Political Headlines – Brexit security, NHS deficit, antisemitism in Labour and Islamaphobia in Conservative party

Today’s Political Headlines include France blocking a Brexit security deal, NHS hospital deficit, Jewish leader accusing Corbyn of antisemitism and Muslin Council of Britain calling for investigation into Conservative party Islamaphobia. 

French blocking Brexit security deal
According to The Times, France is blocking the UK’s attempts to reach a post-Brexit security deal. The country is objecting to the UK continuing to participate in the Prüm Convention, which allows for the sharing of DNA, fingerprint and vehicle information to identify criminals. Continued UK participation is reportedly backed by Germany.

NHS hospitals record deficit of almost £1bn
The Financial Times reports that NHS hospitals ended the year with a deficit of £1bn, almost twice the amount expected. Data released today by NHS Improvement shows that the service has been affected by a ‘surge in demand’ but the body claims that the figure is £1.5bn better than that for 2015-16. The Nuffield Trust, however, described the figure as ‘window dressing’ and claimed that ‘the true, underlying figure is much, much worse’.

Jewish leader accuses Corbyn of holding antisemitic views
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Jonathan Arkush, the outgoing president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn held ‘antisemitic views’ which had left Jews asking ‘do we have a future here?’ He also criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury for not speaking out with a ‘stronger, clearer voice’.

Muslim Council of Britain calls for investigation into Islamophobia in the Conservatives
As the BBC reports, the Muslim Council of Britain has called on the Conservatives to launch an inquiry into Islamophobia in their party. In an open letter to Brandon Lewis, the party’s chair, the council complains of ‘more than weekly incidents’ of Islamophobia and specifically cites the MP Bob Blackman.

Cleverly accuses Labour of playing party politics over Northern Irish abortion
The Guardian reports that James Cleverly, one of the Conservative Party’s Deputy Chairs, has accused Labour of exploiting the campaign to change abortion law in Northern Ireland for political gain. However, at least 13 female Conservative MPs back a change in the law, with a number backing a free vote on an amendment tabled by Labour’s Stella Creasy.

Former cabinet ministers trying to unite Tories behind ‘sensible Brexit’
The Times reports that former cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, Damian Green and Justine Greening are trying to unite Conservative MPs behind a ‘sensible Brexit’. The trio held a meeting with Theresa May yesterday, having consulted with backbench MPs, that a large majority of the parliamentary party was in favour of a compromise with the EU.

UK to be offered ‘less privileged and more expensive’ deal on research after Brexit
In an exclusive, The Guardian claims that the EU is preparing to give the UK a ‘less privileged and more expensive’ deal on science and research collaboration than that offered to some non-EU countries, such as Israel. Instead, the UK will be offered the same deal extended to countries such as Canada and South Korea, but plans to try and change this through its participation in EU budget negotiations.

Businesses warn May that they won’t invest due to Brexit uncertainty
According to the Financial Times, when a delegation of European business leaders met the Prime Minister and David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, yesterday they warned them that they would not invest in the UK until the uncertainty of the negotiations were over. The group was led by Carl-Henric Svanberg, outgoing chairman of BP, and included representatives of Vodaphone, Nestlé, BMW, E.ON and others.

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