Archive for: Political Database

Today’s Political Headlines include Russia’s midnight deadline(!), today’s Spring statement, Karl Turner accused of sexual harassment and the £2bn cost of Brexit preparations. 

Russia given midnight deadline to explain its actions
The Times reports that Theresa May has given Russia until midnight to account for its actions in the poisoning case. If there is ‘no credible response’, retaliatory measures might include a cyberattack, and the Prime Minister has hinted that the Government will drop its opposition to the ‘Magnitsky amendment’, which would make it easier to confiscate the assets of human rights abusers. The BBC reports that Jeremy Corbyn’s response has been controversial, as he criticised Conservatives for accepting donations from ‘Russia oligarchs’.

Spring statement to contain overhaul of VAT statement
The Daily Telegraph claims the Philip Hammond will announce an overhaul of the VAT system to benefit small traders and entrepreneurs in the spring statement today. The Times reports that other consultations will be on technology companies and plastics. The Guardian says Iain Duncan Smith has called on the Chancellor to reverse cuts to Universal Credit.

Karl Turner accused of making sexual remarks to cancer victim
The Times says that the number of Labour MPs facing bullying and sexual harassment allegations grew to six after Karl Turner was accused of slapping and making crude comments to a cancer survivor. The Daily Telegraph claims Speaker John Bercow is under pressure over claims that he used taxpayers money to suppress allegations against him.

Brexit preparations to cost Government £2bn
Institute for Government analysis suggests the Government is likely to have spent £2bn on Brexit preparations by the time that the UK leaves the EU in March 2019, with 10,000 extra roles being created in six core Whitehall departments, the Financial Times reports.

Home Office keeping torture victims in detention
The Guardian says that an inspection report into Harmondsworth immigration removal centre shows that the Home Office is detaining torture victims despite accepting evidence of their vulnerability. Concerns were also raised about security, safety and respect.

Brexit negotiators ‘closing in on securing a deal on the transition period’
According to The Daily Telegraph, Brexit negotiators ‘are closing in on securing a deal on the transition period’, and aiming for agreement at the March 22 European Council summit. Sources said that the European Commission was ‘impressed’ by the British negotiating team.

University strike may be called off
The Guardian says that strikes by university staff could be called off after a revised pension reform proposal was agreed by employers and union officials. It will be considered today by the University and College Union’s higher education committee and branch representatives.

Military childcare scheme to be axed
The Daily Mirror reports the Government is planning to axe a childcare scheme used by around 10,000 military personnel, alongside other ‘childcare vouchers’ and replaced by ‘tax-free childcare’, which the paper says is ‘less generous’. A vote will be held today.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Newsnight’s bullying investigation in Parliament, the full spectrum response to Russia, NHS staff offered a pay rise and ministers rejecting the latte levy. 

Investigation into bullying in Parliament accuses three MPs, including John Bercow
An investigation by BBC Newsnight into harassment and bullying of clerks in Parliament has made accusations against three MPs. Those accused are Labour’s Paul Farrelly, the Conservative Mark Pritchard, and the Speaker, John Bercow. All three deny the allegations, but Lib Dem deputy leader Jo Swinson has called for a ‘thorough independent investigation.’

May draws up ‘full spectrum’ response to Russia
In an exclusive, The Sun reports that Theresa May is drawing up a ‘full spectrum’ response to alleged Russian involvement in the poisoning of a former Russian spy. Measures will include expelling diplomats, cancelling visas, freezing assets, a joint international statement of condemnation, and increased military deployments in Eastern Europe.

NHS staff to be offered pay rise in return for losing holiday
According to The Guardian, the Government is to offer NHS staff a 6.5% pay rise over the next three years, so long as they give up a day’s holiday. This would be the first ‘meaningful’ pay rise since 2010, the paper claims, with unions ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the deal.

Ministers reject ‘latte levy’
The Government has rejected calls from the Environmental Audit Committee to introduce a ‘latte levy’ on disposable coffee cups. The BBC says that ministers have instead suggested shops introduce their own voluntary charges, annoying committee chair Mary Creagh.

