Political Headlines – Labour adopts the antisemitism and views on Brexit

Today’s Political Headlines include Labour adopting the antisemitism definition in full, Mervyn King attacking Brexit preparations, Raab promising the UK will not ‘roll over’ and Welby calling for reform of unjust economy. 

Labour adopts antisemitism definition in full, rejecting Corbyn statement
The Times reports that Labour’s National Executive Committee has adopted the IHRA’s antisemitism definition in full, rejecting a statement by Jeremy Corbyn on criticisms of Israel which he believes would still be permitted and replacing it with a shorter statement on freedom of speech on Israel and Palestine. The Metropolitan Police has said that it will investigate possible hate crimes by Labour members contained in a leaked dossier.

Mervyn King describes Brexit preparations as ‘incompetent’
Interviewed by the BBC, Mervyn King, the former Governor of the Bank of England, has described the Government’s preparations for Brexit as ‘incompetent’. While King backed Brexit, he claimed that last-minute preparations for no-deal were undermining the UK’s negotiating position and predicted that the UK would end up with Brexit in name only.

UK will not ‘roll over’ in negotiations, Raab says
The Guardian reports that Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs yesterday that the UK would not ‘roll over’ when the EU criticised it, refusing to abandon the Government’s Chequers proposals in favour of a Canada-style free trade agreement. However, The Daily Telegraph claims that Michel Barnier, the bloc’s chief negotiator warned the Commons Exiting the EU Committee that the plan was ‘not acceptable’ and proposed an alternative, Canada-style deal, similar to that advocated by Boris Johnson.

Welby calls for reform of ‘unjust’ economy
Speaking to the BBC to mark the launch of a new report by the Commission on Economic Justice, Archbishop Justin Welby has said that the economy is ‘unjust’ and called for a new regulator for large technology firms which handle data, and for the minimum wage to rise. The commission, established by the Institute for Public Policy Research, also recommends higher wages for those on zero-hours contracts and increasing corporation tax.

Chair of Commons standards watchdog resigns
The Times says that the chair of the Commons Standards and Privileges Committees Sir Kevin Barron has resigned and accused Parliament of making a ‘sacrifice of transparency’ after it banned the identification of MPs who were being investigated. He said that he was ‘proud of the changes made to the code of conduct’ during his eight years in office.

May prepares to abandon three-year tenancy plans
The Sun claims that Theresa May and Philip Hammond are to abandon plans to make three-year tenancies mandatory. The Treasury is worried that the measure will stop investment in property development, while Theresa May’s team fear that rebel backbenchers would torpedo the plans in the House of Commons.

Cabinet argues over calorie count plans
The Daily Telegraph reveals that a cabinet row has erupted over plans to display calorie counts on all restaurant menus, due to be announced by the Government shortly. The Treasury has warned that the proposal is ‘burdensome’ for small businesses, with Chief Secretary Liz Truss writing to the Department of Health and Social Care to accuse it of underestimating its impact on them.

Carney to stay as Bank of England Governor until 2020
The Financial Times reports that Mark Carney is expected to remain Governor of the Bank of England until 2020 in a plan endorsed by Theresa May in order to maintain stability during Brexit. His new departure date is expected to be announced by the Chancellor Philip Hammond, whose proposal it was to retain him, in the next week.

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