7th May 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=60 brexit_cliff_edge

Economic Impact

The Economist So have investors brushed off Brexit Not quite. Some industries have noticeably cooled on Britain. It was the top destination for crossborder mergers and acquisitions involving American tech firms in 201417. But in 2018 it tumbled to eighth place. In October the UK Trade Policy Observatory at Sussex University modelled a counterfactual Britain that had voted Remain and found that the Leave vote had reduced inward FDI by a fifth. Brexit affects domestic firms too. In January Barclays bank received legal approval to move 190bn 213bn of assets to Dublin fearing nodeal. The London School of Economics recently found the Brexit vote had caused a 12 rise in investment by British firms in the rest of the EU. That capital might otherwise have been used at home. FDI remains strong but it would be stronger minus Brexit. And Britain has not even left yet. https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/05/05/how-is-brexit-affecting-fdi-into-britain 5th May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Silicon UK London tech firms say political uncertainty has had a direct effect on their ability to access capital as venture funding shows sharp drop. The UKs exit from the European Union is damaging Londons international reputation as a tech capital as well as on the availability of venture capital and staff a new poll has found. Trade body Tech London Advocates found that 87 percent of tech firms felt the Brexit process had tarnished Londons reputation as a business centre while 39 percent said it had become more difficult to access capital in the City since the referendum. One in four of the 200 tech executives polled said they had lost out on investment as a direct result of exit from the EU with startup EcoSync for instance saying a large German venture capital firm had pulled the plug on a 300000 investment due to uncertainty about the postBrexit regulatory environment. https://www.silicon.co.uk/workspace/brexit-threatens-londons-reputation-as-international-tech-capital-246287 6th May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Evening Chronicle A widening gap will emerge between the economies of the North East and the South East after the UKs expected departure from the EU a new report suggests. A study by law firm Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research CEBR predicts that at the end of 2020 Milton Keynes Reading and Oxford will be the top three for economic growth with no locations in the North or the Midlands in the top 10. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/brexit-widen-north-south-divide-16233556 7th May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

ChronicleLive CBI president John Allan said postponed investment will impact on the economy down the line. The damage that Brexit uncertainty could cause to regions like the North East might not be felt for a number of years a leading business figure has said. John Allan who is president of the CBI as well as chairman of both Tesco and Newcastlefounded housebuilder Barratt said around 80 of businesses were cutting back on investment as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the UKs future relationship with the EU. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/business-leader-warns-brexit-harm-16223735 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Talks between the two negotiating teams will resume on Tuesday. According to the Sunday Times Theresa Mays plan is to offer Jeremy Corbyn a temporary customs arrangement with the EU to be reviewed in 2022 bolstered by selective alignment with single market regulations on goods and a commitment to match all EU measures on workers rights. If this were to be agreed a ghastly marriage of the old Tory magic circle and Labour beer and sandwiches Corbyn would find himself in a quite extraordinary position. In practice the supposed enemy of the establishment would have entered a national coalition with the Conservative party. After a lifetime of Torybaiting he would finally be hugging close the authors of austerity neoliberalism and invitations to Donald Trump. From Che Guevara to Ramsay MacDonald in less than four years is that really how Corbyn wants to be remembered https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/06/stitch-up-brexit-theresa-may-jeremy-corbyn 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Are the UKs election laws fit for the era of digital campaigning The Electoral Commission certainly does not think so. The watchdog has called for a change in the law to make online political adverts show clearly who paid for them. It wants online adverts to carry the same information as printed election material which has to say who has produced it. The director of regulation at the Electoral Commission Louise Edwards told me a new law was needed to make sure that it was clear who had paid for online advertising and make spending on digital campaigning far more transparent. What we need and what were calling for is a very clear change in the law to make parties and campaigners say on the face of their advert who they are whos paid for that advert and who is promoted she said. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48174817 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent An EUwide commitment to wipe out contributions to global warming by 2050 will be at the heart of the Liberal Democrat manifesto for the European elections. Vince Cables party will vow to press for much tougher restrictions to end net greenhouse gas emissions across the bloc within 30 years if Brexit is stopped. Currently the EU is only pledged to 40 per cent reductions by 2030 an ambition overtaken by calls for emissions to end altogether in order to prevent runaway climate change. That target was negotiated in 2014 when Ed Davey a Lib Dem led the UK negotiations helping to pave the way for the landmark global Paris Climate Treaty a year later. Now the party will demand the EU goes much further on the back of its stunning local election successes which have raised hopes for the European Parliament polls on 23 May. