Archive for: Political Services

Today’s Political Headlines include the extradition request for Russian nerve agent suspects, the Labour plot in a Sussex B&B, tougher sentences for downloading child abuse images and the no deal Brexit warning from police chiefs. 

UK ready to submit extradition request for Russian nerve agent suspects
In an exclusive, The Guardian asserts that the UK is about to submit an extradition request to Russia for two people suspected of carrying out the nerve agent attack in Salisbury. The paper claims that the move follows months of investigation by the police and the security investigations and that the Crown Prosecution Service has now completed its process and is ready to file its request, although a ‘scornful response’ is expected from Russia.

Labour moderates plot at luxury Sussex venue
The Daily Express reveals that a group of around 12 moderate Labour MPs have held at least two away days in a luxury Sussex B&B ‘to discuss how to take back control of the party’. One MP claimed that a plan discussed was to allow Corbyn to win the next election and for the moderates to then form their own party or a separate Labour party in Parliament. Chris Leslie claimed that the meetings were about policy and that Corbyn had not been discussed.

Tougher sentences for viewers of child abuse images
Robert Buckland, the Solicitor General, has told The Daily Telegraph that paedophiles who download child abuse images will face tougher sentences and should be dealt with as harshly as those who abuse children. The offence will be brought into the ‘unduly lenient sentence’ scheme, allowing members of the public to challenge sentences. Official figures show that less than one in four people convicted of the offence goes to jail.

Police chiefs issue no deal Brexit warning to Javid
The Guardian has seen a leaked letter from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to Home Secretary Sajid Javid, warning that a no deal Brexit would ‘pose significant risks to our local communities’ and cause ‘a significant loss of operational capacity’. The letter details 32 different measures which rely on EU membership.

May blamed for chaotic no deal preparations
The Daily Telegraph claims that Theresa May is being blamed for ‘chaotic’ preparations for a no deal Brexit. Officials are currently compiling seventy technical notices to explain what firms and self-employed workers need to do to prepare, but ministers have complained that they were not consulted before the papers were announced, while civil servants are having to create extra documents in order to meet May’s promise.

May holds talks with Sturgeon
The BBC says that Theresa May is to hold talks with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today. May is in Scotland to launch the Edinburgh and South East Scotland city deal and will also visit the Edinburgh Festival. Ahead of the meeting, Sturgeon has called on May to set out her ‘plan B’ if European leaders reject her Brexit proposals.

Labour abandons action against Hodge
The Times reports that Margaret Hodge has accused the Labour Party of lying in its explanation for the abandonment of the disciplinary action against her. She rejected the suggestion that the investigation had been dropped because she had expressed regret to the party’s chief whip, Nick Brown. She admits telling Jeremy Corbyn that he was ‘perceived as being antisemitic’ but denies swearing at him.

Truss calls for planning restrictions to be lifted
The Daily Mail says that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, is facing a ‘furious backlash’ after she called for more houses to be built on greenfield sites and for planning rules to be liberalised, allowing houses to be extended upwards without planning permission. She claimed that if this did not happen, Corbyn would win the next election.

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Today’s Political Headlines include the Jewish Museum blocking Corbyn’s speech, May set to meet Macron, another Tory MP backing a second Brexit referendum and the need to speed up NHS training. 

Jewish Museum blocks Corbyn speech
The Telegraph is reporting that the Jewish Museum has rejected Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s request to make a speech at the venue, over fears that the event would be a stunt rather than a constructive exercise. This follows the decision by Momentum to pull their support for NEC candidate Peter Willsman, after he questioned legitimacy of anti-Semitism complaints, a decision that The Guardian has said split Corbyn’s allies. The Times also reports that a former wizard of the Ku Klux Klan praised the election of Corbyn in 2015, saying that it proved that people were recognising ‘Zionist power’.

