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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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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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