Political Headlines – Spying on the EU, anti-Semitism, Corbyn and Grayling

Today’s Political Headlines include EU fears that the UK is spying on them, Labour’s anti-Semitism compromise, Corbyn pictured with an alleged terrorist and hauliers criticism of Grayling. 

EU negotiators fear UK is spying on them
The Daily Telegraph alleges that the EU’s Brexit negotiators are worried that they are being bugged by the UK’s secret service. Concerns arose after sensitive documents were obtained by the UK just hours after they were presented at a meeting of EU civil servants. The paper adds that the documents, which set out the EU’s opposition to the UK’s plan to remain in the single market for goods, were scheduled to be published on the day of the Chequers summit but this was cancelled following representations ‘at the highest level’. Speaking to The Guardian, ‘diplomatic sources’ have rejected the suggestion that the UK might be able to negotiate directly with the other 27 EU countries at a summit in Salzburg next month.

Labour plans anti-Semitism compromise
According to The Guardian, the Labour Party is preparing to back down and incorporate the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism into its rules as long as it can incorporate protections which allow legitimate criticism of Israel. The party hopes that the changes will have been made by its conference next month.

Corbyn pictured with terrorist on Tunisian visit
The Times claims that one of Jeremy Corbyn’s fellow attendees on a controversial trip to a Tunisian cemetery in 2014 was Maher al-Taher, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which was already proscribed by the EU and which claimed responsibility the month after for an axe attack that killed four rabbis at a synagogue in Jerusalem.

Hauliers criticise Grayling following Brexit meeting
Leaders in the road haulage industry have spoken to The Daily Telegraph following a meeting with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, accusing him of ‘knowing nothing’ about the sector. They warned that his department had not put in place credible contingency plans for a no deal Brexit and that he seemed unaware that in that scenario they would be left unable to carry goods within the EU as their licences and qualifications would not be recognised.

Johnson plans comeback speech at conference fringe event
The Sun reveals that Boris Johnson is planning to make a comeback speech during a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference and is in talks to participate in at least one other event. The paper claims that Johnson will use the opportunity ‘to spearhead a pro-Brexit push’.

Johnson’s Afghan trip cost £20,000
The Guardian reports that Boris Johnson’s visit to Afghanistan on the day of the vote on the third runway at Heathrow cost taxpayers £20,000. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said that Johnson had ‘scuttled out of the country at the taxpayer’s expense rather than honouring his promise to his constituents’ to vote against the plan.

Javid criticised May’s decision to block police pay rise
The Daily Telegraph claims that Home Secretary Sajid Javid wrote to the Prime Minister after she rejected a recommended 3% pay increase for all police, warning her that she had made the ‘wrong decision’ and that officers would only see their pay increase by 1%. The Police Federation has accused May of ‘stabbing them in the back’.

Three year tenancies to be made mandatory
In an exclusive, The Sun says that Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary James Brokenshire is backing plans to make three-year tenancies mandatory, despite opposition from landlords. The news, expected to be announced next week, has been welcomed by housing charity Shelter.

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