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Today’s political headlines include more Brexit news, with ministers telling May no-deal is preferable to accepting EU demands and Labour and Tory rebels trying to force the Government to publish Brexit legal advice, as well as Lord Lester facing a record suspension for sexual harassment and Babcock under extra scrutiny. 

Ministers to tell May no-deal is preferable to accepting EU demands
The Daily Telegraph reports that Eurosceptic ministers including Dominic Raab, Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox are to use a Cabinet meeting today to warn the Prime Minister that a no-deal Brexit would be preferable to giving into the EU’s demands. According to the paper, the latest round of negotiations broke down at 3am on Monday morning. Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet, Theresa May said that she would not reach ‘an agreement at any cost’ and that negotiations were ‘now in the end game’.

Labour and Tory rebels in bid to force Government to publish Brexit legal advice
The Guardian says that Labour is to use a parliamentary procedure today to try to force the Government to publish its legal advice on the Irish backstop plan. The Sun adds that an amendment to Labour’s motion has been tabled by the European Research Group of Brexiteer Tory MPs, which is confident it has the support of over 40 backbenchers.

Peer recommended for record suspension from the Lord for sexual harassment
The Times has spoken to the women’s rights campaigner Jasvinder Sanghera following the publication of a report recommending that Lord Lester of Herne Hill be suspended from the Lords until 2022 for sexually harassing her. She said that she hoped that ‘by speaking out, victims were creating a climate in which people were more willing to listen’.

Defence contractor under extra scrutiny
The Financial Times says that Babcock, the UK’s second-largest defence supplier, has been placed under extra scrutiny, relating to a contract covering maintenance of the UK’s Vanguard submarines which carry the country’s nuclear deterrent. Officials told the paper that the department had ‘real concern’ and that relations were ‘strained’.

Johnson backs calls to offer Asia Bibi asylum in UK
The Daily Mail reports that former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is backing calls for the Pakistani woman Asia Bibi, cleared of blasphemy last month but at risk of attack from extremists, to be offered asylum in the UK. He has written to Home Secretary Sajid Javid to say that threats of violence against UK missions in the country should not ‘deter us from doing the right thing’.

Hundreds of civil servants complain about harassment and bullying
An investigation by The Guardian has found that while hundreds of civil servants have made complaints about bullying or sexual harassment by colleagues, just a fraction of those accused were subject to disciplinary action. Not all departments and bodies provided data as a result of the paper’s request and some of those that did failed to provide exact figures.

Government faces ‘almost certain’ defeat over betting machine stake cut
The Times claims that the Government is ‘almost certain’ to be defeated over its plan to delay the cut in the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals after 21 Conservative MPs signed amendments designed to bring forward the cut, including Boris Johnson, David Davis, Priti Patel and Justine Greening. Labour has also said that it will back the amendments, laid by Labour MP Carolyn Harris, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and SNP MP Ronnie Cowan.

No-deal Brexit to cost NHS £2.3bn
The Financial Times carries details of a report by the Nuffield Trust which warns that a no-deal Brexit would result in a £2.3bn ‘cost shock’ for the NHS in England, owing to an increase in red tape and trade barriers. This would take up all the funding available to improve patient care in the next two years.

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Today’s political headlines are still dominated by Brexit and are likely to remain that way, at least for the next 48 hours. The Government is hoping to agree the deal within the next two days – meanwhile, Boris Johnson has called for Cabinet mutiny and pro-EU MPs are preparing letters of no confidence in Theresa May. 

Government hoping for a Brexit deal in the next 48 hours
The Times claims that the Government is hoping to agree a Brexit deal with the EU in the next 48 hours, with outstanding issues including fishing rights in the backstop and the review mechanism to leave it. Over the weekend, Andrea Leadsom said the UK must be able ‘to decide to leave’ the backstop rather than being ‘held against its will’ by the EU. The Financial Times adds that the EU is trying to get the UK to agree to the inclusion of detailed ‘level playing field’ measures in the backstop, including environmental targets and state aid rules to be overseen by the European Court of Justice.

