1st Apr 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=36 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

@OliDugmore https://twitter.com/OliDugmore/status/1111965262239150080 30th Mar 2019

Jobs at Risk

The Independent Union officials will go to Japan to press company bosses over jobs losses says Unite chief Len McCluskey https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/honda-uk-march-swindon-route-factory-closure-protest-unite-a8847556.html 30th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Centre for European Reform The UK economy is 2.5 per cent smaller than it would be if Britain had voted to remain in the European Union. The knockon hit to the public finances is 19 billion per annum or 360 million a week. The latest update of the Centre for European Reforms cost of Brexit calculation which covers the period from the referendum to the fourth quarter of 2018 shows a slight increase compared to our third quarter estimate which put the cost at 2.3 per cent. https://www.cer.eu/insights/cost-brexit-december-2018-towards-relative-decline 30th Mar 2019

Economic Impact

Bloomberg Consumers helped to keep the U.K. economy growing in the fourth quarter as firms cut investment amid the escalating chaos over Brexit. The Office for National Statistics left its growth estimate at 0.2 percent a sharp slowdown from an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in the previous three months. The performance would have been worse but for consumers who are enjoying record employment and the fastest wage growth for a decade. Households spent 0.3 percent more slightly less than the pace of the third quarter but enough to offset the damage from a fourth consecutive fall in business investment. Strong government spending also contributed to growth. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-29/consumers-buoy-u-k-economy-as-brexit-hits-business-investment 29th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Toronto Sun Global Affairs Canada has issued a travel advisory for Canadians in Britain warning them of possible violence in the wake of todays latest twist in the countrys Brexit drama. The department issued the updated advisory as British politicians rejected the latest attempt to coalesce around a path out of the European Union. In the advisory officials warn of acts of violence and confrontations between demonstrators and security forces around the parliamentary buildings and near Westminster Abbey in London. https://torontosun.com/news/national/travel-advisory-for-canadians-in-britain-warns-of-acts-of-violence-linked-to-brexit/wcm/916a995e-26e1-433d-8ed7-38d6e6ed5bc8 29th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian Sajid Javid has announced that the controversial Brexit app for EU citizens residency rights will finally work on iPhones. The home secretary has struck a deal with Apple a year after the Home Office was ridiculed for developing an app that only fully worked on Android phones even though iPhones account for 48 of the market. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/29/android-brexit-app-for-eu-citizens-to-work-on-iphones-says-sajid-javid?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet 30th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

