16th May 2019 https://nfind.uk/brexit_cliff_edge/index.php/newsletter=67 brexit_cliff_edge

Jobs at Risk

BBC About 45 jobs are at risk at Hoover Candys head office in Merthyr Tydfil. Hoovers parent company Haier Electronics is looking to centralise parts of it operations in Warrington by spring 2020. The Chinese company said it has begun a consultation process with those employees at risk of redundancy and their representatives. A distribution centre which employs about 60 staff is set to remain at the south Wales site. A Hoover spokesman said As part of the companys wish to centralise some functions and support our longterm expansion plans some jobs may move to our new offices in Warrington over the next year. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48264705 14th May 2019

Economic Impact

The Guardian One in four workers in the north of England are paid less than the real living wage of 9 an hour a study has found. The rise of zerohours contracts and a decade of stagnant wages has left 1.6 million northerners earning less than what they need to live according to the thinktank IPPR North. Women are most affected by what it describes as the job quality crisis with one in three women paid less than the real living wage compared with one in five men. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/15/one-in-four-northerners-earn-less-than-real-living-wage-says-study 15th May 2019

Economic Impact

The Telegraph Emmanuel Macron is manoeuvring to cut British companies out of bidding for lucrative defence contracts in the EU after Brexit in a move that has infuriated Frances Nato allies. The French president is leading a blocking minority of EU countries to freeze the UK and nonEU Nato allies out of bidding for project contracts in the Permanent Structured Cooperation Pesco initiative. US defence chiefs and EU diplomats warned that the hardline French stance would risk dividing Nato members despite regular protestations from Brussels that its pooled EU military programme would never undermine the alliance that has guaranteed European security for 70 years. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/emmanuel-macron-infuriates-nato-allies-freezing-uk-firms-eu/ 15th May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Deutsche Welle A record 2062 foreign companies either set up shop or expanded their operations in Germany in 2018 acording to a report released Monday. The governmentbacked economic development agency German Trade and Invest GTAI said some 168 British companies had made Germany their home or at least resettle part of their operations in 2018. GTAI credited Brexit as a likely reason with a 38 increase in the number of British firms moving operations to Germany since the Brexit vote in June 2016. The figures prove clearly Germany is a popular investment location for foreign companies said Robert Hermann GTAIs chief executive. Its particularly noteworthy that never have so many British companies settled in Germany as they did last year. Hermann said those compiling the study had asked companies why they had relocated. For almost a half 45 percent Brexit was the reason for it he said. https://www.dw.com/cda/en/brexit-drives-firms-to-relocate-to-germany/a-48714940 13th May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

Financial Times Mark Dayan policy analyst for the Nuffield Trust thinktank and an authority on the impact of Brexit on health and life sciences said that the physical departure of the EMA was hardly going to help make the UK an attractive destination for pharmaceutical investment but it was the legal departure of the UK from the panEuropean regulatory system that would cause the real problems. The market easily available to the NHS and British pharmaceutical companies would shrink to a sixth or less of what it is today he added because approvals granted in the UK would no longer be recognised by the remaining member states. https://www.ft.com/content/70897a14-733c-11e9-bf5c-6eeb837566c5 16th May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Independent Europes biggest holiday company is being badly affected by the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max as well as uncertainty over Brexit. In its results for the six months to the end of March 2019 the AngloGerman firm reported a 77 per cent increase in the usual underlying seasonal loss up from 170m 148m to 301m. Blames diminishing demand among British holidaymakers https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tui-loss-profit-results-brexit-737-max-grounding-travel-a8914351.html 15th May 2019