Johnson to join MPs rebelling over gambling machine stake cut delay
According to The Sun, Boris Johnson is to lead a cross-party rebellion against delays to implementing a reduction to the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals. An amendment, backed by 60 MPs, may be tabled by Iain Duncan Smith and Carolyn Harris  today. The Guardian adds that the Government’s decision to delay the policy was based on a report commissioned by the Association of British Bookmakers, which the company Paddy Power Betfair described as ‘unrealistic’.

Johnson calls for Cabinet ‘mutiny’ over Brexit
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson says that Theresa May is ‘on the verge of total surrender’ to the EU, describing her Brexit plans as ‘shameful’. He adds that the Cabinet ‘ought’ to mutiny over the proposals, but that it would make little difference as the Government’s ambition ‘is to remain in captivity’.

Pro-EU MPs prepare letters of no confidence in May
The Sun asserts that pro-EU Conservative MPs are preparing letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister. One told the paper that ‘we are now staring into the abyss’ and another described Theresa May as ‘the problem’. One of the MPs suggested that David Davis might be persuaded to back a short-term Norway-style Brexit if given May’s job.

Retailers to pay more for recycling in new strategy
In an exclusive, The Guardian says that retailers and major drinks brands face a large increase in the amount they pay towards recycling used packaging, with contributions increasing from around £70m a year to between £500m and £1bn. The proposal forms part of the Government’s waste strategy, which will be published later this month.

Truss excluded from Budget meetings
The Times claims that Liz Truss, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, was excluded from meetings before the Budget owing to tensions between her and the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, who was apparently annoyed by her attendance at Andrea Leadsom’s Brexiteer ‘pizza club’ meetings.

Hunt to confront Saudi Crown Prince
The Daily Telegraph says that Jeremy Hunt will today become the first minister to meet the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Hunt will use the opportunity to ‘confront’ Mohammed bin Salman, express his ‘horror and outrage’ and demand that the country co-operates with the Turkish investigation into the death.

May open to ‘different’ relationship with Russia
The Guardian reports that Theresa May will use her address at the Lord Mayor’s banquet today to say that the UK is open to a ‘different’ relationship with Russia, adding that the country is ‘ready to respond in kind’ if Russia were to become more open to international co-operation.

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Today’s political headlines continue with the Brexit theme, with a border in the Irish Sea proposed for a no-deal scenario, Raab criticised for a lack of understanding of UK trade. McDonnell looking into the case for a four-day week and crisis on the high street. 

Border in the Irish Sea if there is no Brexit deal
The Times reports on a leaked letter from Theresa May signalling that in the event of a no deal Brexit a customs border in the Irish Sea will be put in place. The PM has previously promised the DUP that she would not sign up to any deal that would result in Northern Ireland being separated from the rest of the UK. DUP MP for East Antrim, Sammy Wilson, has accused the PM of betrayal.

Raab criticised for lack of understanding of UK trade
The BBC reports that Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab is facing criticism for saying that he ‘hadn’t quite understood’ how the UK relies on trade in goods from the Dover-Calais crossing. Raab made these remarks when speaking about the deal the UK is seeking after it leaves the EU. In his comments the Brexit Secretary also accepted that UK consumers may face less choice of products if frictionless trade is not maintained.

McDonnell may look further into the case for a four-day week
The Shadow Chancellor has been working with economist Lord Skidelsky about an inquiry into changing the working week from five days to four as reported by the Guardian. McDonnell has previously said that Labour would investigate ways to reduce the working week. Skidelsky has said he is looking at reducing the standard working week and hopes his findings will be open to anyone to look at the results. France and Germany have higher levels of production than the UK and work less.

Crisis on the high street continues
Sky report on research produce by PwC and the Local Data Company that shows that 14 shops a day are closing on the high street and the crisis will continue. As well as shops closing at a rapid rate there is also fewer new shops starting up. Larger chains as well as independent retailers have been forced to close shops this year.

