Brexit
Telegraph
Dominic Raab’s threat to force through a no-deal Brexit by suspending Parliament “is simply not going to happen”, John Bercow has warned. This comes after the former Brexit Secretary became the first leadership contender to say he would be prepared to prorogue Parliament, a move which would – if the Queen approves – end the parliamentary session early, to stop MPs blocking no deal. Ruling anything out would be “weakening our hand with the EU,” Mr Raab told MPs at a Conservative leadership hustings yesterday. “If I become PM, we are leaving at the end of October”. The Speaker of the House of Commons said this morning: “Parliament will not be evacuated from the centre stage of the decision making process on this important matter. That simply is not going to happen, it’s just so blindly obvious it almost doesn’t need to be stated.”
Mail
The war between Tory Brexit and Remainer factions caught fire today after Dominic Raab said he could close Parliament to make sure the UK leaves the EU by the end of October. Mr Raab refused to rule out proroguing the Commons in the Autumn to prevent MPs from blocking No Deal. But the stark threat, delivered at hustings last night, sparked fury with other Conservatives accusing him of acting like a 17th Century king and warning the move would be ‘illegal’.
Independent
John Bercow has insisted it is “so blindingly obvious” that Tory front-runners will not be able to suspend parliament to force through a no deal. The Speaker weighed into the row over Dominic Raab’s suggestion that parliament could be prorogued to ensure Brexit happens on 31 October, saying MPs “will not be evacuated” from the decision-making process.
Guardian
John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has said it is “blindingly obvious” that the new Conservative prime minister will not be able to suspend parliament to push through a no-deal Brexit. The Speaker said it would not be an option after outrage across the political spectrum when the leadership hopeful Dominic Raab suggested he might try to take that path. “That is simply not going to happen. It is just so blindingly obvious that it almost doesn’t need to be stated, but apparently, it does and therefore I have done,” he told MPs.
BBC News
The Speaker of the House, John Bercow, says ending the current session of Parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit is “simply not going to happen”. Tory leadership candidate Dominic Raab has suggested he would be prepared to shut down Parliament to ensure the UK leaves the EU on 31 October. But the suggestion of using the process – known as prorogation – has led to criticism from many MPs. The SNP’s Pete Wishart called the proposal a “subversion of democracy”.
Mirror
A Tory leadership candidate has sparked fury with an “illegal” plot to ram through No Deal Brexit – by SHUTTING the House of Commons. A huge row erupted after Dominic Raab refused to rule out proroguing Parliament, if he becomes Prime Minister, to prevent MPs voting against No Deal on October 31. Mr Raab, a hard Brexiteer, said he would be prepared to take the drastic move at a behind-closed-doors hustings last night.
iNews
Commons speaker John Bercow has hit back angrily at suggestions that Parliament could be suspended by a future Brexiteer Prime Minister who would then wait until a no-deal Brexit became a reality. Dominic Raab refused to rule out proroguing Parliament, which would suspend the current session until beyond the 31 October, leaving MPs with no means to prevent a no-deal departure from the EU. But the Speaker said that he would act to prevent a prorogation saying in the Commons: “As we all know, because I have said it several times and I think the honourable gentleman believes this, is that Parliament will not be evacuated from the centre stage of the decision making process on this important matter.
Times
The Queen risks being pulled into a “terrible conflict” over Brexit, it was claimed yesterday, after a Tory leadership contender refused to rule out suspending parliament to force through a no-deal exit. Hardline Brexiteers have called for the new prime minister to end the parliamentary session so that MPs are powerless to block a no-deal departure from the EU on October 31.
Peterborough
Telegraph
Labour have clung onto Peterborough in a knife-edge by-election contest, seeing off the Brexit Party by just 683 votes. In a blow to Nigel Farage’s ambitions, his new party’s hopes of gaining a foothold in Parliament were scuppered early on Friday morning. Despite being the bookies’ clear favourites, The Brexit Party were edged out following a major ground offensive by Labour, which saw prominent figures including John McDonnell wheeled out to maximise voter turnout.