Administrative Fall Out

The Yorkshire Post One of the countrys top clergymen is urging politicians to challenge classic populist language which is fuelling even deeper divisions over Brexit ahead of next weeks European elections. Nick Baines the Bishop of Leeds suggests the lack of any legal or political restraint has fuelled an increase in violent bile in the three years since the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox during the EU referendum. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/lack-of-restraint-fuelling-violent-bile-over-brexit-as-bishop-of-leeds-speaks-out-1-9766233 16th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Theresa May is due to meet senior Conservative MPs who are demanding she sets a date for her departure from Downing Street. Under pressure from her MPs to stand aside the prime minister is meeting the executive of the backbench 1922 Committee to discuss her future. But current leadership rules mean she cannot be formally challenged until December. Mrs May has said her departure would depend on delivering Brexit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48290760 16th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK More than a million Londoners look set to protest at Donald Trumps visit to the UK after a new poll found 13 of the citys residents are likely to join the demonstrations. A new YouGovQueenMaryLondon poll shared with HuffPost UK found that more than one in ten of the capitals eight million residents were poised to turn out against the US President next month. The survey also found that one in five 20 1824 yearolds expect to march on the streets during the State Visit. Overall Londoners of all ages oppose Trumps trip by a margin of more than twotoone with 54 against it and just 24 supporting it. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/to-march-against-trump-during-uk-state-visit-new-yougov-poll-suggests_uk_5cdbec29e4b0c39d2a1405c6 16th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK Labour has hit back at claims that it is running a mealymouthed European elections campaign after new figures showed the partys spending on Facebook ads was dwarfed by the Lib Dems Change UK and Nigel Farages Brexit Party. Jeremy Corbyn is under fire from his own MPs who claim the party lacks a clear message on a second referendum and lacks the firepower to counter its rivals ahead of next Thursdays poll HuffPost UK has learned. New data from the Peoples Vote campaign shows that from May 5 to May 11 Labour spent just 7331 on Facebook advertising for the elections less than a third of the Lib Dems outlay of 23191. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lib-dems-brexit-party-outspending-labour-euro-election-facebook_uk_5cdc7b3ae4b09648227a905a 16th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Times Ministers will instead appoint two independent advisers to draw up a less legally problematic definition Whitehall officials said. Calls to abandon the reform under which hostility to Islam would be treated as a form of racism were led by Sara Khan the antiextremism tsar and Neil Basu head of counterterrorism policing. More than 40 people wrote to Sajid Javid the home secretary saying that the change would bring in a backdoor blasphemy law. The reform was proposed by the allparty parliamentary group APPG on British Muslims which had become concerned by threats such as attacks on mosques. The new definition says Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness. Labour the Liberal Democrats and Sadiq Khan the mayor of London have already accepted the wording. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/may-set-to-reject-new-definition-of-islamophobia-3jh6g2s8r?utm_medium=Social&amputm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1557962094 16th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Sky News On Friday evening in the Birmingham Repertory Theatre the latest troupe which seeks to break the mould of British politics took to the stage. The Tiggers the ChUKas the Remain Alliance those for Remain and for a Peoples Vote all rolled into one. They were there to announce their Charter for Remain and despite the smiles the breezy entrances and the jokes everyone there knew that they met under a cloud the latest polls showed them plumbing the depths of the low single digits and the day was marked by the partys freshly written farce their failure to nominate a candidate for the Peterborough byelection. For a few weeks a few precious weeks this group had such force such elan such goodwill. Yet through a mixture of misstep and mistake most but not all of their making it has ebbed away. https://news.sky.com/story/poor-performance-in-european-elections-could-finish-off-change-uk-11720178 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian This emergent league of xenophobes is bound by few taboos but it does not seek to dismantle the EU. That is not a badge of moderation. It reflects a strategic judgment that illiberal causes are better advanced from within the union because leaving the club is a fasttrack to diminished influence. A point well illustrated by the UK experience. Next weeks elections to the European parliament are likely to boost the profile of radical nationalists. They dont need to achieve spectacular breakthroughs to have an impact. It is sufficient to instil panic in moderate parties which then mimic the populists rhetoric and coopt parts of their agenda. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/15/brexit-nationalism-politicians-liberal-europe 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mail The leader of the English Democrats has said he is very confident of proving that Britain has already left the EU despite government claims that his case is hopeless. Robin Tilbrook said his movement had raised 58000 for the High Court battle and enjoyed an upsurge of people joining our party. The proBrexit campaigner vowed to press ahead with the legal challenge despite government lawyers calling his case totally without merit and trying to have it thrown out. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7033265/English-Democrats-raise-58-000-Brexit-court-battle.html 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Brandon Lewis the Conservative Party Chairman has told Tory MEP candidates standing for election next week they have no chance of winning a seat The Telegraph can disclose. In a sign that the Tories are braced for an electoral wipeout in the European elections on May 23 Mr Lewis has told the partys candidates that if you are not an MEP already you arent winning. Mr Lewis recently told Conservative candidates at the partys central office that the chances of somebody further down the list getting elected are pretty slim. Having refused to launch a national campaign amid a widespread backlash over the delay to Brexit the Tories are on course to plummet to fourth place next week https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/tory-chairman-brandon-lewis-tells-partys-mep-candidates-have/ 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC A Labour MP called on the PM to speak the truth about Europe rather than the big lie of those who opposed it. Barry Sheerman told her he was a passionate Eurosceptic when he became an MP 40 years ago but had changed his mind as the EU had delivered prosperity and kept the peace. Theresa May said the government planned to deliver Brexit and said it was her party that gave this country prosperity. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48282277/pmqs-barry-sheerman-and-theresa-may-on-brexit-and-eu 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Theresa May is constantly accused of playing for time a charge that often rings true but what about her Labour rival Jeremy Corbyn cant be accused of being any more decisive. Take his choice at Prime Ministers Questions today not to talk about Brexit instead focusing his six questions on issues like inequality and poverty. Is that because he did not want to derail any spirit of compromise ahead of a potential crossparty deal or because he knew it was doomed so wanted to whip up Labour voters ahead of an imminent election by bashing the Tories over some familiar areas Only he will know for sure. