Archive for: Political Database

Today’s Political Headlines include Brexit votes in parliament, Hammond giving the NHS more money, May regrets her Grenfell Tower response and councils warn of cuts to care costs. 

Tory rebels may defeat Government on meaningful vote on Brexit deal
The Guardian says that it has been told by ‘several leading Conservative rebels’ that they are not satisfied by changes to the meaningful vote on the Brexit deal proposed by ministers, but that a defeat over the customs union has been avoided. The Government is to back an amendment on the issue backed by Nicky Morgan and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and the issue will be deferred until the customs and trade bills. A compromise amendment on the meaningful vote has been tabled by Dominic Grieve, but has not been accepted by the Government.

Hammond prepares to raise up to £10bn for NHS
The Times claims that Chancellor Philip Hammond is preparing to raise up to an extra £10bn to find the NHS, while Theresa May is to lift a cap on skilled workers from outside the EU which is blocking Foreign doctors from working in the service. Hammond wants a real terms increase of under 3% a year, funded through tax increases and borrowing, and has defeated Cabinet proponents of a dedicated NHS tax.

May regrets Grenfell Tower response
The Guardian reports that Theresa May has admitted that her response to the fire at Grenfell Tower was not good enough and that she would ‘always regret’ not meeting survivors. She has pledged to learn lessons from the tragedy and to light Downing Street in green on Thursday as part of a wider series of commemorative events.

Councils warn of cuts to care costs
The BBC carries the results of a survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services which shows that councils expect to spend £21.4bn on care services this year. The organisation warns that that this is not enough, with three-quarters of councils cutting services and almost half planning to introduce higher charges.

Arron Banks denies receiving Russian money
As the BBC reports, Leave.EU founder Arron Banks is to give evidence to the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee today, following claims that he met Russian officials ahead of the Brexit vote. He has denied receiving Russian money, saying that this was ‘part of a fake news narrative’. According to The Guardian, Home Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that the Government are treating the allegations ‘very seriously’.

Johnson backs ‘Brexit Bridge’ between Scotland and Northern Ireland
According to The Daily Telegraph Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has thrown his support behind proposals for a £15bn ‘Brexit bridge’ between Scotland and Northern Ireland. A source close to Johnson told the paper that it was ‘an interesting idea which ought to be looked at more seriously’.

EU outlines reasons for rejecting UK’s Irish border proposals
The Financial Times says that the EU has outlined its reasons for rejecting UK proposals on the Irish border. According to slides published by the European Commission, British proposals ‘leave key questions unanswered’, ‘do not cover regulatory controls’ and are ‘time-limited’. The paper also reports that the UK will apply to remain in the European standards system.

May describes G7 summit as ‘difficult’
The BBC reports that Theresa May told MPs that the G7 summit at the weekend was ‘difficult’ and that there were ‘strong disagreements’ between President Trump and other leaders. She said that US trade policies had ‘deeply disappointed’ her and praised Justin Trudeau for the ‘skilful’ way in which he had hosted the meeting.

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Today’s Political Headlines include David Davis in open rebellion against Theresa May, Hunt’s significant increase to the NHS budget, uni fees cut if diversity doesn’t increase and MPs call for more women to give evidence to select committees. 

David Davis in ‘open rebellion’ against Prime Minister
The Daily Telegraph claims that Brexit Secretary David Davis is in ‘open rebellion’ against the Prime Minister and is refusing to front her plans for a customs backstop in order to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland. While Downing Street has insisted that this will be ‘time-limited’, no end date has been included in details of the plan sent to the EU. The Times claims that Eurosceptic cabinet ministers are accusing Theresa May of deception, with remain-supporting ministers being shown the plans days before they were given them.

Hunt confirms ‘significant increase’ to NHS budget
Speaking to The Guardian, Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed that Theresa May will announce a ‘significant increase’ to the NHS’s budget when it celebrates its 70th birthday in July. He also admitted that he is unlikely to meet his target of 5,000 more GPs in England by 2020, that ‘patient safety in the NHS is still deeply flawed’ and that Brexit had contributed towards NHS staff shortages.

