Brexit trade talks stalled today as the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned the bloc will not ‘bargain away our values for the benefit of the British economy’. The third round of negotiations has now concluded but the chances of a deal by the end of the year appear to be slipping after each side … Read more
Boris Johnson will face a backbench rebellion over his Government’s ‘absurd, dystopian and tyrannical’ coronavirus lockdown today. Furious Tory MPs including 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady and ex-Brexit ministers David Davis and Steve Baker are preparing to voice anger over the extent of the enforced shut-down. They will argue that the economic, social and … Read more
Emma Thompson left new life in Venice after just four days and flew back to isolated home in Scotland when Italy’s lockdown took hold The actress moved to her Scotland home days after getting Italian citizenship She had said she felt European and moving to Venice was her dream after Brexit Emma Thompson has stayed … Read more
Britain will begin formal negotiations with the US on a trade deal next week via video conference after Boris Johnson promises to ‘drive a hard bargain’ International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will begin the talks by video conference More than 100 negotiators will be involved in the first round of negotiations These talks will be … Read more
Michael Gove stands firm on post-Brexit timetable insisting the UK will break free from EU rules on December 31 despite coronavirus crisis and baits Brussels claiming the pandemic should ‘concentrate the minds’ of negotiators to get a trade deal done He reiterated UK belief that December 31 deadline for severing ties should stay This was … Read more
Top Tories have joined calls to ban Dominic Cummings from coronavirus scientific briefings. The former Brexit secretary David Davis is among those pushing for Cummings and Ben Warner, an adviser who ran the Tories’ private election computer model, to be prevented from attending future meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage). Davis said that … Read more
The Prime Minister’s adviser Dominic Cummings is a member of the secretive scientific group that steered the Government’s response to coronavirus, it has been revealed. Mr Cummings’ name was on a leaked list of members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) as far back as February. The list, which was seen by The Guardian, … Read more
Philip Pullman says UK government should face ‘conspiracy to murder’ charges if it is found that MPs rejected EU deal for PPE ‘for Brexit reasons’ Philip Pullman, 73, made arguments as part of a series of essays from Penguin He said ‘entire front bench’ should resign if PPE deal was rejected due to Brexit Novelist … Read more
Boris Johnson was ‘driving’ the government’s coronavirus response despite ‘skipping’ five Cobra meetings at the start of the outbreak, Gavin Williamson insisted tonight. The Education Secretary defended the PM’s handling amid a mounting backlash at the slow action in gearing up to the looming crisis. Mr Johnson has been accused of taking a backseat role … Read more
Boris Johnson has come under renewed scrutiny for his lackluster coronavirus preparations after it was revealed he skipped five Cobra crisis meetings in the weeks leading up to Britain’s outbreak. The Prime Minister was accused of taking a backseat role in the early planning phase to shore up the country’s pandemic response, despite mounting concern … Read more
Sadiq Khan claims the UK MUST ask the EU for a Brexit transition period extension because of the coronavirus crisis as he accuses ministers of ‘putting dogma ahead of the national interest’ Mayor of London said both the UK and the EU need to focus on coronavirus fight He said UK government refusal to consider … Read more
This morning the government’s carefully constructed strategy for dealing with coronavirus fell apart when Health Secretary Matt Hancock lost his temper in two media confrontations. First, a feisty exchange with the Today programme’s Nick Robinson, and then on ITV’s Good Morning Britain he exploded in a combative exchange with Piers Morgan. Two meltdowns in less … Read more
More than 10,000 Britons have become German, French or Swedish since 2016 Brexit vote as thousands seek to retain freedom of movement as dual-nationality EU citizens Eurostat reports a six-fold rise in UK nationals taking EU citizenships since 2015 Over 6,000 have become Germans and over 3,000 secured French passports The trend shows a rush of … Read more