May set to meet Macron for Brexit crunch talks
Theresa May is set to meet with French president Emmanuel Macron today, in an attempt to gain support for her Chequers plan, according to The Guardian. May is hopeful that she can win over Macron, a move that would help influence other EU partners and potentially shift chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier away from his opposition to the deal.

Tory MP backs second Brexit referendum
According to Business Insider, Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston has pledged her support for the People’s Vote campaign, a group that is calling for a vote on the final Brexit deal. Wollaston joins party colleagues Justine Greening, Anna Soubry and Philip Lee in calling for a second vote, but is only the second Tory MP to publicly back the People’s Vote campaign itself. Fellow Conservative MPs Amber Russ, Nicky Morgan and Antoinette Sandbach are also rumoured to be joining the People’s Vote.

Speed up NHS training to solve Brexit shortages, says Health Minister
The Telegraph reports that Health Minister Stephen Barclay has suggested NHS staff shortages after Brexit could be solved by accelerating the qualification process. Currently medical students must train for five years before becoming doctors, however Barclay has suggested this could be shortened to ease staffing pressures. Patients’ groups have warned against any watering down of training, saying that patient safety must not be compromised.

Government department under fire for advertising low-paying jobs
The Times has revealed that an initiative by the Department for Work and Pensions to get young people into summer employment has listed job vacancies paying as little as £2 an hour. The scheme, overseen by work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, has been exposed for offering positions paying lower than the national minimum wage, with some adverts described as apprenticeships and others offering zero-hour contracts.

No investigation into DUP spending during the EU referendum
The Guardian is reporting that the Electoral Commission will not open an investigation into spending by the Democratic Unionist Party during the EU referendum. Allegations that the party had coordinated spending with the Vote Leave campaign in order to break legal spending limits have been dismissed, with the commission citing a lack of evidence for the claims.

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Today’s Political Headlines include May to meet Macron, further anti-Semitism claims against Labour, gender pay gap report and criticism of the Home Office’s approach to child refugees from Calais. 

May to meet Macron after cutting short summer holiday
The Times reports that Theresa May is set to meet Emmanuel Macron on Friday for a Brexit summit at his summer residence in the south of France. May is seeking to persuade Macron to agree to her Chequers deal, and to soften his stance on security cooperation and financial services. The Guardian claims that Macron is unlikely to make an agreement without the approval of Brussels.

Further anti-Semitism claims against Labour
The Times’ Henry Zeffman has revealed that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hosted an event at the House of Commons in 2010 which compared the Israeli government to the Nazis. Jeremy Corbyn has since released an apology for the event. The latest revelations come after leading figures in the party condemned NEC member Peter Willsman for questioning the legitimacy of anti-Semitism claims in Labour.

Report on gender pay gap calls for new approach to pay negotiation
The Telegraph is reporting on guidance set to be released today by the Government Equalities Office, which aims to address the issue of pay disparity. The guidance suggests women should seek salary increases by focusing on ‘pay ranges’ rather than specific figures. It also calls for employers to increase the number of women on job shortlists, in order to increase selection of female candidates.

Home Office criticised for approach to child refugees from Calais
The Telegraph reports on the recent Court of Appeal ruling which criticised the Home Office for its treatment of child refugees. Judges said there were flaws in the assessment process, saying that inadequate reasons were provided for their refusal, with the Government acting in an ‘unfair and unlawful’ manner.

Hunt says possibility of no-deal Brexit is increasing
The Telegraph has reported on Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s remarks that the likelihood of the UK leaving the EU without a deal are ‘increasing by the day’. Hunt met with counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris on Tuesday and called for the European Commission to change its approach to Theresa May’s Chequers deal.

Kent lorry park may remain in place years after Brexit, Conservative councils say
Sky have obtained Brexit impact reports from Conservative-run Dover District Council and Kent County Council, that suggest the conversion of the M20 motorway into a lorry park could remain in place for ‘many years’ after the UK leaves the EU. The report from Dover District Council also expressed exasperation at the pace of the Government’s preparations for Brexit.