Regulator warns universities that he’ll cut tuition fees if diversity doesn’t improve
Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Sir Michael Barber, chair of the Office for Students, has warned that universities which don’t improve diversity will see their tuition fees cut by a third. However, Professor Graham Virgo, vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, has instead that his institution will not give black and minority ethnic applicants ‘special treatment’, despite criticism from Universities Minister Sam Gyimah.

MPs call for more women to give evidence to select committees
The BBC says that the House of Commons Liaison Committee has called for more women to give evidence to select committees, after it found that just 33% of witnesses in the last year were female. A target of reaching 40% female ‘discretionary witnesses’ (i.e. not ministers or senior officials) has been set for the end of this parliament.

Javid promises ‘fairer, more compassionate’ immigration regime
The Guardian reports that Home Secretary Sajid Javid told Parliament’s Joint Human Rights Committee that he wants a ‘fairer, more compassionate’ immigration system. He admitted that the treatment of those affected by the Windrush scandal was not ‘personal enough and not sympathetic enough’ and that things had gone ‘profoundly wrong’.

Gove attacks ‘crony capitalists’
The Daily Mail says that Michael Gove, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, has called for a crackdown on ‘crony capitalists’ who have ‘rigged the system’. He called for the tax system to be changed to encourage investment and for bosses’ bonuses to be curbed. He also criticised quantitative easing, which he claimed had made the wealthy wealthier.

1.5m Britons living in destitution
The Daily Mirror carries details of a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation that reveals that over 1.5m British people are living in destitution. The charity has warned that social security policies are leading to destitution ‘by design’ and has called for changes to the system, including to the use of Universal Credit sanctions.

Archbishop of Canterbury calls for higher taxes
According to The Daily Telegraph, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has called on the Government to find the ‘courage’ to increase taxes to fund public services, including the NHS. He also called on the Government to increase borrowing, saying that interest rates showed that there was ‘little reason to be so afraid’ of doing so.

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Today’s Political Headlines include amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, Northern Rail chaos, and plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. 

MPs to vote on amendments to EU Withdrawal Bill as Brexit white paper is postponed
The Times reports that the Government has scheduled votes by MPs on the House of Lords’ amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill for next Tuesday, giving it a week to win over potential rebels. The paper adds that the twelve backbenchers who are threatening to rebel on customs arrangements doubt that the Government will be able to reach a satisfactory compromise. The Financial Times claims that the Government has abandoned plans to publish a white paper on the future UK-EU relationship ahead of this month’s European Council meeting and it will now be published at a later date.

May under pressure over Northern rail chaos
The Guardian says that Theresa May is coming under further pressure to act on the rail chaos in Northern England, as 25 newspapers across the region united to call for an emergency summit to find a solution and a review of rail franchising. Facing questions from MPs yesterday, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced an inquiry into the problems.

Heathrow plans to be approved by cabinet sub-committee
The BBC reports that the Cabinet’s economic sub-committee is expected to approve plans for a third runway at Heathrow today. The plans will then be sent to full cabinet, with MPs expected to vote on them in ‘the coming weeks’. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has previously said that he would ‘lie down in front of bulldozers’ to stop the proposal.

Government announces action plan for carers
The Daily Mail says that the Government is to announce a series of measures to support informal carers today. The care action plan, published by six Government departments, includes flexible work hours, paid ‘carers’ leave’, and emotional support, and is being led by care minister Caroline Dinenage.

Government sells shares in RBS at £2.1bn loss
The Financial Times reports that the Government has sold a 7.7% stake in Royal Bank of Scotland, making a loss of £2.1bn, and that further shares could be sold later this year. Chancellor Philip Hammond has argued that public ownership is a drag on the firm, but as the paper adds, both Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable have criticised the Government for making a loss on the sale.

Government considers investment in Welsh nuclear plant
The Times reports that the Government is considering investing billions of pounds in a new nuclear plant in Wales, which could deliver cheaper electricity than Hinkley Point. Sources suggest that the Government could invest £1-2bn in the Wylfa plant, near Anglesey, with equal investments by Hitachi and the Japanese government, with the rest of the £15bn cost met by Government-guaranteed loans.

Committee criticises aid spending in China
The Daily Telegraph says that the Commons International Development Committee has released a critical report on aid spending in China. The committee warns that spending aid on projects to develop the Chinese film industry and reduce Chinese children’s salt intake risks ‘undermining faith in UK aid’.

