3rd May 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=58 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

Financial Times Bombardier plans to sell its operations in Northern Ireland where the Canadian aerospace group is one of the biggest employers with a workforce of 3600. The decision to dispose of the Belfastbased aerostructures business comes at a sensitive time for the UK which is grappling with the impact that Brexit could have on Northern Ireland. Bombardier has previously warned of the consequences of a hard Brexit for its operations in Belfast a threat that could now complicate the sale process. https://www.ft.com/content/7db6d104-6cc6-11e9-a9a5-351eeaef6d84 2nd May 2019

Economic Impact

Bristol Post Failure to secure a good Brexit deal with the EU risks putting Bristols economic prosperity at risk a think tank is warning. A total of 55 per cent of Bristols exports are sold to the bloc and are worth around 3.6billion to the citys economy or 8508 per worker. But local exporters are facing tariff barriers if the government fails to secure a good Brexit deal says urban policy research unit Centre for Cities. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/business/bristols-economic-prosperity-at-risk-2822367 2nd May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent A cancer patient has been told his best chance of a cure has been delayed indefinitely because of Brexit. Richard Kelly was due to start the cuttingedge treatment known as selective internal radiation therapy Sirt for cancer in his liver last month alongside chemotherapy. But now the 53yearold has claimed that his oncologist at Bristol Royal Infirmary told him The treatment had been delayed due to Brexit. Mr Kelly told The Independent his consultant said NHS England were unable to set a budget for this kind of treatment because of the chaotic nature of the Brexit negotiations and the actual leaving of the European Union. Therefore this essential treatment was delayed with no suggestion of a date when it would be available. Consultants proposed he undergo the groundbreaking treatment method after they found signs the bowel cancer he was initially being treated for had spread to his liver and was incurable with surgery though it could be contained with chemotherapy. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/brexit-cancer-treatment-delay-radiation-sirt-bristol-life-saving-a8896181.html 2nd May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Guardian British 18yearolds can apply for a free rail pass awarded by the European Union despite the looming Brexit deadline. The European commission announced on Thursday that 18yearolds in the EU could apply for 20000 DiscoverEU passes that allow travel to one or more countries a repeat of the oversubscribed ticket giveaway launched last year. Successful applicants will have to take their trip of up to 30 days between 1 August 2019 and 31 January 2020. British 18yearolds can apply for tickets although the UK is scheduled to quit the EU on 31 October. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/02/british-teenagers-to-be-able-to-apply-for-free-eu-rail-pass-despite-brexit 3rd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