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/european-elections-lib-dem-manifesto-climate-change-brexit-a8900586.html 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News Theresa May is returning to Westminster after the Tories local elections meltdown and a Bank Holiday breather ready to gamble on a highrisk Brexit deal with Labour. With some Conservative MPs claiming she is now no more than a caretaker leader the prime minister is being warned by backbench rebels not to cave in to Jeremy Corbyn. She is understood to be on the brink of offering a temporary customs arrangement until the next general election when Labour could campaign for a permanent customs union. https://news.sky.com/story/a-deal-by-caretaker-pm-with-labour-on-brexit-could-be-scuppered-by-tory-backbenchers-11713418 7th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Herald Scotland The UK Government has signed a new round of Brexit contracts with outside consultants totalling almost 160 million of taxpayers money. Several are due to run until April 2020 that is six months after the UKs new scheduled departure date from the EU at the end of October this year. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17621790.uk-government-signs-new-brexit-consultancy-contracts-totalling-almost-160m/ 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The New European Nigel Farage has challenged Jeremy Corbyn to a debate ahead of the European Parliament elections warning a deal between Labour and the Conservatives would be the final betrayal. Farage who leads the Brexit Party challenged the Labour leader to discuss Brexit with him. Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sky News Farage said There are five million voters out there Labour voters who voted to leave particularly in the Midlands the north and south Wales. I would love between now and polling to have a debate with Jeremy Corbyn about this because people are very confused about what Labour are standing for. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/nigel-farage-wants-a-brexit-television-debate-with-jeremy-corbyn-1-6034345 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK I want to stop Brexit. Fix Britain. And then I want to reform the things that are wrong with the EU says Gavin Esler. He has a lot on. The 66yearold former BBC Newsnight presenter is standing to be an MEP in London for Change UK the new proRemain party formed by The Independent Group of exLabour and Tory MPs. Esler is speaking to HuffPost UK less than 48hours after he was unveiled as an election candidate at his new partys campaign launch in Bristol. Its all a bit hazy he laughs at the whirlwind. We are trying to get up an organisation. We are trying to get each others telephone numbers and emails. And we have four weeks until the election. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gavin-esler-tv-news-must-stop-giving-airtime-to-the-village-idiots-of-brexit_uk_5cc5c36fe4b0fd8e35bda67d 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times Dominic Raab put familyfriendly policies at the heart of his leadership bid yesterday as the candidates to succeed Theresa May ushered their wives and children into the spotlight. The former Brexit secretary set out his stall with a pledge for all fathers to have the right to two weeks paternity leave at 90 per cent of full pay. Mr Raab also suggested a change in the law to ensure new or expectant mothers cannot be made redundant during pregnancy or maternity leave. This comes alongside a commitment to take 1p off the basic rate of income tax. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tory-leadership-contenders-show-off-wives-and-policies-vtc0vrxgz 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The government has signed a round of new Brexit contracts with outside consultants worth almost 160m. Many of them are due to run until April 2020 six months after the UKs new scheduled departure date from the European Union. Since the EU referendum Whitehall has hired companies to carry out consultancy work to prepare for Brexit. The government said it would continue to draw on the expert advice of a range of specialists. In February an analysis for the BBC found the government had agreed contracts worth 104m for outside help on Brexit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48181004 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Express.co.uk Annunziata ReesMogg a former Tory parliamentary candidate and sister of Jacob ReesMogg hasnt been far from the headlines since she appeared at the launch of the Brexit Party. Ms ReesMogg is now planning on fighting for the Peterborough seat vacated by Labour MP Fiona Onasanya. Ms Onasanya became the first parliamentarian in British history to be booted out of the Commons and stripped of her seat by a recall petition. The MP was jailed for lying to police about a driving offence. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1123134/brexit-news-rees-mogg-brexit-party-peterborough-by-election-nigel-farage-fiona-onasanya 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Bailing out a failing PM and her unpopular bad deal would be political suicide a real Shakespearean tragedy for a democratic socialist party which has vowed to radically renew Britain both economically and socially https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/kevin-maguire-corbyn-could-pm-15001972 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun He will use a speech in Berlin to warn the bonds with Germany must endure As he begins a tour of Germany with the Duchess of Cornwall he will use a speech in Berlin to acknowledge Britains relationship with Europe is in transition. But he will ... https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/brexit/9015184/prince-charles-plea-german-links-brexit/ 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