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/should-jeremy-corbyn-bail-theresa-may-can-force-election-waiting/ 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC A loyal lieutenant whos been fighting off attempts to oust her for months says losing the bill would have to be it we are in the end now. This has already for Theresa May been a very long goodbye and we cant know yet when she will actually bid a final farewell. But by committing to bringing the Brexit bill back to Parliament the prime minister has set herself another huge test that if she loses it could turn out to be her last in the job. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48290043 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Theresa May was accused of secretly blocking a bid to halt thousands of ageing Northern Ireland veterans from being investigated to keep powersharing talks with Sinn Fein alive. Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunts new law will end prosecutions for accusations against service personnel more than 10 years old without compelling new evidence https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9084786/pm-block-bid-to-stop-troubles/ 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Express.co.uk Labour could abstain from a fourth meaningful vote on Prime Minister Theresa Mays controversial Brexit deal with the EU which could be enough to scrape it through Parliament. Labours Jeremy Corbyn has appeared to thrown Mrs May a Brexit lifeline as if a large number of his party was to abstain it would be enough to clear the deal of its first hurdle at next months ballot. A Labour spokesman was asked six times by a variety of media outlets including The Sun Guardian and the Daily Mail today and refused to rule it out on the second reading of the EU withdrawal agreement bill. The spokesman said Weve made pretty clear we wont support it. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1127739/brexit-latest-labour-jeremy-corbyn-abstain-fourth-vote-theresa-may-deal 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Theresa May will ask for more time to deliver her Brexit deal in showdown talks on her future with Tory chiefs. She is expected to tell the Tory backbench 1922 committee that key laws must be passed by the summer break for the UK to leave the EU when they meet at Number 10 tomorrow. Senior Tories want the Prime Minister to set a timetable for her departure from No 10 even if Brexit remains unresolved. She has promised to stand down when the first phase of Brexit is done but has resisted naming a date for her departure. But MPs on the 1922 executive could take matters into their own hands and change party rules to allow another confidence vote. Rebel MPs have warned that Mrs May faces defeat when she tries to get the withdrawal agreement bill through Parliament. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-demand-more-time-brexit-16085218 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Daily Mirror Theresa Mays Brexit deal is dead if MPs reject it again next month the Brexit Secretary has admitted. Stephen Barclay indicated Junes vote would be the last chance saloon for Theresa Mays withdrawal bill. And it would leave MPs to decide between a nodeal Brexit and revoking Article 50. It comes after Number 10 revealed plans to bring Mrs Mays withdrawal agreement back to the commons in early June. Mr Barclay told the Lords EU committee I think if the House of Commons does not approve the WAB then the Barnier deal is dead in that form. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/theresa-brexit-deal-dead-15988245 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics Home Rising star of the Liberal Democrats Layla Moran has ruled herself out of the race to succeed Sir Vince Cable as the partys next leader. The Oxford West and Abingdon MP who was first elected in 2017 was among the frontrunners tipped to take over the Lib Dem veteran who is expected to stand down imminently. In a statement however Ms Moran said she did not believe she could take on the busy role of leading the party while fulfilling her duties as an MP after just two years in the job. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/liberal-democrats/news/103867/liberal-democrat-rising-star-layla-moran 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian The vote on the withdrawal agreement bill will be make or break for Theresa Mays future as prime minister Downing Street has indicated as a member of her cabinet said defeat could also kill off the deal entirely. No 10 said the key piece of Brexit legislation would be voted on in the week beginning 3 June and talks with Labour would continue in the meantime. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/15/no-10-hints-commons-brexit-vote-is-make-or-break-for-theresa-may 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Sun Despite suffering the largest defeat for a sitting government in history when her Brexit deal was rejected by MPs Theresa May continues to cling to office. In May it emerged that she could stand down if her hated bill fails for a final time in July. So how would a leadership campaign play out The Sun discusses it https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8411588/if-theresa-may-resigns-what-will-the-leadership-contest-look-like/ 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Huffington Post UK Lib Dem activists targeting Labour heartlands in the European elections have been armed with a Jeremy Corbyn Brexit dossier HuffPost UK has learned. The eightpage document is being sent to candidates and grassroots activists as Vince Cables party aims to convince increasingly soft Labour votes. The document which is to be issued with Labour attack leaflets collates proBrexit quotes from Labours frontbench MPs including from supporters of a second referendum such as Keir Starmer and Emily Thornberry. It also outlines in detail the partys voting record on a second referendum and soft Brexit options underlining that Corbyns MPs were whipped either to abstain or to vote with the Tories on 29 key Brexit votes. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/exclusive-lib-dems-send-jeremy-corbyn-brexit-dossier-to-activists-as-party-plots-euro-elections-assault-on-labour-heartlands_uk_5cdbecf7e4b061f71b885d1c 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC Four former UKIP AMs have joined Nigel Farages Brexit Party announcing plans to form an assembly group. Mr Farage declared Mark Reckless group leader on a visit to Cardiff on Wednesday. The planned group which includes Mandy Jones Caroline Jones and David Rowlands is subject to assembly approval. Some Plaid Cymru and Labour AMs want it stopped. Mr Farage said The leavers in Wales are all coming back together again. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-48275830 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Guardian Labour and the Conservatives are widely expected to pay a heavy price for the Brexit impasse in next weeks European elections and the Green party hopes to take advantage. Normally best known for environmental policies the Greens aim to attract proEU voters with their clear proremain position. The difficulty is that the competition for that segment of the vote is crowded with the Lib Dems and Change UK equally keen to take a share. Still the Greens are optimistic. In London they hope to double their number of MEPs to two and they believe they can pick up a significant number of protest votes from people who want to send a clear message to Jeremy Corbyn over Labours Brexit position even in his own backyard. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/15/political-tectonic-plates-are-shifting-greens-aim-to-gain-from-labours-pain 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

