Wanderlust

Tag: conservatives

  • ‘Abhorrent’ Jacob Rees-Mogg protest condemned

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    Media captionProtesters shout at Jacob Rees-Mogg’s children during protest

    Protesters who targeted the home of Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg and shouted at this children have been condemned by Downing Street and MPs.

    A video on the Facebook page of the Class War group shows a man telling one of the Tory MP’s children “your daddy is a horrible person”.

    Police officers stood between the protesters and the MP during the incident outside his Westminster home.

    Downing Street said the “intimidation” was “completely unacceptable”.

    “No elected member or their family should be subjected to intimidation or abuse in that way,” said the prime minister’s spokesman.

    Labour’s shadow Brexit minister Jenny Chapman said the protesters’ behaviour was “abhorrent”.

    She told the BBC’s Politics Live she was “ashamed if those people think they have anything to do with the Labour movement” and condemned the protest “without any reservation”, adding that the people in the video should “never be anywhere near someone’s children”.

    In the Class War video, a protester asked Mr Rees-Mogg how much he paid his family’s nanny, and when she too came out onto the street, demanded to know her salary and told her she had “Stockholm Syndrome”.

    A subsequent Class War Facebook post said people were getting their “knickers in a twist” over the footage, saying the MP’s family had come outside after the protesters arrived.

    The protest is believed to have been staged by veteran anarchist Ian Bone, who has taken part in similar stunts in the past.

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  • The Brexit factions reshaping UK politics

    Parliament Image copyright Getty Images

    Westminster is buzzing with talk of splits, general elections, second referendums and even the formation of new political parties as Brexit strains traditional loyalties to breaking point.

    With votes on any deal struck by Theresa May with the EU expected to happen this autumn, here is a guide to the main factions in the Commons:

    Theresa May loyalists

    Image copyright EPA Image caption Jeremy Wright and David Lidington – cabinet ministers loyal to the PM

    Government ministers, basically – there are just over 100 them out of a total of 316 Tory MPs – and those backbenchers who support Theresa May’s Brexit policies, or at least are not willing to vote against them and threaten her leadership.

    Most Tory MPs fall into this category but it is not enough for Mrs May to be sure of winning key Commons votes, even with the support of the DUP’s 10 MPs, who unlike Mrs May backed Leave in the EU referendum.

    Ten members of Mrs May’s government have quit in recent months – most of them because they are against her Chequers plan for post-Brexit trade, although Defence Minister Guto Bebb quit because he is in favour of it. Mr Bebb thought she had caved in to the hard Brexiteers (see below) over customs legislation. He has now joined the People’s Vote campaign (see below).

    Image copyright Getty Images

    Sixty Conservative MPs, headed by Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured above), are members of the European Research Group – a pro-Brexit lobby, who are against Theresa May’s plans for trading arrangements with the EU.

    They are well-organised and highly motivated and the PM’s continued survival in Number 10 is, largely, in their hands.

    The rebel ranks were swollen by ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, former Brexit Secretary David Davis and his deputy Steve Baker, who all quit in protest at her blueprint for post-Brexit trade with the EU hammered out at her country residence Chequers, in July.

    Mr Baker claims as many as 80 Conservative MPs are prepared to vote against the Chequers plan. He has warned about a “catastrophic split” in the Conservative Party if it is not able to unite around a different vision. Mr Johnson has thrown grenades – and a “suicide vest” – into the debate from the pages of national newspapers, with increasingly strident attacks on the Chequers proposal, prompting an angry backlash from Theresa May loyalists.

    May warned of Tory split over Brexit plan Johnson: PM’s Brexit plan a ‘suicide vest’ At-a-glance: The new UK Brexit plan Brexit: All you need to know

    Tory soft Brexiteers

    Image copyright Getty Images

    The Dominic Grieve gang. Like most of his cohorts, who number about a dozen and include former minister Nicky Morgan (seated behind Mr Grieve in the picture above) who led an unsuccessful rebellion in the customs vote, the former attorney general is not a natural rebel.