ITV News Well there are three failure scenarios all of which could almost simultaneously happen. 1 She could call Corbyns bluff and in the end find out that he has been negotiating in bad faith it may turn out that he simply could not bring himself to do a deal with any Tory prime minister. But that would probably reflect worse on him than her. 2 She could so enrage her party that they find a way to throw her out double quick. But she knows thats going to happen in pretty short order any way. So in that sense she has literally nothing to lose from doing what she thinks is the right thing by the country. 3 She could so alienate her Brexiter MPs and Northern Irelands DUP whose support is vital to the Tories remaining in office that they would join forces with Labour to force a general election. But May knows that the parliamentary arithmetic may make it impossible to secure any kind of Brexit ahead of an election in any case. So again she would have lost nothing if an election was precipitated. Or to put it another way even though the prospect of Theresa May securing a pact with Labour for a managed departure from the EU is a remote one trying and failing is not such a terrible thing for her because she knows that whatever happens her time in 10 Downing Street is almost up. Her destiny is sealed. Her time as prime minister is drawing to a close. So why wouldnt she boldly go where she has never gone before and seek a genuine Brexit alliance with her implacable opponent Jeremy Corbyn https://www.itv.com/news/2019-05-02/theresa-may-has-just-days-to-seal-her-brexit-destiny/ 3rd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Express.co.uk Some MPs have called for Mr Williamson to be prosecuted while others believe he should be allowed a chance to defend himself in an official investigation. However he is reportedly thinking of delivering a speech like Geoffrey Howes resignation speech which sparked Margaret Thatchers downfall. Political editor Nicholas Watt said on BBC Newsnight Make no mistake Gavin Williamson is on the war path. I spoke to a friend tonight who said he is thinking of delivering a speech on the level of Geoffrey Howes resignation speech which famously precipitated the downfall of Margaret Thatcher. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1122230/BBC-newsnight-gavin-williamson-theresa-may-huawei-leak-sacked-5G-defence-secretary 3rd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News Labour and the Conservatives have been hit by a Brexit backlash while the Liberal Democrats Greens and independents are enjoying a Brexit bounce. On a night of town hall turmoil in the local elections broadly speaking Labour have done badly in the proBrexit north of England and better in the proRemain south. For the Tories its the opposite struggling in the south and yet embarrassing Labour in its northern heartlands. The Lib Dems have gained some spectacular scalps and independents are on the march. The two big parties wanted these elections to be about bins not Brexit. Fat chance. Brexit has dominated and polarised UK politics for three years and threatens to continue to do so for years to come. https://news.sky.com/story/labour-and-tories-hit-by-brexit-backlash-in-local-elections-11709851 3rd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Labour MP Barry Gardiner has said his party is trying to bail out the Conservatives over Brexit trying to find a compromise which will break the current deadlock. Mr Gardiner who is shadow international trade secretary clashed with Conservative Brexit minister James Cleverly during the BBC News Channels local election coverage on Thursday. He said We are now trying to negotiate with you because your prime minister whos lost control of her party whos lost any chance of getting her deal through Parliament has had to come to us and say please I now need to listen to the ideas that youve been putting forward. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48143435/labour-trying-to-bail-out-tories-on-brexit 3rd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home For everyone voting tomorrow it will be a simple choice of who you want running everyday services in your area and how much you want to be charged for them says Conservative Chris Philp MP. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/opinion/house-commons/103589/chris-philp-mp-local 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Business Insider ProEuropean Conservative donors are diverting their cash from Theresa Mays party in order to fund efforts to stop Brexit as funding for the national party dries up Business Insider can reveal. The Right to Vote campaign for a second Brexit referendum set up by Conservative MPs has already raised hundreds of thousands of pounds from disgruntled Conservative donors since it was set up in January. One donor to the campaign City Pub Group chairman Clive Watson which operates 44 sites across England and Wales told Business Insider that he has donated 35000 in a personal capacity having previously donated 25000 to the Conservative party through his business. https://www.businessinsider.com/disgruntled-tory-donors-divert-100000s-to-second-brexit-referendum-campaign-2019-4 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times Chris Grayling faced fresh calls to resign today after the government wasted 83 million on nodeal Brexit ferries that have been running halfempty for more than a month. The transport secretary was criticised over his handling of contracts signed to create extra freight capacity across the Channel in the event of Britain leaving the EU without a deal. It was announced that contracts with two ferry companies were being scrapped five weeks into a sixmonth deal costing the taxpayer about 50 million. This is on top of a 33 million settlement to the Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel after it was unfairly excluded from bidding for contracts. The additional space was bought from Brittany Ferries and the Danish operator DFDS to keep essential medicines and food flowing if there were lengthy delays at French ports. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/chris-graylings-no-deal-brexit-ferry-services-scrapped-at-cost-of-50m-zx9hhdgmw 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Business Insider Both the Conservative party and Labour fear a disappointing set of results as voters go to the polls in the first major set of elections since Theresa Mays decision to delay Brexit. The country will on Thursday elect candidates to 8200 seats covering 259 councils in England and Northern Ireland. Six directlyelected mayor positions are up for grabs in regions across England too. For Prime Minister Theresa May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn the results will provide a clear insight into how the country feels about their handling of an extremely turbulent period in British politics https://www.businessinsider.com/local-elections-conservative-and-labours-brexit-anger-results-2019-5 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC New International Development Secretary Rory Stewart has said he intends to stand for the Conservative leadership after Theresa May steps down. He told the BBCs Political Thinking With Nick Robinson podcast he could help bring the country together. Mr Stewart also said he wanted to move beyond my brief laying out his opinions on other issues. Mrs May has told Conservative MPs she will stand down if her Brexit deal is passed by Parliament. Boris Johnson Michael Gove Sajid Javid Jeremy Hunt Dominic Raab and Andrea Leadsom are among those who have been touted as possible replacements. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48140849 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