The Telegraph Theresa May will be forced from office within a month if she does not set out a timetable for her departure when she meets senior backbench MPs on Thursday. The Prime Minister will be told she faces the prospect of a confidence vote of her own MPs on June 12 if she does not agree to quit before the summer. Mrs May has already promised to stand down once Britain has formally left the EU but the executive of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories will tell her on Thursday that she must agree to resign regardless of whether her Brexit deal is passed by Parliament. There is growing unease within Tory ranks about the swift rise of Nigel Farages Brexit Party which now has more than 100000 paying subscribers https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/theresa-may-told-give-us-leaving-date-gone-month/ 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

BBC The prime ministers Brexit deal will be dead if the withdrawal bill does not pass in the Commons in June Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has said. Mr Barclay said the bill which paves the way for Brexit will be considered by MPs in the week beginning 3 June. He said if the plan is rejected by MPs the UK will face no deal or Article 50 could be revoked so no Brexit. But Jeremy Corbyns spokesman has said Labour would not support the bill if no crossparty agreement were reached. Attempts to find a crossparty compromise began after Theresa Mays Brexit deal the withdrawal agreement that was negotiated with the EU was rejected three times by MPs. Asked twice whether she would resign if her Brexit plan is rejected again by MPs Mrs May said the withdrawal bill will ensure that we deliver Brexit for the public. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48286543 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Financial Times Experts said there were three broad reasons why the government now risked defeat in the Commons on the withdrawal agreement bill. First the bill gives effect to the Irish backstop the provision in the divorce treaty to prevent the return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic through a customs union between the UK and the EU if necessary. Northern Ireland but not Britain would also be bound by the EUs goods regulations. Second the bill maintains a limited role for the European Court of Justice in UK law after Britain leaves the EU. The EU withdrawal act passed in 2018 turned off the principle of supremacy and direct effect of EU law in the UK said Catherine Barnard professor of EU law at Trinity College Cambridge. What the WAB does is turn it back on again. Third the bill enacts the arrangements under which UK has agreed to pay up to 45bn to the EU as part of leaving the bloc. The bill give ministers powers to make payments to the EU said Ms Thimont Jack. But MPs could amend these clauses to make payments conditional on the EU reaching a trade agreement with the UK or on future parliamentary votes. https://www.ft.com/content/9d4612ac-7719-11e9-be7d-6d846537acab 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

@ITVPeston .@EmilyThornberry says if we end up with a deal it should go back to the public to ensure its what they want with an option to Remain. Peston https://twitter.com/itvpeston/status/1128781256995495936 15th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Politics.co.uk It is a fundamentally meaningless project which simultaneously makes it impossible to do anything else. Its a curse a hex on the body politic. If you dont remove it it simply sucks you dry. The easy answer to take from this is that the Tories need to turn into the Brexit party and Labour needs to turn into the Remain party. There are numerous things which make that difficult if not impossible. But there is something else something more pronounced. Regardless of Brexit outcome politicians need to change they way they speak about this issue. They need to be honest plainspoken and precise. Voters deserve that. And politicians failure to live up to it is destroying them. http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/05/14/both-parties-frozen-in-terror-as-brexit-destroys-the-system 14th May 2019