Johnson promises ‘very, very minimal controls’ on Irish border
Speaking at an event held by The Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson promised ‘very, very minimal controls’ at the Irish border and that a no deal Brexit would have no ‘terrors’ for the UK. The Financial Times says that Donald Tusk, the European Council President, has said that Ireland must be dealt with ‘first’ in talks. The Daily Telegraph also reports that the Government is to go ahead with its proposals for devolution after Brexit, despite failing to secure approval from the devolved administrations.

Tories ‘clamouring’ for public spending increase
The Financial Times says that Conservative MPs are ‘clamouring’ for the Chancellor to increase public spending at the Spring Statement. The Daily Mirror reports that John McDonnell is to say the Conservatives are ‘blind’ to the ‘pain and misery’ of austerity.

Government to publish ‘humiliating’ Universal Credit reviews
The Daily Mirror says the Government confirmed yesterday that it was to give up its two-year battle to keep its ‘humiliating’ reviews of Universal Credit secret. The Government had been due to defend the non-publication of the reviews at a forthcoming tribunal.

Government considers fines for motorists who pass too close to cyclists
The Times reports that the Government is to publish a call for evidence as part of a review of cyclist and pedestrian safety, including possible fines for drivers who pass cyclists too closely. Legal advice advocating a new offence of dangerous cycling will also be published.

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Today’s Political Headlines include MI5 now investigating the Russian poisoning, the EU’s dismissal of Theresa May’s speech, Hammond’s Brexit speech and Junk food adverts to be curbed. 

MI5 treating poisoning as assassination attempt linked to Russia
The Times claims that it has been told by ‘Whitehall sources’ that the suspected poisoning of the former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter is being treated as an assassination attempt linked to Russia by MI5. If this is found to be the case, Boris Johnson has promised that the Government ‘will respond appropriately and responsibly’ and also suggested that British dignitaries might boycott the World Cup in protest.

EU dismisses Theresa May’s speech as ‘double cherry-picking’
In an exclusive, The Guardian publishes a leaked document in which the EU dismisses Theresa May’s Brexit speech as ‘a change in tone, but not in substance’. The analysis says that the trade model proposed by May is ‘double cherry-picking’ and is unworkable, and that the speech was aimed May’s ‘domestic audience’. The paper also says that carmakers are stepping up their warnings about the impact of Brexit, while the Daily Mail reports that Ryanair’s boss has threatened to ground planes in an attempt to force a rethink of Brexit.

Hammond to give speech on Brexit and financial services
Chancellor Philip Hammond will give a speech today, telling European leaders that it is in the mutual interest of both the UK and the EU to include financial services in a free trade agreement, The Daily Telegraph says. He will warn that prices for financial services will go up without a deal. However, the Financial Times reports that Brussels and Paris will publicly rebuff May’s proposals to secure the City’s access to the EU single market.

Junk food adverts to be curbed
According to The Times, Theresa May is planning a U-turn on her obesity policy. She had ruled out restrictions on advertising and promotions of junk food, but new plans are now being drawn up by 10 Downing Street following pressure from Jeremy Hunt. A second child obesity strategy is now planned to be published later this year.

Nicola Sturgeon attacks former Children’s Minister as he refuses to stand down
The Daily Telegraph says that Nicola Sturgeon has attacked her former Children’s Minister, Mark McDonald, for refusing to step down as an MSP. McDonald has quit the SNP after an internal inquiry found that he had sent ‘inappropriate and unwanted’ messages, caused distress through ‘unwanted attention’ and abused his position of power.

Saudi crown prince starts UK visit
As the BBC reports, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, begins a three-day visit to the UK today, during which he will hold talks with Theresa May and have lunch with the Queen. The BBC says he ‘is seen by some as a modernising force’ but that protests are planned against Saudi Arabia’s role in the war in Yemen.

Jeremy Corbyn backs call for Wollstonecraft statue
The Guardian reports that the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his deputy Tom Watson are among 40 men who have signed a letter calling for the feminist Mary Wollstonecraft to be commemorated by a statue. The letter has also been signed by Andrew Adonis and Sir Vince Cable. The paper says that Harriet Harman has welcomed the arrival of ‘Tory feminist’ MPs, claiming that this has the potential to boost the women’s rights movement.

Government calls for tighter security on smart devices
The Daily Telegraph reports the Government will announce that smart devices must have far better security features to prevent them from being used by criminals. New guidelines and a code of practice for manufacturers are to be announced today.