Independent
Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has failed to secure its first parliamentary seat as Labour snatched victory in the Peterborough by-election. Unite activist Lisa Forbes was elected with a majority of 683 in the marginal seat vacated by disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya, who was sacked by her constituents for lying over a speeding offence. Labour’s victory comes as a blow to Mr Farage’s ambitions, as his recently-formed party sought to build on its strong European election performance to win a foothold in parliament.
Mirror
Labour has won the Peterborough by-election by its fingernails – seeing off a Brexit Party insurgency. The party’s Lisa Forbes won the East of England seat by just a few hundred votes – with Nigel Farage’s new-found party in second place. Mr Farage left the count before the results were even announced. The top three results were Ms Forbes with 10,484 votes, compared to 9,801 for the Brexit Party’s Mike Greene and 7,243 for the Conservative Party’s Paul Bristow.
Breitbart
Nigel Farage’s weeks-old Brexit Party has fallen just short in the Peterborough by-election, thrashing the Tories into third place while Labour clings to the seat by 683 votes. Speaking to Sky News after the results, defeated Brexit Party candidate Mike Greene remarked on the gains that the fledgling party had made, saying: “Two parties have been ruling this country for decades. That’s not happening any more. We were ahead of the Tories, only a little bit behind Labour.” We’ll be back,” he added.
Sky News
Labour has narrowly won the Peterborough by-election, denying Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party a first seat in parliament. Unite activist Lisa Forbes won the seat with 10,484 votes, ahead of the Brexit Party’s Mike Greene, who had 9,801 votes. Conservative candidate Paul Bristow finished third with 7,243 votes, with the Liberal Democrats fourth and the Greens in fifth. It is a disappointing result for Mr Farage’s party, given 60% of voters in the area backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
ITV News
Nigel Farage’s new Brexit Party has failed to secure its first MP as Labour took the Peterborough by-election in a closely-fought contest. The Brexit Party, which launched less than six months ago, was beaten by just 683 votes as the Conservatives fell back into third place. The constituency, which voted 60.9% for Leave in the 2016 referendum, had been regarded as potentially fertile ground for the new party.
Star
LABOUR has beaten the Brexit Party in the Peterborough by-election. Lisa Forbes managed to hold the seat for Labour with 10,485 votes after being pushed hard by the Brexit Party which ended the night with 9,801. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage reportedly snuck out from the hall before the election result was announced. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn congratulated Mrs Forbes following the party’s victory.
Times
Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has failed in its first attempt to enter parliament, as Labour held on to its seat in the Peterborough by-election with a slim majority. Lisa Forbes retained the seat for Labour, beating Mr Farage’s candidate Mike Greene by 683 votes. Paul Bristow for the Conservatives came third. The result represents a setback for Mr Farage’s party, which won 29 seats in last month’s European elections without a manifesto and one stated policy of leaving Europe as soon as possible, deal or no deal.
Sun
LABOUR has won the Peterborough by-election, denying Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party a first seat in parliament. Unite activist Lisa Forbes was elected with a majority of 683 over the Brexit Party’s Mike Greene in a closely fought contest. It is a disappointing result for Mr Farage’s party, given 60% of voters in the area backed Brexit in the 2016 referendum.
Huffington Post
Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has failed in its first attempt to put an MP in the House of Commons after Labour held off a strong challenge to pull off a surprise victory in the Peterborough by-election. The Brexit Party was widely predicted to win the poll and gain its first MP. But Labour’s Lisa Forbes managed to mobilise supporters and retain the seat for Jeremy Corbyn’s party, beating Mike Greene into second place by 10,484 votes to 9,801 – a majority of 683.
Tory leadership
Express
THERESA May could delay her resignation as Prime Minister until she is confident her replacement as Tory leader can command confidence of the House of Commons, it has emerged. Theresa May will resign as Tory leader today but won’t step down as Prime Minister until she is certain the person replacing her will “command the confidence of the House”. This could prove especially tricky if a divisive, hardline Brexiteer like Boris Johnson or Dominic Raab wins the Tory leadership race. A controversial winner could fail to secure the support of soft Brexit or Remainer Tory MPs, or the DUP.