Latest Tory leadership contenders
The FT reports that Home Secretary Sajid Javid is the favourite to succeed Theresa May as Prime Minister, following a strong return to ministerial office after previously being described by an ally of May as a ministerial flop. However, The Times reports that Boris Johnson is the favourite among Conservative party members, despite being backed by just 8% of members a month ago in a poll by ConservativeHome.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Tory Brexiteers’ criticism of May’s no-deal planning, Corbyn accused of taking Labour to a dark place, the IEA’s offer to ‘US donors’ and the reintroduction of ID Cards. 

May facing criticism over no-deal Brexit
The Telegraph reports that May is facing further criticism from Brexiteers in her own party over the Government’s planning for a ‘no deal’ Brexit. They are angry at what they perceive to be overly negative planning, after viewing some of the 70 reports due to be released in August that set out Britain’s approach to ‘no-deal’. Jacob Rees-Mogg has added his assessment in the Mail, describing the plans as ‘Fretful, weak and incompetent’.

Corbyn accused of taking Labour to a ‘dark place’
The Times has reported that Jeremy Corbyn is facing further pressure over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. It follows reports of Labour MP Ian Austin clashing with the party chairman over the failure of the party to adopt the full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.

IEA offered ‘US donors’ introductions to UK ministers working on Brexit
The Guardian has revealed a video in which the director of the Institute for Economic Affairs is recorded offering possible access to the Brexit ministers. Mark Littlewood is recorded saying his organisation knew high-profile Brexiteers such as Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Liam Fox, and that donors could fund and shape IEA research, which would always support the argument for free-trade deals.

Policy Exchange calls for a reintroduction of ID Cards
The Times reports on a Policy Exchange paper due to be released later today that calls for the reintroduction of a national identity system after Brexit. The report states that the Government plans to give 3.8 million EU citizens should be administered through an ID card system, with the scheme extended to UK-born citizens.

Fears over Brexit food crisis
The Times reports that plans have been drawn up by Ministers to call in the army if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, to help deliver food, medicines and fuel in the event of shortages. This follows from recent reports that the Government is preparing to stockpile food and essential medicines as part of their ‘no deal’ planning.

Report calls for state loans for young house buyers
The Guardian reports on new analysis released by the Housing and Finance Institute that urges the Government to offer loans to young people to enable them to pay for a deposit. The HFI say the initiative should be part of a wider strategy to increase the number of homeowners by one million by 2035.

Environment secretary Michael Gove summons water companies
The Times reports that Michael Gove has summoned chief executives of several water companies to explain why water leakages targets set by regulator Ofwat have not been met. Gove has said that customers expect a ‘reliable and resilient supply’, despite recent dry weather. The call comes ahead of a ‘drought summit’ between farmers and the Government, to discuss the effect of the recent dry weather on food supplies.

Northern Rail restoring cancelled services
The Telegraph reports that Northern Rail are set to reinstate three-quarters of services initially removed in May. The move comes after hundreds of delays, a situation described by Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham as ‘rail chaos’.

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Today’s Political Headlines include Jewish papers criticising Labour over antisemitism, the Home Secretary’s research into grooming gangs, and Fiona Onasanya’s suspension

Jewish papers join forces to criticise Labour over antisemitism
The Guardian reports that the UK’s three most prominent Jewish newspapers have joined forces with a joint editorial and similar front pages attacking Labour for its failure to fully adopt the internationally accepted definition of antisemitism. The Jewish News, Jewish Telegraph and Jewish Chronicle claim that a Corbyn-led government would pose an ‘existential threat to Jewish life in this country’ and that the party was seen to be ‘institutionally racist’.

Javid orders research into grooming gangs’ ethnic origin
The Times reveals that Home Secretary Sajid Javid has ordered research into why men convicted of grooming-gang sex crimes come disproportionately from a Pakistani background. He said that knowing the ‘particular characteristics’ of the offenders was ‘critical to our understanding’ of the crimes and would ‘support a more targeted response’.

