Political news

• Remainers plan mass march and key vote in last days before Brexit

  16-02-2019 23:01
  Cross-party alliance aims to build pressure on MPs in the run-up to 29 MarchCampaigners against Theresa May’s “my deal or no deal” Brexit strategy are planning to mobilise the public and politicians for a showdown over the UK’s future in Europe in the final six days before Britain is due to leave the EU, the Observer can reveal.The plans will involve a huge march in London on Saturday, 23 March, aimed at demonstrating the scale of public anxiety about the two Brexit optio
  
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• Gavin Williamson at centre of row over chancellor’s cancelled China trip

  16-02-2019 22:07
  Senior Conservatives call for defence minister to be reined in after upset in Beijing over his commentsThe defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, was at the centre of a growing cabinet row on Saturday night as senior government sources blamed him for offending the Chinese and causing the cancellation of a crucial trade visit to Beijing by the chancellor, Philip Hammond.Senior Conservatives said it was time to rein in Williamson, who has earned the nickname Private Pike in Whitehall after a series
  
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• Flybmi files for bankruptcy

  16-02-2019 21:57 via ft.com
  UK regional carrier blames uncertainty surrounding Brexit
  
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• Airline flybmi files for bankruptcy citing Brexit

  16-02-2019 21:57 via ft.com
  UK regional carrier blames uncertainty surrounding country’s exit from Europe
  
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• Chancellor Philip Hammond's visit to China not going ahead

  16-02-2019 21:54 via bbc.co.uk
  It comes amid reports a speech by the UK's defence secretary has caused upset in China.
  
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• Labour pulls level with Tories in latest opinion poll

  16-02-2019 20:33
  Opinium poll for the Observer suggests there is significant support for a new political party Labour has pulled level with the Conservatives, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer that suggests significant potential support for a new party.Jeremy Corbyn’s party had trailed the Tories by seven points two weeks ago. However, the result proved to be a blip and both parties are now on 37% of the national vote. It marks a return to the tight poll results that have been a feature
  
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• Lady Falkender, Harold Wilson's right-hand woman, dies aged 86

  16-02-2019 20:15
  Falkender – Marcia Williams before her ennoblement – was personal and political secretary to WilsonLady Falkender, Harold Wilson’s former right-hand woman, died of pneumonia 10 days ago, aged 86, but the news emerged only late on Friday, triggering a flurry of tributes from politicians and commentators.It brought down the curtain on a life that had been the subject of intrigue and lawsuits, but which also blazed a trail for women in politics. Continue reading...
  
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• Brexit extremism is going nowhere. Now the moderate millions must act | Nick Cohen

  16-02-2019 19:30
  Britain doesn’t have to follow the Leavers over the cliff. There’s still time for a U-turnFor three years, the worst of Britain has been in charge. The Britain that says it is elitist to tell the electorate it can’t have the impossible. The Britain that has patted itself on the back for threatening the rule of law and the independence of MPs. The Britain where it is normal for supporters of Jeremy Corbyn to call the BBC’s political editor a bitch and a whore and demand he
  
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• The next three acts of the Brexit drama

  16-02-2019 19:00 via ft.com
  The challenge will be welding a political reconciliation from our fractured parties
  
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• Five Sundays to Brexit – cartoon

  16-02-2019 19:00
  A few short steps from Jacob Rees-Mogg to no deal Continue reading...
  
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• Labour MP Paula Sherriff criticises CPS over non-prosecution

  16-02-2019 18:58 via bbc.co.uk
  The CPS said no prosecution could be brought because the "evidential test" had not been met.
  
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• Grayling attacked over 'disastrous' part-privatisation of probation service

  16-02-2019 17:50
  Private provider Working Links went bust just as it was found playing down offender riskUnion bosses have condemned former justice secretary Chris Grayling’s “disastrous privatisation programme” after a probation services provider went into administration.It was announced on Friday that Working Links, owned by the German-based asset management group, Aurelius, had collapsed. The same day, HM inspectorate of probation published a report saying that Working Links staff wrongly cl
  
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• Florists: Fresh blooms could become preserve of the rich in no-deal Brexit

  16-02-2019 17:19
  Independent florists in Cambridge tell how high-cost imports and long border delays would hit their tradeIt is Valentine’s Day in Cambridge and, at a market stall near King’s College, Nicki Lark is cheerfully selling bouquets of roses, daffodils and tulips to young lovers in the sunshine. But, behind her smiles, she is worried.She fears that, like many other UK businesses that rely heavily on imports from Europe, this family-run florist, which has operated in the city’s market
  
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• Brexit: Leaving EU with no deal 'very adverse', says Gauke

  16-02-2019 16:45 via bbc.co.uk
  Cabinet minister David Gauke warns of "grave concerns" for the UK's economy and security.
  