New Statesman I am introducing a debate in the Lords next Thursday on the toxicity of debate in public life and the divisions being fostered within our society. Such toxicity led to the murder of Jo Cox in the run up to the European referendum since when politics has if anything become even more fractured. Threats to MPs have rocketed with 142 offences recorded in 2017 rising to 270 last year. Death threats are now commonplace. MPs homes and offices are attacked and their constituency staff intimidated. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2019/05/toby-harris-we-need-detoxify-political-debate-britain 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror An 87yearold woman has been turned away from todays local elections for not having ID despite voting in every election in her adult life. The pensioner attacked the stupid system after taking a taxi to her local polling station in Pendle Lancashire only to be told she couldnt vote. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/local-elections-woman-87-whos-14984757 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK Crisishit Northampton County council is desperately trying to make savings after years of overspending so district and borough council elections are off. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/this-local-council-isnt-voting-today-because-they-dont-have-enough-money-to-run-elections_uk_5ccac7b7e4b0913d078d3631 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent The European parliaments outspoken Brexit chief is coming to Britain next week to knock on doors in the European elections on behalf of the Liberal Democrats. Guy Verhofstadt who is himself seeking reelection as a Belgian liberal MEP will hop on the Eurostar from Brussels to join Lib Dem canvassers on the doorstep on Friday. While Mr Verhofstadt is best known in Britain for being the parliaments voice in Brexit talks the former Belgian prime minister is also leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group in the European parliament in which the Lib Dems sit. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-european-elections-lib-dems-guy-verhofstadt-change-uk-a8896661.html 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The New European The three elements are Labours alternative Brexit plan a general election and a second referendum with an option to remain. Behind them is the reality that despite all the political developments of recent months including the launch of Change UK Labour continues to be both the dominant opposition party and the only alternative government to the Conservatives although a range of Tory leaders and Brexit policies are possible in the months ahead. Crucially Labour alone can now stop Nigel Farage from topping the poll in the European elections on May 23. If Farage comes first he will be rampant and the dynamic of Brexit will be his. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/andrew-adonis-writes-on-the-european-elections-brexit-and-peoples-vote-1-6027708 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail Jeremy Hunt last night criticised Cabinet colleagues for damaging leaks which he warned had undermined Brexit. Backing Theresa Mays decision to sack Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over the Huawei leak the Foreign Secretary said no Premier could have a minister at the table she did not have confidence in. He also defended Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill against Mr Williamsons criticism of the investigation calling him a man of utmost integrity. Mr Hunt insisted it was right the Huawei leak was treated differently because it had been from the inner sanctum of the National Security Council which discusses highlyclassified information. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6986653/Cabinet-leaks-undermining-Brexit-says-Jeremy-Hunt-sacking-Gavin-Williamson.html 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

@BBCLauraK Papers snapped by the inimitable @PoliticalPics show document carried by David Lidington say Williamson stays in the privy council https://twitter.com/bbclaurak/status/1123940032354631680 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times Theresa May is preparing to accept that Britain will remain in lockstep with the European Unions customs rules for years after Brexit in a deal with Labour. Under the terms of a tentative agreement Mrs May is close to signing up to a longterm customs union with the EU in all but name in return for Labour supporting her withdrawal agreement. Details of internal discussions began to leak as Mrs May gave her strongest hint yet that she was prepared to give ground. She told MPs that both sides now agreed on some of the benefits of a customs union. It is understood that under the proposal which has yet to be agreed the government would agree to enter a customs arrangement with the EU at the end of the transition period. This would include Britain aligning all tariffs on goods with the EU and allowing it to negotiate trade deals on Britains behalf. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/may-prepares-to-keep-eu-customs-rules-dg9c3qd2q?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&amputm_campaign=b04373834d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_05_02_06_08&amputm_medium=email&amputm_term=0_10959edeb5-b04373834d-190289417 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