    Mr Grieve and his supporters inflicted the government’s first Brexit defeat, in December, securing a “meaningful vote” for MPs on the final deal with Brussels, but some wonder whether his gang have the killer instinct of their pro-Brexit rivals when that final showdown happens in the autumn. Mr Grieve has said he will quit the party if Boris Johnson becomes prime minister, in reaction to a row over the former foreign secretary’s comments about the burka.

    Government survives key Brexit trade vote

    Cross-party crusaders

    Image copyright EPA

    Conservative MP Anna Soubry, a close ally of Labour’s Chuka Umunna in the People’s Vote campaign for another EU referendum (see below), has called in the past for the creation of a new centre-ground party.

    She also backed a call by fellow Conservative Sir Nicholas Soames – a longstanding pro-European and the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill – for a “government of national unity”, made up of senior figures from different parties to sort out Brexit, although that idea seems to have disappeared from the radar.

    But it is the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the UK’s traditional centre party, who has emerged as the biggest cheerleader for a new centre party.

    Sir Vince Cable is openly encouraging disaffected anti-Brexit Labour and Tory MPs to form new groups and work with the Lib Dems to colonise what he believes is the vast territory that has opened up in British politics as Labour moves to the left under Jeremy Corbyn and Tory Brexiteers push their party to the right.

    Sir Vince, who has said he will stand down as Lib Dem leader once Brexit has been “resolved or stopped”, admits his party, with just 12 MPs, has struggled to achieve the rapid growth in support it wanted despite being the only national party campaigning for a second referendum and has set out plans to transform into a “movement for moderates”.

    Cable to quit ‘once Brexit resolved’

    Tory second referendum group

    Image copyright PA

    Former Education Secretary Justine Greening is the most senior Conservative to have called for a referendum on the final Brexit deal. She was backed by Heidi Allen and Anna Soubry, and another prominent backbencher, Sarah Wollaston, has also joined the People’s Vote campaign. along with Phillip Lee and Guto Bebb.

    No 10 rejects Greening’s referendum call

    The Corbynites

    Image copyright PA

    Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters insist the party has never been more united behind its leader – despite a bitter and divisive row about anti-Semitism that dragged on for months over the summer.

    The vast majority of the shadow cabinet – about 30 MPs – and most of the 47 new Labour MPs elected last year, in addition to a handful of long-serving left wing backbenchers, are fiercely loyal to the leader and back his Brexit stance.

    But many, maybe even the majority, of the 257 Labour MPs, including the self-styled “moderates” who served in government during the Blair/Brown era, remain unhappy with the direction the party is going in.

    Some Corbyn critics have faced no confidence votes from their local parties, a sign they could face de-selection before the next general election.

    Corbyn critics lose no-confidence votes Blair doubts Labour can be ‘taken back’ Why Corbyn allies want MP selection change

    Labour People’s Vote supporters

    Image copyright HOC

    Jeremy Corbyn’s backing for Brexit and refusal to throw his weight behind calls for a second referendum, after campaigning for Remain in the referendum, are a major sore point among “moderate” Labour MPs, who suspect he remains a Eurosceptic at heart.

    The cross-party People’s Vote campaign for a second referendum is backed by about 30 Labour MPs, including prominent figures such as Chuka Umunna (pictured above), Chris Leslie and Stephen Doughty.

    They outnumber members of other parties in the group, which also includes Lib Dems, Green MP Caroline Lucas, five Conservative MPs and Plaid Cymru’s four MPs.

    These MPs tend to eschew party labels when commenting on Brexit. The Labour members are in open revolt against their party leadership’s opposition to a second referendum – but they insist they are not operating as a party within a party.

    Chuka Umunna has written to members of his local party in Streatham, South London, to deny speculation he is involved in talks about the formation of a new party. The idea that the People’s Vote is the forerunner of a such a party is “patently absurd”, he writes.

    But he has also claimed Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters are trying to force “moderate” MPs like himself out of Labour, something the party leadership says is simply not the case.