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• Hammond's trip to China scuppered by Williamson's 'gunboat diplomacy'

  16-02-2019 15:42
  Beijing reportedly scrapped plans for chancellor’s visit after defence secretary’s remarksPhilip Hammond is not going to China this weekend for trade talks, following reports that Beijing scuppered advanced preparations for a meeting after the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, threatened to deploy a warship in the Pacific.The UK chancellor was expected to meet the Chinese vice premier, Hu Chunhua, but Treasury sources said the trip was never confirmed. It is believed that there is
  
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• Baroness Falkender, Harold Wilson's powerful secretary, dies

  16-02-2019 15:36 via bbc.co.uk
  Baroness Falkender, dubbed the Duchess of Downing Street, was thought to wield more influence than ministers.
  
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• Lib Dem peer and ex-MI6 chief used former spies to aid Romanian tycoon

  16-02-2019 15:25
  Businessman used ‘intricate knowledge’ gathered by British intelligence firm to fight extradition over corruption chargesA former MI6 boss and a Liberal Democrat peer used retired intelligence officers to gather “sensitive” information from secret sources in the Romanian government to help a wealthy businessman facing corruption allegations, according to documents seen by the Observer.Sir John Scarlett’s private intelligence firm, SC Strategy (SCS), which he co-owns
  
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• UK chancellor pulls out of trip to China

  16-02-2019 12:38 via ft.com
  Defence secretary’s gunboat diplomacy scuppers chancellor’s trade mission
  
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• Domestic abuse: MPs call for new laws to apply in NI

  16-02-2019 07:51 via bbc.co.uk
  MPs say women in NI are denied basic rights because new domestic abuse laws do not apply to the region.
  
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• UK's Saudi weapons sales unlawful, Lords committee finds

  16-02-2019 07:00
  Report finds UK arms ‘highly likely to be cause of significant civilian casualties in Yemen’The UK is on “the wrong side of the law” by sanctioning arms exports to Saudi Arabia for the war in Yemen and should suspend some of the export licences, an all-party Lords committee has said.The report by the international relations select committee says ministers are not making independent checks to see if arms supplied by the UK are being used in breach of the law, but is instea
  
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• The trip from London to Lincolnshire showed me the Brexit divide’s depth | Ian Jack

  16-02-2019 07:00
  79% remain Lambeth and 76% leave Boston have begun a conversation. There’s goodwill, but still little common groundWhat was it the Queen said? “As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture.” She spoke those words last month at the centenary of the Sandringham Women&rs
  
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• Labour would end free market in higher education, says Rayner

  16-02-2019 07:00
  Shadow education secretary to outline measures including crackdown on top-tier payA Labour government would end the “failed free-market experiment in higher education”, taking a tougher line on vice-chancellors’ pay and improving academic diversity, the shadow education secretary is set to announce.Angela Rayner will outline a series of major policy steps that would allow regulators to intervene in how universities in England are run, including how they recruit and reward staff
  
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• Listen: Humiliation again for Theresa May, a new centrist party begins to emerge

  16-02-2019 06:12 via ft.com
  The prime minister was defeated in another meaningless vote in the House of Commons this week, where does this leave her talks with the EU?
  
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• Humiliation again for Theresa May, a new centrist party begins to emerge

  16-02-2019 06:00 via ft.com
  The prime minister was defeated in another meaningless vote in the House of Commons …
  
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• Labour pledges to prevent universities from going bust

  16-02-2019 02:16 via bbc.co.uk
  Universities struggling financially would not be allowed to fail under a Labour government, the party says.
  
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• Saudi arms sales break international law, say Lords

  16-02-2019 01:11 via ft.com
  Weapons ‘highly likely to be cause of significant civilian casualties’ in Yemen
  
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• Outsourcer’s collapse stirs probation service crisis

  16-02-2019 00:09 via ft.com
  Inspector criticises private provider Working Links for crossing line to boost profits
  
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