iNews Chances of a breakthrough in todays crunch Brexit talks between Labour and the Conservatives are on a knife edge as both sides are under mounting pressure to abandon negotiations. Theresa May has urged Jeremy Corbyn to do a deal as ministers are expected to make the first formal offer to the opposition in the shape of a temporary customs union with the EU postBrexit. The arrangement would remain in place until the next general election in 2022 when either the Tories or Labour could decide to make it permanent or abandon it. https://inews.co.uk/news/brexit/breakthrough-in-crunch-labour-and-tory-brexit-talks-on-a-knife-edge/ 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Record Ian Blackford urges voters to get out and get their message over that Scotland wants to be in the EU. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/vote-snp-vote-put-brakes-15000866 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Evening Standard Theresa May is expected to meet the chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers as pressure for her to set a firm departure date intensifies. It is understood that the Prime Minister will have discussions with Sir Graham Brady in the wake of the committee requesting clarity on Mrs Mays timetable for standing down and triggering a leadership contest. With negotiations between the Government and Labour on trying to end the Brexit impasse set to continue on Tuesday Tory impatience with Mrs Mays failure to name a clear resignation date is increasing. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-news-latest-theresa-may-to-meet-1922-committee-chairman-as-resignation-pressure-grows-a4135356.html 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Independent Yanis Varoufakis We need to be careful. Those of us who think that democracy is an end in itself should be terrified by the idea of a second referendum that becomes the tombstone of all such votes in the future cancel Article 50 clock to make the referendum run smoothly https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-jeremy-corbyn-second-referendum-talks-tories-final-say-varoufakis-a8901306.html 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

In Facts The prime minister plans to propose a comprehensive but temporary customs union with the EU lasting until the next election to get Jeremy Corbyn to support her Brexit deal according to the Sunday Times. The idea seems to be to pacify her own MPs by saying the arrangement wont necessarily last while winning over Labour by suggesting that it would be permanent if they win the election. Forget for a moment that a permanent customs union is a thoroughly bad idea. Even if Corbyn falls for the prime ministers temporary wheeze it may not get through the House of Commons. But theres a more fundamental problem. If Theresa May is really proposing a comprehensive customs union lasting until the next election she is living in fantasy land. The EU has got better things to do than negotiate yet another shortterm deal with an unstable government. https://infacts.org/temporary-customs-union-is-mays-latest-con/ 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Bloomberg Critically for the Tory side Seumas Milne Corbyns chief strategist is said to be fully engaged and serious in the meetings that have taken place asking detailed questions about the governments position and the offers on the table in a sign hes interested in doing a deal. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-06/may-s-uneasy-courtship-of-corbyn-puts-brexit-deal-on-knife-edge 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times Brexit dominates debate in Westminster among top contenders for leadership. Whatever happens I cant see how we escape an election in the next year or so said a senior Tory campaigner. Brexiter or nonBrexiter deal or no deal it is hard to see how the party survives a change in leadership with the current parliament. Any new Conservative leader installed before parliament has passed a Brexit deal will face the same challenges as Mrs May the lack of a working majority and no obvious Brexit deal that can hold the party together. https://www.ft.com/content/543d8a74-6ff1-11e9-bf5c-6eeb837566c5 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Every day that the UK remains a member state is another day gone in which Whitehall could negotiate the future relationship while benefiting from its place in the single market and customs union as part of a 21month transition period. There is much to negotiate with the EU. The deadline of 31 December 2020 will not give enough time. The withdrawal agreement foresees this problem. It offers an extension of the transition of up to two years to the end of 2022 one the British government is likely to need to exploit to its fullest. The offer to Labour of a temporary customs union to 2022 is therefore irrelevant. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/06/emerging-labour-tory-compromise-brexit-mirage 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Quartz I think it is fair to say that this is the return of at least threeparty politics political scientist John Curtice told the BBC. But I suspect that on 23 Mayor the date of the forthcoming European Parliament electionswe will discover that there are more than three significant players. We may see the most fragmented British electorate since the advent of mass British democracy. https://qz.com/1610210/could-brexit-kill-the-conservative-party/ 6th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