ITV News UK drivers have expressed anger after some Post Offices around the country have run out of the driving permits required to travel in the EU in the event of a nodeal Brexit. The backlash comes because if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on April 12 EU countries will not recognise a UK driving licence without an additional permit. In a statement to ITV News the Post Office confirmed a high demand for the permits and assured worried travellers that more stock would arrive by 2 April. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-29/post-office-no-deal-brexit-drivers-permits/ 30th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Herald Scotland The Scottish Government has blamed Brexit for its failure to deliver a longawaited investment plan to help address a 900m maintenance backlog in the NHS. Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the mediumterm NHS Capital Investment Strategy had been held up because of Brexit uncertainty and its impact on the Scottish budget. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17538251.cash-for-nhs-repairs-delayed-by-brexit/ 30th Mar 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Isle of Thanet News Works are being carried out at the Manston airport site in preparation to stack up to 6000 lorries when or if the UK exits the European Union.Some 4.9million of government funding is being spent to increase the capacity to hold 6000 rather than the initial projection of 4000 lorries. https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2019/03/19/photos-lorry-park-works-underway-at-manston-airport-site/ 20th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times If Britain wanted to pursue Brexit rather than revoke the Article 50 exit process altogether there were only two options Either the UK asks for an extension beyond May 22 in which case it must participate in the European Parliament elections or it must adopt the withdrawal agreement. While Emily Thornberry the foreign affairs spokesman of the UK opposition Labour party suggested on Sunday that a side protocol could allow the UK to sidestep the European elections if it was still in the bloc JeanClaude Piris a former senior EU lawyer emphasised on Twitter that the EU had taken a final decision on the matter which has been formally accepted by the UK government. https://www.ft.com/content/10ca4b52-53c1-11e9-91f9-b6515a54c5b1 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent The EU is running out of patience with Britain over Brexit the president of the European Commission JeanClaude Juncker has warned. In an interview with Italian state TV Mr Juncker said he would like MPs in the UK to be able to reach an agreement over the way forward in the coming days. We have had a lot of patience with our British friends but patience is coming to an end he told RAI. The commission president added So far we know what the British parliament says no to but we dont know what it might say yes to. Asked if a second referendum might be possible Mr Juncker said that was an issue exclusively for the British people. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-jean-claude-juncker-patience-eu-uk-latest-a8848551.html?utm_source=feedburner&amputm_medium=twitter&amputm_campaign=Feed%3A+google-news-brexit-rss-feed+%28Google+News+Brexit+UK+RSS+Feed%29 1st Apr 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian I have become increasingly worried that the house could decide something which is so far away from what people thought they were getting when they voted to leave that it could cause serious ructions. Some very strong Leavers say they dont think people should have a second opportunity to be consulted because they might have changed their minds. That seems to me to be incredibly dangerous as well as completely indefensible. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/31/margaret-beckett-brexit-public-vote-dangerous-theresa-may 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Mirror Online Two lawyers drew up the eyebrowraising paper as MPs prepare to go over Theresa Mays head to approve a soft Brexit. In the paper lawyers Stephen Laws QC and Prof Richard Ekins argue Theresa May could stop any Parliamentary Bill promoting a softer version of Brexit at its final stage being signed off by Her Majesty. But if legislation would otherwise be passed by an abuse of constitutional process and principle facilitated by a rogue Speaker the Government might plausibly decide to advise Her Majesty not to assent to the Bill in question. It would be MPs not the Government that had by unprincipled action involved the monarch. It would set up a constitutional crisis with the Queen who is famously completely neutral on political matters in public. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-could-ask-queen-stop-14213369 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BuzzFeed News BuzzFeed News reported that Facebooks transparency measures were under fresh scrutiny because of Britains Futures sudden and mystifying emergence as a major force in political campaigning. In just a few months the site has spent more than 410000 lobbying MPs to oppose Theresa Mays Brexit deal overtaking the UK government the three major political parties and Remainsupporting campaigns backed by corporate heavyweights while giving no information about its origins or sources of funding other than to say it is funded by donations. https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/hard-brexit-dark-money-links-between-these-secretive 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times A new socially liberal group championing compassionate Conservatism has been launched to seize back the initiative from the partys Eurosceptic wing. Led by Amber Rudd Damian Green Nicky Morgan and Sir Nicholas Soames the One Nation group will promote progressive Conservative values and seek to become a powerful counterweight to Jacob ReesMoggs European Research Group. The group which is already 50strong will seek to influence domestic policy and is united in its opposition to a nodeal Brexit. Other highprofile members include Greg Clark the business secretary David Gauke the justice secretary and David Mundell the Scottish secretary. In recent weeks the group has been meeting daily amid fears the party is being hijacked by hardline Brexiteers. The group whose board is cochaired by Rudd and Morgan is seeking to influence any leadership contest by hosting hustings. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/one-nation-group-to-fend-off-hardliners-zkltrx55s?shareToken=37049f327a35a95ab82e5f309911b9d0 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The exchairwoman of the official proBrexit campaign has sidestepped calls to apologise after the group dropped its appeal over a spending fine. The Electoral Commission fined Vote Leave 61000 after ruling it exceeded spending limits during the referendum. Asked by the BBC if she would say sorry Gisela Stuart instead defended the organisations record. The watchdog had said Serious offences such as these undermine public confidence in our system. Vote Leave which was fronted by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove was fined in July for spending more than the 7m spending limit. The campaign said at the time the watchdogs findings were wholly inaccurate and politically motivated. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47766407?ns_mchannel=social&ampns_linkname=news_central&ampns_source=twitter&ampns_campaign=bbc_politics 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Theresa May will have to consider the possibility of accepting a softer Brexit if the measure is supported by parliament this week the justice secretary David Gauke has said. With 12 days before the UK is due to leave the EU and parliament plunged into a political stalemate Gauke a softBrexit supporter said the prime minister would have to look very closely if MPs back a customs union in a fresh round of indicative votes that begin on Monday. I think she would need to look very closely at that he told BBC1s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/31/theresa-may-accept-soft-brexit-if-parliament-backs-it-says-minister 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The Brexit shambles exposes the weaknesses of Westminster which have grown starker since the 1998 devolution settlement. The House of Commons includes repulsive opportunists boneheaded pedants and a few real scoundrels. But most MPs are wellmeaning men and especially women. Yvette Cooper wise Joanna Cherry Anna Soubry the maenad with blazing eyes they and their sisters have been the stars of these awful weeks. Best of all none of them did that womanly number of trying to mediate between gnashing stomping males. They gnashed too and with a furious clarity. And it was Nicola Sturgeon who gave Theresa May the smartest epitaph The only leader in modern times who tried to fall on her own sword and managed to miss. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/31/archaic-authoritarian-unequal-to-the-challenge-parliament-is-broken 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror The Conservative Party has erupted into open warfare over whether to bow to mounting pressure and back soft Brexit this week. Furious Tories warned of the worst split for 173 years as MPs hold a bombshell new round of votes tomorrow on the way out of the deadlock.The indicative votes are widely expected to single out a customs union keeping close EU ties and favoured by Labour as the most popular option. But following that policy would break the Tories 2017 manifesto and stop the UK signing its own trade deals around the world. Tory Cabinet minister David Gauke today warned Theresa May it would be unsustainable to ignore the will of MPs if they choose a customs union. But 170 Tory MPs wrote to the Prime Minister urging her to take the UK out of the EU quickly as possible WITHOUT a customs union. The letter is said to be backed by 10 Cabinet ministers including Jeremy Hunt Sajid Javid Michael Gove and Penny Mordaunt. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-tories-war-customs-union-14212307?utm_source=twitter.com&amputm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=sharebar 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Spectator First Ken Clarkes Customs Union plan wins the support of the Commons. That drives a wedge straight down the middle of the One Nation Tories and the ERG. This will prise lose 15 more votes for Mays deal. Then add the NandySnell amendment MPs shape future negotiations hey presto May has another votes https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/03/may-can-still-pass-her-brexit-deal-on-the-fourth-try-heres-how/ 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The New European Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry bemused viewers after she appeared to claim that 70 of the United Kingdom supports leaving the EU. Thornberry then appeared to claim that 70 supported leaving the EU before saying some honesty needs to be injected into this. She said I personally dont really understand why 70 of the population at this moment dont want to remain in the EU. But they dont. I personally think the reason for that is because weve not had the sort of debate we need to have. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/emily-thornberry-on-sky-news-1-5969202?utm_source=Twitter&amputm_medium=Social_Icon&amputm_campaign=in_article_social_icons 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home According to The Sunday Times the top ministers used an emergency conference call this weekend to plan a mass walkout if Mrs May backs a customs union or tries to get the UK to take part in European elections in May. One Cabinet minister told the paper We have got to stick by our manifesto commitment not to join a customs union. It would be deeply damaging to hold EU elections. If they are going to happen Labour MPs will have to vote for them. Another accused those pushing for a customs union of an absolute betrayal of the referendum result and of this country. They warned I cannot understand how any of them can describe a customs union as any kind of Brexit. You may as well revoke Article 50. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/102914/cabinet-brexiteers-heap-pressure-theresa-may-over-customs 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times Positioning herself for a tilt at the Tory leadership the chief secretary to the Treasury has taken to wearing primary colours. Her politics are similarly bold. That means using the vast majority of the 27bn Brexit war chest saved by the chancellor to fund big tax cuts for business and young people. Truss says We need to reshape the state and not just think the answer to our problems is spending more money. The most likely age group to agree with that are younger people. We have lowered business rates. Currently we spend 18bn on business support. Id like to cut the taxes on business not give them back their own money. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/liz-truss-exclusive-interview-i-will-say-what-i-like-and-wear-what-i-like-mmcsmmj97 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent Former cabinet minister Esther McVey has signalled she will run for the Tory leadership as senior Conservatives gather support for their bids to succeed Theresa May. The exwork and pensions secretary who presided over part of the botched rollout of universal credit said she would put herself forward to be the next prime minister if she thought she had a fair shot. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-leadership-contest-theresa-may-esther-mcvey-brexit-a8847031.html 31st Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home Tom Watson has hinted that he would be willing to serve in a government of national unity in an attempt to break the Brexit deadlock. The Labour deputy leader said if needs must we have to then do whats right as Parliament struggles to agree a way for the UK to leave the European Union. Mr Watsons comments are likely to spark an angry backlash from many Labour members who would be bitterly opposed to their party going into government with the Tories as well as MPs from other parties. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/tom-watson/news/102909/tom-watson-hints-government-national 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun The Prime Ministers Withdrawal Agreement has been voted down three times. Its had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra. Even now we are told that it is not dead yet. There is speculation there may well be a showdown next week between the PMs deal and an insistence that the UK remains in the customs union. If unreconciled Remainers in Parliament are allowed to hijack negotiations we will get Brexit in name only or no Brexit at all. Its a terrible state of affairs and I wish the Government had had the courage to maintain the possibility of a No Deal exit. It would have given leverage to our negotiating position and delivered a better deal. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8756284/david-davis-brexit-history-right-will-of-the-people/ 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Conservative MPs from across the party are threatening to vote down any attempt by Theresa May to lead them into a snap election warning it would split the Tories and exacerbate the Brexit crisis. In a sign of the collapse in authority suffered by the prime minister cabinet ministers are among those warning that there will be a serious campaign by Conservative MPs to vote against an election headed by May a move she hinted at last week to break the Brexit deadlock. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/30/furious-tory-mps-tell-theresa-may-they-will-block-snap-election 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent Asked about the prospect of a possible split in the main parties he said I think for the first time in my lifetime this is possible. In the last few days Ive been having conversations with deepdyed Tories the kind of people you would never regard as wet or onenation Tories. They say weve just had it up to here we just cannot take any more of it. Our partys been infiltrated by the rightwing equivalent of Momentum weve been threatened in our seats weve had to get legal advice. Theyre in a terrible state these moderate Tories. And then on the Labour side you have one desperate effort being made by deputy leader Tom Watson who is a very formidable and impressive guy to try and save the Labour Party but even those who like him and hope for the best are pretty pessimistic because the hardliners have complete control. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-latest-labour-split-conservative-quit-vince-cable-a8846606.html 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Senior government ministers have reportedly threatened to quit the cabinet if Theresa May heads for a nodeal Brexit . Mrs May faces the risk of resignations from senior ministers on both sides of the Brexit divide depending on what decisions she makes next week. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-cabinet-faces-collapse-six-14211811 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian I think Labour should embrace European elections just as we should welcome a general election that might get rid of this broken government. If we go into either contest with a positive policy on Brexit and say any final deal must be put back to the people I am confident Labour can win. We already have a fund raised by local parties to pay for the campaign and Ive asked our NEC to develop a plan to get grassroots members involved in selecting candidates. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/30/labour-plan-for-peoples-vote-on-final-brexit-deal-can-unite-country 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Evening Standard We stumbled on a formula that really works says Richard. Chris adds We have a news cycle where everything flies past at a million miles an hour. Theres something powerful about slapping a tweet on an oldschool method of communication a billboard that makes people stop and consider in a way they dont with Twitter. Newspapers have been calling the featured politicians to ask them to respond. Most say no comment although Jacob ReesMogg took objection because his quote was said in Parliament not on Twitter. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/led-by-donkeys-how-four-dads-made-asses-out-of-westminster-a4104511.html 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@SkyNewsPolitics There is clear evidence that there was an orchestrated campaign by my UKIP opponent. Tory Remainer Dominic Grieve has spoken out after suffering a vote of no confidence by his local party. https://twitter.com/SkyNewsPolitics/status/1111965860325920768 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian In Britain we dont have the bandwidth or the resolve or the understanding of the bigger picture to want to even try to understand this web of interconnected relationships. We stand by as Arron Banks and Nigel Farage ape Donald Trump. We remain incurious about the ties that connect them and the money behind them. We watch as they attack the press and seek to undermine our institutions. The Mueller report is a warning that we wont heed. Hes exposed Russias attack on Americas presidential election for what it was a system exploit. The same system that underpins our democracy with the same weaknesses and vulnerabilities. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/30/mueller-report-is-a-warning-britain-wont-listen-russian-interference?CMP=share_btn_tw 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News ProRemain MPs are facing increasing pressure after Dominic Grieve suffered a vote of no confidence by his local Conservative Party. Tories in the longtime MPs constituency Beaconsfield took a stand against the former Attorney General after a robust discussion. Grieve among a number of proEU Conservatives to come under pressure in their constituencies. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-30/the-remainer-mps-now-under-pressure-after-dominic-grieves-no-confidence-vote/ 30th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

