anything, the holidays provided more opportunities for irate, booze-fuelled Twitter rants. One particular obje
  
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• Don’t expect Brexit to give us a British Alexander Hamilton | Rafael Behr

  31-12-2018 16:35
  They like to think they’re revolutionaries, but Brexiteers lack the necessary intellect, ideas and visionI spent most of 2018 hearing the same story of revolution, ambition and factional rivalry played on a loop. And when I wasn’t listening to the Hamilton soundtrack I wrote about Brexit.I’m late to the Hamilton party, I know. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about the first US Treasury secretary opened on Broadway in 2015. I only got tickets to see it in London a few weeks a
  
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• UK and France to step up patrols as boat with 12 Iranians lands in Kent

  31-12-2018 15:44
  Labour accuses government of whipping up migration issue ahead of Brexit voteThe home secretary, Sajid Javid, and his French counterpart have pledged to step up joint efforts to tackle cross-Channel people smuggling, as Labour accused the Conservatives of whipping up concern about the issue.On Monday, a group of 12 people, including a 10-year-old child, were being interviewed by immigration officials after they came ashore near Lydd-on-Sea, Kent. Continue reading...
  
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• Brexiteers want Britain to ‘look east’. But their idea of Asia is a fantasy | Jeevan Vasagar

  31-12-2018 15:41
  21st-century Britain is very different from 1960s Singapore. Tories wanting a pivot to Asia must admit current realitiesIn a few weeks, Singapore observes the 200th anniversary of Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival. The spot where he landed is marked with a statue – arms folded, looking out to sea – while the 52-storey headquarters of a local bank towers behind him. It’s a popular selfie spot.Singapore’s government plans a series of exhibitions and historic walking trail
  
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• Brexit: Corbyn warns of 'complete mess' in new year message

  31-12-2018 15:24 via bbc.co.uk
  In his new year message, the Labour leader says the UK "cannot go on like this" with its EU exit.
  
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• ‘Email will never catch on’: why are we so bad at predicting the future? | Anne Perkins

  31-12-2018 15:00
  A Whitehall official’s pronouncement in 1994 reflects an age-old problem: how to imagine a different worldWho can resist this hinge in time, when one year ends and another begins, without indulging in a bit of light speculation about the future, if only to contemplate where, if anywhere, on Earth might be a safe space at the end of March.This interregnum between Christmas and new year is also when Whitehall’s records of old arguments and negotiations and decisions are released, at le
  
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• No 10 plays down talk of Donald Trump state visit to UK in May

  31-12-2018 14:15
  Theresa May’s spokeswoman says no date has been set for long-delayed trip by president
  Downing Street has played down the suggestion that Donald Trump could make a formal state visit to the UK in May next year, insisting no date had yet been set for the US president’s long-delayed visit.Trump’s ambassador to the UK, Woody Johnson, had been asked whether the state visit could be rescheduled to coincide with a commemoration of the end of the second world war. He said: “Betw
  
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• May is still talking to EU leaders in hope of Brexit reassurance

  31-12-2018 13:59
  Prime minister focused on getting what MPs want ahead of Commons vote, No 10 says Theresa May has been in contact with EU leaders over Christmas to try to seek the reassurances she hopes will persuade enough MPs to back her Brexit deal in January, Downing Street has said.“She has been in contact with European counterparts over the break, and you can expect more of that to continue over the week,” the prime minister’s spokeswoman said. Continue reading...
  
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• Brexit: US ambassador to UK Johnson warns on trade deal

  31-12-2018 13:43 via bbc.co.uk
  Donald Trump's offer on trade cannot happen if the PM's Brexit deal goes through, says Woody Johnson.
  
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• Was 2018 a turning point for women? Yes, it exposed what we’re up against | Suzanne Moore

  31-12-2018 13:41
  From the Presidents Club to Christine Blasey Ford, it’s not been a great year. But there were glimmers of hope, such as in IrelandA pale, slouching Harvey Weinstein has so far escaped criminal charges for the allegations of sexual assault against him. A “millionaire” is given a three-year jail sentence for killing a woman, who died from the 40 horrific injuries he inflicted on her, including having bleach poured over her face, because this was said to be “consensual&rdquo
  
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• How London is aiming to become the world best big city for cycling | Will Norman

  31-12-2018 13:25
  I reject the suggestion that the capital’s action plan contains nothing newTwo weeks ago, the mayor of London and I spent a morning cycling with the leader of Enfield council looking at their excellent new protected cycleways and secure bike parking hub at Edmonton Green station. Together we unveiled Transport for London’s new cycling action plan, which aims to make London the world’s best big city for cycling and to double the number of cycle journeys in five years.The launch
  
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• Channel migrants: Javid 'doing a great job' says Gove

  31-12-2018 13:22 via bbc.co.uk
  Environment Secretary Michael Gove defends Sajid Javid's reaction to migrant crisis.
  
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• Record number of Britons seek Irish passports before Brexit

  31-12-2018 12:43
  Number of applications from UK citizens has doubled since vote to leave EUThe number of British citizens applying for Irish passports has risen to record levels, with one in five applicants coming from the UK amid continuing uncertainty over Brexit.Almost 200,000 Irish passport applications were received from the UK this year, the department of foreign affairs in Dublin said on Monday. Continue reading...
  
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• 2018 highs and lows: A dead Guatemalan girl and what it says about us

  31-12-2018 10:00
  
  Just one more immigrant death, but one which speaks volumes about the poisonous culture of nationalist hatred sweeping across the West.
  
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• Fishing: New EU rules could have 'grave' impact on UK industry

  31-12-2018 06:39 via bbc.co.uk
  Fishers can no longer discard fish to avoid busting quota - but that could put boats off the water.
  
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• 2018: four lessons from the markets

  31-12-2018 05:59 via ft.com
  What mistakes did traders make and what have we learned?
  
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• Boris Johnson hangs on for a last shot

  31-12-2018 05:06 via ft.com
  It is too soon to write off Britain’s clown prince of conservatism
  
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• London boroughs join forces to alleviate homelessness crisis

  31-12-2018 01:01
  Thousands of extra properties for struggling families pledged but campaigners warn of systemic issues London boroughs will join forces to provide thousands of extra properties for families on the edge of homelessness, the UK communities secretary has announced.James Brokenshire called the plan “radical”, and added that with the backing of almost £38m of funding from the government’s £1.2bn strategy to address rough sleeping, it could make a “real difference&rd
  
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