Political Headlines – Crouch’s resignation, Banks investigation, Cameron’s return and Rudd failed

Today’s political headlines include Crouch’s resignation over the gambling machine stake cut delay, Banks investigated over Brexit donations, Cameron’s aim to return at Foreign Secretary and Rudd was failed by officials. 

Crouch resigns over gambling machine stake cut delay
The Daily Telegraph reports that sports minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over a decision to delay the reduction in the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals. She warned in her resignation letter that £1.6bn would be lost in machines because of the delay and claimed that ministers had made ‘commitments’ to MPs with ‘registered interests’, a reference to those who have received donations from the industry. The paper warns that 35 backbench Tories could back an amendment to the finance bill on the topic later this month.

Banks investigated over Brexit donations
The Times reports that Brexit donor Arron Banks is being investigated by the National Crime Agency over allegations that he hid the source of illegal overseas donations. The investigation concerns a loan of £2m to Better for the Country by Banks and his insurance companies and a further gift of £6m from Banks on behalf of Leave.EU. Damián Collins, Chair of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has called for Banks ‘to put beyond doubt and suspicion that Russian money was not involved in the referendum effort’.

Cameron aims for return to frontline politics
The Sun asserts that David Cameron has told friends that he would like to return to frontline politics and wants to be Foreign Secretary, claiming that he is now bored. The paper adds that Boris Johnson has given up on his ambition to be the next Conservative leader, fearing being humiliated by finishing fourth or fifth.

Rudd failed by officials, leaked report shows
The Times says that a leaked report shows that Amber Rudd was failed by senior officials while she was Home Secretary, leading her to have to resign after telling a committee of MPs that there weren’t targets for the removal of illegal immigrants. The report, to be published today, reveals that mistakes by officials led to Rudd not being properly informed.

Labour to remove hunting loopholes
In an exclusive, The Guardian reports that a Labour Government would strengthen the 2004 Hunting Act in order to remove loopholes. According to campaigners, hunting is continuing under the cover of trail hunting, with convictions falling to historic lows and the National Wildlife Crime Unit suffering cuts to its funding.

EU proposes new backstop compromise
The Financial Times claims that the EU’s Brexit negotiators have floated a new compromise backstop proposal in which the withdrawal agreement would contain a ‘bare-bones’ all-UK customs union with the EU, avoiding the need for a second customs treaty after Brexit, while Northern Ireland would be in a deeper customs union. This temporary measure would remain in place until a permanent trade agreement is in place

Labour MPs defy whip and vote to oppose tax cuts
The Guardian reports that twenty Labour MPs, including Lisa Nandy, Lucy Powell and Yvette Cooper, defied their whip to vote with the Liberal Democrats against the Government’s tax cuts for middle and high earners. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said that he did not oppose the cuts because he didn’t want to ‘take money out of people’s pockets’.

Councils told to prepare for no-deal Brexit
According to The Mirror, a leaked briefing reveals that councils are being told to prepare for three months of disruption in a no-deal Brexit. The minutes of a recent Local Resilience Forum meeting reveal that councils should plan for ‘reasonable worst case scenarios’ such as runs on fuel, food and banks, and to report to central government every eight hours.

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