Political Shenanigans

Wales Online Two decades later we have a situation that closely parallels the circumstances that ultimately led to that historic repatriation of powers 10 years of austerity that have pushed hundreds of Welsh communities back into the grip of poverty and a Brexit process that has left large swathes of the population feeling like noone speaks for them. A sense that those in power have barely even a peripheral focus on our interests. Support for independence in Wales has always been fuelled by a sense of alienation from those calling the shots in Westminster. The current growth in momentum and activity would certainly suggest that more people feel that way than ever before. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/welsh-independence-alienated-westminster-brexit-16263057 12th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph History is littered with the remnants of longestablished political parties having been annihilated at the ballot box. Anyone thinking it could never happen to them does so at their peril. Yet that smug complacent attitude is astonishingly exactly what has been adopted by the Conservative Party leadership. Assuming that the old order will carry on come what may is a fatal mistake. One need only look at the long litany of electoral disasters across the world to see that. Christian Democracy in Italy which supplied 26 of the 28 Italian Prime Ministers between 1946 and 1992 holding office for 40 of those 45 years has disappeared. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/pms-legacy-could-soon-conservative-partys-destruction-unless/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Jeremy Corbyn must be kicking himself. At PMQs today he had a golden opportunity to stick up for the underpaid staff of a wellknown British employer. But somehow it completely slipped his mind. Which was odd because low pay was the theme of his questions. Mr Speaker real wages are lower than they were 10 years ago he barked not once but twice. Some of the lowest rates of pay are among young workers Why does this Government continue to punish our young people To cap it all he added the Governments own Department for Business had had to set up a food bank for its very lowpaid staff. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/jeremy-corbyn-says-fight-underpaid-workers-ones-party/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The Syrian schoolboy who was filmed being attacked in a playground in Huddersfield is suing the farright campaigner Tommy Robinson for accusing him of assaulting white schoolgirls. Jamal Hijazi 16 has filed papers to the high court seeking libel action against the founder of the English Defence League after he was alleged to have peddled false and defamatory lies about the schoolboy. Footage of the refugee student being pushed to the ground and having water poured on his face was watched millions of times and attracted widespread condemnation including from Theresa May in December. In March this year a 16yearold boy who cannot be identified was given a caution for racially aggravated assault on Jamal. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/15/tommy-robinson-sued-by-syrian-schoolboy-he-accused-of-assault 16th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Express Sources said between 20 and 25 of Jeremy Corbyns backbenchers are becoming so rattled by the looming threat of Nigel Farages Brexit Party that they might back the unpopular deal to get the UK out of Europe. Speaking after the Prime Minister confirmed he deal was going back before the Commons a Cabinet source said There is a chance I accept its a small one that certain Labour MPs will get cold feet once the actual bill is before them. A Labour insider refused to rule out the possibility of battleweary Labour MPs voting with the Government. The source told the Mirror Up to two dozen backbenchers have said they wont be able to hold out much longer. Theyre getting so much grief in their constituencies over the failure to deliver Brexit. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1127407/brexit-latest-news-about-Labour-MPs-Leavers-brexiteers-nigel-farage 16th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent One of Change UKs lead European election candidates has quit to back the Liberal Democrats over concerns the new party could split the Remain vote in the upcoming contest. David Macdonald is the second person to resign as lead candidate for the party in Scotland after Joseph Russo withdrew from the race after one day over scrutiny of his old social media posts. Speaking at Holyrood Mr Macdonald expressed fears about splitting the Remain vote by standing as a candidate for the newlyformed party as Nigel Farages Brexit Party soars in the polls. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/change-uk-david-macdonald-european-elections-lib-dems-defection-brexit-remain-a8914551.html 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Brexiteer Peter Bone said Conservative activists in his Wellingborough constituency want Theresa May to resign before next seeks EU elections. The Tory MP said they told him the PMs Brexit deal was worse than staying in the European Union and they want the UK to leave the EU now on a nodeal basis. Mrs May thanked them for their time and said her party wants to deliver Brexit. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48282279/pmqs-peter-bone-repeats-call-for-theresa-may-to-resign 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph Nothing to see here risibly that remains how many senior Tories view the remarkable rise of the Brexit Party. To them Nigel Farages return is a spectacular but ultimately meaningless final act a last howl of rage by an angry minority exercising its right to protest at an irrelevant election. But a real serious gamechanging threat to the political duopoly that has governed the UK for so long Dont be ridiculous. There is something in the Conservative psyche that breeds this kind of deranged complacency the conceit that theirs is the natural party of government is especially toxic. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/tories-deluded-think-brexit-party-cant-supplant/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Edinburgh Live Residents in the capital didnt hold back as the Brexit partys first leaflets arrived https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-reacts-leaflets-nigel-farages-16244480 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph In energy drink called Brexit will not get Europewide trademark protection after an EU agency initially decided its name was offensive before later ruling the brand name was too confusing instead. Polish entrepreneurs Pawel Tumilowicz and Mariusz Majchrzak who run the business in Prestwich Greater Manchester insist they called their drink which boasts Union Jack branding Brexit for a laugh. But the European Union Intellectual Property Office Euipo did not see the funny side. An official castigated the cheeky Poles for causing offence with their trademark protection. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/brexit-energy-drink-denied-eu-trademark-claims-brand-offensive/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