Telegraph
Boris Johnson is best placed to win back voters from the Brexit Party and defeat Jeremy Corbyn at the next election, polling has found. As the Tory leadership race intensifies, Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has revealed it is on “election footing” in the wake of the Peterborough by-election and is sifting through 3,000 potential general election candidates. Mr Johnson is the most likely candidate to win back Tory supporters who deserted the party under Theresa May’s leadership, according to private polling of the 48 most marginal Tory seats, conducted by CTF Partners, a political strategy group. Six in 10 voters who back the Brexit Party or Ukip said they were more likely to vote Conservative if Mr Johnson was Prime Minister.
Times
Sajid Javid has warned in a thinly veiled attack on Boris Johnson that the wrong Tory leader would deepen social division to win a general election. The home secretary, who is pitching himself as the leadership candidate who best reflects modern Britain and is most able to unite it, said yesterday that increasing hate crime was making society more divided. At an event organised by the think tank British Future, he called on fellow candidates not to stoke such divisions.
Evening Standard
Tory leadership candidate Matt Hancock has said he would be a good at running the country because he “gets s*** done”. Health secretary Mr Hancock, currently an outsider in the leadership race, said it was the unique selling point of his bid to succeed Theresa May. In an interview with HuffPost UK, he said: “I hope I’m decisive, I focus on what the country needs to be in the future. “The other thing is, I think I’ve proved in half-a-dozen ministerial portfolios – latterly in health – is that I can get s*** done.”
Sky News
The D-Day commemorations complete, Theresa May will today relinquish the role as Conservative party leader. On Monday the race to replace her begins in earnest, as the starting gun is fired on the party’s official election process and the hustings get underway. And Andrea Leadsom, the woman who made way for Mrs May in 2016, is planning another run for the job, despite being someway down the running order.
Evening Standard
A major Tory donor today endorsed Jeremy Hunt as the candidate with the “negotiating skills” to deliver Brexit. Sir David Ord told the Standard: “I have known Jeremy for over 30 years. His negotiating skills and persistence will be critical in delivering Brexit to which I know he is totally committed.” Businessman Sir David, co-owner and MD of the Bristol Port Company, is a prolific donors to the Conservatives who has given some £1.1 million, according to official figures. Figures issued in Parliament revealed that Mr Hunt, the Foreign Secretary, has attracted more donations to his campaign in recent weeks than any other candidate.
Mirror
Tory MPs face having their phones seized during the leadership election to replace Theresa May in a hardline anti-cheating crackdown. Party chiefs are mulling the extreme measure to stop Tory MPs taking photos of the ballot paper to choose the next PM – which it’s feared could be hijacked and copied. Even veteran MPs and Cabinet ministers will have to show security-cleared ID before they vote – and the colour of ballot papers will only be decided the night before.
Buzz Feed
Rory Stewart has pitched his campaign for the Conservative leadership as a plucky DIY effort with shaky handheld videos of him meeting voters across the country — but behind the scenes it is being bankrolled by a Russian financier who ran a hedge fund that focussed on the former Soviet Union. Stewart, a former foreign office minister and chair of the Defence Select Committee, has accepted a £10,000 donation from Lev Mikheev, a Moscow-born investment banker who moved to the US before pursuing a career in finance and setting up Salute Capital Management in 2009.
Telegraph
Conservative leadership candidates are split over cutting green house emissions to net zero after Philip Hammond told Theresa May that it will cost £1trillion and divert money from police and National Health Service. The warning prompted Mrs May to rebuke her Chancellor, with her spokesman insisting it was the “right thing to do to protect our planet” and it would be wrong to frame the costs as a “trade-off for public spending”.
