Political Headlines – May to ‘resign tomorrow’

Today’s political headlines includes The Times’ claim that May will resign tomorrow, cabinet ministers angered by second referendum offer and the postponement of the no-deal debate, and Greg Clark’s plans to rescue British Steel. 

May to resign tomorrow
The Times claims that Theresa May will announce her resignation tomorrow, having seen off an attempt to force her to resign last night. She is instead expected to confirm her departure after meeting Sir Graham Brady, Chair of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs on Friday. The leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, resigned last night, claiming that May’s approach did not ‘deliver on the referendum result’. Some Cabinet ministers believe that May’s offer on a second referendum went further than agreed.

Cabinet ministers concerned about second referendum offer
The Daily Telegraph has seen the clause on a second referendum in the proposed Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which would provide for a legally binding amendment on holding such a vote to be voted on by MPs. One Cabinet minister told the paper that the bill was a ‘complete disaster’; another said it was a ‘catastrophe’.

Cabinet ministers angered as no-deal debate postponed
In an exclusive, The Sun says Cabinet ministers have been angered by Theresa May’s decision to postpone a debate on no-deal until after the parliamentary recess. She argued that a no-deal Brexit would threaten the future of the UK and increase its vulnerability to terrorists, despite a plea for more contingency planning from Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.

Greg Clark draws up plan to rescue British Steel
According to the Financial Times, Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Greg Clark has created a rescue plan for British Steel, which entered insolvency yesterday. Under the plan the Government would act as a cornerstone investor alongside a private consortium. He has requested legal advice on whether it is compatible with state aid rules.

Allen threatened to resign in row over endorsing Lib Dems
The Guardian reports that Change UK leader Heidi Allen has told Channel 4 that she threatened to resign over an argument within the party about endorsing voting tactically for the Liberal Democrats in regions outside London and the South East. While Sarah Wollaston reportedly also agreed with this strategy, others did not.

Extra cash for teachers in deprived areas
The Times says the Government will give maths and physics teachers an extra £2000 to work in deprived and remote areas to tackle problems with recruiting and retaining teachers. The new move will be announced by Schools Minister Nick Gibb today, as part of a pilot. He said that the Government wanted ‘to continue to attract the brightest and best graduates’.

Senior soldier intervenes in debate over prosecuting veterans
The Daily Mail says that the most senior non-officer in the British Army, Warrant Officer Class One Glenn Haughton has intervened in the debate over prosecutions of veterans, saying that soldiers should be protected from ‘harassment’ and wanted to defend the UK ‘without fear of potential investigations in the years that follow’.

Ofcom rules could constrain reporting of political crisis
The Daily Telegraph says Ofcom rules about reporting during elections will restrain broadcasters’ reporting on the ongoing political crisis. Under the rules, ‘discussion and analysis of election and referendum issues must finish’ when polls open. A source said if Theresa May resigned today, broadcasters must ‘cover it in a way that didn’t sway the vote’.

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