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Today’s Political Headlines include May’s speech on planning policy, May’s criticism of Trump over the steel tariff plans, higher tax for baby boomers and legal action over immigration data blocks. 

May to give speech on planning policy today
As the BBC reports, Theresa May is due to give a speech on housing today. She will warn firms that are slow to build new homes that they could be refused planning permission in the future and criticise bonuses ‘based not on the number of homes they build but on their profits or share price’. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, May argues that ‘England needs more homes’ but promises ‘extra protection for Green Belt land’, environmental protections, and ‘a stronger emphasis on good design’.

May criticises Trump over steel tariff plans
In a phone call yesterday, Theresa May criticised President Trump for his plans for tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and after he threatened taxes on EU-made cars, The Times says. A spokesperson told the paper that the Prime Minister said that ‘multilateral action was the only way to resolve the problem of global overcapacity in all parties’ interests’.

Willetts to argue for higher taxes on baby boomers
David Willetts, the former Conservative minister and the Chair of the Resolution Foundation, will use a speech today to argue that the Government needs to target the wealth of baby boomers, through capital or property taxes, according to The Guardian. The paper also reports that the Institute for Public Policy Research has said that income tax bands could be scrapped without costing the Government and giving average earners as much as £1,100.

Legal action over Home Office plans to block access to immigration data
Two organisations are to challenge plans by the Home Office to deny millions of people access to the immigration data held on them in court, The Guardian says. The Open Rights Group (which campaigns on data privacy) and the3million (which represents EU citizens in the UK) argue that a clause in the Data Protection Bill breaches EU law.

EU to offer UK a Canada-style trade deal, as Tory customs union rebels back down
The Daily Telegraph claims the EU is to offer the UK a Canada-style trade deal this week, with only a short section on customs and services (and potentially no mention of financial services). The Sun says Conservative rebels are to back down on their threat to vote to keep the UK in a customs union, following Theresa May’s vow to keep the UK aligned in key industries. As the BBC reports, a Sinn Féin delegation is to meet EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier today, with the DUP meeting him tomorrow.

Five-sixths of employers fail to submit gender pay gap data
Just one sixth of employers with 250 or more staff have submitted gender pay gap data to the Government, with just a month before the deadline, according to the Financial Times. The Government expects about 9,000 employers to be captured by the regulations, but the paper’s calculations suggest that 13,500 could be affected. Only 1,442 have reported.

Government did not pursue opportunity to retrieve £364m from Carillion
The Guardian reports that the Government was aware of a plan that could have retrieved more than £360m from Carillion, limiting the cost to taxpayers and sparing cuts to pensions, but it did not encourage the firm to pursue it. The plan, presented by EY in December, would have broken the firm up, selling the profitable parts and liquidating the rest.

Team Sky ‘crossed an ethical line’, committee finds
A report by the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has concluded that Team Sky ‘crossed an ethical line’ by using drugs permitted by anti-doping rules to enhance performance, instead of just for medical purposes, the BBC reports. Team Sky says that it ‘strongly refutes’ the claims in the report.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Davis ‘standing up’ to the EU, John Major’s speech, no deal harming the car industry and calls for more spending on the armed forces. 

Davis stands up to Brussels pressure over Northern Ireland
Brexit Secretary David Davis has said that the UK will not pay the Brexit divorce bill, unless the EU backs down on its attempts to keep Northern Ireland subject to its rules, The Times reports. The Guardian says that Theresa May is under pressure to explain how she will avoid a hard Irish border in her speech on Friday, but that she has conceded that EU citizens who move to the UK during the transition period will be able to stay permanently. In The Daily Telegraph, Ruth Davidson criticises Boris Johnson’s ‘casual disregard’ over the Irish border, but says that Theresa May will use her speech to make clear ‘what is achievable and what is fantasy’. The BBC adds that May is to meet European Council President Donald Tusk today.

John Major calls for MPs to have a free vote on the Brexit deal
As the BBC reports, Sir John Major said, in a speech to the Creative Industries Federation, that MPs should have a free vote on the Brexit deal with the option to hold a referendum. Eurosceptic backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said that Major was ‘getting it wrong again.’