No deal
Express
THE public is beginning to realise the dangers posed by a no-deal Brexit have been “exaggerated”, while leaving the EU without a formal trade deal in place should not be viewed as a “nightmare scenario”, a UK-based economist has said. Professor David Collins also said the UK could call the EU’s bluff by leaving on WTO rules and pursuing lucractive trade deals with third countries, suggesting such an approach would prompt the bloc to soften its stance and agree a similar agreement with Britain. Prof Collins has outlined his vision for a post-Brexit Britain in a new policy document entitled The EU, The UK and Global Trade: A New Roadmap, which was unveiled in a packed committee room in the Houses of Parliament yesterday.
EU Observer
Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage in charge, a no-deal Brexit, chlorinated chicken in British shops, and privatised healthcare – that is what the UK should head towards, according to US president Donald Trump and his ambassador. Trump spoke out in an interview with The Sunday Times newspaper ahead of his three-day visit to the UK starting on Monday (3 June). “[Johnson] would do a very good job – he would be excellent. He has been very positive about me and our country,” Trump said in his endorsement of one of the 13 candidates vying to be the next British prime minister after Theresa May steps down on 7 June.
TIG/CHUK
Guido
On Tuesday after the ChUK / TIG split, the Change UK bit of the split – the bit without Chuka – sent an email saying they were “in this long for the haul”. It came from info@theindependent.group, which confusingly is the name of the other bit of the split. Co-conspirators will have read previously that ‘The Independent Group Limited’ is legally controlled by Gavin Shuker, who has left ChUK. Confused? You are not alone. The Independent Group Limited owns the data, Gavin Shuker legally owns the company. Those who have stayed in ChUK, like Chris Leslie’s wife, Nicola Murphy and Anna Soubry’s other half, Neil Davidson, are the directors of the company. Since the split worried staffers aren’t sure who they work for, legally or actually. The centrists are in complete confusion… we have asked Shuker’s office for clarification, they are getting back to us when they figure it out…
Scotland
Express
SPAIN will not stop Scotland from becoming an independent country in the European Union, according to Spain’s top diplomat. Miguel Angel Vecino Quintana, the Spanish Consul General in Edinburgh, said it has “always” been the Spanish government’s policy not to turn down an independent Scotland membership of the bloc. The diplomat also made clear “there is no queue” an independent Scotland would have to join in order to become a full EU member.
ITV News
The UK Government should consider abolishing the Scotland Office as its role has “changed significantly” since Holyrood was established 20 years ago, MPs have said. Members of the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster want a review of the role of secretary of state for Scotland – currently held by David Mundell. They made the call at the same time as they told how differences between the ministers in Edinburgh and London over independence and Brexit had led to an “avoidable deficit of trust” between the two administrations.
iNews
Hundreds of pupils in Scottish schools are being taught in combined classes where at least three different qualifications are being taught by the same teacher at the same time. More than 100 schools are running classes where pupils are studying for three different exams, according to Freedom of Information requests to all 32 of the nation’s local councils. The data shows that a further 11 Scottish schools are squeezing four separate qualifications into a single lesson, with pupils in different years on different courses being taught by the same teacher. Examples include a class at Inverclyde Academy in Greenock where pupils are being taught four different levels of maths simultaneously, at National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.
EU
Westmonster
The European Commission has today initiated the Excessive Deficit Procedure against Italy, pending approval from the Council of the EU. The move is the latest step in a months long feud between Brussels and the populist Italian government over the budget plans of the Salvini-5 Star coalition. Both 5 Star and Salvini have hit back, with 5 Star’s MEP delegation accusing the Commission of “once again applying double standards… Italy is the only country at risk of being sanctioned while others — like Germany and The Netherlands — have been ignoring EU parameters with their enormous surpluses.”
from PMB Personally I think it is BERCOW who has a 17th. Century view of the power of the SPEAKER. It is HIM who seems to think He has the right to over rule The People. It is Simple. It is obvious that MPs who are Remainers do not represent the majority of the voters. Therefor it is democratic to prorogue Parliament, rather than prevent a WTO Brexit.