Fund set up to tackle rogue landlords
The Guardian reports on a Government fund that has been launched that will help councils in England tackle rogue landlords. The funding is intended to give councils more power to combat rogue landlords and ensure homes are of a good standard; £2m has been put forward but this works out at less than £6,000 for each council. Campaign groups hope that more funding will be put forward when the changes to the law are in place.

More than 450 missing foreign criminals lost by the Home Office since 2016
The Sun reports that the Home Office has lost more than 450 foreign criminals since 2016, 223 of those who absconded have since been found. Conservative MP, Tim Loughton said the findings are horrifying and that we should immediately deport these criminals. Since 2010, 44,500 foreign national offenders have been deported.

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Today’s political headlines are dominated by Brexit with Theresa May under pressure to publish Brexit legal advice and her meeting with NATO leaders ahead of the outline deal. There’s also a call to scrap the benefits freeze and Javid telling the Met chief to ‘step up’ the fight against knife crime. 

May under pressure to publish Brexit legal advice
Theresa May is facing mounting pressure to publish the full legal advice she has been given on the Irish backstop. The Sun reports that Labour has allied with Tory rebels – including Jacob Rees Mogg and Environment Secretary Michael Gove – in order to force May to release the information. Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer has threatened to use ‘parliamentary procedures’ if May refuses to do so.

May heads to Brussels to meet with NATO leaders
The Sun reports on the Prime Minister’s trip to Brussels for a dinner with NATO leaders ahead of the outline Brexit deal. It is said she will also take the opportunity to hold talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, before travelling to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Tories call on May to scrap benefits freeze
The Times reports that Theresa May has been advised by fellow party members to put an end to the ‘immoral’ freeze on benefits. May has been warned that failing to do so would damage the party at the next election.

Javid tells Met Chief to ‘step up’ in fight against knife crime
The Financial Times reports that Home Secretary Sajid Javid has told Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Cressida Dick to ‘step up’ and get violent crime ‘under control’ after five fatalities in the past six days in London.

Prince Charles: ‘I won’t be a meddling King’
The Telegraph reports that ahead of his 70th birthday, Prince Charles publicly vowed that he will not be a ‘meddling king’ but will operate within the constitutional parameters set out for a monarch. The Prince, who has always had the reputation of interfering in public life on issues like architecture and environment, said that he completely acknowledges the fact that his role as the King will be completely different to his role as the Prince of Wales.

France and UK must strengthen links ‘to hedge against Trump’
The Guardian reports that in order to hedge against the unpredictability of Donald Trump’s White House, France and the UK need to overcome the risks of Brexit and ‘deepen their military alliance’. According to former French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and former head of NATO George Robertson, there is a need for British and French intelligence agencies to work together to make sure that military forces are shared and concessions are made in the Brexit talks between UK and Brussels to bring the two allies closer together.

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Today’s political headlines include EU preparations to back border compromise, pointlessly cruel benefit sanctions, a stealth death tax and advice for pet owners planning European visits after Brexit. 

EU prepares to back border compromise as May pressures Eurosceptic ministers
The Times claims that the EU is preparing to back a compromise on the Irish border in order to resolve the Brexit negotiations in which the UK would be offered an ‘independent mechanism’ for ending a temporary customs arrangement between the two sides. The Financial Times adds that Theresa May is to pile pressure on Eurosceptic cabinet ministers today, warning them that time is running out and the Government will soon have to tell businesses to start spending money on no-deal Brexit preparations.

Benefit sanctions ‘pointlessly cruel’, MPs claim
The BBC says that a new report by the Commons Work and Pensions Committee warns that the Government’s benefits sanctions are ‘pointlessly cruel’, with single parents, care leavers and people with disabilities and health conditions ‘disproportionately vulnerable’. The Department for Work and Pensions insisted that its sanctions are ‘reasonable’ and ‘only used in the minority of cases’.

Government introduces ‘stealth death tax’
The Daily Mail warns of what it calls a ‘stealth death tax’, after the Government announced an increase in the cost of obtaining probate, with around 280,000 families having to pay more than the current £215, with 56,000 becoming liable for £2,500-£6,000. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable says the increase could ‘cause a lot of families a great deal of difficulty’.

