Political Headlines – Brexit, loneliness, undercover cops and Hancock on Universal Credit

Today’s political headlines include May’s refusal to back the draft Brexit deal, the Government’s loneliness strategy, police infiltration in the SWP and Hancock’s controversial claims he has not received any letters about Universal Credit. 

May refuses to back draft Brexit deal as ministers start implementing no-deal plans
The Daily Telegraph claims that Theresa May refused to back a draft Brexit deal that had been negotiated by UK and EU officials yesterday because she worried that the Cabinet would not support it. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab headed to Brussels for an unscheduled meeting at which he set out the UK’s concerns, with all talks now suspended until a summit of EU leaders on Wednesday. The Times adds that ministers have now been told to start implementing plans for a no-deal Brexit, while The Guardian says that the ‘pizza group’ of pro-Brexit Cabinet members convened by Andrea Leadsom will meet tonight to discuss May’s proposed deal, with backbenchers suggesting that they should now quit the Government.

Government launches loneliness strategy
The Daily Mail reports that Theresa May is launching the Government’s loneliness strategy, encouraging GPs to refer lonely people to activities such as dancing and cookery classes, walking clubs and art groups. Other parts of the strategy include £1.8m for community cafes and gardens and getting postal workers to check on lonely people during their rounds.

24 police officers infiltrated SWP
In an exclusive, The Guardian reveals that the police used 24 undercover officers to infiltrate the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) between 1970 and 2007, four of whom deceived women into sexual relationships. The paper and the Undercover Research Group have compiled a database of groups infiltrated by the police since 1968, showing that the SWP accounts for one-third of the cases identified. Only three far-right groups are listed.

Hancock claim not to have received any letters about Universal Credit contradicted
The Daily Mirror reports that despite Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock claiming that he had received ‘no letters at all’ about Universal Credit, he was actually sent an email on the subject by a constituent just three days before. Separately, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warns in the paper that Universal Credit is ‘not fit for purpose’.

Hammond’s ability to raise taxes limited
The Financial Times says that a number of factors are limiting Philip Hammond’s ability to raise taxes at the budget: opposition amongst Tory MPs to changes to pension tax relief, Eurosceptic and DUP protests about the Government’s Brexit strategy, and Theresa May’s claim at the party conference that the end of austerity was ‘in sight’.

Russians targeting British spies
According to the Daily Mirror, the Foreign Office has warned that Russian spies are trying to make former MI6 officers and diplomats turn traitor. A memo claims that ‘Russian services regard both current and former members of the service as high-priority targets’ and warns them that ‘close relations’ might be threatened.

Former ministers should be held to account for decisions, thinktank says
The Daily Telegraph says that the thinktank the Institute for Government has recommended that former ministers should be required to appear before parliamentary committees in order to give evidence on mistakes made while they were in office and that civil servants should regularly produce feasibility and risk assessments for major projects.

Leasehold reform to be consulted on
The Financial Times carries details of the Government proposed leasehold reforms, on which a consultation will be launched today. Under the proposals, annual ground rents on new leasehold properties will be capped at £10 and the sale of most new houses as leasehold will be banned, with exemptions for shared ownership and community-led schemes.

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