iNews They found a formula superior to the official message that these were elections on local not national issues. Even the widespread decision by Tory canvassers to seek to neutralise dislike of May by simply agreeing with voters about her doesnt explain it. Both arguments worked somewhat without them the losses would have been even worse but Walsall did something extra. Councillor Mike Bird the local Conservative leader is clear I think it was our attitude towards Brexit. In Walsall we have made ourselves clear that we are not going to have anything to do with the European elections at all. To survive the backlash against the Prime Ministers broken promises and Brexit delay Walsall Tories effectively joined the popular revolt. https://inews.co.uk/opinion/brexit-b-party-candidates-european-elections-conservative/ 5th May 2019

Political Setbacks

WGBH.org We didnt want to see Brexit happening but it wasnt our decision Daniel Mulhall Irelands ambassador to the United States said during an interview with Boston Public Radio on Monday. From the Irish governments point of view the fundamental requirement is that there should be no possibility of a hard border on the island of Ireland anytime now or in the future. Mulhall says that while he respects the decision of the citizens of the U.K. to leave the E.U. he wants to ensure that its done in an orderly fashion that does not inflame tensions between Northern Ireland and the U.K. and possibly reignite sectarian violence that plagued the region between the late 1960s and 90s. In April Northern Ireland was rocked by the murder of journalist Lyra McKee who was mistakenly killed by Irish nationalists in the aftermath of a violent raid by U.K. police of a suspected weapons cache in Londonderry. https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2019/05/06/irish-official-concerned-a-hard-brexit-will-lead-to-more-violence-in-northern-ireland 7th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent Theresa May is facing opposition from all sides over her attempts to strike a Brexit deal amid warnings that more than 100 Tory MPs could block a compromise agreement with Labour. Crossparty talks will resume on Tuesday in the wake of reports that Ms May is poised to offer Labour a temporary EU customs arrangement to break the Brexit deadlock. Tory MPs have ramped up pressure on the prime minister to set a date for her departure with one senior MP saying the party needs to move on. Sir Geoffrey CliftonBrown treasurer of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers said Ms May should announce a road map for her departure after the European elections. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/may-corbyn-brexit-deal-compromise-customs-union-tories-block-a8901181.html 7th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home Theresa May has suffered another blow to her leadership after a poll revealed that more than four in five Conservative Party members want her to quit. The study by ConservativeHome and the first since the Tories local elections drubbing found that 82 of the party faithful want the Prime Minister to step aside while just 16 said she should stay on. The record high is up 3 on a study held twoweeks ago and 11 points higher than a month ago. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/theresa-may/news/103683/blow-theresa-may-poll-shows 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian A candidate to serve as an MEP for Nigel Farages Brexit party once praised a colleague for using a Nazi slogan in the European parliament and has a history of using vulgar and obscene language about women in social media posts. John Tennant who according to polls is expected to win a seat in the European parliament as one of Farages three candidates in the northeast also made references to being intoxicated and suggested that Liverpool fans were criminals. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/06/brexit-party-mep-candidate-praised-use-of-nazi-slogan 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Business Insider Theresa Mays Conservative Party are heading for a heavy defeat in the upcoming European Parliament elections according to recent polls. The elections are being led by the newlyformed Brexit party created by former UKIP leader Nigel Farage. The partys lead candidate in London is Ben Habib a property fund manager and former Conservative donor. He tells Business Insider that Brexit Party will lead to the demise of his former party. https://www.insider.com/brexit-party-ben-habib-nigel-farage-theresa-may-conservatives-kicking-european-elections-2019-5 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Swindon Advertiser The antiimmigration party leader and its two MEP candidates for the south west were expected in the town centre this morning. However the leadership cancelled the trip over the weekend saying that the UKIP battle bus wasnt ready and train services were unreliable due to the bank holiday. It added that there are currently no further plans to visit before the European elections later this month. https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17620809.ukip-leader-cancels-visit-to-swindon/ 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Irish Independent Speedy European evidencesharing about cyber crime may be endangered by a nodeal Brexit a police officer in Northern Ireland has warned. European Investigation Orders EIOs allow the PSNI to access material within 90 days. The number of internetrelated crimes has increased significantly in recent years but the amount of resources devoted to tackling it is being outstripped Detective Sergeant Darren McCracken said. If we leave as a result of Brexit we no longer have access to EIOs to obtain information within 90 days he said. He said that was a fast turnaround in the world of law enforcement. Investigators can contact firms directly for intelligencegathering but for court action the official channel is essential he said. If Brexit happens we are no longer part of a European treaty. We may not have access to that. https://www.irishnews.com/news/brexit/2019/05/06/news/no-deal-brexit-could-threaten-evidence-sharing-with-europe-on-cyber-crime-1613175/ 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Theresa