Political Headlines – May promises to quit if MPs back her deal

Today’s political headlines includes May promising to quit if MPs back her deal, MPs failing to back any type of Brexit, Labour MPs rebel against second referendum and May considers splitting deal. 

May promises to quit if MPs back her deal
The Daily Telegraph reports that Theresa May yesterday told her MPs that she was prepared to resign in order to get them to support her Brexit deal, prompting some Conservatives, including Boris Johnson, to grudgingly lend it their backing. However, the DUP continues to insist that it would be ‘impossible’ for its MPs to back the deal, while around 20 Conservative MPs continue to oppose it. Should her deal be approved, the paper expects the leadership contest to start in May, with a new leader chosen by the end of July.

MPs fail to back any type of Brexit
As The Times reports, yesterday’s Indicative votes on possible Brexit outcomes failed to secure majority support from MPs for any option. A continued customs union secured the most support, failing by just eight votes, while a new referendum garnered more votes than expected, losing by 27. Sir Oliver Letwin, who was responsible for the process, announced that attempts to reach a consensus would continue on Monday.

Labour MPs rebel against second Brexit referendum
The Guardian says that Labour’s shadow housing minister, Melanie Onn, resigned yesterday so that she could vote against plans for a second referendum. Shadow cabinet members Jon Trickett, Ian Lavery and Andrew Gwynne all abstained on the policy, while the 27 Labour MPs who rebelled against the whip also included Sheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis.

May considers splitting deal
According to the Financial Times, Theresa May is considering trying to circumvent John Bercow’s block on a third meaningful vote by splitting the Brexit deal and only putting the withdrawal agreement before MPs for their approval, cutting off the political declaration on the future relationship. However, the EU Withdrawal Act requires MPs to vote on both.

Council tax increases but cuts to continue
The Times says that the average English council tax bill is to increase by almost 5%, the second highest increase in the last decade. According to the paper this growth is being driven by social care costs, with the Local Government Association warning that cuts in funding from the Government mean there will be ‘continued cutbacks to local government’.

Labour to unveil National Grid nationalisation plans
The BBC reports that Labour is to publish a policy paper laying out its plans to take the National Grid into public ownership. The grid would be run by a new National Energy Agency, with the party arguing that this would deliver lower bills for consumers and help to tackle climate change.

Report slams Grayling’s probation reforms
The Daily Telegraph says that the probation reforms introduced by Chris Grayling when he was Justice Secretary have been criticised by the Chief Inspector of Probation, Dame Glenys Stacey. She concludes that they are ‘irredeemably flawed’, with 80% of the companies awarded contracts ‘inadequate’ and reoffending having increased by 22%.

Former Momentum vice chair expelled by Labour
The Guardian reports that Labour has expelled Jackie Walker, the former vice chair of Momentum, for misconduct. She was suspended from the party over two years ago for comments she made at an antisemitism training session. The Jewish Labour Movement said that the expulsion was ‘two and a half years too late’.

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