The Daily Telegraph says it has discovered that MPs - including Energy minister Claire Perry - are boosting their expenses by claiming for adult children dependent on them. According to the paper, the age limit when claiming for children is 18, rising to 21 for certain exceptions. Ms Perry says all her claims are made in accordance with the rules; two other MPs have told the Telegraph they will return money. The paper's leader column says the rules may have changed in the wake of the expenses scandal 10 years ago - but it is clearly going to take a long time to remake the culture in Westminster. It concludes by advising politicians to listen to the words of Lord Tebbit - "If you wouldn't be happy to read something about yourself on the front pages, don't do it."
The FT Weekend says Jeremy Hosking's decision illustrates "the growing disenchantment" among Tory donors about Theresa May's failure to take Britain out of the EU on schedule - and highlights the challenge that the Brexit Party poses to the Conservatives in this month's European elections. According to the i weekend, funding for the Tories has "dried up so badly" that the party is struggling to pay the rent on its headquarters in Westminster.
EU elections: Lib Dems plaster manifesto with blunt '**** to Brexit' slogan The ultra-blunt publicity stunt comes as Jeremy Corbyn launches Labour's EU election plan - and Theresa May doesn't appear to have one at all
As polls show a sustained lead for remain, the Lib Dems have schooled Change UK with their direct, unambiguous message
Here’s how we can halt Brexit in its tracks. Uefa, the governing body of European football, should announce that from now on participation in the Champions League and the Europa League will be limited to members of the European Union. If Britain leaves the EU, the Premier League’s finest will be barred from taking part. The response would be immediate: support for Brexit would plummet, with the plunge most visible in Liverpool, Chelsea and concentrated parts of north London.
With “**** to Brexit”, the Lib Dems have replied to Farage’s simple, and simplistic, messaging in the same coin. And it’s worked. People are speaking about the stance of a party that, until last week’s English council elections, had been given up for dead. Now it seems as if the Lib Dems were merely sleeping, that they had not lost the campaigning nous that made them a formidable force locally and in successive general elections, regularly polling a fifth or more of the vote.
The ground might just be shifting on Brexit. The polls are saying it, with a steady and sustained lead for remain over leave. The cause of remain was counted out, but if there’s one thing this week has shown – when it comes to a high-stakes fight for staying in Europe, even the most dramatic comebacks are possible.
‘The EU is KILLING Europe’ - Brexit backer launches FIERY attack on Brussels over trade
THE ECONOMIC record of the European Union has come under fierce attack by leading Brexit advocate Douglas Carswell, who argued Brussels is “killing Europe” The former MP for Clacton made the argument on Thursday at an event hosted by pro-free market publication 1828. Mr Carswell took particular aim at the Euro currency, which he claimed had produced “nothing but poverty and debt”. He argued Brexit is an opportunity for the UK to push a ‘Heyekian’ policy based on boosting free trade. The prominent Brexiteer commented: “For generations the mantra of our ruling elites in every European country, was that European integration was the key to the strength and success and prosperity of Europe.
“Absolute twaddle. Since 2009 the output of China has grown by 139 percent. Of India by 96 percent.
“The output of the Eurozone since 2009 is down minus two percent.”
Mr Carswell was first elected as MP for Clacton in 2005 on a Conservative ticket.
In 2014 he sensationally defected to UKIP, retaining his seat in both a by-election and the subsequent 2015 General Election.
The Brexiteer later quit UKIP and served out his term as an independent.
Mr Carswell argued overregulation from Brussels has strangled economies across Europe.
He asserted: “Look at the EU’s attempt to order Europe by design.
“It’s got a currency created by experts that has created nothing but poverty and debt.
“Since 1992 Europe’s trade has grown much more slowly than the rest of the world
“It creates uniform rules so a 35 hour working week, data rules, the belief that someone in Brussels knows what data can and can’t do in the future.
“It’s killing Europe, it’s killing European innovation. It’s a disaster I would say.”
The UK had been set to depart the EU on March 29.
This has since been delayed twice, to October 31, unless Theresa May’s Brexit deal is approved by Parliament.
Brexit: Court date for campaign to get Johnson prosecuted for referendum 'lies' about paying EU £350m a week 'This would be the beginning of the end of lying in politics in the UK,' private prosecutor says
A crowdfunding campaign attempting to have Boris Johnson prosecuted for his “lies” about Brexit will receive a hearing in court later this month. The Brexit Justice campaign alleges Mr Johnson abused public trust by “intentionally misleading” voters over his claim Britain pays £350m a week to the European Union.
The former foreign secretary has previously been warned by the UK’s official statistics watchdog the figure, which was infamously emblazoned on the side of a Brexit campaign bus, is a “misuse of public statistics”.
Mr Johnson’s case will receive its first private hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 14 May, where the campaign hopes it will proceed to trial on criminal charges for misconduct in public office – an offence carrying a potential prison sentence.
Since its launch last year, thousands of backers have donated more than £370,000, while celebrities such as Sir Alan Sugar and Paloma Faith have tweeted their support.
Marcus Ball, a private prosecutor who brought the case against the Conservative MP, said: “If a company director lies to shareholders about financial matters they can be prosecuted. If a self-employed person lies to HMRC about their spending or income they can be prosecuted. If a member of the public lies to the police about an ongoing investigation they can be prosecuted.
“This is because society and public trust cannot function based upon false information. So, why shouldn’t a politician be prosecuted for abusing public trust by lying about public spending figures?”
The 29-year-old, who revealed he has been working on the prosecution for three years, said the “world first” case was an attempt to make it illegal for MPs to “lie to the public about financial matters”.