BuzzFeed News Theresa May is planning to bring her Brexit deal back for another vote in Parliament next week and ... A veteran Conservative backbencher told BuzzFeed News I do not see how she can call an election. There is not a chance in hell we will vote for it https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/theresa-may-bringing-brexit-deal-back-again 29th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Speaker John Bercow is expected to narrow down Parliaments options to just three choices when Indicative Votes are held on Monday. But this time Speaker John Bercow is expected to rule out the options with that attracted the lowest number of votes such as a No Deal Brexit most likely leaving the choice between a customs union with the EU Norwaystyle EEA membership and a second referendum. Mrs May is expected to wait until the options are narrowed down to just one when she will then pit her divorce deal against it. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8751724/commons-vote-x-factor-style-brexit-referendum/ 29th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home Speaking to Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt Mr Dodds warned his party would be prepared to ditch their support for Brexit if it meant protecting Northern Irelands position within the UK. I would stay in the European Union and remain rather than risk Northern Irelands position he said. Thats how strongly I feel about the Union. So yes the answer must be something that works for the whole of the United Kingdom thats our first and main priority. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/news/102906/nigel-dodds-better-cancel-brexit-risk-break-united 29th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun The group persuaded dozens of fellow Tories to vote down all eight alternatives from customs union to second referendum in order to boost the chances of Theresa Mays deal passing https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/8743606/brexit-indicative-votes-secret-plot/ 29th Mar 2019

