US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has met with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. The meeting was about the disappearance and likely murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi officials are yet to admit culpability for the alleged murder of Khashoggi, however, reports have suggested that they intend to. Pompeo will then travel to Turkey, where the journalist was killed, to hear their side of the case.
Reports are indicating that John Bercow is set to quit as the speaker of the House of Commons. He is expected to leave his post next summer in the wake of a bullying row in parliament. Bercow has commissioned a report into parliamentary leadership failing to address a culture of bullying within the commons.
Theresa May is set to face EU leaders today to finally close on a deal. Yesterday May won the backing of her cabinet over her backstop proposal, with the cabinet previously indicating they had no faith in the policy. May wants a backstop which keeps the whole of the UK inside the customs union for the time being, until a suitable solution for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can be found.
And in other news,
Since the Bank of England announced that the public will get to decide who features on the new £50 note, hundreds of suggestions have been floated. Leading political figures such as Clement Attlee, who nationalised the bank in 1950, and Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female PM are currently popular. With others suggesting more rogue names, such as England World Cup hero Harry Maguire.
From the Speakerpolitics news desk, you are up to date.