Mays chief of staff has flounced out of a Tory WhatsApp group in protest at the constant attacks on his boss. Gavin Barwell proclaimed frankly I have had enough of it before storming out of the group chat for Conservatives in his home area of Croydon. According to a leaked screenshot he told local Tories it hurts to work 19 hour days only to check Whatsapp and find Tory attacks of the kind from our worst opponents. The message which Tory Bible ConservativeHome said it genuine emerged as Theresa May faced fresh calls to quit after losing 1269 council seats. The worst local election results since 1995 heap new pressure on the PM who already faces mutiny over plans for a compromise Brexit deal with Labour . https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-mays-chief-flounces-out-15003368 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The New European The date has been set for a court case which will attempt to hold Boris Johnson to account for the 350 million claim told during the EU referendum campaign and was plastered all over the big red battle bus. The crowdfunded private prosecution was brought against the MP and former Vote Leave cochair by Marcus J Ball. It will take place at Westminster Magistrates Court on May 14th from 2.00pm with the first hearing held in private followed by a second public hearing shortly after. Ball the 29yearold private prosecutor has accused Johnson of abusing public trust in his office as Mayor of London and Member of Parliament by intentionally misleading the public with regards to how much money the UK spends on EU membership. The statistic was criticised as misleading by the head of the UK Statistics Authority who said that it was a clear misuse of official statistics. https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/date-set-for-court-against-boris-johnson-1-6034496 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent I asked a longstanding member of the Westminster lobby the political journalists of the main national newspapers and current affairs magazines who is the political editor of a wellknown newspaper whether it was fair to describe the media noise around Farage as hype. He thought it fair and explained it like this most of the national newspapers heavily backed Brexit the Daily Mail the Daily Telegraph The Sun the Daily Express the Sunday Times etc but do not want to back the Tories in these European elections because they have made such a mess of it and Theresa May has no credibility. https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/farage-brexit-markle-baby-boy-chuka-umunna-change-uk-european-elections-a8901631.html 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Another Twitter user @MikkoE17 decided to use his as loo roll. He wrote We just run out of toilet paper. Luckily you sent your leaflet just in time. Based on the shape and content its perfect for the toilet roll. I knew I could trust Nigel Farage in time of need https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-party-leaflets-arrive-remainers-15004049 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian In the six identified interviews which date from 2009 to last year Farage whose Brexit party is leading polls for the upcoming European elections repeatedly uses words and phrases such as globalists and new world order which regularly feature in antisemitic ideas. In the interviews Farage also says 1 Members of the annual Bilderberg gathering of political and business leaders are plotting a global government. 2 The banking and political systems are working hand in glove in an attempt to disband nation states. 3 Globalists are trying to engineer a world war as a means to introduce a worldwide government. 4 Climate change is a scam intended to push forward this transnational government. 5 In the most recent interview filmed in April last year Farage said the EU is the prototype for the new world order and 6 globalists have wanted to have some form of conflict with Russia as an argument for us all to surrender our national sovereignty and give it up to a higher global level. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/06/nigel-farage-under-fire-alleged-antisemitic-tropes-far-right-us-talkshow-alex-jones 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent A senior Labour figure has stamped on talk of an early deal with Theresa May to rescue Brexit warning her proposals would see private US health giants getting their hands on the NHS. Jonathan Ashworth the shadow health secretary said ministers havent really shifted in the longrunning negotiations despite speculation that a crossparty agreement could be struck as early as this week. He criticised Tory spin doctors for briefing that a deal was close saying The problem is that although the government is trying to redress their customs union offer they havent really shifted. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-theresa-may-labour-deal-customs-union-nhs-trump-trade-a8900276.html 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC The government has signed a round of new Brexit contracts with outside consultants worth almost 160m. Many of them are due to run until April 2020 six months after the UKs new scheduled departure date from the European Union. Since the EU referendum Whitehall has hired companies to carry out consultancy work to prepare for Brexit. The government said it would continue to draw on the expert advice of a range of specialists. In February an analysis for the BBC found the government had agreed contracts worth 104m for outside help on Brexit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48181004 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent How can it be when a country still desperately short of a way out of the Brexit mess has instead been forced to spend its Sunday staring into Dominic Raabs kitchen Been forced too to gaze upon Dominic Raabs wife as she tells The Sunday Times of