Brown calls for NI increase to fund NHS
According to the Daily Mirror, Gordon Brown has made a ‘dramatic intervention’ in the debate about NHS funding, calling for a 1p increase in National Insurance to help meet funding pressures. He has warned that the service is currently in ‘mortal danger’.

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Today’s Political Headlines include the trade war over steel, the new Northern Ireland plan, the anti-Brexit tour and Conservatives accused of hypocrisy over Russian donation. 

Fox calls on EU to step back from trade war as Trump imposes steel tariffs
The Times reports that International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has called on the EU to step back from embarking on a trade war with the USA, after President Trump imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from the EU. Fox said that he wanted ‘to avoid escalation’, but did ‘not rule out’ retaliatory measures or a legal challenge to the US tariffs.

David Davis devises new Brexit plan for Northern Ireland
According to an exclusive in The Sun, David Davis is drawing up a new plan to break deadlock in the Brexit negotiations. He is proposing that Northern Ireland would operate simultaneously under both UK and EU regulations, and that there will be a 10-mile-wide ‘special economic zone’ along the border. A source told the paper that ‘it will be very hard work’ to persuade the DUP and the EU to agree to the proposals.

Left-wing group to launch anti-Brexit tour
The Guardian says that a left-wing pro-EU campaign is to launch a summer tour of British cities. The Left Against Brexit tour will feature Manuel Cortes of the TSSA, Michael Chessum of Momentum, Labour MEP Julie Ward, Labour MP Catherine West, and Green Co-Leader Caroline Lucas. The group is not advocating a second referendum, instead arguing that Corbyn should make the case that a vote for Labour is a vote to stay in the EU.

Conservatives accused of hypocrisy over Russian donation
The Daily Mirror reports that the Conservative Party received a donation from the wife of a former Kremlin aide on the same day that Theresa May blamed Russia for the Salisbury poisoning. Lubov Chernukhin, wife of a former Russian finance minister gave the party a total of £100,000 in two donations in March. Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable and Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery accused the Conservatives of ‘hypocrisy’ over the donation.

Scottish Government faces £1.7bn shortfall
The Guardian reports that the Scottish government faces a £1.7bn shortfall in its finances. The forecast, which covers the next five years, was issued by the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission, which blames reduced wage growth for the projected fall in revenue from income tax. Derek Mackay, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution, said that problem was a consequence of austerity, immigration policy and Brexit.

Lord Lawson denies accusations of hypocrisy
The Daily Telegraph says that Lord Lawson has denied accusations of being a hypocrite after he applied for a French residency card. He said that he was applying for a ‘carte de sejour’ because the French authorities had requested that he do so and that he was not applying for French nationality. Paul Butters of Best for Britain said that Lawson ‘looks like a hypocrite’.

Legatum criticised by Charity Commission over free trade report
The Financial Times reports that the Charity Commission has criticised the Legatum Institute thinktank for breaching its charitable objectives. According to the commission, a report by Legatum on the benefits of free trade after Brexit ‘failed to meet the required standards of balance and neutrality’.

Corbyn reminds Labour MPs not to employ unpaid interns after Umunna advert
The BBC says that Jeremy Corbyn has reminded his MPs not to employ unpaid interns. This follows the news that Chuka Umunna advertised for a student from Leeds University to work for him without being paid. Umunna said that as he was advertising for someone on a year in industry placement, they would be supported by their student loan.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Philip Hammond’s call for capitalism to be reformed, directors made personally liable for nuisance calls, George Soros backing a campaign for second Brexit vote and Caroline Lucas stepping down as Green co-leader. 

Philip Hammond to call for capitalism to be reformed
According to The Daily Telegraph, Chancellor Philip Hammond is to use a major speech to argue that Thatcherite free market capitalism needs to be reformed in order to adjust to modern technology and win over millennials. Measures under consideration include greater state intervention to prevent near-monopolies such as Google and Facebook. Meanwhile, the BBC says that Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has called for migration targets to be dropped and for NHS spending to be prioritised over tax cuts.

Directors to be made personally liable for nuisance calls
The Times reports that the Government is to make the directors of firms which make nuisance calls personally liable for fines of up to £500,000. According to figures from the Information Commissioner’s Office, 46% of fines since 2010 have not been recovered owing to company liquidations.

