Political Headlines – Government faces charge of contempt of Parliament

Today’s political headlines include the Government’s charge of contempt, Rees-Mogg clashing with the PM’s adviser, criticism of Grayling and Javid’s bullying. 

Government to face charge of contempt of Parliament
The Guardian reports that a senior minister may be suspended from the Commons after the Speaker approved the submission of an emergency motion accusing the Government of holding Parliament in contempt over its refusal to publish full legal advice on Brexit. Labour, the DUP, and four other opposition parties have tabled a motion to be voted on today ahead of the five-day debate on Theresa May’s Brexit agreement. The Conservatives have tabled an amendment referring the matter to the Commons Privileges Committee in an attempt to delay the process.

Rees-Mogg clashes with Prime Minister’s adviser
The Daily Telegraph reports on clashes between Oliver Robbins, Theresa May’s Europe Adviser, and Jacob Rees-Mogg at a committee evidence session yesterday. Robbins claimed that the Brexit backstop would be ‘uncomfortable’ for both the UK and the EU, while Rees-Mogg insisted that the EU had ‘got us exactly where they want us’. Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay got the UK’s date of departure from the EU wrong at the same session.

Report criticises Grayling over timetable changes
The Times says that the Commons Transport Committee has called on Chris Grayling to accept responsibility for the failure of rail timetables over the summer, concluding that he was at ‘the apex’ of the railway system and had the power to prevent changes. The committee found he ought to have been ‘more proactive’, but decision-making in his department sometimes ‘simply did not exist’.

Javid’s bully identified
The Daily Telegraph identifies a Royal Navy veteran as the boy who bullied Home Secretary Sajid Javid at school and apologised to him decades later, as Sajid Javid recalled recently when speaking about the case of a Syrian refugee being bullied at a Huddersfield school.

Lords criticises HMRC’s approach to tax avoidance
The Financial Times carries details of a report by the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, which find that HMRC’s approach to dealing with tax avoidance is aggressive, disproportionate and undermines the rule of law. It recommends a full review of HMRC’s powers and criticises Treasury minister Mel Stride for refusing to give evidence.

Legal challenge against voter ID trial
The Guardian claims that a legal challenge could prevent the second stage of the trial of photo ID for elections from going ahead. A case, backed by Labour, is expected to focus that the Government acted beyond the scope of the law by using secondary legislation to order the trial.

Truss suggests Javid should prepare to challenge May
According to the Daily Mail, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, was overheard by a Green Party candidate suggesting that Sajid Javid needed to prepare for a leadership challenge against Theresa May, that Jeremy Hunt was another candidate and a ‘game-player’, and that May was a ‘pacifist’ at managing people. Truss has not commented on the alleged remarks.

Not enough scientific evidence to support energy drink ban, MPs conclude
The Sun reports that the Commons Science and Technology Committee has concluded that there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support the Government’s proposed ban on energy drink sales to under-18s, but that broader concerns, such as the experience of teachers and pupils, meant that such a ban could be justified.

What next for the Government? Find out with Vuelio Political Services.