No deal Brexit would harm car industry, report says
A report by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee warns that failing to strike a deal on Brexit would put ‘hundreds of thousands’ of jobs at risk, the BBC says. If trade barriers are erected after Brexit, the sector could be cost £4.5bn in lost exports. However, Toyota has pledged to build the next-generation Auris in the UK despite Brexit, the Financial Times reports.

General says the UK needs to spend more on the armed forces
General Sir Gordon Messenger, vice-chief of the defence staff, has told The Times that the UK needs to spend more on the armed forces, or it would risk defeat to Russia or North Korea. He also stressed the importance of the information war and the use of data.

Boris Johnson could be investigated over garden bridge
The Guardian claims that Boris Johnson could be investigated for misconduct in public office according to a senior lawyer, if it is shown that pressure from him during his tenure as Mayor of London led to the loss of £40m on the abandoned garden bridge project. He will be questioned by a London Assembly committee today.

Osborne’s austerity target met, two years late
The Financial Times reveals that the UK has eliminated the deficit on its day-to-day budget, two years after the target set by George Osborne in 2010. Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies described the news as ‘quite an achievement’, but said that it had ‘come at the cost of an unprecedented squeeze in public spending’.

Libor grants under review
In an exclusive, The Sun says that the Treasury is reviewing all Libor charity cash grants, after ministers raided hundreds of millions for their own budgets. The review started last autumn, after concerns were raised by the National Audit Office. The Public Accounts Committee has promised to question officials over the revelations.

Liz Truss: Middle class professionals put up barriers to stop others joining them~
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, has accused middle class professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and teachers, of being a ‘blob’ which is ‘constantly lobbying to put barriers up to prevent new people joining them’, according to the Daily Mail. She suggested that ‘professional regulations can be a damaging restraint on trade’ and praised free schools where ‘teachers don’t have to have traditional training’.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Liam Fox’s attack on the customs union, Toby Young’s appointment criticised, a call for children to be removed from extremists and the EU’s demands for the ECJ to play a continued role in the UK.

Fox to attack customs union in speech today
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox is to argue in a speech today that a customs union between the UK and the EU after Brexit would be a ‘complete sell out’, the BBC reports. He will argue that the UK must have the freedom to exploit the ‘opportunities of the future’. The Guardian reports that in a speech this evening, Sir Martin Donnelly, the former Permanent Secretary of the Department for International Trade, will warn that leaving the single market will cause ‘significant damage’. The Financial Times adds that pro-European Conservative MPs are to join forces with Labour in a vote on the customs union.

Toby Young appointment process criticised
An investigation by the Commissioner for Public Appointments into the appointment of Toby Young to the board of the Office for Students has criticised the regulator and the Department for Education. The Guardian says that the report found that the process ‘was flawed and rife with political interference’.

Top counterterrorism officer calls for children to be removed from extremists
The Times reports that Mark Rowley, assistant commissioner for special operations at Scotland Yard, has called for courts to remove children from extremist families. He said that exposing children to extremism was ‘equally wicked’ as exposing them to sexual abuse. In his speech, Rowley also said that far-right extremism was flourishing.

EU demands continued role for the European Court of Justice
The Financial Times claims that the EU will demand the UK remains subject to European Court of Justice rulings for an indefinite period as part of the Brexit divorce deal, backed up by sanctions to cut off market access. The paper expects Theresa May to reject this proposal outright. Meanwhile, The Daily Telegraph says that France and Germany have blocked British plans to continue ‘fudging’ the Irish border issue, in what the paper calls an ‘outrageous attempt to turn Northern Ireland into EU province.’

Sturgeon rejects latest Brexit devolution proposals
Nicola Sturgeon has rejected the Government’s latest proposals for devolution after Brexit, the BBC reports. She said it is ‘very likely’ the Scottish Parliament will not give its consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill and rejected the idea that common systems of regulation could be imposed by Westminster without agreement.

Gove to announce £150m cut in funding for wealthy landowners
The Financial Times reports that Michael Gove is to announce that £150m could be saved by cutting support for wealthy landowners, which could instead be used to help farmers focus on ‘environmental enhancement and other public goods’. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary is to launch a consultation on an ‘agricultural transition’ period today.