Political Shenanigans

@BBCNewsnight I would stay in the European Union and remain rather than risk Northern Irelands position DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds tells BBCs Nicholas Watt @nicholaswatt newsnight @NigelDoddsDUP https://twitter.com/BBCNewsnight/status/1111682050707345410 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News I would find myself wondering how the UK population so used to living in relative compared with a lot of the world comfort would cope if ever faced with a real crisis. Fast forward 15 years and fears about fuel and food shortages whether or not they come to pass are actually being talked about in the event of border disruption if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal. While for the rest of the world Britain and Brexit have become one of the biggest for them foreign news stories around with debates in the House of Commons including meaningful votes and speaker John Bercow shouting order regularly making headline news. https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-the-world-used-to-see-uk-as-bastion-of-stability-brexit-has-changed-that-11680120 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The government should have made clear after the 2017 election that it would inevitably have to accept a softer Brexit the Tory chief whip has said. In a BBC documentary Julian Smith is also strongly critical of the cabinets behaviour and lack of discipline. It is unprecedented for a chief whip to publicly attack his own government and comes as the cabinet is deeply split over whether to move to a softer deal. MPs hold further indicative votes later on options to resolve the deadlock. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47768884 1st Apr 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home Theresa May has been warned by her own MPs against plunging the country into a fresh general election as a new poll put Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party five points clear of the Tories.The latest Deltapoll study for the Mail on Sunday shows that a sevenpoint Conservative lead has evaporated over the past month amid ongoing political turmoil over Brexit. Labour currently stands at 41 percent five points ahead of the Tories on 36. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/news/102912/tories-threaten-stop-theresa-may-triggering 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Metro Prominent proRemain Conservative MP Dominic Grieve is facing deselection after he suffered a vote of no confidence by his local party. The no confidence vote was passed 182 to 131 by the Beaconsfield Constituency Conservative Association. The chairman of the association Jackson Ng said the motion was passed at the associations annual general meeting on Friday. https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/30/remain-stalwart-dominic-grieve-faces-tory-deselection-losing-no-confidence-vote-9068630/ 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph The Conservative Party must appoint a senior Tory Eurosceptic to lead it through the next phase of the Brexit negotiations and delay a full scale leadership contest until after the 2022 election a Cabinet minister has said. The comments by Chris Grayling who previously served as Mrs Mays campaign manager in 2016 will be seen as an effort to streamline the race to replace Theresa May amid speculation that as many as two dozen MPs could slug it out in a campaign that could go on for months. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/31/tories-need-experience-helm-says-cabinet-minister/ 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Brexiteers and Remainers are threatening to walk out. Theresa May will be warned today that her government faces total collapse unless she passes her Brexit deal as the prime ministers aides were at loggerheads over whether to accept a soft Brexit or call a general election this week. In an emergency conference call last night Brexiteer cabinet ministers agreed they would resign if May accepted a customs union or got Tory MPs to vote for the UK to take part in European elections in May. They will deliver their threat when the prime minister consults her cabinet today. More than half her Commons party 170 MPs and ministers have signed a letter telling May to pursue a nodeal departure from the EU rather than accept a soft Brexit. It also demands that the UK leave the EU by May 22. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/theresa-mays-cabinet-close-to-collapse-7mqd00nwg 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The party propping up the Tory government puts the union before everything even its own electorate https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-latest-dup-article-50-theresa-may-a8847041.html 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Revoking Article 50 is the most popular of any Brexit option with the public a bombshell poll suggests today. The survey of 1010 people found 36 want to abandon leaving the EU entirely despite the nation voting by 52 to 48 to leave in the 2016 referendum. The second most popular option was to crash out with no deal on April 12 unless the EU makes further concessions a choice backed by 26 of people. Those options were followed by Dont Know on 13 and backing Theresa Mays deal on 12. The result came as the number of people signing a petition to revoke Article 50 the twoyear countdown to Brexit Day hit 6million. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-more-third-people-back-14212979?utm_source=twitter.com&amputm_medium=social&amputm_campaign=sharebar 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News A petition calling on the government to halt the Brexit process and keep Britain in the EU has passed six million signatures. The Revoke Article 50 petition which will be debated by MPs on Monday has the highest number of signatures of any parliamentary epetition in history. At one point nearly 2000 signatures were being added every minute and it was so popular that the website crashed. https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-petition-to-revoke-article-50-hits-6-million-signatures-11680597 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Downing Street hopes to delay any Conservative party leadership contest until October in a move that will hamper the campaigns of established candidates such as Boris Johnson Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid. As Tory contenders began manoeuvres this weekend to replace Theresa May after the third defeat of her Brexit deal sources confirmed that those close to her will push for a new prime minister to be chosen after the partys conference at the end of September. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/31/no-10-hopes-to-delay-tory-leadership-contest-until-october 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC A Scottish MP has said she is hopeful of winning crossparty support for her bid to rule out a NoDeal Brexit. The SNPs Joanna Cherry is planning to table a motion on Monday that would call on the government to revoke Article 50 if no extension can be obtained. Ms Cherry said she had worked closely with some Labour MPs to craft it in a way they could support. Scottish Labour MP Paul Sweeney said the move was a sensible safeguard. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-47765606 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Ministers and officials said to be exasperated as nodeal preparations result in paralysis. Brexit is delaying key pieces of policy and legislation angering ministers and officials amid reports of paralysis across Whitehall as the government focuses on solving the current crisis the Guardian has learned. Legislation meant to limit the prosecution of soldiers create an online regulator and curb drug dispensing errors have been held up or postponed as the government tries to gain enough support for a deal to leave the EU. It comes as Whitehall departments divert senior staff to work on Brexitrelated matters in case the UK leaves the EU without a deal. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/31/anger-whitehall-brexit-strife-delays-key-policies-legislation 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times When Dominic Grieve a Conservative MP and former attorneygeneral was heckled by party members shouting traitor the forces ripping through his party were plain for all to see. Mr Grieve who lost a vote of confidence brought by his local party association on Friday is one of a clutch of proEU Tory MPs targeted for deselection by local members. He has blamed his reversal on entryism by antiEU activists into the local party but the transformation in the Conservatives ranks goes far beyond his Beaconsfield constituency. Mrs May now faces the huge challenge of trying to get her deal through the House of Commons without provoking a revolt in what has largely become a Brexit party. https://www.ft.com/content/5fd0d808-53c4-11e9-91f9-b6515a54c5b1 31st Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

