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A round-up of the latest political headlines, including the former police officers criticised over Damian Green leaks, Boris Johnson delivering a warning to Russia, Passports returning to the colour blue and Diane Abbott’s turned down requests to visit Yarl’s Wood.  

Former police officers criticised over Damian Green leaks
The Times reports that Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has joined forces with Tory MPs to condemn the actions of former police officers Bob Quick and Neil Lewis in leaking details of the pornography found when Damian Green’s office was raided nine years ago. The leaks are now the subject of a criminal inquiry. The paper also says that Lewis has liked anti-Tory posts on Facebook.

Boris Johnson to deliver warning to Russia
According to the Guardian, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is to deliver a warning to Russia that the UK will retaliate if Russia continues to use cyber-attacks. He is the first Foreign Secretary to visit Russia for five years. The paper adds that ‘neither side expects any major breakthrough’.

Passports to turn blue post-Brexit
In an exclusive, The Sun broke the news that from October 2019 the Government is to produce passports in what it calls ‘the dark blue colour that was once famous across the globe.’ People will have the option of requesting that their existing burgundy passport is replaced by a blue one.

Diane Abbott request explanation over being denied access to Yarl’s Wood
Diane Abbott has written to the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, after more than a dozen requests to visit Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre were turned down, the Guardian reports. In a statement, she said ‘It is of critical importance that we are able to scrutinise the conditions in which people are held, especially given the allegations of appalling treatment, abuse, and a lack of legal advice and medical support in this centre.’

Brexit sector reports released amidst criticism
The Guardian says that the Brexit sector reports, published in redacted form yesterday, have been ‘criticised for containing little more than padding, repetition and plagiarism’. Lord Jay, former Foreign Office head and acting chair of the Lords Brexit Committee described the reports as containing ‘little overarching analysis’ and being ‘inconsistent in approach and in the use of statistics’.

Mark Garnier cleared of wrongdoing
International trade minister Mark Garnier has been cleared of wrongdoing, as The Times reports. He had been accused of calling his secretary ‘sugar tits’ and asking her to buy him sex toys, but an inquiry by the Cabinet Office concluded that ‘that there was no evidence to suggest that Mr Garnier’s conduct as a minister since 2016 had breached the expected standards of behaviour’, Number 10 said.

EU preparing Canada-style deal for the UK
The Financial Times claims that the EU is preparing to present the UK with a Canada-style deal in early summer unless the UK is able to clarify its demands. As the paper reports, this would fall short of what Britain hopes for, as it will give only limited access for services.

Puppy farmers to be cracked down on
According to the Daily Mail, Theresa May has promised to ‘eradicate animal cruelty from our society’ by cracking down on puppy farmers. Proposals include forcing breeders to show puppies alongside their mother before selling them, ensuring sales are completed in the new owners’ presence, banning licensed breeders from selling puppies they haven’t bred, and regulation of adverts.

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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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