I argued for prorogation so that we should leave 29/3. But I was told this could not be done. So now I am not sure whether a new P.M. could do it.
International treaties trump domestic law, at least in this case. However, any PM has far more power than they realise, but have seldom used it in recent times.
In order to stop No Deal, the new Prime Minister has to allow time for any legislation to be tabled, and if they don’t, no-one can force it through. All the noise you hear from Remainers in Parliament is just bluster and they know it. Even the Speaker does not have the power.
I was encouraged to hear Dom Raab characterise this stage of the leadership race as a test of nerves. He seems to recognise what I have suggested. Please see my comment to Stuart, below.
One thing which mystifies me totally, is Raab’s talk about keeping No Deal on the table, when the only thing left IS No Deal.
PS. Even if the next PM was pathetic enough to allow some sort of blocking manoeuvre, the DEFAULT LAW is we leave under the current (amended) treaty, and that date only exists because Treason didn’t want us to leave.
Can’t wait to see what shenanigans the Scum come up with to cajole the next hapless leader into accepting the inevitable (You must comply. Resistance is futile).
-“THERESA May could delay her resignation as Prime Minister until she is confident her replacement as Tory leader can command confidence of the House of Commons, it has emerged. Theresa May will resign as Tory leader today but won’t step down as Prime Minister until she is certain the person replacing her will “command the confidence of the House”. ”
So lets get this straight, Theresa May says she is leaving, but is not going to leave until some kind of deal or arrangement is in place?
😀
I suppose she’ll be begging for an extension to her notice period next.
😀 😀
No Stuart – what she means is, she’s not gonna hand over the reins till she’s sure the next PM is weak enough to be talked out of No Deal before October. To people like her, stopping No Deal is something you must make the ultimate sacrifice for, like throwing herself in front of a moving train.
God knows why.
The other way I see it is as follows:
I announce at work that I am leaving my job and have handed in my notice. However, unless my replacement is going to do my job to my satisfaction, then I’m not leaving until they do so.
So in Theresa May’s case, what is going to happen if the new Tory leader won’t “command the confidence of the House” in her opinion? It would be an utterly preposterous situation and utterly shambolic, if the new Tory party leader was prevented from becoming Prime Minister.
But in this new ‘post-democratic’ age we are rapidly heading towards, nothing surprises me anymore.
You are however correct on ‘no-deal’.
Peterborough:
As Labour won with only a small majority maybe it would be a good idea to “put it back to the voters” and re-run the election in a couple of weeks time. Just in case some may have changed their minds.
I do like a chuckle.
Election means election. Hold on, nobody voted to be venezula. How can we be sure they knew what they voted for? How can they send an MP to Parliament without a confirmatory vote? Some elderly voters may die soon. The younger generation need a vote on their future. Surely they need a people’s vote? Some people may have changed their mind. Are they really going to crash a new MP into westminster the day after the vote? Best not rush this, lets wait three years and try some indicatives votes in Parliament. Afterall, democracy is a pretty complicated thing for ordinary people to properly understand. BBC@2019
Double LOL. Well said Matt.
According to the Guardian reported on Breitbart, May refuses to step down until her elected successor ‘commands the confidence of parliament’ which is unlikely the state they are in. This is a trick worthy of the likes of Mugabe. It’s a coup d’etat if true.
Peterborough:
John Pienar on BBC News” Labour are relying on the Muslim vote to keep Peterborough “. That one phrase explains everything that is going on in the Labour Party and in the country. Question is why Tories for last 9 years continued this suicidal for them replacement migration? UKIP 6th with 400 votes 1.18% of the votes. Patrick O’Flynn (Social Democratic Party) 135 (0.40%). I also could not find the nuber of postal votes.