Train companies ‘pocketing’ millions
According to The Daily Telegraph, train companies are accused of benefiting from transport chaos by ‘pocketing millions of pounds in compensation’ when services are delayed or cancelled. The paper says that there is ‘mounting anger’ from Conservative MPs and campaigners over automatic compensation payments to rail firms from Network Rail.

Government announces £1.5m funding for blades for amputee children
The Daily Telegraph hails the success of a campaign run by Sarah Hope, wife of the paper’s correspondent Christopher Hope, after the Government announced another £1.5m in funding for running and swimming blades for amputee children.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Brexiteers claiming victory after the policy meeting at Chequers, May plans for migration U-turn, Jeremy Corbyn to announce Labour’s support for staying in the customs union and Gove possibly banning plastic straws.

Brexiteers claim victory after Brexit policy meeting
The Daily Telegraph claims that ‘Brexiteers were claiming victory’ following yesterday’s meeting to decide Brexit policy. A source said Chancellor Philip Hammond was ‘shocked’ by the consensus in favour of divergence. The UK will remain close enough to the EU that trade ‘should be as frictionless as possible’, but the paper warns that the EU has ruled out May’s favoured ‘three baskets’ strategy. The Financial Times suggests that the meeting also pleased pro-Europeans, with one saying it was wrong that divergence had ‘prevailed’, while another source said ‘It seems like everyone thinks they got what they wanted.’

May plans for transition period migration U-turn
The Times says the Government is planning a U-turn on its policy that immigrants from the EU during the Brexit transition period should not be allowed to stay permanently. Instead, the Government is considering making a unilateral guarantee that EU citizens who arrive during the period can remain. Meanwhile, a ‘senior EU source’ tells The Guardian that the UK will lose its rebate from the end of 2020, if it extends the transition period beyond then.

Jeremy Corbyn to signal UK staying in customs union
The Guardian says that Jeremy Corbyn is expected to signal that Labour will support the UK staying in a customs union with the EU in a speech on Monday. The paper reports that Tory rebel Anna Soubry has tabled an amendment calling on the Government to remain in a customs union, and that if Labour decide to back it, May is facing a ‘highly damaging defeat.’

Gove says that plastic straws could be banned in Brexit Britain
Speaking on a Daily Telegraph podcast, Michael Gove, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, has said that plastic straws may be banned. He said that banning plastic straws would be easier after the UK leaves the EU, but also spoke of the need for a balanced approach. The paper says that the UK uses an estimated 8.5m billion plastic straws a year.

Hunt sets out plan to tackle medication mistakes
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has written about medication mistakes for The Daily Telegraph. He warns that errors could be responsible for up to 22,000 deaths and sets out steps to tackle the problem, including improved data, electronic prescribing and working with the clinical community. The paper reports that the errors cost the NHS £1.6bn a year.

Net migration from the EU falls to lowest level for five years
As the BBC reports, the number of EU citizens leaving the UK is at its highest level for a decade, according to figures produced by the Office for National Statistics. Net EU migration was at its lowest level for five years. Immigration minister Caroline Noakes said that the UK was still attracting the ‘brightest and best people’.

Government back organ donation ‘opt-out’ bill
The Mirror says that the Government is supporting a bill to change the law on organ donation, which is due to be voted on today. The bill will create an ‘opt-out’ organ donation system in England and at a reception organised by the paper last night, health minister Jackie Doyle-Price said the Government would give its backing to the bill.

Labour considering land value tax
According to The Guardian, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said that Labour is considering a land value tax to boost local government revenues. Speaking at an event organised by the Resolution Foundation, he said that cuts to local services mean ‘that people are now willing to consider more radical solutions than they have in the past.’

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Today’s Political Headlines include Tory MPs’ demands for a harder Brexit, Corbyn attacking the press, the continuing Oxfam scandal and Diane Abbott calling for fairer immigration for families.

Over 60 Tory MPs write to May demanding harder Brexit
The Times reports that over 60 Conservative MPs have written to Theresa May, telling her they will no longer support her Brexit plans if the Cabinet agrees to keep the UK too closely aligned to the EU. Their demands would make it impossible for the UK to stay in EU agencies, and reject the transition period unless a trade deal is agreed by next March, which the paper reports that ‘experts believe is all but impossible’. The Daily Telegraph claims that Boris Johnson has told German officials that the negotiations are ‘a mess.’

