Good Tuesday Morning.
20 November 2018 | 129 days until Brexit
Briefing By Nathan Shoesmith
Three Points You Need To Know As You Wake Up
The Prime Minister spoke to business leaders on Monday in an attempt to reassure them over her draft Brexit agreement.
It was “never going to be easy or straightforward”
The Prime Minister Theresa May told the conference of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) on Monday that the Brexit negotiations were never going to be “easy or straightforward”. The CBI conference came in the wake of yet more uncertainty for businesses after the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement was pronounced vague and confusing by many. The CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn said that the draft Brexit agreement struck with the EU represented “hard-won progress”, though she went on to criticise the PM’s policy on immigration. Mrs May used her speech to reiterate her aim to complete Brexit, saying “let no one be in any doubt, I am determined to deliver it.”
Amber Rudd
Amber Rudd had her debut in her new role as Work & Pensions Secretary yesterday as she faced questions in the House of Commons. Rudd criticized a report by Philip Alston, the UN’s rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, about both poverty and child poverty in the UK. The report says that while poverty is an issue that needs to be addressed, the government has “remained determinedly in a state of denial.” The report also included criticism of the Universal Credit program, which the report says “is being implemented in ways that negatively impact many claimants’ mental health, finances, and work prospects.”
Berlin bans 18 from the Schengen Zone
Germany decided on Monday to sanction 18 Saudi citizens suspected of being part of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder last October. Germany will not reveal their names. They will not be able to access the Schengen area anymore.
Politics On Today’s Front Pages…
The Metro – Only 26 Tory MPs have gone public with their votes of no confidence in the Prime Minister
Daily Express – EU countries warn no new negotiations on May’s deal
The Daily Telegraph – PM won’t rule out Brexit extension to end of 2022
i – Brexit deal: When will Parliament vote on Theresa May’s draft agreement?
The Independent – Spain threatens to reject Theresa May’s Brexit deal over Gibraltar
The Guardian – Toppling May risks ‘most appalling chaos’, says Jeremy Hunt
The Daily Mirror – Another Cabinet minister just threatened mutiny over Theresa May’s Brexit plan
The Times – Rudd calls on Treasury for benefits cash
What To Watch Today
Electric vehicles and the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will all be discussed in the House of Commons today. Brexit rebels say that more will join them in plotting to oust Theresa May, whether this will happen remains to be seen.
And In Other News…
The boss of the RMT union has warned commuters to expect more delays after hundreds of thousands of rail passengers faced travel chaos on Monday after over-running engineering works which forced some stations to close and services to be cancelled.
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You’re Up To Date
The Speaker. 2018