New Statesman With Corbyn stuck in the talks they said voters were confused about Labours position. How can you be fighting a Tory Brexit when you are in talks with the Tories to deliver one is a frequent argument on the doorstep and is driving Labour voters to the Libdems and Greens. Its killing us not being able to give one word answer the candidate told me. Corbyn was always about straight honest politics now candidates have to take a breath and launch into a long sentence. The lack of clarity is hurting us. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2019/05/labour-s-refusal-oppose-brexit-killing-it-doorstep-it-should-quit-talks 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Channel 4 News https://www.channel4.com/news/baroness-warsi-conservatives-not-the-best-arbiters-of-finding-a-definition-of-islamophobia 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home Ministers have been criticised after it emerged they will not adopt a definition of Islamophobia demanded by MPs and Muslim groups. In December the AllParty Parliamentary Group APPG on British Muslims called on the Government to accept guidelines on antiIslamic abuse which states Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness. In a Commons debate on Thursday however ministers will say that unlike the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances IHRA definition on antisemitism which it supports the proposal on Islamophobia has not been broadly accepted. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/home-affairs/news/103893/tory-ministers-condemned-rejecting-mps%E2%80%99-definition-islamophobia 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Spectator.co.uk Brendan ONeill formerly of the Revolutionary Communist Party and Living Marxism now of Spiked has had me reaching for mine. He accuses me of lying a charge which might send a less liberal journalist than me to his lawyers. He says my charge that his comrades and the Brexit Partys European Parliament candidates Claire Fox James Heartfield and Alka Sehgal Cuthbert are cavalier about the abuse of children are lies straightup lowdown lies character assassination and an act of desperation by the remain side. https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/05/do-brexit-party-supporters-know-who-they-are-really-voting-for/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Politico.eu Boris Johnson could be prosecuted over claims that the U.K. sends 350 million a week to the EU that were plastered all over a bus that toured Britain during the Brexit referendum campaign. According to the Financial Times a businessman called Marcus Ball is bringing a private case against Johnson a former foreign secretary alleging that he committed misconduct in public office by endorsing the claim on the bus while knowing it to be untrue. https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-could-be-prosecuted-over-brexit-bus-claim/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Daily Mirror Nigel Farage has been accused of allowing fake members to join his Brexit Party as the Mirror signed up as Vladimir Putin. The revelation shows how the party could be opening the door to millions in donations from foreign sources. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nigel-farages-brexit-party-lets-16063819 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home A Labour MP has told Jeremy Corbyn to his face that he must quit as Labour leader if the party is to stand any chance of winning the next general election. Wes Streeting confronted his boss at an illtempered meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Mr Corbyn also faced a wave of criticism over Labour position on Brexit and European election campaign at the 90minute gathering in Parliament. Some angry backbenchers claimed that they were being banned from putting out their own campaign literature by Labour HQ while others said the partys policy on the EU was confusing and needed to be simplified. The Labour leader said he understood the frustration of his MPs but insisted the partys antiausterity message would bear fruit when the country goes to the polls on 23 May. https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/103860/excl-labour-mp-tells-jeremy-corbyn 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Metro.co.uk If Farage wants to be a serious politician he needs to do more than shout Brexit betrayal at rallies around the UK. Farage needs to have something to say about our country. And at the moment Im not hearing it. When he appeared on The Andrew Marr Show on the BBC last Sunday 12 May Marr tried to ask Farage where he stood on some of the most important issues facing us in Britain such as climate change and the NHS. His response An explosion of rage about how the BBC wasnt paying him enough attention. Brexit aside Farage has nothing positive to say about issues that the British people care most about the NHS the economy crime and the environment he once claimed climate change is a scam. https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/15/nigel-farage-cant-just-shout-brexit-betrayal-and-expect-to-be-taken-seriously-9531739/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian It could have been worse. Corbyn could have asked her about the European elections and Brexit. But luckily Labour is also pretending that neither of these things are happening as it too doesnt quite know what to say about them so May was temporarily let off the hook. It took the Scottish National partys Ian Blackford to mention the B word when he suggested the Tories and Labour were agreeing a stitchup deal behind closed doors. Quite possibly one of the stupidest questions anyone has ever asked as Blackford must be the only person alive who hasnt realised the whole purpose of the talks was that they wouldnt agree on anything. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/15/may-plods-on-in-her-death-spiral-as-farage-circles-his-prey 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Telegraph For someone famed for kicking the can down the road Theresa Mays sudden decision to push the withdrawal agreement bill through parliament before the summer recess appears decisively suicidal. While Downing Streets quest to get the Prime Ministers withdrawal agreement on to the statute book by July may look like progress of sorts for Brexit it sounds the death nell for a premiership that has plunged the Tories into what some have described as an existential crisis. Having hailed her resilience as one of her few leadership qualities even Mrs Mays staunchest supporters are now wondering if there is something positively masochistic about clinging on through a summer which promises to give her nightmares https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/05/15/second-week-june-could-prove-mays-waterloo-summer-plagued-brexit/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian The supervision of all offenders in the community is to be undertaken by the state in a major renationalisation of the probation sector just five years after Chris Grayling introduced a widely derided programme of privatisation while justice secretary. Under his disastrous shakeup in 2014 the probation sector was separated into a public sector organisation managing highrisk criminals and 21 private companies responsible for the supervision of 150000 low to mediumrisk offenders. Following years of damning criticism from MPs inspectorates and former probation officers the justice secretary David Gauke has decided to bring all offender management under the National Probation Service NPS by spring 2021 https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/16/part-privatisation-probation-sevices-to-be-reversed-offender-management-nationalised-chris-grayling 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Economist Mr Farage who went from private school to a career in the City is himself a prime elite specimen. Yet he manages to pose as an antiestablishment rebel. In a Labour stronghold he raises cheers by denouncing Jeremy Corbyn as an Islington leftie. He offers no policiesthey are promised only after the electionand does not even explain why Brexit is a good idea. His message is simple we must walk out in October with no deal. https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/05/15/britains-bizarre-unwanted-european-election 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Byline Times The traffic shows that on the launch day of the Brexit Party only received 1200 visitors a fraction of the 16000 25 supporters Farage claimed had signed up that day. For the nine following days he said 60000 had signed up the actual total of visitors looks like less than 10000. Even if every single visitor paid money to Brexit Party PayPal account this is only 10 of the total needed for launch day and 16 for the following nine days. The only conclusion that can be reached is that only a small proportion of PayPal payments were made via the website. https://bylinetimes.com/2019/05/15/brexit-party-donations-farages-miracle-claims-do-not-add-up/ 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The UK could accept chlorinated chicken in a postBrexit trade deal with the US without cutting food standards Liam Fox has claimed. The international trade secretary vowed to protect food quality after withdrawal from the EU but insisted the controversy about washing poultry in chlorine was purely an animal welfare issue. Dr Fox also suggested it would be impossible under World Trade Organisation WTO rules for Britain to ban the practice as part of a trade agreement with Donald Trump https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/brexit-liam-fox-claims-uk-could-accept-chlorinated-chicken-in-us-trade-deal-without-lowering-food-standards/ar-AABoqxe?ocid=spartandhp 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Sky News There is only one person who wants her to go on and thats John Major remarked one of her backbench detractors. Every passing day she remains as prime minister she is seizing from John Major the mantle of the worst prime minister in living memory. Actually it is not Sir John whom academics have crowned with that dishonour but the architect of the Suez crisis Sir Anthony Eden. A poll of academics specialising in British politics and contemporary British history rated Sir Anthony as the worstperforming of all postwar prime ministers. https://news.sky.com/story/sky-views-will-theresa-may-be-remembered-as-one-of-britains-worst-prime-ministers-11720297 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics.co.uk Her prime ministerial career is littered with moments in which she creates severe future problems in order to overcome more trivial immediate ones. Her tactics are very predictable survive the present deal with the consequences later. She has made countless promises on a free trade deal on transition on talk sequencing on the divorce bill on free movement on a border in the Irish Sea on renegotiating the backstop on alternative arrangements on Article 50 extension on the need to hold the European elections while knowing that she could not abide by them. Anyone who has taken an interest in the detail of Brexit has watched her say things she could not possibly believe simple in order to survive the day. http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/05/15/fourth-time-lucky-may-s-pitiful-gambit 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Independent The newly formed Brexit Party enjoys more support than Westminsters major political parties for the European elections only among those over the age of 55 new polling shows. In a fresh survey for The Independent BMG pollsters also found the party spearheaded by Nigel Farage will emerge ahead of the established parties on 23 May despite being formed just weeks ago. The survey shows that among the 5564 age range the party boasts 30 per cent support significantly above the Conservatives on 8 per cent and Labour on 15 per cent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-party-poll-nigel-farage-european-elections-voters-a8913371.html 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Yorkshire Post A European election candidate for the Brexit Party in Yorkshire and the Humber referred to his party leader Nigel Farage as an outandout bard in a 2016 tweet The Yorkshire Post can reveal. In a nowdeleted post Andrew Allison lashed out at Mr Farage after a bitter internal Ukip row led to the suspension of the partys highprofile spokeswoman Suzanne Evans. In the outburst he also accused the exUkip leader of running the party like a dictatorship. In the wake of the showdown Mr Allison tweeted The suspension of @SuzanneEvans1 highlights what an outandout bastard @NigelFarage is. @Ukip is a Farage dictatorship not democratic. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/politics/yorkshire-brexit-party-candidate-brands-nigel-farage-a-dictator-and-an-out-and-out-b-ard-in-2016-tweet-1-9769556 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

