Political Headlines – May, NDAs, Sedwill and police funding cuts

Today’s political headlines include May’s 1922 Committee meeting, the crackdown on unethical NDAs, Sedwill appointed cabinet secretary and police funding cuts. 

May leaves meeting of backbench MPs ‘unscathed’
The Guardian claims that Theresa May ‘emerged unscathed’ from a meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs last night. Amber Rudd said the Prime Minister’s speech was ‘emotional and personal’ and the paper reports that some Brexiteers asked ‘awkward questions’. The Times adds that parliamentary preparation for a no-deal Brexit will start in under three weeks, with routine business suspended to make way for emergency legislation. Measures include making businesses who only export to the EU register for customs duties and signing contracts on chilled storage for medicine stockpiles.

May vows crackdown on unethical NDAs
The Daily Telegraph reports that Theresa May has promised to end the use of ‘unethical’ non-disclosure agreements after the paper was blocked from reporting allegations of sexual harassment and racial abuse against a leading businessman. Labour MP Jess Phillips called for NDAs for ‘sexual harassment and hate crimes’ to be banned and expressed concern that a review promised by May would ‘happen too slowly’.

Sedwill appointed as Cabinet Secretary
The Times reports that Sir Mark Sedwill has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary following the announcement of Sir Jeremy Heywood’s resignation yesterday. Owing to the urgency of the Brexit process Sedwill, described by the paper as May’s ‘longstanding lieutenant’, did not undergo a formal recruitment process to replace Heywood, who is recovering from cancer. Labour has described the appointment as ‘an abuse of process’.

Funding cuts have dire consequences for police, MPs warn
The Financial Times carries details of a report by the Commons Home Affairs Committee, which warns of ‘dire consequences’ for public safety unless police budgets are increased. The report accuses the Home Office of an ‘irresponsible failure of leadership’ as police forces face rising levels of crime while their funding is being cut.

Lords urged to amend counter-terror bill
The Guardian says that nine organisations including Index on Censorship and Reporters Without Borders have called on the House of Lords to significantly amend the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, which they warn would threaten press freedom, damage academic research and undermine the protection of journalistic sources.

MPs back abortion law reform and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland
The Sun reports that MPs voted last night to back an amendment tabled by Labour backbencher Stella Creasy which aims to force the Government to reform the law on abortion in Northern Ireland and to introduce same-sex marriage in the province. Among those voting for the measure was Women and Equalities Minister Penny Mordaunt.

Hammond to abandon plans to bring smaller firms into VAT system
According to The Sun, Chancellor Philip Hammond is abandoning plans to bring smaller firms into the VAT system by halving the threshold, instead freezing it until 2022 and then introducing a sliding scale system currently banned by EU rules. The paper also says that Hammond will use the Budget to launch a review of PFI which may end the policy ‘for good’.

Commons Commission accepts harassment recommendations
The Daily Mirror reports that the House of Commons Commission has accepted the recommendations of Dame Laura Cox’s review of bulling and harassment in Parliament. This will allow historic harassment allegations to be reopened and an independent complaints process to be introduced.

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