Corbyn attacks press over spy accusations
As the BBC reports, Jeremy Corbyn has warned the press that ‘change is coming’ and accused the media of publishing ‘lies and smears’ about his contact with a Czech spy in the 1980s. In a statement, The Sun said that it would ‘keep asking’ questions. According to The Guardian, intelligence experts who have seen Czechoslovakian files say that there is no evidence that Jeremy Corbyn was a spy or agent of influence.

Oxfam accused of being ‘quite possibly deliberately’ misleading by minister
The Times reports that International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt accused Oxfam of ‘quite possibly deliberately’ misleading governments, the police, and the public over sexual exploitation by its staff in Haiti in 2011. Meanwhile, Save the Children has apologised to three women who raised concerns about its former chief executive, Justin Forsyth.

Diane Abbott to call for fairer immigration for families
Diane Abbott will announce a pledge to end ‘family break-up through the immigration system’ in a speech today, The Guardian says. She will renew Labour’s commitment to scrap the Government’s migration target, allow parents or carers of admitted child refugees to come to the country, and end the practice of deporting children without entitlement to be in the UK once they turn 18 even if their parents are entitled to be here.

New FCA and Charity Commission chairs face criticism
Two public appointments came under scrutiny in the House of Commons yesterday. The Financial Times says that Charles Randell, incoming chairman of the Financial Conduct Authority, was questioned over his use of a film partnership accused of being a tax-avoidance scheme. The Guardian reports that the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has unanimously refused to endorse Baroness Stowell of Beeston as chair of the Charity Commission because she lacked ‘any real insight, knowledge or vision’.

Committee launches investigation into social media’s impact on children
According to the Daily Mail, the Commons Science and Technology Committee has opened an investigation into the effect of social networks on children. Norman Lamb, the committee’s chair, said ‘Social media and smartphones are increasingly being used by children and young people. It is vital that we understand the impact this is having on them – the benefits as well as the risks.’

Labour and Lib Dem peers should resign to cut size of Lords, says Prime Minister
Theresa May is calling on Labour and the Liberal Democrats to encourage their peers to retire in order to cut the size of the House of Lords, claiming that the Conservatives were better at ‘embracing retirement at the appropriate time’, the BBC reports.

Lib Dem spokesperson steps down over sex for favours accusation
In an exclusive, The Sun says that Lord Lester has stood down as a Liberal Democrat spokesperson over a sex for favours scandal. A female campaigner has launched a complaint alleging that the peer tried to grope her when she approached him for help to pass legislation, and offered support in return for a sexual relationship. Lester denies the claims.

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Today’s Political Headlines include the Education review, the visa cap limit being repeatedly met, Labour not compensating PFI investors and the MPs’ report on Carillion.

 

Education review
Theresa May is to claim that too many people go to university and pay too much for their courses The Daily Telegraph says. She will announce a year-long review of tertiary education and university funding, with the paper suggesting that cuts to fees for arts and social science courses and improved vocational education are favoured. The Times warns that May’s plans have already come under attack, with Justine Greening, the former Education Secretary, claiming that they risk damaging social mobility and Mark Leach, chief executive of the think tank Wonkhe saying that the proposals ‘simply don’t add up’.

Visa cap hit for unprecedented third month
The Guardian reports that the UK has hit its cap on visas for skilled non-European workers for an unprecedented third month and that this is deepening the staffing crisis in the NHS. Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said NHS organisations were ‘increasingly concerned at their inability to obtain permits for essential medical colleagues’.

Labour might not compensate PFI investors
John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, has suggested that some investors in private finance initiatives might not receive compensation if Labour renationalised contracts, the Financial Times reports. Addressing a meeting of Labour activists, McDonnell said ‘Parliament will determine the value of every industry and sector that we nationalise’ and told the paper that ‘Some of the schemes we know could well be in perilous difficulty, so it’s almost like handing them back rather than us giving compensation’.

MPs publish report on Carillion
A joint report published today by the Commons Work and Pensions and Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committees finds that Carillion’s annual reports were ‘worthless’, that investors were fleeing the firm and that one major investor had considered suing the company, the BBC reports.

Corbyn to disappoint Labour MPs by not committing to customs union
According to The Times, Jeremy Corbyn will disappoint Labour MPs today by not making a clearer commitment to remaining in a customs union with the EU following Brexit. The paper said that backbenchers had expected Corbyn to make the commitment following a meeting of the shadow cabinet’s Brexit sub-committee today.

