Political Headlines – Russian poisoning, Raab and Barnier, Johnson and Hammond

Today’s Political Headlines include world leaders joining UK to condemn Russia, Raab infuriating Barnier, Johnson splits with his wife and Hammond’s cuts to fund a no-deal Brexit. 

World leaders join with UK to condemn Russia over nerve agent attack
The Times reports that US, German, French and Canadian leaders have expressed ‘full confidence’ in the UK’s assessment that Russian agents carried out the Salisbury nerve agent attack. Security officials told the paper that the novichok used in the attack could have killed up to 4,000 people and was discarded in a ‘reckless’ manner. Russia has accused the UK of ‘anti-Russian hysteria’ and the UK is preparing for a Russian-sponsored disinformation campaign.

Raab’s Northern Ireland threat left Barnier ‘furious’
The Daily Telegraph claims that Dominic Raab threatened Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, that the EU would have to order the Irish government to instate the border with Northern Ireland, leaving him ‘absolutely furious’. It also says that progress on outstanding issues has been ‘close to zero’. The Guardian adds that Ireland is hoping to agree a side deal which would allow it to continue to use the UK as a ‘land bridge’ for goods bound for the country without the need for border checks.

Johnson splits with wife in blow to leadership ambitions
The Sun reveals that Boris Johnson has split with his wife, Marina, who accused him of cheating on her again. The paper claims that this new revelation is ‘likely to deal a fresh blow’ to the former Foreign Secretary’s hopes of becoming party leader as it is likely to put off grassroots members with ‘traditional views on marriage’.

Chancellor warns of spending cuts to fund no-deal Brexit
The Financial Times claims that Chancellor Philip Hammond has ‘irritated Downing Street’, after he warned that there might be spending cuts in order to fund a no-deal Brexit, telling ministers that they would have to find savings within their budgets to fund the costs of long-term disruption. Separately, Treasury minister John Glen was pictured carrying a document about the Government’s contingency planning (codenamed ‘Operation Yellowhammer’) which warned of financial instability and the need to ‘maintain confidence’.

Blair says that he’s ‘not sure’ that moderates can regain control of Labour
Speaking to the BBC’s Nick Robinson, Tony Blair said that he is ‘not sure it is possible’ for moderates to regain control of the Labour Party from the left. He said that there had been ‘a profound change’ under Corbyn, resulting in ‘a different type of Labour Party’, and that he thought that something would emerge to fill the ‘vacuum’ between the two main parties.

Treasury axes tax cut for self-employed
The Financial Times reports that Chancellor Philip Hammond has abandoned plans to cut Class 2 National Insurance contributions, a measure which would gave delivered a tax cut for millions of self-employed people. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell described the move as ‘yet another betrayal of the self-employed’.

Cable proposes new Lib Dem supporters scheme
The Guardian says that Sir Vince Cable is to propose a range of measures to reform the Liberal Democrats, including a new scheme for supporters who will be able to vote for the party leader without paying in order to make the party a Momentum-style ‘movement for moderates’. He is also expected to talk about his future as leader in today’s speech.

Bradley admits not knowing that Northern Ireland votes on sectarian lines
The Daily Mail reports that Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland Secretary, has admitted that she did not know that ‘people who are nationalists don’t vote for unionist parties and vice-versa’. The paper adds that she has announced a pay cut for members of the Northern Irish Assembly because of the powersharing stalemate.

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