ITV News ProRemain MP Dominic Grieve has insisted he will not be standing down in the wake of suffering a vote of no confidence by his local Conservative Party. Party members in Beaconsfield voted 182 to 131 in favour of the no confidence motion on Friday evening meaning Mr Grieve faces possible deselection. The former attorneygeneral said he would listen very carefully to the views of local members but when asked by ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand whether he would resign said I was elected by 36000 people of Beaconsfield who voted for me and Im answerable to them. https://www.itv.com/news/2019-03-30/grieve-suffers-no-confidence-vote-by-local-tories/ 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News Do you believe this man Watch this video. He was coconvener of Vote Leave. He received daily briefings. Yet he claims total ignorance. Even in incredible event he didnt know it still happened on his watch. If we had an opposition they would surely call for him to resign https://twitter.com/carolecadwalla/status/1111988756519751680 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times Compromise be damned we cant give an inch to the liars and rascals whove brought our country to the brink of ruin. Compromise be damned. Were looking at an assemblage of ninnies and rascals here and theyre well on their way to being rumbled. Yet again I remind you of the words to me of Margaret Thatchers parliamentary private secretary the late Ian Gow. In the Ladys view once youve got the crocodile on to the sandbank you dont help it back into the deep. You stick the knife in. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/may-s-deal-is-dead-long-live-a-second-referendum-zlvcrh8q2 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Irish Times Hundreds of people have taken part in a number of mass demonstrations on the Irish Border in opposition to Brexit. Border Communities Against Brexit organised the protests to mark the day after Britain had been due to leave the European Union. Border demonstrations took place along a number of crossing points in Co Tyrone Co Louth Co Donegal Co Fermanagh Co Cavan and Co Monaghan. Demonstrators set up a mock checkpoint on the Old Dublin Road in Carrickcarnon which was manned by people dressed as customs officers. The road was closed to members of the public as protesters carried antiBrexit placards and EU flags. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/hundreds-protest-against-brexit-along-irish-border-1.3844529 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

talkRADIO Michael Heseltine has condemned the rise of proBrexit populism as unacceptable and repugnant after Fridays Brexit Day protests. Although the majority of demonstrators at the rally were peaceful police arrested two people on suspicion of assault and another on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. The former deputy prime minister who campaigned to remain in the EU told talkRADIOs James Whale he feared proBrexit protesters would use physical force and intimidation as political tools. What appals me is that those who have strong feelings think that the legitimate weapon in their hand is physical force and intimidation Lord Heseltine said. We have all seen what happens when people say there will be civil unrest and start muscling up in a crowd yesterday we saw a lot of posters torn down in parliament square and then somebody got roughed up. https://talkradio.co.uk/news/lord-heseltine-pro-brexit-populism-unacceptable-and-repugnant-19033030495 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

