News and Opinion

Boris Johnson is spinning a line about Brexit which has no basis is truth, says ALASTAIR CAMPBELL. Michael Gove hailed Boris Johnson as the “Pep Guardiola of British polotics”. Picture: Jack Taylor/Getty Images – Credit: Getty Images How long ago it seems that “they” were going to need “us” “more than we need them”? How […]

Ministers have confirmed that EU citizens without settled status are liable for deportation after the deadline, after government figures showed that more than 7,000 applications have failed. Those who are not granted settled status by the government deadline of December 31 2020 “the applicable immigration rules will apply”, under-secretary of state for immigration Brandon Lewis […]

In the week Boris Johnson is likened to a piglet, MICHAEL WHITE describes how ham-fisted leadership has lead to a history of schisms and war. Boris Johnson seems to be happy as a pig in….Picture: Martin Ronson – Credit: Archant On top of everything else about Boris Johnson, his lies, half-truths and shameless evasions, we […]

PETER BRADLEY’s exchange with a Brexit voter during a pro-democracy rally has left him believing a second referendum is the only way to preserve our democratic institutions. MPs are as polarised about Brexit as the people who elected them. So, far from failing the public over the last three years, it could be fairly argued […]

DAMJAN KUKOVEC says there is currently no mandate for any form of Brexit – including staying in the EU. Only a second referendum on very specific terms can ensure the politicians have one. The Brexit stalemate is unlikely to wither. In a smart spin, distracting from the unlawfulness of the parliament shutdown, the blame for […]

Brexiteer MEPs have branded it ‘disgraceful’ that John Bercow has met with his EU counterpart to discuss Brexit and a possible second referendum. Bercow met with David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, while the Italian politician was in London following his meeting with Boris Johnson. Sassoli – who carries out a similar function […]

A no-deal Brexit will make the UK a ‘paradise’ for speculators, spivs and smugglers to make money out of medicine shortages, Gordon Brown is warning. The former prime minister is arguing that, if the country crashes out of the EU without a deal, speculators will “cash in” by stockpiling food and medicines amid the predicted […]

A government minister has been mocked for her attempts to shoehorn a reference about Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy into a speech. https://twitter.com/owenjbennett/status/1182010455675539473 Appearing in front of representatives from the Commonwealth the international trade secretary Liz Truss tried to make light of a story about two footballers’ wives in her speech, while also trying to […]

Who is on Question Time tonight and where do they stand on Brexit? Here’s your guide… The BBC’s flagship current affairs programme tonight comes from Beckenham, the south-east London town which gave the world Bob Monkhouse. The funnyman once said: “People always say, ‘You’re a comedian, tell us a joke.’ They don’t say, ‘You’re an […]

England’s former chief medical adviser, Dame Sally Davies, said that lives ‘are at risk’ in a no-deal Brexit because the government cannot guarantee there will not be medical shortages. Dame Sally said that “we can’t guarantee at the moment” that nobody will die as a result of the NHS not having a steady supply of […]

A British caller to James O’Brien’s show said that he voted for Brexit because there is too much freedom of movement – speaking from the comfort of his home in Portugal. Mike, who lives in Alcoutim, called the LBC show to talk about why he had voted Brexit and gave a few reasons that he […]

The London Assembly has said that it cannot see the need for confidentiality in Boris Johnson’s submitted papers for the probe into his relationship with Jennifer Arcuri. In fact, said Assembly members, the submission was “insufficient” in detail. Number 10 had requested secrecy around the documents Johnson submitted towards an investigation into whether he had […]

Guy Verhofstadt has hit back at those claiming those working with the EU to avoid a no-deal Brexit were ‘traitors’ – claiming it was those advocating that should have the title. European Parliament Brexit co-ordinator Verhofstadt said Boris Johnson’s proposals are “not serious” and said anyone risking “disaster” by pushing Britain out of the EU […]

A ‘poll of polls’ has found that the country’s survey responses have moved from majority Leave to Remain in late 2017 and hasn’t looked back since. Pollsters YouGov were asked to crunch the numbers of 300 polls by the Evening Standard, and found the “overwhelming majority” show a lead for Remain. Two hundred and four […]

Candidates looking to replace John Bercow as the next speaker of the House of Commons have disagreed over whether breastfeeding should be allowed in the chamber. Deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing said “it is not necessary” to breastfeed during sittings, while Conservative MP Shailesh Vara, among others, said it should be the parent’s choice. Prospective […]

Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney has called on Remainers to think of a more original chant for stopping Brexit, after he heard those in Brussels shouting something that sounded distinctly like the one Brexiteers use. Martin Daubney’s tweet on Remain protesters. Photograph: Twitter. – Credit: Archant In a post to Twitter, Daubney said it was […]