@SkyNewsPolitics Brexit minister James Cleverly says the Conservatives will disproportionately face a Brexit backlash from voters. Polls have closed in local elections https://twitter.com/SkyNewsPolitics/status/1124064594190905344 2nd May 2019

Political Shenanigans

@Plaid_Cymru VICTORY. The Welsh Senedd has voted in favour of the Plaid Cymru motion declaring a ClimateEmergency. Wales has just made history becoming the first parliament in the world to do so. https://twitter.com/Plaid_Cymru/status/1123634832444219393 1st May 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home Sally Bate who was standing in the North West region said she cannot continue to stand beside Claire Fox who has failed to condemn the Warrington attack which killed 12yearold Tim Parry and threeyearold Johnathan Ball in 1993. Ms Fox is a former member of the Revolutionary Communist Party which defended the right of the Irish people to take whatever measures necessary in their struggle for freedom in a party newsletter published shortly after the killings. In a statement issued on Tuesday Ms Fox who is the Brexit Partys top candidate in the North West said she had the greatest sympathy for the Parry family. She added The loss of their son was tragic and must have been terribly painful as for all victims of violence during the Troubles. My personal politics and views are well known and I have never sought to disguise them though on this issue they have remained unaired for many years. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/news/103617/brexit-party-candidate-quits-over-colleague-claire-foxs 3rd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Huffington Post UK The Tory government plans to raise fees for EU students remove vital financial support and make it far harder for EU students to apply to study in the UK. This move would shut off access to your world class education sector from the world. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/international-students-brexit_uk_5cc9c1ace4b0913d078b879a 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Evening Standard Labour members are cutting up and shredding their membership cards in protest at the partys failure to offer another referendum in its European Election manifesto. Yesterday saw a long drawnout Labour National Executive Committee NEC meeting decide that the manifesto would offer a second referendum fully in line with Labours policy which is to offer a referendum only after trying to secure the partys own alternative plan for Brexit or a general election. There had been an attempt by Tom Watson the deputy leader to strengthen that policy and make a confirmatory vote a priority. But with Jeremy Corbyn pictured said to be implacably opposed Watsons move failed prompting a furious backlash among members. Pictures of membership cards cut into pieces or being fed into shredding machines flooded social media last night and this morning. Im not voting Labour until there is a peoples vote wrote one member. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/the-londoner-labour-members-shred-their-cards-a4131441.html 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Sun Tory chiefs hopes are growing that they can duck a council elections wipe out today as voters go to the biggest local polls since 2015. Control of a total of 259 local authorities are up for grabs across England and Northern Ireland with 8804 councillors to be elected. Conservative MPs have feared a vicious drubbing as angry Leave as well as Remain voters take revenge on the Government for the Brexit shambles. Some Cabinet ministers have even predicted more than 1000 council seat will be lost. But CCHQ insiders now say they can limit the losses to around 500 to 600 on a good night. A Tory figure told The Sun The private estimate is our vote will be more resilient than is generally thought. Much of the voting is in rural areas where Labour havent made many inroads in the last few years. The doorstep experience is also better than the national narrative. In contrast thenPM John Majors Tories lost more than 2000 councillors in 1995 in a massive midterm wipe out. A variety of hidden electoral factors are also expected to help hold up the Tory vote despite the Brexit anger including a low turnout. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8983903/local-elections-conservative-wipeout-brexit/ 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Huffington Post UK An eleven minute phone call is what appears to have sparked Gavin Williamsons spectacular and dramatic downfall from government. When the defence secretary talked to Telegraph journalist Steven Swinford last Tuesday he set in train a sequence of events that ended with the first leakrelated sacking of a Cabinet minister in 70 years. Communications records showing that the pair spoke after two crucial meetings of the National Security Council NSC and Cabinet that day are understood to have revealed the exact length and time of the call. In a twohour session with the official leak inquiry investigators last Friday Williamson strenuously denied that he had discussed any confidential material from the NSC meeting never mind the Huawei case. Hed chatted instead about the Tory leadership Brexit and other matters he said. But its clear that his explanation simply didnt wash with the inquiry or with Theresa May. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/analysis-gavin-williamson-cabinet-sacking_uk_5cca0d8ee4b0e4d7572d2f99 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News https://news.sky.com/story/sacked-williamson-id-get-nicest-apology-from-pm-if-police-investigate-huawei-leak-11709411 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent . https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gavin-williamson-huawei-leak-report-fired-defence-secretary-a8897106.html 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The day before he was sacked as defence secretary Gavin Williamson denied leaking information. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/48126910/gavin-williamson-i-never-have-leaked-anything-from-the-nsc 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC In a leak investigation that has broken the precedent of most leak investigations that end up with precisely no result at all a rapid hunt of just a few days has resulted in the sacking of one of the most senior ministers in government and one of the few ministers frankly that the prime minister could more or less rely on. Mr Williamson was for a while chief whip too the keeper of the governments secrets. And crucially one of the few ministers who had good relations with the DUP. Indeed brokering a deal on Theresa Mays behalf in the wreckage of the 2017 general election. But there was also a lot of resentment and frustration in government circles at how he sometimes behaved suspicion often that he was too quick to seek his own political advantage too interested in his own future too entertained by the dark arts of Westminster. That meant that as soon as the Huawei story broke fingers were being privately pointed to him as the source of the leak. Operation get Gav as one of his allies described it. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48128188 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News The main question that needs to be answered by the prime minister and her security team is why the UK can mitigate this risk when its partners in the FiveEyes cyber security alliance believe it is impossible. And perhaps most importantly whether the UK would have reached a different decision if it had not already allowed Huawei in over a decade ago https://news.sky.com/story/theresa-may-has-questions-to-answer-over-the-huawei-scandal-11709335 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph In his one and only interview as Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill spoke of the importance of keeping a sense of perspective and shouldering responsibility when it came to taking decisions on the big issues. Speaking to Civil Service Quarterly a government publication the 54yearold securocrat described how he drew on his former career in security and international relations to become the countrys most senior civil servant and some say the most powerful man in the country. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/02/sir-mark-sedwill-has-much-power-fault-theresa-may/ 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-milkshake-attack-video-warrington-bury-mep-european-elections-a8897156.html 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror The farright extremist real name Stephen YaxleyLennon was in Warrington this afternoon when he was covered in McDonalds milkshake for the second time in two days https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tommy-robinson-swings-punches-man-14985549 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian Matteo Salvini Italys most powerful politician has said Europe will become an Islamic caliphate unless nationalist parties make gains in the European elections later this month. Salvini Italys deputy prime minister and leader of the League party is trying to form a coalition of nationalist and farright forces ahead of the elections and was speaking in Budapest during a visit to his ideological soulmate Viktor Orbn the Hungarian prime minister. For our children to leave behind an Islamic caliphate with sharia law in our cities is not something I want to do and Im going to do everything in my power to avert this sad ending for Europe he said at a joint press conference with Orbn who has used similarly incendiary rhetoric to rail against migration to Europe from Africa and the Middle East. Salvini made similar comments earlier this week in Italy. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/02/matteo-salvini-vote-for-nationalist-parties-stop-islamic-caliphate 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Evening Standard A swastika and the word Ukip have been daubed onto a Liberal Democrat activists car in Kent as voters go to the polls in local elections. Images show the grafitti crudely drawn onto a car which was parked outside a primary school. The vehicles tyres were also slashed. A father walking his daughter to a primary school on Edith Road in Faversham Kent told the Standard he saw the vandalism this morning. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/ukip-backer-daubs-swastika-on-lib-dem-activists-car-as-polls-open-a4132261.html 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News Theresa May insists compromises are possible on finding a way forward over Brexit and shows annoyance at the suggestion she is stubborn when asked by Yvette Cooper https://news.sky.com/video/pms-tetchy-exchange-with-yvette-cooper-over-brexit-compromises-11708736 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Having sacked Gavin Williamson in the most abrupt and even brutal manner possible Theresa May apparently considers the matter closed. Today in the Commons MPs were in uproar. Some demanded a criminal investigation. Others including several Tories protested that the former Defence Secretary was the victim of a kangaroo court. Labours Tom Watson intriguingly began by denouncing the leak as a fundamental breach of duty but then criticised the decision to let Huawei help build the UKs 5G network. Our international partners are so concerned he scowled that theyre considering whether they can safely continue to share intelligence with us. Yet Mr Watson wouldnt have known about the Huawei decision if it hadnt been for the leak. In his eyes it seems the leaker was simultaneously endangering national security and defending it. Mr Williamson himself was absent as indeed was Mrs May. Speaking on the Prime Ministers behalf was David Lidington the Minister for the Cabinet Office. Mr Lidington is often deployed when the House is fractious probably because his manner is so cool and soothing. Hes calamine lotion in human form. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/02/theresa-may-thinks-gavin-williamson-row-will-blow-kidding/ 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Open Democracy As the ongoing controversy over Huawei engulfs Theresa Mays cabinet a senior Conservative politician with a controversial lobbying history has emerged as one of the Chinese telecommunications companys leading advocates in Brussels. On Wednesday the prime minister sacked her defence secretary Gavin Williamson after he was accused of leaking secret discussions about Huawei that suggested May overruled senior ministers and security warnings to let the Chinese tech giant help build Britains new 5G mobile internet network. Those concerns do not appear to have resonated with Nirj Deva a Tory MEP and number two on the partys list for the upcoming European Parliament elections who recently urged colleagues to back Huawei in an upcoming vote in Brussels. I would ask you to make decisions based on facts rather than unfounded allegations and to consider the very real implications of banning Chinese technology from our market Deva wrote to colleagues on 12 March in a leaked email seen by openDemocracy and SourceMaterial. There has not been a single instance of foul play detected on any Huawei product. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/senior-tory-revealed-huawei-cheerleader-brussels/ 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Byline Times Claire Fox clearly did not understand that and nor has she sought to. Her arrogance lack of remorse and unwillingness to take the sincere concerns of locals seriously was already testing patience but her call to Colin Parry was the final straw. On Wednesday night one of her fellow Brexit Party candidates Sally Bate quit the party in disgust and resigned as the prospective MEP. Sally is the founder and leader of Warrington for Brexit and a wellknown local activist. Friends and political allies tell me that she felt she could no longer represent the party when Claire Fox was standing on the same platform. https://bylinetimes.com/2019/05/02/brexit-party-spiked-nigel-farages-disastrous-revolutionary-communist-candidates/ 2nd May 2019

