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Today’s political headlines include May’s return to Brussels as Merkel threatens to boycott the summit, criticism of the Foreign Office’s handling of Matthew hedges’ case, more criticism but this time of the Brexit deal, and the People’s Vote.  

May to return to Brussels for talks as Merkel threatens to boycott summit
The BBC reports that Theresa May is to return to Brussels for talks at the weekend after talks finished yesterday without the final text of the political declaration on the future relationship between the UK and the EU being settled. Outstanding issues include Spanish concerns about Gibraltar and access to UK waters for EU fishermen. The Timesadds that the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has threatened to boycott Sunday’s summit unless all the negotiations have been completed in advance.

Foreign Office criticised after UAE gives British student life sentence
The Times reports that Daniela Tejada, the wife of the British student Matthew Hedges who has been imprisoned by the UAE for spying, has criticised the conduct of the Foreign office, describing it as ‘appalling’. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is thought to have been assured that Hedges would be treated leniently, but instead he received a life sentence yesterday. Hunt has warned that ‘serious diplomatic consequences’ will follow.

Cabinet’s Brexit deal criticisms revealed
The Daily Telegraph has obtained details of the criticisms of Theresa May’s Brexit deal made by Cabinet ministers at their meeting last week. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned that it was a ‘Turkey trap’, using the country as an example of how temporary arrangements become permanent, while Home Secretary Sajid Javid warned that the deal would prevent the UK from striking new trade agreements.

Pro-EU MPs disagree over People’s Vote timing
The Financial Times claims that pro-EU MPs are in disagreement about the best time to table a Commons vote on holding a People’s Vote. Some want to force a vote in early December, before a vote on Theresa May’s deal, while other believe that it would be better to wait for the deal to be voted down or a vote of no confidence to be passed in the Government, as acting earlier would make it look like they were trying to block Brexit.

Women descend on Westminster to mark 100 years of being able to stand for Parliament
The Guardian reports that 317 women visited 238 MPs at Parliament yesterday as part of #AskHerToStandDay, celebrating 100 years since women first good the right to stand for Parliament. The event was claimed to be the first time women had outnumbered men at Westminster. The founder of 50:50 Parliament, Frances Scott, said that the aim was to get gender parity in Parliament in ten years.

Motorists who pass cycling proficiency to get cheaper insurance
The Daily Telegraph claims that motorists who pass cycling proficiency tests offered cheaper insurance as part of new Government plans to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety. Other measures include giving councils powers to use surveillance cameras to catch people parked in cycle lanes and getting people to send dashcam footage of road rage to a new police unit.

Former ministers urge Government to freeze rail fares
According to The Sun, three former Conservative ministers – Michael Fallon, Grant Shapps and Tim Loughton – are urging the Government to ditch plans for a 3.2% increase in rail fares in the new year and instead to freeze prices. Fallon said that the increase was ‘outrageous’ given the problems experienced by commuters over the last year.

Families affected by benefit cap should consider taking lodger, MP says
The Guardian says that work and pensions minister Justin Tomlinson has been attacked by charities and Labour for suggesting that families in poverty because of the benefit cap should consider taking in a lodger. He admitted that no analysis was being done on the effectiveness of the cap and suggested that families could also move or try to renegotiate their rent.

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Today’s political headlines include May heading to Brussels in an attempt to finalist Brexit, Jacob Rees-Mogg comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring, Growing support for Theresa May and the DUP intending to vote against the Brexit deal. 

May heads to Brussels as EU states raise objections to future relationship agreement
The BBC reports that Theresa May is heading to Brussels today amid attempts to finalise the Brexit deal before European leaders meet on Sunday. A deadline to settle the agreement on the future relationship was missed last night, with EU members raising objections to proposals covering UK access to the single market, fishing rights in British waters, and Gibraltar.

Eurosceptic coup attempt likened to ‘Dad’s Army’
As the Daily Mail reports, Jacob Rees-Mogg has admitted that his attempt to oust Theresa May has become a bit like ‘Dad’s Army’, comparing himself to Captain Mainwaring. He warned that the Tories would be stuck with May as leader at the next election unless they acted now. The Daily Telegraph adds that the ‘old guard’ of Eurosceptics have claimed that Rees-Mogg has exhibited ‘naivety’ and suggested that the focus should be on defeating May’s deal in the meaningful vote.

Growing support for May among voters
A poll conducted for The Times shows that voter support for Theresa May has increased over the last week. A week ago, YouGov found that 33% of voters wanted the Prime Minister to remain and 47% wanted her to leave, but those figures are now 46% and 34% respectively. Detailed analysis shows that May’s support has increased most among Conservative voters.

‘Of course’ we’ll vote against Brexit deal, DUP claims
The Financial Times says that the DUP has announced that it will ‘of course’ vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal despite hopes by ministers that it would abstain. Last night, the Government accepted Labour and SNP amendments to the Finance Bill after the DUP indicated that it was planning to abstain on the votes.