By the same token why have the Tories not reformed postal voting which is also not working in their favour although pensioners may like it. The latter are however more likely to vote even if it means going in person. Postal voting should only be for blue badge holders, people in nursing homes, and the armed forces. If people are on holiday they can always nominate a proxy. This would stop the Labour practice of calling at the doors of Muslim and other immigrants to practically complete the form for them and post it. Also the practice where the imam collects all the PV forms and does likewise. Maybe in the privacy of the polling booth the women might dare to be different. Voter Id should also be required.
I haven’t seen any PV numbers for Peterboghorror but the PV turnout was 69% cf. the overall turnout of 49%.
And what of those workers on oil and gas platforms? They work two weeks onshore, then two weeks offshore. Others work month and month abroad. If the offshore (out of country) period coincides with an election, tough luck. Is that what you are saying? Or like mps who live in a South East bubble and UKIP, based in the South West bubble have you not thought this through?
Next you will be advocating that barmy idea of proportional representation. Oh, well.
I’m sure there are several different justifiable reasons for a postal vote that affect about 0.001% of the electorate but in the interests of fairness can be catered for. Failing that they can always vote by proxy if they are not friendless, orphaned only-children.
Do not see the reason why they cannot have a polling station on the gas platform or in British consulates and Embassies.
Just remind us again exactly why PR is ‘barmy’ – and please don’t tell me it’s easy to understand like TG says.
It might be suicidal for conservatives represented by that party but not for those in power who are the globalists. The Conservative Party is merely a front, a temporary propaganda tool, a sham. People like May are just disposable ijiots but get well paid for it by their standards. It all hangs together as a logical procedure. As for the members it seems they are simply too dim to grasp anything much.
S E Why have Tories continued with suicidal replacement migration? Three reasons possibly – their corporate sponsors demand this, the Conservative Party are committed to free movement embracing globalism and finally they have seen how Labour has stuffed their low income workers and yet they still loyally vote Labour so the Tories are doing the same to their flock of sheep.
@J.B. One of my favourite politicians used to say: “If the pain was delayed in time (let’s say a year) from the cause, people would hurt themselves substantially more.”
Let’s look at your suggestions.
1. Cheap labour a short-term gain but in the longer term? What will owners of the means of the production do with an excess of labour when robotization and automation will be cheaper than human work? Especially when an imported workforce is violent and easily triggered.
2. Globalism – is as illusory as communism and only works on paper. Also naming convention is a bit fallacy as it really means wealthy Europe and North America – surely globalists do not have plans to replace and unite Russia or China. Even in the EU, resistance is growing faster than unification.
3. Voters being unreasonable (to use the less derogatory term) – true to some degree but recent elections show a systematic drop in votes’ share for our Lab/Con duo.
To these 3 I would add: inability to admit error, PC culture where perception and feelings are more important than facts and maybe the most important: corruption of the state system as a whole. Any state activity you take a closer look – swamped. NHS – abused, police – powerless, borders – out of control, judiciary – disastrous. The burning question will we able to fix it and how?
No idea why any leaver would have voted Tory when it was obvious this was a two horse race between BXP and LAB. Vote Tory get Liebore. I know that the tiny votes that went to UKIP and SDP were just enough to stop BXP winning too but at least their voters were voting for leave parties with their own very good manifestos – what are the Tories for? Certainly not leave apart from 10% of their MPs at most. Will see how many days the allegedly pro-leave and anti-Ref2 new LAB MP goes before coming out for Remain…
Brexit:
So, this Brexit blocking Parliament and Speaker don’t like the prospect of prorogation. That’s rich coming from them after using every trick, manipulation, chicanery and delay to avoid doing what’s been asked of them. The best comment from them has been, “It would be undemocratic”. Strange how democracy matters in this case but not when it comes to delivering for the majority of people who voted Leave.
A Change.org petition to sack Sadiq Khan, you should all sign it.
https://www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-sack-sadiq-khan-as-london-mayor
Author could do with going back to skool. There one can learn you to start sentances with a capitale, and learn to use a smelling checker to name but to.
kwite rite ser..
I’ve signed.
Signed and shared. Thanks for the link, Flyer.