George Soros backs campaign for second Brexit vote within a year
According to The Guardian, in a speech in Paris George Soros announced that the pro-remain Best for Britain campaign would launch within days. He said that the campaign aimed to secure a second referendum within a year to save the UK from ‘immense damage’ and that it would need to be won by a ‘convincing margin’. The group’s manifesto is expected to be launched on 8 June.

Caroline Lucas to step down as Green co-leader
The Guardian reports that Caroline Lucas will step down as co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in September. She said that it was time to make ‘space for other people’, that a ‘far greater culture of professionalism’ had been introduced to the party and that she had no intention of standing for leader for a third time.

Sajid Javid halts removal of immigrants who altered tax returns
The Financial Times says that Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, has halted action against hundreds of immigrants facing extradition from the UK after they made changes to their returns. In addition, he has revealed that the Home Office is dealing with 226 inquiries from Commonwealth citizens with the right to remain in the UK who were denied the right to return after trips abroad.

HMRC fails to answer 4m calls a year
The Daily Telegraph reports that HMRC is failing to answer over four million calls a year, with over one in ten callers failing to speak to anyone – a doubling in the last year. Meg Hillier, Chair of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said that the performance was ‘disappointing’ and accused HMRC of letting down self-employed taxpayers.

Commons committee recommends action on sugar
The Times says that the Commons Health and Social Care Committee will recommend that the sugar levy on soft drinks is extended to other products such as chocolate and puddings if sugar content is not reduced. It also recommends that social media firms ‘take responsibility’ for protecting children from junk food advertising and a 9pm watershed for junk food adverts on television.

Drone tests to be introduced
The BBC says that the Government is to introduce legislation to the Commons which would require drone users to pass online safety tests. There would also be a ban on flying drones within 1km of an airport or above 400ft. According to the aviation minister, Baroness Sugg, the measures will protect aircraft and passengers.

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Today’s Political Headlines include the UK’s negotiating tactics with the EU, Boris Johnson being prank called and Mark Carney issuing a warning over post-Brexit policy 

EU official says that the UK is ‘chasing a fantasy’
The Guardian reports that the EU has accused the Government of ‘chasing a fantasy’ and warned that it ‘doesn’t negotiate under threat’, following a suggestion that the UK would seek to recover over €1bn of contributions towards the Galileo satellite navigation programme. Disputes have also arisen over suggestions that the whole UK could remain partially inside the customs union or that the backstop could be timelimited.

Boris Johnson taken in by hoax callers
As The Times reports, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been taken in by a Russian hoax-caller who pretended to be the new Prime Minister of Armenia. The callers, who have previously deceived Sir Elton John and President Erdogan, continued the conversation for 18 minutes and an investigation into the incident is now underway.

Mark Carney issues warning over post-Brexit policy
The Financial Times reports that Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, has warned that a ‘disruptive’ Brexit could lead to the institution having to choose between higher inflation or restricting economic activity. He said that ‘the bank is ready for Brexit’.

Home Office criticised over criminal record checks modernisation plan
The Guardian says that a report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee accuses the Home Office of a ‘masterclass in incompetence’ in its attempts to improve the Disclosure and Barring Service, which runs the criminal records checking scheme. The modernisation plan is over four years late and is expected to cost more that £229m more than expected.

Williamson warns that military cuts could lead to nuclear weapons being used
The Sun reports that Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has warned that the UK could be forced to use nuclear weapons if funding for conventional equipment was cut. Williamson told the RUSI’s Sea Power Conference that there needed to be funding for ‘conventional deterrence’. The paper suggests that Williamson is concerned about pressure to redirect conventional spending to cyber defence.

Hunt claims people want to pay more tax to fund NHS
The Daily Telegraph reports that Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Institute for Government that people recognise that they will have to pay more tax to fund the NHS last night, in what the paper claims is ‘a direct challenge’ to the Chancellor, Philip Hammond. It claims that the Treasury is ‘pushing back very hard’ against suggestions from Hunt and Theresa May that taxes should go up to pay for an increase in NHS funding.

Hague criticised for working for Putin-linked law firm
The Daily Mirror says that William Hague is ‘pocketing cash’ from Linklaters, despite the law firm being criticised by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee for its links to Vladimir Putin. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said that ‘Lord Hague has serious questions to answer’ and called on Theresa May to take ‘urgent action’.