@gabriel_pogrund Dominic Grieve loses confidence vote at Beaconsfield Conservative Association by 182 to 131 votes paves way for deselection https://twitter.com/Gabriel_Pogrund/status/1111767579792683008 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC When does determination become delusion Number 10s answer to that may be not yet. There is every chance that the prime minister will again with routes outside the normal boundaries try to make a version of her Brexit deal the end result of all of this. Despite a third defeat despite the embarrassment of repeated losses dont imagine that she is ready to say a permanent farewell to the compromise deal she brokered with the EU or straightaway to her time in office. There is still a belief in the heart of government that there could be a way round perhaps to include the prime ministers agreed treaty as one of the options that is subject to a series of votes that will be put in front of the Commons next week. The aspiration strange as it sounds for some time now has been to prove to MPs that the deal is the least worst of all the options for time to expose the impossibilities of the new compromises some MPs seek politically for the Tory party and for the cost of a long delay to Brexit to be too great to allow Parliament to find a new way too. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47756401?ns_campaign=bbc_politics&ampns_source=twitter&ampns_mchannel=social&ampns_linkname=news_central 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The remainsupporting Conservative MP Dominic Grieve is facing deselection by his party after losing a confidence vote held by his local association by 182 to 131 votes. The Conservative association in Beaconsfield Buckinghamshire Grieves constituency said it no longer had confidence in the former attorney general after he put his case to members at a meeting on Friday. And while he remains its MP for the time being a meeting will soon be convened to discuss his future. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/30/dominic-grieve-loses-confidence-vote-held-by-beaconsfield-tories?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Some of Goves opinions were expressed in Celsius 77 a controversial book he wrote in 2006 about Islamism in the UK and elsewhere. Asked in a Guardian interview what she thought about the idea of Gove succeeding Theresa May Lady Warsi said I just dont even want to imagine it. Ive sat in too many meetings Ive done everything from rolling my eyes to thinking gosh thank God hes not prime minister. Celsius 77 was written shortly after the 2005 London tube and bus bombings which killed 52 and injured many more and Gove stated that a sizeable minority of Britains 1.8 million Muslims held rejectionist Islamist views. To support that argument Gove cited polling data from the time that showed 46 of British Muslims considered themselves Muslim first and British second and emphasised that a minority 12 of those aged 1824 said suicide bombing could be justified in the UK. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/29/lady-warsi-says-she-fears-michael-gove-becoming-pm 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Reuters British Prime Minister Theresa May risks the total collapse of her government if she fails to get her battered Brexit deal through parliament the Sunday Times newspaper said amid growing speculation that she might call an early election. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-may-cabinet/may-risks-total-collapse-of-government-in-brexit-impasse-sunday-times-idUKKCN1RB0R6?rpc=401&ampfbclid=IwAR2edZ8Ro4VThdiTZbQVYaA3Qy6-Za05wGsUxGwam45vhDVOWkFeLshZDjQ&ampsfns=mo 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Conservative MPs from across the party are threatening to vote down any attempt by Theresa May to lead them into a snap election warning it would split the Tories and exacerbate the Brexit crisis. In a sign of the collapse in authority suffered by the prime minister cabinet ministers are among those warning that there will be a serious campaign by Conservative MPs to vote against an election headed by May a move she hinted at last week to break the Brexit deadlock. The threat of an election immediately angered both proBrexit and proRemain MPs. May would need a twothirds majority in the Commons to secure one meaning a serious rebellion by Tories could block it. May would then be forced to secure an election by backing a noconfidence vote in her own government which only requires a simple majority of MPs. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/30/furious-tory-mps-tell-theresa-may-they-will-block-snap-election?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Conservative leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are facing growing calls to account for illegal behaviour by the official Vote Leave Brexit campaign. The group has dropped its appeal against the Electoral Commissions ruling that it broke the law by channelling hundreds of thousands of pounds of donations to an ostensibly independent campaign group BeLeave. When the Observer revealed evidence a year ago that Vote Leave had broken spending rules Johnson attacked the report on Twitter as utterly ludicrous and said it had won legally. A Johnson adviser said on Saturday that the former foreign secretary would not comment on the end of the appeal. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/30/gove-johnson-under-fire-vote-leave-fine-appeal-dropped 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph The future of the Conservative party needs to be as the Brexit party. It ought not to cede this title to any other contenders as the nature of its opposition to the EU grows out of its core beliefs. The Tory party in all its guises over many centuries has had the view that society is best organised from the bottom up rather than the top down. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/30/next-tory-leader-should-politician-voted-brexit/ 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Official Brexit campaign says it has run out of money to pursue appeal after Electoral Commission found it coordinated illegally with another group https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-news-latest-vote-leave-fine-electoral-law-spending-commission-a8846816.html 30th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph riday was supposed to be Brexit day. Instead the Government spent it trying to heave its Withdrawal Agreement over the line with the threat that it could be this or no Brexit at all. They did their best a few Tory sceptics were converted. Nevertheless the deal died in the lobbies for a third time. Theresa May had told the 1922 Committee that she would resign if the Agreement passed. What will she do now that it has been beaten yet again She cannot continue. The Prime Minister needs to consider her position urgently bearing two things in mind the longer this goes on the softer Brexit will become and second that the public is losing faith not just in the Government or the Conservative Party but in the political process itself too https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2019/03/29/theresa-may-must-step-prime-minister-sake-brexit-party-democracy/ 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