May to resist pressure to abandon plan to reduce the number of MPs
The Times says that Theresa May is to resist calls to abandon plans to cut the number of MPs to 600 from the current 650. Today the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee will call on the Prime Minister to accept that MPs are unlikely to vote for the change and put in place arrangements for a new boundary review. May is apparently confident that she will win the vote in September, as the DUP is no longer opposing it.

James Brokenshire returns to Parliament after lung surgery
James Brokenshire, the former Northern Ireland Secretary, has announced that he is to return to frontline politics, The Daily Telegraph says. He stepped down to have lung surgery, but says that he is ‘recovering strongly’ and will return to Westminster on Tuesday.

Labour MPs paid up to £10,000 to meet spies during Cold War
The Daily Mail reports comments by Jan Sarkocy, a former Czech spy, that Labour MPs were paid up to £10,000 to meet Eastern Bloc agents during the Cold War. Jeremy Corbyn has denied Sarkocy’s claim that he was a paid informant of the Czech secret police.

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Today’s Political Headlines include calls to end rough sleeping, Boris Johnson’s speech on Brexit, and the breakdown of talks to restore a Northern Ireland Executive. 

 

Calls for Government action following the death of a rough sleeper outside Parliament

The Guardian have reported that MPs have expressed sadness after learning that a man believed to have been sleeping rough had died outside the Houses of Parliament. Numerous Labour MPs have responded on twitter, drawing attention to the man’s death and criticise policies they said had contributed to a sharp rise in the number of rough sleepers in the UK.

Boris Johnson’s Policy Exchange speech called for “hope not fear” in the UKs departure from the EU

The BBC reports that the Foreign Secretary has told his fellow Brexiteers they should not “gloat” about the UK’s departure from the EU, which he said was a cause for “hope not fear”. He has urged people to “unite about what we all believe in”, an “outward-looking, confident” UK, and that leaving the EU was not a “great V-sign from the cliffs of Dover”. The Guardian reports that Johnson’s speech struggled to woo remainers, and used his speech to try to simultaneously reach out to remainers while doubling down on his arguments in favour of a hard break from the EU.

Jean-Claude Juncker denies claims by Boris Johnson that he wants to create a European “superstate”

The Independent reports that President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker has said that claims he wants to create a European “superstate” are “total nonsense”. He said that the President of the European Commission should be directly elected by the voters of Europe.

Talks between the DUP and Sinn Fein broken down in attempts to strike a Northern Ireland deal

Sky News are reporting that talks between the leaders of Northern Ireland’s two biggest political parties to re-establish a government in Stormont have broken down. DUP leader Arlene Foster said there was “no prospect” of negotiations leading to a new power sharing agreement with Sinn Fein. The Telegraph have reported on comments made by former Northern Ireland Secretary, Theresa Villiers, saying that Westminster being forced to set Northern Ireland’s budget is “increasingly inevitable”.

British Steel pensions scheme is a victim to a major mis-selling scandal

The Financial Times have reported that British Steel pension savers were “shamelessly” exploited by “dubious financial advisers” after a restructuring of the scheme last year, drawing upon a report by the Work and Pensions Select Committee that sharply criticised the Pensions Regulator and Financial Conduct Authority. The Times have reported that more than 50,000 British workers may be being cheated out of part of their pension each year.

Tories blame the SNP for Scotland’s productivity falling to its lowest level in eight years

The Times have run a story explaining how Scotland’s productivity has fallen to its lowest level in eight years, with opposition politicians have claimed showed that the SNP administration was damaging the economy. The report, published by the Scottish Government, suggested that the financial crisis of 2008 had taken a long time to work its way through and the effects were still being felt within the Scottish economy.

Reports suggesting that Jeremy Corbyn met a communist spy at the height of the Cold War

The Sun have run a story which found that Jeremy Corbyn met a Communist spy during the Cold War and warned the Soviet-backed spies of a clampdown by British intelligence during the height of the war. The Daily Mail have also run a similar story, claiming that  Corbyn met the Czech agent at least three times after being vetted in 1986, with two meetings taking place in the House of Commons.

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