SNP commission recommends income tax breaks for skilled immigrants
The Daily Telegraph says that a report by the SNP’s Sustainable Growth Commission published today will recommend that giving skilled immigrants income tax breaks in order to encourage them to move to Scotland. Andrew Wilson, chair of the commission, said the Scotland’s ‘greatest national challenge’ was increasing its working age population.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Gove’s leaked letter, public perceptions of the House of Lords and the role of the EU’s Galileo programme.

Gove criticises Hammond in leaked letter

The Daily Telegraph has seen a letter sent by Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove to the Chancellor Philip Hammond. In the letter, Gove accuses Hammond of being ‘short-sighted’ about Brexit and inflicting a ‘damaging blow’ to the Conservatives’ environmental credibility. He blames the Treasury for a defeat over environmental protections after Brexit last week and for blocking plans for give a new environmental watchdog the power to fine the Government and local authorities.

Lords of out tune with the will of the people, new poll finds

The Daily Mail says that a new poll has found that 76% of people agree that the House of Lords is ‘out of tune with the will of the British people’, with even more agreeing that it is an ‘outdated throwback’. Just 17% of respondents think that the House of Lords should be left untouched. Iain Duncan Smith said that peers should take the findings as a ‘warning’.

Galileo programme ‘key flashpoint’ in Brexit negotiations

The Daily Telegraph reports that the EU’s Galileo satellite navigation programme has become a ‘key flashpoint’ in Brexit negotiations this week. The UK has accused Brussels of not honouring promises made during the Brexit Bill negotiations by shutting British businesses out of the system, despite the UK having agreed not to demand its share of the costs back in return for continued access in the post-Brexit security partnership.

Javid promises new deal for police

The Sun says that Home Secretary Sajid Javid will promise ‘overstretched’ police chiefs a new deal when he addresses the Police Federation today. The paper says that this will mark a ‘seismic change of tone’ from that of Theresa May. An aide told the paper that while no new spending would be promised today, Javid wanted the Treasury to release more money.

Brexit leaves households £900 a year worse off, Bank of England says

The Times reports that the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, claimed yesterday that households were at least £900 a year worse off and the economy as much as £40bn smaller as a result of Brexit. Boris Johnson claimed that Brexit had ‘absolutely not’ damaged the country’s interests.

May under growing pressure over customs union from Brexiteers

The Guardian claims that Theresa May is facing ‘growing pressure’ from Brexiteers to fully leave the customs union. Boris Johnson said that the UK should leave it with ‘confidence and brio and zap and dynamism’, Michael Gove said that the backstop should only be in place for a ‘short time’ and Jacob Rees-Mogg questioned if the Government ‘really wants to leave at all’. Separately, the BBC reports that Philip Hammond told the CBI’s annual dinner that staying in the customs union was not necessary.

Boris calls for ‘Brexit plane’

According to the Daily Mirror Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has ‘sparked outrage’ by calling for a private jet. Speaking on a trip to South America, Johnson complained that the plane shared by the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers and the royal family ‘never seems to be available’ and agreed with a reporter’s suggestion that he needed a ‘Brexit plane’.

UK becoming Europe’s cocaine capital, minister warns

The BBC reports that Security Minister Ben Wallace has said that the UK ‘is fast becoming the biggest consumer of cocaine in Europe’. Speaking during a debate on the Government’s serious violence strategy, he said that he wished he had more money and promised to bring forward new measures to crack down on knife possession and extend stop and search powers within weeks.

 

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Today’s Political Headlines include turning a blind eye to Russian money, AI to save lives, Johnson’s warning and the UK’s Galileo rival.

Government criticised for turning ‘blind eye’ to Russian money
The BBC says that a new report by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee has found that London is being used to hide ‘corrupt assets’ of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies, with the UK turning a ‘blind eye’ to ‘dirty money’. Ben Wallace, the Security and Economic Crime Minister, has cast doubt on the report’s findings because he was not called to give evidence to the committee. Separately, the Financial Times reports that the UK has not renewed the visa of Russian oligarch and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, leading him to miss the FA Cup final.