@GeorginaFStubbs RT @BowenBBC Ive seen this kind of thuggish intimidation in nasty places around the world. Horrendous to see it in the UK httpst.co5O https://twitter.com/georginafstubbs/status/1111715367615901701 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Yahoo News UK The Metropolitan Police said five people were arrested following the Brexit protests in Westminster on Friday. Some journalists were intimidated by aggressive Leave supporting protestors https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tensions-run-high-five-people-arrested-brexit-protest-london-221449792.html 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Spot the difference on Saturday hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to peacefully request a democratic vote in a march to Parliament Square where a rally was held. Today hundreds of people in the same place threaten rioting and violence in an attempt to push the opposite point. Quite a contrast isnt it. But thats roughly how its been ever since David Cameron stuck a knife into the heart of Britain in the hopes of settling a debate in the Conservative Party which his successor Theresa May set about twisting with the same aim in mind. One side politely requests a vote the other responds with a pair of hobnailed boots. Or hobnailed heels in the case of May whos comments could be seen as inciting violence against MPs. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/compare-peaceful-march-remainers-nasty-152400651.html 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

@MarkUrban01 Following todays Commons defeat @FabianPicardo Chief Minister of Gibraltar has written to Theresa May asking her to revoke Article 50. in preference to a long extension of membership of the EU or a nodeal departure from the EU https://twitter.com/MarkUrban01/status/1111695203138764801 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Government sources suggested May was first likely to make another attempt to force her deal through parliament in a third meaningful vote. This might happen in a runoff against any successful alternative from Mondays indicative votes. The government has been discussing with the Speaker John Bercow whether there is a way to hold MV3 that would not fall foul of his insistence that the same proposition cannot be put before parliament again. A Downing Street spokesman highlighted the fact that Mays margin of defeat 58 was smaller than the 149 majority she lost by earlier this month and the crushing 230strong defeat in the first meaningful vote in January. We are at least going in the right direction the spokesman said. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/29/mps-reject-theresa-mays-brexit-deal-third-time 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

@TheJayToday This is what the proBrexit march became in the end. Men and women drinking cans of beer and abusing the police. https://twitter.com/TheJayToday/status/1111765542992527367 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BuzzFeed News The prime ministers promise to stand aside if her Brexit deal passes will bring an end to one of the shortest and most turbulent premierships in modern British history. ... https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/theresa-may-prime-minister-career-brexit-betrayal 28th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home The alliance between ReesMogg he who once said he takes the whip from the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church rather than Julian Smith and the DUP was one of the more innocuous thrown up by Brexit aside from sovereignty one wonders what he spoke with Sammy Wilson et al about when he was the star attraction on the DUP afterdinner circuit. As recently as Wednesday he was repeating his protestations that he would not abandon the DUP then he broke with them and voted for Mays deal https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/analysis/102907/analysis-englishmans-betrayal-what-next-dup 29th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

The Times The temptations of two particular doctrines have made the Tories all but ungovernable. The first is the appeal of sovereigntybased nationalism. There is a breed of Eurosceptic in the Conservative Party that loathes the European Union so much that they are not even prepared to vote to leave unless they can stick their fingers up to it as they go. Their vision of national sovereignty in a world of alliances treaties and trade and capital flows is a century out of date and their assumption that taking back control from Europe is the answer to the problems Britain faces is simply fatuous. Yet they have got religion and cannot be reasoned with. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/tories-could-become-the-nasty-party-again-lqdj8n55p 28th Mar 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Dominic Cummings has issued a rallying call to former Vote Leave activists to start building a new political party or campaign to fight for Brexit. The former director of the campaign that won the 2016 EU referendum urges supporters to start rebuilding our network now in a post on his blog. He says winning another EU referendum would be easier than in 2016. It comes as he was found in contempt of Parliament by the Commons Privileges Committee. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47721011 28th Mar 2019