how he used to prepare picnics for her in Hyde Park and likes to reads The Gruffalo to his children. Yes we are now officially at the Wives Stage and yes it is all wives for now of the Tory Leadership Contest That Hasnt Actually Begun Yet itself an internal displacement activity for its own stunning inadequacies. Jeremy Hunts Chinese wife has also been making an appearance winning praise in The Daily Telegraph for her being effortlessly charming and considerate with diplomats https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dominic-raab-wife-kitchen-sunday-times-tory-leadership-contest-a8901936.html 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian As senior Labour figures prepare to resume Brexit talks with Conservative ministers on Tuesday Andrew Gwynne warned against a further shift towards remain. On Brexit what Labour is trying to achieve is much harder and more complex than those who say we need to simply swing behind remain admit he wrote in the Guardian. It would be the easiest option and perhaps superficially give us a shortterm boost but we are a national party seeking support from people all over the county unlike the leave means leave charade of the Tories and Nigel Farage or the stop Brexit simplicity of the smaller parties. He pointed out that all of the 21 councils in which Labour lost five or more seats were in heavily leavevoting areas. The talk about another referendum was a difficult message to explain to many of our traditional voters. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/06/labour-brexit-shift-remain-local-elections-andrew-gwynne 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The National Manny Singh the chief organiser of Glasgows huge All Under One Banner independence march on Saturday has released a statement after being reported to the procurator fiscal by police. Singh was visited by police officers at his home on Monday and was reported under Section 65 of the Civic GovernmentScotland Act 1982 which states that anyone convicted of holding a procession that does not comply with the relevant council order can be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of up to three months. https://www.thenational.scot/news/17621844.read-all-under-one-banners-full-statement-after-being-reported-by-police/ 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Belfast Telegraph Nigel Farage is continuing to come under pressure over one of his Brexit Party candidates defence of the IRA following the Warrington bombing in 1993 but called the issue irrelevant. Claire Fox a European Parliament candidate in the North West of England was a leading member of the Revolutionary Communist Party RCP which defended the right of the Irish people to take whatever measures necessary in their struggle for freedom after the IRA killed two young boys in Warrington. Over the weekend two Brexit Party statements were released in the name of Ms Fox. The first said that she does not support the IRA or its methods. Pointedly the second statement left this out as well as a claim that she never knowingly met or had any communication or links with republican or loyalist paramilitary organisations. The first also said I fully respect the Good Friday Agreement and embrace the peace that it has made possible. But the later one appeared to carefully distance Ms Fox from support for the 1998 peace deal. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/farage-plays-down-candidates-previous-defence-of-ira-38081201.html 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Theresa May has been warned her MPs will begin moves to oust her as soon as this week if she agrees a Brexit deal with Labour. The Prime Minister wants to sign off an agreement with Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday in order to avoid having to send new MEPs to the European Parliament but there is little appetite for a crossparty deal among her own backbenchers. Rivals in the race to succeed Mrs May are on a state of high alert in case a compromise deal with Labour becomes the trigger for a leadership election. Senior sources within the Conservative Party said on Monday that Mrs May will be gone very quickly if she moves towards Labours demands for a postBrexit customs union with the EU. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/06/tory-mps-will-move-oust-theresa-may-week-agrees-brexit-deal/ 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News Nigel Farage has refused to reveal the name of the man who has given 100000 to his new Brexit Party. Speaking on Skys Sophy Ridge on Sunday the leader said it was irrelevant who the biggest donor was and his or her identity would be declared at the end of July after this months European Parliament elections. Mr Farage claimed if he revealed the name now the person would be hounded by the media in the leadup the vote. The party does not list its donors on its website. https://news.sky.com/story/nigel-farage-name-of-brexit-partys-biggest-donor-irrelevant-11712497 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

@BrexitBin The island of Ireland is not a square on a chessboard. Its part of the fabric of Europe. A torn fabric which the EU helped to repair with the threads of respect and common sense. Vote for Peace at the EUelections2019 RevoteRevokeRemain https://twitter.com/BrexitBin/status/1125531592074715137 6th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Poltics Home People react to conflict in different ways. Some actively seek it out others actively avoid it. For Michael Bates politics has become an almost inhospitable environment. To find the common ground the Conservative peer and former minister has embarked on a walk from Belfast to Brussels. Nearly 200 miles into his journey Sebastian Whale joins him in west Yorkshire https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/foreign-affairs/brexit/house/103612/%E2%80%98how-do-we-stop-country-tearing-itself-apart%E2%80%99-lord-bates 3rd May 2019