Labour whip charged with perverting course of justice
The Daily Telegraph says that Labour whip Fiona Onasanya has been charged with perverting the course of justice, following allegations that she tried to pass on speeding points a month after she was elected. Her constituency, Peterborough, is one of the most marginal in the country – she defeated Tory incumbent Stewart Jackson by 607 votes at last year’s election.

Gary Lineker backs calls for a referendum on the final Brexit deal
As the Daily Mail reports, Gary Lineker has backed the campaign for a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal, claiming that this was ‘more important than football’ to him. The People’s Vote campaign is planning a ‘summer of action’ including rallies and protests across the country. The Financial Times says that research by the Centre for Cities shows that Wales would be worst hit by a bad Brexit deal for the financial sector.

Irish foreign minister warns against ‘talking up’ no deal Brexit
The Guardian reports that Simon Coveney, Ireland’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister, has warned that too many people are ‘talking up inappropriately’ the chance of a no deal Brexit, although he believes that this outcome is unlikely. He also called for the UK to show flexibility in the Brexit negotiations.

Heatwaves could kill 7000 a year, MPs warn
The Sun says that a report by the Commons Environmental Audit Committee claims that heatwaves could kill over 7000 people a year by 2050 if ministers don’t take action. The report also warns that roads could ‘melt’. It calls for annual heatwave plans and an alert system to be set up, as well as changes to building regulations.

Labour to hire lawyers to draw up nationalisation plans
According to The Times, Labour has agreed to hire lawyers to draw up draft legislation and to ensure that its nationalisation plans are legally sound. The party is also considering devolving more powers to local and regional government, with Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell to launch a consultation later this year.

MPs call on Chancellor to cut tax relief on pensions
The Financial Times carries details of a new report by the Commons Treasury Committee which recommends that the Chancellor should cut back tax relief on pensions contributions used mostly by the well-off and make savings incentives more attractive to the poor. The measures would also save the Treasury money.

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Today’s Political Headlines includes British terrorists potentially facing the death penalty, Corbyn accusing May of not supporting manufacturers, and the Government announcing public sector pay rises.

May willing to let British terrorists face execution
The Times claims that Theresa May pushed for the prosecution of two British terrorists by the USA despite the risk that they could be executed, in a decision which it claims caused ‘cross-party uproar in Westminster yesterday’. The Daily Telegraph says that when Boris Johnson was Foreign Secretary, he warned that the move could prevent the UK from demanding that others are spared the death penalty in future, but ultimately decided that ‘the benefits outweighed the risks’. It also claims that David Cameron had waived assurances in an earlier case, so the decision does not set a new precedent. The paper adds that terrorists who enter no-go areas such as Syria will face prosecution under new laws to be proposed by the Government.

Corbyn to criticise May for not supporting manufacturers
The Guardian reveals that Jeremy Corbyn will use a speech in Birmingham today to criticise the Government for not introducing an industrial plan to help manufacturers make the most of the weak pound following the EU referendum. He will also urge Theresa May to reconsider negotiating a new customs union with the EU.

Government to announce public sector pay rises
The Sun says the Government is to announce pay rises for a million public sector workers, but these are likely to be funded from savings made by departments not by the Treasury. In 2018-19 staff will see an increase of between 1.5% and 3.5%, with most getting a 2% rise.

US banks call for taxes and regulations to be cut after Brexit
The Financial Times claims that US banks have called for the Government to cut taxes and red tape in order to prevent financial assets and jobs leaving the UK after Brexit. One top executive said, having met Chancellor Philip Hammond, that the Government knew that ‘there is a ticket to pay’ if it wants to maintain London’s status as a financial centre.

Labour MPs defer vote on antisemitism definition
The Guardian says that Labour MPs have deferred a vote on whether or not to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism until September, although a preliminary motion was passed which means that they are ‘ultimately all but certain to adopt’ it. Lord Prescott apparently raised objections to the motion.