    Call off the dogs, Umunna tells Corbyn Turn fire outwards, Corbyn urges MPs

    The SNP

    Image copyright PA

    Like the members of the People’s Vote campaign, the SNP’s 35 MPs, led by Ian Blackford (pictured) are against Brexit and want the UK to stay in the EU single market and customs union.

    They have said they won’t stand in the way of a second referendum but have not committed to voting for one. One reason for this is that Scotland voted for Remain in 2016 and it did not make any difference to the result.

    They are likely to vote against anything resembling a “hard Brexit”.

    Labour Brexiteers

    Image copyright Labour Party

    Kate Hoey (pictured), John Mann, Frank Field and Graham Stringer – along with the currently independent Kelvin Hopkins – voted with the government in key Brexit votes, helping to ensure Theresa May’s survival.

    This is the core of a group who say they are standing up for the millions of Labour supporters who voted to Leave the EU.

    Mr Field has resigned the Labour whip in Parliament – and is fighting to remain a member of the party – after claiming it has become a “force for anti-Semitism in British politics”.

    The MP’s opponents say he jumped before he was pushed after losing a confidence vote organised by local activists in Birkenhead angry at his support for the government in Brexit votes, which they believe robbed Labour of the chance to force a general election it could have won.

    Ms Hoey is also facing calls to be expelled from Labour and has lost a confidence vote in her local Vauxhall Labour Party. Graham Stringer won a confidence vote in his Blackley and Broughton Labour branch.

    Field is not leading a Labour breakaway Field decides against calling by-election Labour needs seismic change – Blunkett

  • Labour pledges ‘gig economy’ rights spice up

    John McDonnell Symbol copyright PA

    Labour would extend staff’ rights and “repair the balance of energy within the administrative center”, shadow chancellor John McDonnell is to pledge.

    he’ll promise extra rights for people running within the so-known as gig financial system.

    In his speech to the Trades Union Congress in Manchester, Mr McDonnell will say a “new administrative center atmosphere” will boost productivity.

    The Tories mentioned unemployment is at an all-time low with millions of low-paid employees given a pay upward thrust.

    what is the ‘gig’ economy? Unions call for 4-day working week TUC problems EU referendum caution to May

    BBC political correspondent Iain Watson stated that when a summer of difficult headlines, Labour was once trying to set a extra positive time table on the TUC convention.

    Mr McDonnell is expected to say staff in insecure employment might be given equivalent rights to those in everlasting work, including eligibility for unwell pay.

    “Labour’s programme of place of work reform will repair the steadiness among business enterprise and employee with a vital extension of business union rights, modernising company governance structures and lengthening the opportunity for staff to percentage jointly in the advantages of ownership of their company,” he’ll say.

    “Labour’s common-sense manner will forge a new place of business atmosphere most fitted to meeting the demanding situations of Britain’s ongoing low productiveness and the emerging fourth industrial revolution.”

    he will say zero-hours contracts and the gig financial system – that’s characterized by way of brief-term contracts and versatile hours – have produced “a place of work setting of lack of confidence now not noticed because the thirties”, and he’s going to accuse the Tories of “cumulative legislative assaults on business union freedoms”.

    “The decline of collective bargaining has meant that workers additionally now have little say over the key decisions taken through their employers over the long run of their firms,” he will say.

    Chancellor Philip Hammond hit again, pronouncing: “that is Labour’s document on workers – the ultimate Labour government left over half a million more other people out of work, and each Labour govt leaving place of job with unemployment upper than while it started.”

  • Tories should unite at the back of new Brexit plan, says Steve Baker

    Video ‘It’s approximately policy, now not the PM’

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  • Brexit: Boris Johnson’s backstop grievance ‘foolish’

    Boris Johnson leaving 10 Downing Street Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Johnson defined Theresa May’s Brexit plans as ‘feeble and pathetic’

    Boris Johnson’s name to scrap the Northern Ireland backstop has been called “foolish” and “incendiary”.