More than 170 coaches have been organised to take people from all corners of the nation to London for an enormous Final Say march. To make sure the march is one of the largest the country has ever seen, coaches will come from as far north as Inverness, 554 miles away, and as far south […]

Judges at Scotland’s highest civil court have delayed a ruling on the legal bid aimed to force Boris Johnson to send a letter requesting a Brexit extension if no withdrawal deal is reached by October 19. The requirement for the prime minister to request a Brexit extension if no withdrawal deal is secured with the […]

As the nation steels itself for potential shortages of loo roll, essential medicines and fresh vegetables, spare a thought for the refined needs of Tatler readers after a no-deal Brexit. An online article about luxury Brexit stockpiling has been posted by high-end glossy magazine Tatler, and it is beyond parody. “The Tatler guide to stockpiling […]

The founder of the Brexit Party has complained that the party is not rightwing enough, and that its diversity and border policies stand ready to ‘fill the streets with immigrants’. Catherine Blaiklock, who was expelled from the party after her Islamophobic statements came to light, complained that the party she set up is now “playing […]

BONNIE GREER became a hero in Ireland after her latest comments on Brexit on the latest edition of Question Time. Even if you do not want it, even if you no longer need it, a childhood memory can stay. Form you, still. This came to me from a stranger: “I vividly remember as a 17-year-old […]

Brexit voters have said they felt ‘ashamed’ after seeing Leave.EU’s ‘offensive’ tweet about Angela Merkel. The tweet, which the pro-Brexit group eventually apologised for, was criticised by politicians across the political divide including Vote Leave conveyor Michael Gove. After the post was seen hundreds of thousands of times #NotInMyName started to trend on Twitter – […]

MPs preparing for a Saturday sitting in the House of Commons to decide what happens with Brexit, while hundreds of thousands of anti-Brexit protesters are expected to march on Westminster. Government sources said MPs were expected to be called back to Westminster on October 19 regardless of whether Boris Johnson has been able to secure […]

Tony Blair has warned that Tory and Labour MPs face a ‘big risk’ fighting a general election on the issue of Brexit. The former prime minister warned that Labour could enable Boris Johnson to claim a mandate for a no-deal Brexit, while Conservative candidates would face scorn for backing the UK leaving the EU without […]

Speaker John Bercow has dismissed suggestions he is a ‘Remainer enabler’ and said ‘downmarket’ and ‘low grade’ attacks show Brexiteers are losing the argument. He described the bitter debates over Brexit as among the worse he has seen in his 22 years as an MP for Buckingham, and said that some of the abuse directed […]

Billionaire pro-Brexit donor Arron Banks has finally issued an apology for Leave.EU’s ‘xenophobic’ tweet about the German chancellor. The original image from Leave.EU and one Twitter users mocked up in response. Photograph: Twitter. – Credit: Archant The pro-Brexit group took to Twitter to claim that Merkel wanted Northern Ireland to “rot inside the customs union” […]

The multicultural man reflects on Brexit divisions as he takes a trip from the west to the east end of Glasgow. “How was your ride today with Isla?” is not a question I’m usually inclined to answer – yet answer it I must, if I’m to remain a citizen of this brave new world of […]

A post from pro-Brexit campaign group Leave.EU about German chancellor Angela Merkel has been branded ‘xenophobic bile’ in the House of Commons as social media users condemned the remarks. Leave.EU responded to the initial backlash with this tweet. Photograph: Twitter. – Credit: Archant Leave.EU, which was launched by millionaire donor Arron Banks, Nigel Farage and […]

The shadow Brexit secretary lambasted Boris Johnson for giving the EU proposals that are ‘designed to fail’ and then blaming everyone else. Sir Keir Starmer spoke in the House of Commons in response to a statement from Michael Gove about Brexit preparations accusing the government on being intent on “collapsing the negotiations”. He lashed out […]

MPs have criticised the anonymous Number 10 adviser for their ‘tone and rhetoric’ with calls for Boris Johnson to intervene. Following a statement on the government’s Brexit readiness former minister and Tory MP Andrew Mitchell asked Michael Gove about the nameless briefing remarks which appeared on the Spectator website. He asked: “Is he proud of […]

Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool football club vice-captain Jamie Carragher has warned we face ‘relegating’ the country after Brexit. The footballer has previously supported a People’s Vote but he has gone further publicly with his comments “because over the last few months the dangers of No Deal have become so clear, alongside the risk […]

Michael Gove has claimed he is yet to meet a single business that fears a no-deal Brexit more than Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street. The chancellor of duchy of Lancaster was answering a question from Clive Efford on a new Institute for Fiscal Studies which pointed out the government’s “incompetence” on finances after “ten years […]