BBC Change UKs lead candidate for the EU elections in Scotland has quit the race and is now endorsing the Lib Dems. David Macdonald is top of the Change UK list in Scotland but said the party dont stand much of a chance of winning a seat in the 23 May poll. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48281672 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Express.co.uk The bill which has not yet been published looks set to spark outrage among Brexiteers with sources describing it as a political hand grenade. Politico said the deal is likely to enshrine into British law many aspects of the exit deal Eurosceptics within the Tory party will be angry about. Indeed sources from the influential 1922 backbench committee have told ITVs Shehab Khan they have already voted to ensure Mrs May confirms her departure date and will be told she has to go if the deal fails. https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1127353/brexit-latest-news-theresa-may-cabinet-meeting-nigel-farage-latest 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

The Guardian For the good of Britain and for the good of my party May must follow Margaret Thatchers example and stand down https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/15/theresa-may-brexit-conservative-party-margaret-thatcher 15th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Politics Home A Labour MP has told Jeremy Corbyn to his face that he must quit as Labour leader if the party is to stand any chance of winning the next general election. Some angry backbenchers claimed that they were being banned from putting out their own campaign literature by Labour HQ while others said the partys policy on the EU was confusing and needed to be simplified. The Labour leader said he understood the frustration of his MPs but insisted the partys antiausterity message would bear fruit when the country goes to the polls on 23 May. In the final contribution to the meeting Ilford North MP Mr Streeting told Mr Corbyn What is being heard on the doorstep across the country and what people are saying in the tea room but wont say to your face is that you are a bigger issue for us than Brexit. If youre prepared to sacrifice our place in Europe because you think it will deliver a Labour government why wont you make way for a leader who can win a general election https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/103860/excl-labour-mp-tells-jeremy-corbyn 14th May 2019

Political Setbacks

Financial Times Boris Johnson could be privately prosecuted over allegations he misled the public during the EU referendum campaign by claiming the UK sends 350m to Brussels each week. Marcus Ball a 29yearold businessman is bringing the private case against the former foreign secretary who he alleges committed misconduct in public office by endorsing the 350m figure knowing it to be untrue. On Tuesday a judge agreed to hold a public hearing on May 23 the same day the UK heads to the polls to vote in the European Parliament elections. A big red bus emblazoned with the words we send the EU 350m a week lets fund our NHS instead is credited as being influential in Britains 2016 vote to leave the EU. The 350m figure did not take into account the UKs rebate or the money that comes back via farming subsidies regional development funds or grants to the private sector. The UK Statistics Authority has said these factors need to be taken into account. https://www.ft.com/content/a9caa9de-766f-11e9-bbad-7c18c0ea0201 14th May 2019

EU Funding Benefits

The Guardian A catalogue of errors by the Home Office has led to a loss of access to 600000 of EU funds earmarked for the most deprived people in Britain and has put a further 2.9m at risk it can be revealed. The government had tried to claim the money for Theresa Mays flagship policy of helping the victims of modern slavery but Sajid Javids department missed the deadline to recoup the ringfenced money. Under the watch of the home secretary who has ambitions to replace May in Downing Street the UK has been left as the only EU member state to fail to deliver aid to its citizens through the programme and it is still yet to make an application for the remainder of the 3.5m that was available. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/15/home-office-misses-deadline-access-eu-poverty-relief-funds-sajid-javid 15th May 2019