    The MP has hit out at Theresa Would Possibly’s Brexit plans, accusing her of wrapping a suicide vest across the UNITED KINGDOM.

    Sinn Féin mentioned the feedback confirmed Northern Ireland was “collateral injury” for birthday party in-fighting.

    The SDLP stated Mr Johnson was “deliberately simplifying” the Irish border issue. Then Again, the DUP welcomed the former international secretary’s input.

    the united kingdom and the eu signed as much as the primary of a backstop in December 2017, but neither can agree on what it should look like in a legally binding textual content.

    Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Each The United Kingdom and the european have mentioned they don’t want to see a troublesome Irish border

    talking to BBC News, Sinn Féin MLA Máirtin Ó Muilleoir stated Mr Johnson’s feedback have been “appalling” and the language used to be “silly and threatening”.

    “Any Individual who does not know how fragile the peace here is, and the way fragile the growth we have made is, should not be gazing the inside track because for SIX HUNDRED days we haven’t been in a position to shape an area government here as a result of fault lines inside this society remain,” he stated.

    The SDLP’s Brexit Spokesperson Claire Hanna mentioned Mr Johnson had “absolutely no regard for individuals in this island”.

    “He Is totally detached to the complexities of problems right here; he’s intentionally simplifying issues and is implying the border factor is set marking a line and completely ignoring regulatory problems, besides as all of the political problems that plummet into peace and the great Friday Settlement.”

    ‘Constitutional time-bomb”

    However, Sammy Wilson from the DUP welcomed the former international secretary’s input.

    In a statement the MP for East Antrim stated he needed Mr Johnson had made the feedback faster and that he believes the backstop must be rewritten.

    “The Ones crying loudest are embarrassed on the fact of the have an effect on of the arrogant ECU calls for on The Uk being uncovered,” stated Mr Wilson.

    “Boris Johnson is saying not anything that the DUP has now not been pronouncing since the withdrawal agreement was first drafted in December 2017.

    “the reason why we stopped it being signed in its original form used to be exactly for the explanations which Boris Johnson has outlined.”

    Symbol copyright Reuters Image caption Prime Minister Theresa May has rejected the ecu’s backstop option

    the uk is due to go away the ecu in only over six months’ time.

    During the summer season the ecu’s leader negotiator, Michel Barnier, referred on a couple of events to the european’s willingness to “make stronger” the backstop.

    But he gave no indication that there could be significant movement on its substance.

    Several of the pro-stay parties in Northern Eire are as a result of shuttle to Brussels later this month to satisfy Mr Barnier in regards to the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland.

  • Boundary adjustments: Ultimate proposals to be printed

    Party rosettes Symbol copyright Getty Pictures

    Ultimate recommendations for brand spanking new parliamentary limitations that would see the collection of MPs lower from 650 to 600 will likely be printed later.

    The Boundary Fee for England submitted its proposals to the government, but they ought to now be introduced to Parliament.

    The fee mentioned it was once “confident” in its new map, which covers constituencies across the UNITED KINGDOM.

    Parliament licensed the main of reducing the selection of MPs in 2011.

    Since then, the Boundary Commissions Of Britain, Scotland, Wales And Northern Ireland were supposed to redraw the uk’s political map each 5 years to take account of changes in population shifts.

    The Fee’s earlier proposals – in line with the electoral sign in from December 2015 – have been significantly altered following a public consultation, in which lots of responses have been received.

    If MPs reject the proposals, the following election will likely be fought on demographic data in response to the 2000 electoral register and can not take into consideration changes on the grounds that then.

    Next steps

    Secretary to the commission, Sam Hartley, stated: “We Are assured that the brand new map of constituencies absolute best displays the rules set for us through Parliament and we are especially happy that our recommendations are primarily based closely on what individuals of the general public have informed us approximately their native spaces.

    “it’s now up to the government to offer our report back to Parliament, and we look ahead to having the ability to publish our recommendations as soon as that has came about.”

    The BBC’s political correspondent, Peter Saull, mentioned critics of the changes have warned that Brexit will imply more legislation in the coming years – and less MPs manner less parliamentary scrutiny.