Tory remainers have ‘role to play’ in building soft Brexit coalition, Sturgeon says
According to The Guardian, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that remain-supporting Conservative MPs have a ‘role to play’ in creating a soft Brexit coalition in the Commons. Apparently, SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have been talking with Tory remainers in an attempt to agree an alternative to Theresa May’s Brexit deal, such as Nick Boles’ proposed Norway-style plan.

UK leads successful attempt to block Russian from becoming Interpol President
The Times reports that Kim Jong-yang from South Korea has been elected as the new President of Interpol, defeating the Russian Alexander Prokopchuk, allegedly a former KGB agent. The paper says that the UK and the USA had been leading a last-minute attempt to prevent the Russian candidate from winning. Lib Dem Leader Sir Vince Cable had warned that if Prokopchuk won, Interpol would become a ‘branch of the Russian mafia’.

Mordaunt to announce new focus on low-paid women
The Times reveals that Penny Mordaunt, the Minister for Women and Equalities will use a speech today to announce that the Government will shift its focus away from issues affecting middle class women, including the gender pay gap, towards those affecting women in low-paid jobs, with limited qualifications or who care for relatives.

Labour promises to end compulsory GCSE resits
The Guardian reports that Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner has announced details of her party’s plan to reform further education, pledging to end the ‘remorseless cycle’ of compulsory GCSE maths and English resits and promising to ‘put learners first’.

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Today’s political headlines include Tory MPs warned against ‘hunting down’ May, a ‘fairer’ immigration policy, Corbyn’s alternative Brexit plan and Barnier’s suggestion that Brexit transition could be extended until 2022. 

Tory MPs warned against ‘hunting down’ May
The Times reports that former chief whip Andrew Mitchell has warned his colleagues against ‘hunting down’ Theresa May, warning that a leadership challenge would do ‘untold damage’. The Prime Minster claimed yesterday that a challenge to her would cause ‘uncertainty for people and their jobs’ and ‘a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated’. The Daily Telegraph claims that five Cabinet ministers will meet today to call for alterations to the deal, but that May will confront them and refuse to renegotiate the agreement.

May to tell CBI her deal delivers a fairer immigration policy
The Times says that the Prime Minister is to tell the CBI’s conference today that her Brexit deal will allow immigration to be controlled, while permitting businesses to recruit from abroad, creating a level playing field between EU citizens and those from other countries in a system ‘built around the talents and skills a person has to offer’. The Guardian adds that the CBI’s president, John Allan, will endorse May’s deal today, while admitting that it is ‘not perfect’. He will warn that the current uncertain situation is ‘damaging our country’ and say that the deal opens ‘a route to a long-term trade arrangement’.

Corbyn to set out alternative Brexit plan
According to The Guardian, Jeremy Corbyn will use a speech at the CBI conference to set out Labour’s alternative Brexit plan. He will call for a permanent customs union and protection of environmental standards and workers’ rights, as well as a ‘strong single market relationship’. He will say that May’s plan leaves ‘the country in an indefinite halfway house’.

Barnier suggests Brexit transition could be extended until 2022
The Financial Times reports that the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has proposed that the Brexit transition period could be extended until December 2022. He also told EU ambassadors that negotiations over the Withdrawal Agreement should not be reopened despite the ‘volatile’ political situation in the UK.

Six letters needed to trigger vote of no confidence in May
In an exclusive, The Sun reports that 42 Tory MPs have ‘given firm assurances’ that they have submitted letters of no confidence in Theresa May, meaning that six more are needed to trigger a vote in her future as leader. According to the paper, MPs admit that today is ‘judgment day’ and if the threshold is not passed today, it is unlikely that it will be before the vote on the deal in December.

Cyber security minister needed to tackle Russian threat
The Daily Telegraph carries details of a report by the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy which calls on the Government to appoint a minister for cyber security, as the current level of oversight was ‘wholly inadequate’ and countries such as Russia are expanding their capacity to deliver cyber-attacks.

Jeremy Hunt to call for Iran to release British prisoner
The Daily Mail reports that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is visiting Iran today and will use the trip to lobby for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, jailed on spying charges. Speaking ahead of the visit, he condemned using innocent people for ‘political leverage’.

Report calls for cap on number of peers
The Daily Telegraph says that a new report by the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee calls for the House of Lords to be capped in size at 600 members, a decrease of 200 from the present figure. It suggests achieving this through a ‘two-out-one-in’ policy.

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Today’s political headlines include May’s vow to carry on despite the resignations, Gove considering his position after rejecting the Brexit Secretary, no confidence vote in May expected next week and businesses concerned by political turmoil.

May vows to carry on despite resignations over Brexit deal
The Guardian reports that Theresa May has vowed to ‘see this through’, despite the resignations of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and various junior figures over her Brexit deal yesterday. She warned that rejecting the deal would cause ‘deep and grave uncertainty’ and said it was ‘the right one for our country’. The Daily Telegraph adds that it has been told by ‘sources close to Arlene Foster’ that the DUP’s deal with the Conservatives will be abandoned unless May is replaced.