May pledges to use artificial intelligence to save lives
The Times reports that Theresa May is to deliver a speech today in which she will promise to use artificial intelligence to study patient data to stop cancer or dementia before people know that they have it. She will say that this new technology is key to national prosperity and will save tens of thousands of lives a year within fifteen years.

Johnson delivers ‘thinly-veiled warning’ over customs union
The Guardian claims that Boris Johnson has ‘delivered a thinly-veiled warning’ to the Prime Minister that he still expects her to deliver a deal which would avoid a backstop keeping the UK aligned to the customs union after 2020. He said that ‘Brexiters fearing betrayal over the customs backstop must understand that the PM has been very clear that it is not an outcome we desire; we want a deal with the EU and she will deliver it.’

UK may partner with Australia to deliver Galileo rival
According to the Financial Times, the UK is aiming to launch the first tenders for a satellite navigation system to rival the EU’s Galileo project later this year, and hopes that Australia will become a partner in the programme. The BBC adds that Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, is to launch the UK’s first space strategy today, claiming that the UK needs to be ready to counter ‘intensifying threats’ in space, such as the ‘jamming’ of satellites.

Johnson visits Argentina
The Daily Mail reports on Boris Johnson’s visit to Argentina, the first by a British Foreign Secretary for 22 years. He laid wreathes with his Argentinian counterpart Jorge Faurie at a ceremony at the Monument to the Fallen in the Falklands, commemorating the Argentinian troops who died in the Falklands War. Argentina’s chief of the council of ministers, Mercos Pena, will reciprocate this gesture at St Paul’s Cathedral next month.

Gove and Davidson launch new thinktank
The Guardian says that Michael Gove and Ruth Davidson are to launch a new Tory thinktank, called Onward. Gove argues that his party ‘is at its best when it appeals beyond its core vote and puts forward a reforming, forward-looking agenda that responds to the concerns of the entire nation.’ Writing in the paper, Davidson calls on Conservatives to embrace the country’s ‘open liberal outlook as a positive – and not a threat.’

MPs criticise Motability over pay and reserves
The BBC reports that a report by the Commons Treasury and Work & Pensions Committees has found that the £1.7m paid to the chief executive of the Motability scheme is ‘totally unacceptable’, while funds of £2.4bn were being needlessly hoarded. The Government has said that the National Audit Office will look into the issues raised in the report.

Remainers accused of exploiting Irish border issue
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, former Conservative Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson and DUP Brexit Spokesman Sammy Wilson accuse remainers of having ‘cynically and recklessly exploited’ the Irish border issue. A new report released by Queen’s University Belfast finds that just one in five Northern Irish residents supports a united Ireland.

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Today’s Political Headlines include the cut to betting machine stakes, staying in the customs union beyond 2021, the Government’s 15th defeat on Brexit Bill in the Lords and the nationalisation of East Coast rail. 

Government cuts betting machine stakes
As the BBC reports, the Government has announced that the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals is to be reduced to £2 from £100 under new rules. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said that the change would ‘reduce harm for the most vulnerable’, but bookmakers have warned that the move could force them to close thousands of outlets

UK to tell EU it is prepared to stay aligned to customs union beyond 2021
The Daily Telegraph claims that the UK is to tell the EU that it is prepared to stay aligned to the customs union as a time-limited ‘backstop’, if new border technology is not ready by 2021. The plans were agreed at a meeting on the Brexit ‘war cabinet’ on Tuesday, despite objections from leading Brexiteers. Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned against creating ‘a position that is more attractive than a permanent deal’.

Lords inflect fifteenth defeat on Brexit bill
The Guardian says that the House of Lords has inflicted its fifteenth defeat on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, with the Government losing a vote on an amendment on increasing environmental protection after Brexit by 294 votes to 233. The Government now has to decide when to bring the bill back to the House of Commons to try to undo the changes.

East Coast rail franchise taken under state control
The Financial Times reports that the East Coast rail franchise has been taken under state control for the third time in twelve years. The line is to be rebranded as London & North Eastern Railway, with a public-private partnership expected to run the franchise from 2020. Despite stripping them of the franchise, the Government has admitted that Virgin and Stagecoach are a ‘probable future bidder’ for this partnership.

Review will not recommend cladding ban
The BBC reports that a review of building regulations being carried out by Dame Judith Hackitt following the Grenfell tragedy will not recommend an outright ban on flammable cladding. Instead the review will call for a new building safety management system and criticise the current building regulations for being complex and not fit for purpose.