    He brought that Labour had accused the federal government of “gerrymandering”, with the adjustments expected to most benefit the Conservatives on the poll box.

    but the Tories have insisted the gadget is currently weighed in opposition to them and the limits – made up our minds by way of population figures – are out of date.

  • Tony Blair: It Is A different type of Labour Party

    Video Blair: It’s A other Labour Birthday Celebration

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  • Paul Davies wins Welsh Tory meeting crew leadership poll

    Paul Davies Image caption Paul Davies instructed celebration participants: “i can no longer will let you down”

    Paul Davies has won the combat to lead the Conservative opposition in the Welsh Meeting.

    He beat Suzy Davies in a head-to-head postal poll to take over from Andrew RT Davies, who stepped down in June after seven years in charge.

    The Preseli Pembrokeshire AM received with just over -thirds of the vote on a turnout of 52%.

    Mr Davies mentioned the birthday party had a duty to supply a “modern, innovative and radical alternative” to Labour.

    He were meantime leader of the 12-sturdy Senedd crew, the second one biggest after Labour.

    Image caption Suzy Davies was once the defeated contender

    Mr Davies warned it “cannot be healthy for our democracy” for Labour to win the next meeting election in 2021.

    “in the event that they win a sixth consecutive time period at the following election, they are going to be as regards to 30 uninterrupted years of energy,” he mentioned.

    “we’ve a duty at the next assembly elections to supply the folk of Wales a modern, leading edge and, yes, radical selection to extra of the similar.”

    High Minister Theresa Would Possibly offered her congratulations, pronouncing she appeared ahead to working with Mr Davies and his crew “as they grasp Labour’s failing Welsh Govt to account”.

    “There hasn’t ever been a extra vital time to do that, and that i realize that Paul will do an incredible process talking up for the Welsh folks,” she added.

    Conservative Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns praised what he known as the “enthusiasm, concepts and shut collaboration” he may deliver to the role.

    Symbol caption Andrew RT Davies stepped down as Welsh Conservative crew leader in June

    Paul Davies succeeds Andrew RT Davies, who surrender the leadership of the group in June pronouncing he felt he had misplaced the beef up of his colleagues.

    Leadership election campaigns had been sparked in all four major Welsh Meeting parties this 12 months.

    In August, UKIP named Gareth Bennett as the winner of a grassroots poll for Senedd crew chief over his predecessors Neil Hamilton and Caroline Jones.

    Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Picket faces a 3-way battle with Adam Worth and Rhun ap Iorwerth for her management of the birthday celebration this month, even as later this year Welsh Labour will elect a successor to Carwyn Jones, who is stepping down as leader and first minister in December.

  • Labour questions ex-minister’s appointment to best NHS job

    Lord David Prior Symbol caption Lord Past shall be grilled via MPs next week prior to his appointment is showed

    Labour has puzzled the selection of a former Conservative health minister to be the following chair of NHS England.

    Lord Previous, a former Tory MP who served in executive among 2015 and 2017, has been named most popular candidate to succeed Sir Malcolm Supply in the position.

    Paul Williams, a Labour member of the well being committee, mentioned he had “critical issues” over the peer’s independence and warned of “politicisation”.

    But Well Being Secretary Matt Hancock stated Lord Past used to be “incredibly certified”.

    In its function of operating the NHS in England, the non-departmental frame makes a decision how the health service’s annual budget of greater than £120bn is spent and has day-to-day operational accountability for the commissioning of services and products.

    Image copyright PA Image caption Health Secretary Matt Hancock stated he regarded ahead to running with Lord Earlier

    “He has not only held the Tory whip in the Space of Lords,” he stated. “He has been a minister. it is going to be very onerous for him to mention no to Matt Hancock.

    “NHS England is meant to be hands duration of the dep. of Well Being and political affect. He has to persuade us that he will stand firm towards political interference.”

    Lord Past, he introduced, must consider resigning the Tory whip for the duration of his chairmanship.