Hunt warns of ‘no deal’ if EU negotiators don’t change their approach
The Daily Mail reports that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has insisted that only Vladimir Putin would celebrate a no-deal Brexit, but warned that if the EU failed to compromise the UK would not ‘blink’ and it would ‘change British attitudes to Europe for a generation’. He said that if the bloc did not change approach, there was ‘a real risk of a no deal by accident’.

Rules on foreign takeovers to be tightened
According to the Financial Times, proposals unveiled today would see increased scrutiny of foreign takeovers if they raise national security concerns. Those involved in relevant deals will be encouraged to notify the government ahead of the deal and breaches of the Government’s recommendations will become a criminal, not a civil, offence.

MPs to vote on Paisley suspension
The BBC reports that MPs are to vote on suspending DUP MP Ian Paisley for 30 days after he failed to declare two family holidays paid for by the government of Sri Lanka and then lobbied on behalf of Sri Lanka. If the suspension is approved and 10% of his constituents sign a petition, a by-election could then be held in the seat.

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Today’s Political Headlines includes the latest Brexit discussions, Gauke’s call for prison rehabilitation, crimes leading to charges and calls for two Tories to quit in pairing row. 

May to call on EU to ‘evolve’ its position
The BBC has details of a speech to be given by Theresa May in Belfast this morning, in which she will warn that she cannot accept the ‘economic and constitutional dislocation of a formal ‘third country’ customs border within our own country’ and call on the EU to ‘evolve its position in kind’. The Times adds that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier used remarks before his first meeting with the new Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, yesterday to warn that that it would be a ‘challenge’ to find common ground between the two sides. The Mirror says that Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar warned yesterday that a ‘no deal’ Brexit would leave planes unable to fly between the two countries.

Gauke calls for prisons to focus on rehabilitation
Justice Secretary David Gauke has told The Daily Telegraph that prisons should ‘change lives’ and give prisoners ‘hope’ rather than focusing on retribution and that the prison service would ‘struggle’ to cope with significant increases in the number of prisoners. He claimed that short sentences should only be a ‘last resort’ as they don’t reduce reoffending.

Over 90% of crimes do not result in a charge
The Times says that new Home Office crime figures show that just 9.1% of crimes in England and Wales last year resulted in any charges, a fall from 15% three years ago. Separate figures showed an increase in violent crime and the lowest level of police officers in 22 years. Police Minister Nick Hurd claimed that the Government was ‘taking decisive action’.

Calls for Conservative chief whip and party chair to quit over pairing row
The Guardian reports that the Conservatives have admitted that the Chief Whip, Julian Smith, asked MPs to breach pairing agreements during a series of Brexit votes on Tuesday. Only party chair Brandon Lewis, paired with Lib Dem Jo Swinson who was on maternity leave, followed the instruction. Labour has called for both Lewis and Smith to resign.

MPs criticise Director of Public Prosecutions over disclosure failings
The Daily Telegraph carries details of a report by the Commons Justice Committee into the Crown Prosecution Service’s failures to disclose evidence in court cases. The committee’s chair, Bob Neill, said that if the Director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, had not already announced her departure, he would be asking her ‘to consider her position’. The report claims that she lacked ‘focus and leadership’ in tackling the issue.

Border taxes to be relaxed if ‘no deal’ Brexit happens
The Financial Times reports that Mel Stride, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, told a House of Lords sub-committee that the Government will tell officials to relax measures to collect taxes in order to help keep traffic flowing at borders in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. However, Stride added that the Government would ‘not compromise on security’.

McVey admits universal credit problems
The Guardian says that Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, admitted to problems with universal credit and suggested that further changes will be made, including debt repayment, supporting the self-employed and benefit payment cycles for working claimants.

Hancock tells doctors to ‘throw away their pagers’
The Daily Telegraph reports that Matt Hancock is to use his first speech as Health and Social Care Secretary to call for doctors and nurses to ‘throw away their pagers’ and use smartphone apps instead. Speaking at West Suffolk Hospital, he will outline three early priorities: ‘technology, the health and care workforce and prevention’.