Police chiefs consider arming rural officers
The Times claims that the National Police Chiefs’ Council is considering plans to arm frontline police officers to cope with terrorist threats in rural areas. As the paper notes, the move ‘will be seen as controversial’ given the UK’s tradition of unarmed policing, but a spokesman said that the move was being considered in areas where having fully trained units on standby was too expensive.

UK should spend as much on defence as NHS, minister claims
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood claimed that the UK should spend as much on the armed forces as it does on the NHS, warning that the UK is taking its ‘security for granted’. Health spending currently makes up 9.8% of the UK’s national income, compared to about 2% for defence spending.

Commons committee votes against Bercow investigation
The Guardian reports that an inquiry into allegations that John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, bullied member of staff has been blocked by MPs. The probe by the parliamentary commissioner for standards, requested by Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, was rejected by the Commons Standards Committee, by three votes to two.

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Today’s Political Headlines include May’s confrontation with Rees-Mogg, Corbyn ruling out a Norway-style Brexit, MSPs to vote against Brexit and the Home Office accused of shambolic incompetence. 

May confronts Rees-Mogg at customs meeting
The Times claims that Theresa May ‘confronted’ Jacob Rees-Mogg at a meeting about customs after Brexit. The Prime Minister was meeting backbench Conservative MPs to outline the options for customs post-Brexit when the clash happened, with one Conservative MP saying that May ‘slapped him down very hard’. The Daily Telegraph claims that May admitted to MPs that negotiations have reached an ‘impasse’ as neither of her customs plans will work, increasing Eurosceptics’ fears that the transition period will be extended. As the BBC reports, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has warned that Brexit talks have made ‘little’ progress since March.

Corbyn rules out Norway-style Brexit
The Guardian says that Jeremy Corbyn has told Labour MPs that the party cannot consider a Norway-style Brexit, which would leave the UK as a ‘rule taker’. John Mann, who warned that Labour would lose seats such in his Bassetlaw constituency if it ‘watered down’ its Brexit position, said that the strength of feeling from other Labour MPs had killed off the EEA option. However, The Sun claims that Shadow International Development Minister Preet Gill has ‘risked the sack’ by calling for a ‘people’s vote’ on the final deal.

MSPs set to vote against EU (Withdrawal) Bill
The BBC reports that MSPs are set to formally refuse to give the Scottish Parliament’s consent to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. The SNP are expected to be backed by Labour, Green and Lib Dem MSPs in the vote against the bill. The UK and Scottish Governments have been unable to reach an agreement over devolved powers after Brexit.

Home Office accused of ‘shambolic incompetence’
The Guardian claims that the Home Office has been accused of ‘shambolic incompetence’ after letter written by Caroline Noakes, the immigration minister, appeared to contradict what she told the Commons Home Affairs Committee about when she became aware of problems faced by highly skilled migrants. She claimed that the issue had been flagged up ‘two working days’ ago, but the letters suggest she was aware of the problem in February.

UK could withhold security clearance for firms working on Galileo
According to the Financial Times, the UK Space Agency has written to 13 British companies working on the EU’s Galileo satellite navigation system, warning them that the Government could withhold their security clearance to work on the project. The letter described the move as ‘a necessary consequence of the position taken by the European Union’.

Leaked letter shows incentive for benefit assessors to squeeze in more sessions
The Daily Mirror reports on a leaked letter which shows that disability benefit assessors employed by Atos have been given £50 rewards for fitting extra sessions into their day, which MPs fear could lead to tests being hurried and poor quality. Frank Field, Chair of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, had written to the firm, asking it for more details.

Lords vote to start second part of Leveson inquiry
The Daily Telegraph reports that peers have voted to order the start of the second part of the Leveson inquiry of press standards, defying a vote by MPs last week. As a result, MPs will have another chance to vote on the issue, which the paper claims may be as soon as next Tuesday.

East Coast rail franchise to be terminated ‘in days’
The Financial Times reports that the Government will terminate Virgin and Stagecoach’s contract to operate the East Coast rail franchise ‘in days’, following heavy losses. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has the option of temporarily nationalising the line, or negotiating a not-for-profit management agreement with the existing operator.

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