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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including Damian Green’s ‘resignation’, the movable EU Withdrawal date, unfair leasehold practices and how Brexit is damaging the UK economy.  

Damian Green ordered to resign after Cabinet Office investigation
As The Times reports, Damian Green was ordered to resign as First Secretary of State last night, after a Cabinet Office investigation found that he had made ‘misleading and inaccurate’ statements about his knowledge of pornography found on an office computer during a police raid in 2008, while allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by Conservative activist and journalist Kate Maltby were ‘plausible’.

Government backs down on Brexit date amendment
The Guardian says the Government has accepted a compromise over its plans to set the Brexit date in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. The Government had tabled an amendment setting the Brexit date (29 March 2019), but climbed down by also backing an amendment tabled by Oliver Letwin allowing this date to be changed by MPs with EU agreement. As a result, the Bill passed committee stage, and will move onto report stage in the new year.

Government goes further than expected in leasehold crackdown
The Government has gone further than expected in its plans to crackdown on unfair leasehold practices, The Times claims. Ground rents will be outlawed on newly built flats, it will be made easier and cheaper for leaseholders to buy out their freeholds and better information will be made available on redress for those facing the most onerous terms.

IMF: Brexit vote damaging UK economy
The International Monetary Fund has said that the UK’s vote to leave the EU is damaging the economy. As the Financial Times reports, the IMF’s report shows that economic growth rates have declined in the UK while they have grown in Europe, the US and Japan. The IMF’s UK growth forecast for the next year has been cut from 1.7% to 1.6%.

Gove: UK will not compromise with US food standards and will support hill farmers
The Guardian reports that Michael Gove told the Environment Select Committee that the UK will not compromise on ‘high animal welfare and environmental standards’, for example chlorine-washed chicken or use of neonicotinoid pesticides, when seeking to reach a trade deal with the US. The Times adds that Gove confirmed that hill farmers will continue to receive subsidies after 2022.

Barnier: Brexit transition must end in December 2020
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said that it would be ‘logical’ for the Brexit transition period to end on December 31 2017, according to the Financial Times. The European Commission has published its directives for the negotiation. A spokesperson for No 10 said that the UK was looking at a period of around two years, adding that ‘The commission have said just over 21 months, but it’s a negotiation.’

UK building cyber deterrent
The annual report of Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee reveals that the UK is building a cyber deterrent to ward off attacks from countries such as China, Iran and Russia. As The Daily Telegraph says, the report also raises concerns about so-called Islamic State’s ability to hack infrastructure using cyber weapons available for sale online.

Zac Goldsmith wished ‘cancerous new year’
Zac Goldsmith posted an image on Twitter of what he dubbed a ‘sweet Christmas message from a local Remain group’, The Daily Telegraph reports. The card carried a variety of abusive messages, including one wishing him a ‘cancerous new year’.

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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including the ‘Brexit Cabinet’, divisions in Labour, cold war relations and May being urged to remain as PM. 

May to hold a Brexit Cabinet meeting
Reuters reports that Theresa May will hold a meeting with her ‘Brexit Cabinet’, to discuss what the relationship between the UK and the EU should look like going forward. This could cause conflict as different members of May’s cabinet have very different ideas of the relationship that should be pursued.

Labour divided over second referendum policy
Diane Abbott insisted a second EU referendum is not the policy of the Labour Party. The Guardian reports on this in the interview Abbott conducted on the Andrew Marr Show. The same article also looks at remarks Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson made on Pienaar’s Politics where he said backing for a second referendum could not be ruled out.

A return to Cold War relations
The Independent reports on remarks made by Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, who said relations between Russia and the West have not been so bad since the Cold War. He went on to accuse Russia of undermining democratic elections. These remarks come ahead of Johnson’s visit to Russia where he will hold talks with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Johnson said collaboration is needed with Russia.

May urged to stay on as PM
The Times has reported that Theresa May is being urged by cabinet ministers and senior backbenchers to stay on as leader of the Conservative Party until 2021 to avoid conflicts within the party during a time of essential trade talks with the EU. This contrasts with suggestions that the Prime Minister would struggle to remain in the job beyond Christmas after losing a Commons vote last week.

Damian Green to learn inquiry outcome
Damian Green will likely learn the outcome of the inquiry into allegations against him regarding misconduct in the next couple of days. The Telegraph suggests the outcome will focus on Green’s denial that pornography was found on his work computer. It has been suggested that Green will likely be cleared as the incidents under investigation took place when he was not a minister.

Cable accuses Corbyn of deceit
The Daily Express reports that Vince Cable has accused Jeremy Corbyn of deceiving young people over his true feelings regarding Brexit. Cable also went on to say that there is no chance of him aligning in a coalition with Corbyn in the future. Cable’s remarks come after Nigel Farage claimed Corbyn hid his true Brexit beliefs due to pressure from his party.

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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including Theresa May at the European Council summit, Government to drop the Brexit date amendment, the threat of Russian cyber attacks and the Scottish government increasing income tax. 

May lobbies for swift transition agreement at European Council summit
As the Guardian reports, Theresa May lobbied for a swift agreement on a transition period at the European Council summit last night. Leaders are due to agree today that sufficient progress has been made in the first part of the talks, while Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister said that talks about the new trading relationship would have to wait for another three months.

Government to drop Brexit date amendment
The Times claims that the Government is to drop its amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill setting the date of the UK’s departure from the European Union, as it aims to avoid a second defeat in the House of Commons. Dominic Grieve, who has received death threats for his role in this week’s backbench Tory rebellion, has said that he believes more MPs are prepared to oppose this amendment. The paper also says that May is planning to create more Conservative peers ‘within weeks’, improving the Government’s position in the Lords.

Russian attack could disrupt the UK’s internet access
The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach has said that Russia’s navy has the ability to disrupt the UK’s internet access, The Daily Telegraph says. He has called for naval forces to be strengthened to combat the threat. Peach’s intervention comes amid an effort by the Ministry of Defence to secure more funding from the Treasury.

Scottish government increases income tax
The Guardian reports on the decision by Derek Mackay, Scottish finance secretary, to make use of the Scottish Government’s recently-strengthened tax powers. He will increase the higher and top rates of tax, whilst introducing a new starter rate for low earners, freezing the basic rate, and introducing a new intermediate rate. This will fund pay increases for public sector workers, and £400m extra for the NHS.

Northern transport needs £60bn over 30 years
Transport for the North has announced that it will unveil its 30-year plan in January, according to the Financial Times. The body’s chair has said that for its plans to succeed, Government transport spending in the region would have to increase by a third, whilst fixing the transport system will cost at least £60bn over 30 years.

Government targets for gender and ethnic diversity in quangos
A report in the Guardian says that the Government is to set targets for the proportion of women and people from ethnic minority groups across all public appointments. Within five years, half should be women, and 14% from ethnic minorities. The paper also reports that the only female Downing Street communications director since 2010 was paid £15,000 less than the three men who held the position in that time.

442 civil servants paid more than the Prime Minister
The Sun reports that 442 civil servants are paid more than the Prime Minister. The Network Rail chief Mark Carne topped the list, earning £750,000. 50 of those on the list work for HS2, which The Times says is to be accused of covering-up unauthorised redundancy payments, in a Commons Public Accounts Committee report today.

‘Youthquake’ is the word of the year
The Daily Telegraph reports that Oxford Dictionaries has picked ‘youthquake’ as the word of the year, in reference to Jeremy Corbyn’s youthful supporters in the general election. The word apparently saw a 400% increase in usage between 2016 and 2017.

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