Pet owners planning European visit after Brexit urged to visit vets
According to The Daily Telegraph, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove will today warn pet owners planning to travel with their pets after March 2019 to see a vet this month to ensure that they can still visit Europe in the event of a no-deal Brexit, which would lead to more stringent requirements including acquiring a £55 certificate.

Hammond admits lobbying led to delay in maximum stake reduction
The Times reports that Philip Hammond admitted to the Commons Treasury Committee yesterday that he delayed the implementation of the maximum stake for Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals because of lobbying from the industry. He told the committee that delaying the change would mean more of the 15,000-21,000 job losses would be voluntary, but committee chair Nicky Morgan warned of the impact of the delay on those addicted.

Culture Secretary admits he doesn’t subscribe to newspapers
The Guardian reports that Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Wright told the Society of Editors conference yesterday that quality journalism was ‘not sufficiently rewarded’, but admitted to not subscribing to any British newspapers or magazines, instead reading a summary of news and comment, and only named a female columnist he liked reading after being asked five times.

£7bn hole in defence budget
The Daily Mail carries details of a new report by the National Audit Office that warns that the Ministry of Defence needs to find ‘immediate’ savings owning to a £7bn hole in the department’s budget. As a result, the department’s 10-year plan, covering 2018 to 2028, remains ‘unaffordable’ and it is considering deferring or delaying projects.

MPs warn against returning gold to Venezuela
The Daily Telegraph says that MPs from both Labour and the Conservatives have warned that if the Bank of England returns £422m worth of gold bars it holds to the Venezuelan Government as it is seeking, there is a risk that it will be used, in the words of Labour MP Graham Jones, to help the ‘Boligarchs line their own pockets’.

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Today’s political headlines include Raab’s demands to exit backstop after three months, Military to recruit foreign soldiers, Hancock calls on people to take responsibility for their own health and Jeremy Heywood has died aged 56. 

Raab demands right to exit backstop after three months
According to The Daily Telegraph, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has demanded the right to withdraw the UK from the Irish backstop after just three months, in a meeting which reportedly ‘stunned’ Irish officials but was contradicted by Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington when he visited Dublin three days later. The Guardian adds that EU officials are putting the probability of a Brexit deal being reached at ’50-50′, but that the British want to make ‘decisive progress’ on the backstop by Friday in the hope of achieving an EU summit to agree the deal on 22 November. The Times says that, despite press reports that a deal is close, Theresa May spent the weekend phoning Cabinet members in a bid to allay concerns that she is about to trigger a summit without domestic political agreement.

Military to recruit soldiers who’ve never lived in the UK
The Daily Telegraph reports the Ministry of Defence is to announce today that it will allow foreign nationals who never lived in the UK to serve in the armed forces. Under the plans, a requirement for Commonwealth applicants to have lived in the country for five years will be abandoned. This follows a recruitment crisis, blamed on ‘the ongoing disaster that is the Capita recruitment contract’ by Commons Defence Committee member Mark Francois.

Hancock calls on people to take responsibility for their own health
The Guardian claims that Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has ‘triggered a row’ by using a speech today to call for people to make healthier lifestyle choices, which he asserts ‘isn’t about penalising people’. Professor Simon Capewell of Liverpool University warns this is ‘victim-blaming’ people who’ve ‘been overwhelmed by a toxic environment’.

Former Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Heywood dies aged 56
The BBC reports on the death, aged 56, of former Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood. Heywood, who stepped down just two weeks ago, served four prime ministers in different roles, becoming Cabinet Secretary in 2012.Gordon Brown described him as a ‘leader of exceptional ability’, while Tony Blair called him ‘a quite outstanding public servant’.

Banks denies Russian funding
Interviewed on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Leave.EU founder Arron Banks, who is under investigation by the National Crime Agency, claimed that ‘there was no Russian money and no interference of any type’. He also told Marr that in hindsight he thought that ‘we would have been better to remain’ in the EU.