Political Setbacks

Bloomberg Former Tory Part minister Greg Barker a member of Britains House of Lords and the chairman of En Group Plc was awarded a bonus of about 3 million to 4 million pounds 3.9 million to 5.2 million for negotiating the removal of U.S. sanctions on the Russian company according to people familiar with the matter. Barker spent months shuttling between Washington London and Moscow to put together an agreement between the Treasury Department and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska who was sanctioned last April. The talks culminated in a deal in which Deripaska agreed to step away from En which holds a controlling stake in aluminum giant United Co. Rusal. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-01/en-chair-barker-said-to-get-4-million-bonus-on-sanctions-deal 1st May 2019

Political Setbacks

The National An SNP MP has branded Theresa May one of the most evasive Prime Ministers in history after the Tory leader again refused to answer questions over meetings between the UK Government Cambridge Analytica and Canadian political consultancy and technology firm AggregateIQ. At Prime Ministers Questions in the Commons yesterday Deidre Brock challenged May to spill the beans on who from her government met with Cambridge Analytica and AggregateIQ and when meetings took place following confirmation from the Foreign Office that they happened. https://www.thenational.scot/news/17611734.snp-mp-labels-pm-evasive-over-governments-cambrige-analytica-meetings/ 1st May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The UK should exercise a degree of caution about the role of large Chinese firms such as Huawei Jeremy Hunt has said. The foreign secretary raised concerns about Chinese laws requiring firms to cooperate with Beijings intelligence agencies saying We have to weigh those considerations very carefully. A Whitehall leak inquiry is under way after details emerged of a National Security Council NSC meeting at which Theresa May was said to have given the green light for the Chinese tech giant to help build noncore parts of the UKs 5G communications network. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/huawei-jeremy-hunt-leak-enquiry-cabinet-phone-records-5g-national-security-council-a8890561.html 1st May 2019