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Today’s Political Headlines includes the latest Brexit voting drama, BoJo breaking the rules, Labour accused of antisemitism and Labour rejecting May’s Brexit plans.  

Government wins customs union vote
The Daily Telegraph claims that the Government used ‘desperate measures’ to defeat an amendment on the customs union last night. Potential rebels were warned that a Government defeat would lead to a motion of no confidence in Theresa May and the Government offered to table an amendment on a ‘customs arrangement’ in the Lords. The Government won by six votes, aided by Labour Brexiteers. Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson, who has recently given birth, complained that the Government broke an agreement under which she should have been ‘paired’ with Brandon Lewis. The Government did, however, lose a vote on the UK’s continued membership of the European Medicines Agency.

Johnson breaks rules on ex-ministers’ employment
According to the Daily Mail, Boris Johnson has broken rules which prevent former cabinet ministers from taking up new jobs for three months after leaving their post. The former Foreign Secretary also failed to seek clearance from Acoba, the appointments watchdog, before resuming his old role as a columnist for The Daily Telegraph.

Hodge attacks Corbyn over antisemitism decision
The Guardian says that Margaret Hodge called Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn an ‘antisemitic racist’ after the party’s National Executive Committee refused to abandon its new code of conduct on antisemitism. The decision has also been criticised by the Jewish Labour Movement, MPs including Wes Streeting, Ed Miliband and deputy leader Tom Watson, and Momentum founder Jon Lansman. A new consultation on the code will be opened.

Labour rejects May’s Brexit plans
Writing in the Daily Mirror, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, Keir Starmer, says that his party does not support Theresa May’s proposed deal with the EU, describing it as ‘fatally flawed’. Instead, he claims that Labour would deliver ‘a deal that works for Britain’, protecting ‘jobs, the economy and the union of our United Kingdom.’

Paisley faces ten day ban from Commons after breaching lobbying rules
The Sun reveals that DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr is facing a ten day suspension from the Commons after he broke rules on lobbying by going on a trip paid for by the Sri Lankan government in 2013 and later signing a letter in support of the country, without mentioning his visit. An announcement is due to be made today and, if confirmed, the suspension would be the longest to be imposed since 2008.

Andrew Griffiths was appointed as a minister despite being under investigation
In an exclusive, The Guardian claims that Andrew Griffiths, who resigned after sending explicit text messages to constituents, was made minister for small business despite already being under investigation after allegations of inappropriate touching and bullying were made against him.

Skills minister would advise children to ‘leave it a year’ before taking new qualification
The Times reports that Skills Minister Anne Milton told the Commons Education Committee that she would advise her children to ‘leave it a year’ before taking the new T-level qualification. In May, Damian Hinds, the Education Secretary, overrode a warning from his permanent secretary that the scheme would not be ready to launch in 2020.

Cladding ban insufficient, MPs say
The BBC carries details of a new report by the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee that warns that a proposed Government ban on using combustible material in new high-rise buildings is not enough. The committee is calling for the ban to be extended to existing buildings and those under construction.

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Today’s Political Headlines includes Greening’s calls for a second referendum, Eurosceptic Tories planning a whipping, Labour’s antisemitism definition may breach the Equality Act and Boris Johnson’s attack. 

Greening calls for second referendum
The Times reveals that Justine Greening has become the first senior Conservative to call for a second referendum, criticising the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan as the ‘worst of both worlds’. Greening suggests a vote with three options: remaining in the EU, the negotiated deal, or a clean break, with voters given first and second preference votes. Speaking yesterday, the paper adds, Theresa May said that her proposals were ‘a good deal for the UK’ and claimed that Donald Trump had told her to sue the EU instead of negotiating.