Gove considering position after rejecting Brexit Secretary role
The Times says the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove is considering his position. Yesterday Theresa May offered him the role of Brexit Secretary, but he would only accept on the condition that he could renegotiate the deal, and she was unable to agree. The paper adds that International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt is calling for a free vote on the deal and that this has yet to be definitively rejected.

No confidence vote in May expected next week
The Daily Telegraph claims that a no-confidence vote is expected in Theresa May next week after the chair of the European Research Group, Jacob Rees-Mogg said that he would write to the chair of the 1922 Committee calling for one, although he denied planning a ‘coup’ and said that he was not ‘offering myself as leader’.

Businesses concerned by political turmoil
The Financial Times says that businesses ‘expressed horror’ at yesterday’s political turmoil. Josh Hardie, the CBI’s deputy director general warned that crashing out of the EU without a deal ‘would be a disaster’, while Adam Marshall, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce said that he was concerned about the reaction of ‘major international investors’ to the uncertainty which would be created if the deal collapsed.

EU members worried deal is too soft
The Guardian claims that some EU members are concerned that the proposed deal may be too soft on the UK, including France, Spain, Denmark and the Netherlands. They are concerned about the implications of the UK remaining in a customs union with the EU and want tighter guarantees to make sure that it is prevented from being able to undercut EU standards. There are also worries about fishing rights post-Brexit.

Poll shows Tory supporters back May
A poll conducted for the Daily Mail shows that Conservative supporters do not support attempts to depose Theresa May, with respondents backing her by around 2 to 1 over both Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg. However, just 27% of all voters back the deal, with 49% being opposed. 42% of voters would back a People’s Vote, but 38% oppose it.

Chance of Labour MPs backing deal ‘ebbing away’
According to the Financial Times, the Prime Minister’s chances of persuading Labour MPs to back her Brexit deal are ‘ebbing away’, despite her hopes that some of them would vote for it to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Eurosceptic Labour MP Graham Stringer told the paper that he would not back the deal and that he hadn’t found anyone else who would.

Lords vote not to suspend peer accused of sexual harassment
The Times reports that peers voted not to suspend Lord Lester of Herne Hill, despite a report by the House of Lords standards commissioner finding that he offered the campaigner Jasvinder Sanghera ‘inducements’ to sleep with him. Peers raised concerns the investigation was unfair, but Sanghera said the vote left her feeling ‘bullied and re-victimised’.

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Today’s political headlines include May’s Brexit showdown with the Cabinet, Government admitting defeat over Brexit legal advice, a second peer accused of sexual harassment and the Labour MP accused or misleading police in a speeding case. 

May prepares to present draft Brexit agreement to Cabinet
Nearly all the major newspapers this morning are leading with the announcement that a draft Brexit deal has been agreed between the UK and the EU, with Theresa May set to put the deal to Cabinet this afternoon. The Telegraph is reporting that May is facing a major backlash from ministers and MPs in her party, with Jacob Rees Mogg writing in the same paper that the deal would betray the Union. The Times is reporting that Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Environment Secretary Michael Gove are two figures said to be unhappy with the draft agreement. David Davis and Boris Johnson joined in with criticisms of the deal, with both former ministers calling on those in the Cabinet to resign rather than accept the deal.

Government admits defeat over Brexit legal advice
The Guardian has reported on the concession of defeat by the Government in the Commons yesterday. Conservative MPs were ordered to abstain on the vote over the publishing of the Brexit legal advice, with the Government aware that it would have been defeated by the alliance of MPs from Labour and the DUP. The Government will now have to publish the legal advice covering the withdrawal agreement before MPs vote on the deal.

Second peer accused of sexual harassment  
The Times is reporting that a second member of the House of Lords has been accused of sexually harassing younger women. The Peer, said to be in his early 60s, is the subject of a formal complaint submitted to the Lords commissioner. The revelation comes after Lord Lester of Herne Hill was found by the commissioner to have groped a charity campaigner, with the Lords set to decide on the recommendation that Lord Lester be suspended from the House until 2022.

Labour MP ‘misled police’ in speeding case
The Guardian is reporting on the trial of Labour MP Fiona Onasanya, in which the Old Bailey has heard that she deliberately misled police in claiming that a former lodger was behind the wheel when her car was caught speeding. Onasanya’s younger brother Festus admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice, with Onasanya facing the same charge at the Old Bailey.

Wage growth hits 10-year high
The Times has reported on official figures that show the speed of wage growth is the fastest since the financial crisis. The news means a lift in living standards for workers, with wages 3.2% higher in the three months to September than they were last year.

HS2 report warns that costs could be more than double that of comparable projects
The Times carries details of a report from PWC that claims HS2 would cost £81m per kilometre, compared to £32m for similar projects across Europe. Ministers are now under pressure to reduce costs in the construction phase, through measures such as reducing station size and limiting land purchasing.

Blair criticises Corbyn over Brexit stance
The Telegraph has picked up on comments set to be made by Tony Blair, criticising the Labour leader for refusing to back a second referendum. In a speech later today, Blair will argue that left-wing populism should not be the response to rising right-wing populism, and the far left is mistaken in distancing itself from the record of New Labour.

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