    Former Tory MP Lord Tyrie lately bowed to calls for to sit down as an independent after controversy over his appointment as chair of the Financial Conduct Authority.

    In a statement, Mr Hancock stated he believed Lord Prior was the appropriate man for the activity and regarded ahead to running carefully with him.

    “Lord Earlier brings huge revel in to this crucial role the place he’s going to assist deliver the lengthy-term plan for the NHS. he is exceedingly qualified.”

    The Tory peer may become most effective the second chair of the business enterprise, which began lifestyles as the NHS Commissioning Board Authority in 2011.

    Earlier this summer, the government agreed a real-phrases funding building up for the NHS of £20.5bn a year over the following 5 years, representing an ordinary build up of 3.4% yearly. Ministers said this will have to go hand in hand with difficult potency and productiveness targets

    Labour mentioned the settlement didn’t make up for less than-funding within the NHS over the previous eight years and an absence of budget or making plans for social care.

  • Former Bank chief in withering attack on Brexit procedure

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    Media captionMervyn King laments Brexit ‘incompetence’

    Former Financial Institution Of England governor Mervyn King, now Lord King, has blasted Brexit arrangements as “incompetent”.

    The Brexit-helping ex-governor mentioned it “beggared belief” that the world’s sixth-largest economy should be talking of stockpiling meals and medicines.

    This left the federal government without a credible bargaining place.

    “a central authority that cannot take motion to forestall some of these catastrophic outcomes illustrates a whole lack of coaching,” he said.

    “It does not tell us the rest approximately whether the coverage of staying in the EU is good or dangerous, it tells us everything in regards to the incompetence of the education for it.”

    At-a-glance: The ‘Chequers’ Brexit plan ‘No new ideas’ in Johnson Brexit criticism Brexit: All you wish to have to understand At-a-look: The UK’s four Brexit choices

    Lord King said the 11th-hour guidance for a no-deal Brexit had undermined the government’s negotiating position.

    He added: “we have not had a reputable bargaining position, as a result of we hadn’t put in position measures where shall we say to our colleagues in Europe, ‘Look, we want a unfastened-industry deal, we predict that you simply would almost definitely like one too, but if we won’t agree, don’t be underneath any misapprehension, now we have put in place the measures that will enable us to depart with out one.’”

    He predicts that we will to find ourselves with what’s been dubbed as Brino – Brexit in identify only – which he said was the worst of all worlds. additionally it is a state of affairs that he fears may just drag on for years.

    “i think the biggest chance to the united kingdom, and this is what issues me so much, is that this factor isn’t going to go away, you know the referendum hasn’t made up our minds it, because both camps really feel that they do not have what they wanted.”

    ‘Depressing’ debate

    Lord King expressed regret and marvel that it used to be harder for a single united states of america to offer a united front than the opposite 27 ECU members.

    He mentioned: “THEY SHOULD were in reality involved that they’d 27 countries to try to corral, how could they have got a united negotiating place, they have been dealing with a country that was once one country, made a transparent resolution, voted to depart, it knew what it desired to do, how in the world may the eu be ready to negotiate by contrast one decisive workforce on the other facet of the Channel?

    Smartly, the reality’s been utterly the other. the eu has been united, has been clear, has been patient and it is the united kingdom that’s been divided without any clear technique in any respect for the way to get to where we want to head.”

    He also said he found the present degree of discussion around Brexit “depressing” and mentioned it obscured the real demanding situations in advance.

    “the largest economic issues going through the united kingdom are, we store too little, we have not labored out retailer for retirement, the pension gadget is dealing with i feel a real problem, we haven’t worked out shop enough for the NHS and finance it, we have not labored out how we are going to avoid wasting enough to provide care for the aged.

    “Those are the large financial demanding situations we face, but are they being discussed at this time in an open method?

    “No, because the political debate has totally taken up through Brexit,” he mentioned. “it is a discussion the place each side appear to be throwing insults at each other.”

    Lord King may argue he is being a lot more even-handed, with stinging complaint for all concerned.

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