Eurosceptic Tories set up whipping operation
According to The Daily Telegraph, Eurosceptic Conservative MPs have established a ‘party within a party’, with a whipping operation being run by former Brexit minister Steve Baker. More than 100 Tory MPs are now in a WhatsApp group being run by Baker, who has urged them to vote for four amendments to the Taxation (Cross Border) Trade Bill today. The paper also claims that party chair Brandon Lewis threatened to cut funding for Andrea Jenkyns’ constituency after she called for Theresa May to quit.

Labour’s antisemitism definition may breach the Equality Act
The Guardian reports that the Jewish Labour Movement is to give the Labour Party advice which claims that its definition of antisemitism could breach the Equality Act. The advice states that because the definition does not follow the Macpherson principle (a racist incident is one which the victim perceives to be racist), it would result in Jews being treated less favourably than other groups.

Boris Johnson attacks ‘lack of self-confidence’ in Brexit
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson has used his first article since resigning as Foreign Secretary to attack the ‘lack of self-confidence, in the current debate on the EU, about whether we can do things for ourselves’ and to call for Britons to use Brexit as a chance to ‘rediscover the spirit of dynamism’ of the Victorian period.

Rudd quit because civil servants let her down
The Daily Telegraph reports that an internal inquiry has found that Amber Rudd stepped down as Home Secretary because senior civil servants failed to tell her about targets to remove illegal immigrants. The paper adds that the two civil servants in question were moved out of their posts following the inquiry’s conclusion and that a summary of the report has been shown to the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

Utility firms deterred from investing because of Corbyn’s nationalisation plans
The Financial Times says that Paul Drechsler, the vice-president of the CBI, has warned that utility firms are being deterred from investing because of Jeremy Corbyn’s plans for renationalisation. He has called on the party ‘to be very clear about the scope of the policy’ and carry out ‘a high-quality fact-based assessment of the pros and cons’.

May to announce £300m for aerospace industry
The BBC reports that Theresa May is to use a speech at the Farnborough Airshow today to announce extra investment for the British aerospace industry. More than £300m will be made available for various projects, including more environmentally-friendly aircraft, two new spaceports and a commitment to build a new fighter aircraft.

Mordaunt tells Catholic Church to change teaching on contraception
According to The Daily Telegraph, International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt used a meeting with aides of Pope Francis to call for the Catholic Church to relax its ban on the use of contraception. She told the paper that she called on the church to ‘help us save lives, especially of young mothers’.

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Today’s Political Headlines includes the Brexit White Paper, the alternative white paper, Trump’s arrival in the UK and rail boss fury in first class.  

Brexit White Paper published today
In an exclusive in The Sun, the Prime Minister tells readers that the Chequers plan will end free movement, allow trade deals around the world and end the jurisdiction of European courts. The Financial Times reports that Theresa May has abandoned plans for a tight relationship with the EU in financial services.

Tory Backbenchers to force the release of ditched white paper
The Guardian reports that backbench Tory Brexiteers will try to force the Prime Minister to publish a rival draft of the white paper drawn up by David Davis, which was later abandoned. Backbench MPs from the European Research Group will hope to win the backing of Labour frontbenchers who are keen to embarrass the Government.

Trump arrives in the UK today amid protests
According to The Independent, Trump will avoid London due to protests expected to take place. He will instead watch a special forces demonstration at a secret location in the English countryside. First Lady Melania Trump, on the other hand, is expected to attend meetings in the capital.

Rail boss ordering commuters out of first class seats sparks fury
The Daily Mail reports Govia operations manager Mark Boon has told passengers to stay out of the First Class carriage on a packed services, while he sat with two seats to himself. Government officials have warned Govia that the new timetable must improve services for passengers.

Trump stuns Theresa May and other NATO allies over defence targets
The Times has reported that Trump has called on NATO states to increase military spending from 2% to 4% of GDP in an address to 28 other NATO leaders. The Telegraph reports that Trump has accused Germany of being ‘totally controlled by Russia’ in regards to the country’s defence spending.

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