People would pay more tax to fund social care
A poll conducted for the Daily Mirror shows that 56% of people would pay more National Insurance to fund ‘more and better social care’, with 54% willing to pay more income tax. 74% of those surveyed expressed concern about the level of care they expected to receive in their old age.

Hinds calls for more spending on schools
The Daily Mail says that Education Secretary Damian Hinds is calling for billions of pounds worth of spending for schools ahead of next year’s spending review. Interviewed by the paper, Hinds claimed that education was ‘a different category of spend’ because it ‘is about investment in our skills base’.

Johnson tells ministers to reject Brexit plans
Writing in The Sun ahead of tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting, former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson calls for ministers to reject Theresa May’s Brexit plans, which he describes as a ‘stinker’ that will leave the UK as a ‘vassal state’ for the ‘first time in a thousand years.’

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Today’s political headlines include Crouch’s resignation over the gambling machine stake cut delay, Banks investigated over Brexit donations, Cameron’s aim to return at Foreign Secretary and Rudd was failed by officials. 

Crouch resigns over gambling machine stake cut delay
The Daily Telegraph reports that sports minister Tracey Crouch has resigned over a decision to delay the reduction in the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals. She warned in her resignation letter that £1.6bn would be lost in machines because of the delay and claimed that ministers had made ‘commitments’ to MPs with ‘registered interests’, a reference to those who have received donations from the industry. The paper warns that 35 backbench Tories could back an amendment to the finance bill on the topic later this month.

Banks investigated over Brexit donations
The Times reports that Brexit donor Arron Banks is being investigated by the National Crime Agency over allegations that he hid the source of illegal overseas donations. The investigation concerns a loan of £2m to Better for the Country by Banks and his insurance companies and a further gift of £6m from Banks on behalf of Leave.EU. Damián Collins, Chair of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has called for Banks ‘to put beyond doubt and suspicion that Russian money was not involved in the referendum effort’.

Cameron aims for return to frontline politics
The Sun asserts that David Cameron has told friends that he would like to return to frontline politics and wants to be Foreign Secretary, claiming that he is now bored. The paper adds that Boris Johnson has given up on his ambition to be the next Conservative leader, fearing being humiliated by finishing fourth or fifth.

Rudd failed by officials, leaked report shows
The Times says that a leaked report shows that Amber Rudd was failed by senior officials while she was Home Secretary, leading her to have to resign after telling a committee of MPs that there weren’t targets for the removal of illegal immigrants. The report, to be published today, reveals that mistakes by officials led to Rudd not being properly informed.

Labour to remove hunting loopholes
In an exclusive, The Guardian reports that a Labour Government would strengthen the 2004 Hunting Act in order to remove loopholes. According to campaigners, hunting is continuing under the cover of trail hunting, with convictions falling to historic lows and the National Wildlife Crime Unit suffering cuts to its funding.

EU proposes new backstop compromise
The Financial Times claims that the EU’s Brexit negotiators have floated a new compromise backstop proposal in which the withdrawal agreement would contain a ‘bare-bones’ all-UK customs union with the EU, avoiding the need for a second customs treaty after Brexit, while Northern Ireland would be in a deeper customs union. This temporary measure would remain in place until a permanent trade agreement is in place

Labour MPs defy whip and vote to oppose tax cuts
The Guardian reports that twenty Labour MPs, including Lisa Nandy, Lucy Powell and Yvette Cooper, defied their whip to vote with the Liberal Democrats against the Government’s tax cuts for middle and high earners. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said that he did not oppose the cuts because he didn’t want to ‘take money out of people’s pockets’.

Councils told to prepare for no-deal Brexit
According to The Mirror, a leaked briefing reveals that councils are being told to prepare for three months of disruption in a no-deal Brexit. The minutes of a recent Local Resilience Forum meeting reveal that councils should plan for ‘reasonable worst case scenarios’ such as runs on fuel, food and banks, and to report to central government every eight hours.

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