“This would be the beginning of the end of lying in politics in the UK,” he added. Mr Johnson has previously been rebuked over the £350m-a-week claim. In 2017, Sir David Norgrove, head of the UK Statistics Authority, wrote to him saying: “I am surprised and disappointed that you have chosen to repeat the figure of £350m per week, in connection with the amount that might be available for extra public spending when we leave the European Union.
“This confuses gross and net contributions. It also assumes that payments currently made to the UK by the EU, including for example for the support of agriculture and scientific research, will not be paid by the UK government when we leave. It is a clear misuse of official statistics.”
Mr Johnson has previously defended his use of the figure. Earlier this year he told The Guardian: “There was an error on the side of the bus. We grossly underestimated the sum over which we would be able to take back control.
“As and when the cash becomes available – and it won’t until we leave – the NHS should be at the very top of the list.” Mr Johnson has been contacted for comment.
1/45 Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign
2/45 Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: “We send the EU £350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead.”
3/45 Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union
4/45 Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union
5/45 Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading “I’m not leaving” protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016
6/45 David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union
8/45 Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of “no deal is better than a bad deal”, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a “tone of trust” between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU
9/45 Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017
10/45 Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute
11/45 Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU
12/45 Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign
13/45 Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government
14/45 Labour gains Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority
15/45 Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017
Theresa May could name departure date within days, says 1922 committee chairman Graham Brady 'We have asked a question. She’s coming, I assume, to answer it'
16/45 May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights
17/45 EU council summit – insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made
18/45 DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK
19/45 May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a “meaningful” vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305
20/45 EU council summit – sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days
21/45 The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018
22/45 Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018
23/45 Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018
24/45 No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues
25/45 EU attacks May’s ‘fantasy’ strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britain’s ‘fantasy’ negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue
26/45 UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves ‘unanswered’ questions and would not prevent a hard border
27/45 Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan
28/45 Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement
29/45 Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis
30/45 Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain
31/45 "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg
32/45 EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work"
33/45 May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that “throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it."
34/45 People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018
35/45 More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers
36/45 Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018
37/45 May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support
38/45 No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117
39/45 Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes
40/45 Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19
41/45 Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion
42/45 EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: ‘Special place in ****’ There is a “special place in ****” for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit “without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely.” Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa May‘s hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: “I’ve been wondering what a special place in **** looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely.” He also tweeted the accusation moments later
43/45 EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find “a way through” the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a “robust but constructive” meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop – with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead
44/45 Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat
Credit where it’s due. It had not yet been 24 hours since Nigel Farage had been on the Sunday politics shows, warning of the “final betrayal” that was coming. And here he was, not even waiting for it not to come, but delivering it himself. The Brexit Party, the party Farage set up himself to contest the European elections he so desperately does not want to be contesting, was holding a press conference to announce it was betraying its own voters. Farage was introduced by the Brexit Party chairman, a man called Richard Tice, who is best known, though nevertheless unknown, for appearing at political events in a white open-topped bus with “Leave Means Leave” painted down the side. When it turned up at Tory party conference last year, he promised free non-EU booze to anyone who could spare five minutes to talk to him. Two people turned up, and one of them, I must reveal, was your humble sketch writer, there exclusively to take the **** out of the whole thing. It did not prove hard. Anyway, I digress. Tice had a message, and that message was that a vote for the Brexit Party in the European elections was a vote for “a WTO Brexit”, which is better known as a “no-deal Brexit” and best understood as a Place-Sanctions-On-Yourself Brexit.
Quite the volte face then. When Farage and co were going round the country three years ago, armed with slightly different lies, no one whispered a word about no-deal Brexit. Asked about it at the time, Farage’s view was that Angela Merkel simply wouldn’t allow it. She would be running for president again in 2017, and the German car makers would be so angry about it, “she would throw the election”. And yet, here we are, three years on, and, wouldn’t you know, Farage is betraying himself. Betraying everyone he talked round to his cause three years ago, betraying everything he’s ever said, just for the sake of standing in an election, which, just to be absolutely clear, he absolutely definitely doesn’t want to be standing in. Oh no. This was nevertheless, the less startling of the two big announcements. For we also learn that as well as a vote for the Brexit Party being a vote for “WTO Brexit”, it is also a vote for the Brexit Party’s MEPs to be involved in the Brexit negotiations. It is a vote to simultaneously sit down at the negotiating table and turn it over and walk away. And who would be doing the negotiating? “The highest quality candidates,” claimed Tice, which are currently not limited to Ann Widdecombe and former Loaded mag editor Martin Daubney, who not so long ago was proud to organise a “straight pride” march through London, fearlessly sticking it to gay pride, standing up for downtrodden straight men everywhere.
The betrayal Farage had been warning about still hasn’t come, by the way. That “betrayal” is a May/Corbyn deal on a temporary customs union, which we are led to believe is imminent but has not yet happened. If it does, Farage will have every right to be angry. He warned about this at the time, if you remember. He warned and no one listened. You’ll recall the “Breaking Point” poster, where he stood in front of a non-existent queue of lorries stretching no distance whatsoever up the M20, warning that the British people had had enough of frictionless trade with the European Union. That just-in-time supply chain had to be smashed up. It was never about free movement, ended under Theresa May’s deal. Never about payments to the EU, also ended. It was always, always, about the customs union. And if that’s not how you remember it, then maybe, just maybe, the betrayers aren’t who Farage says they are.
Chipper Nigel Farage grins and barely tries to sound plausible
It’s no deal or nothing for Nige, and his Brexit party is ready to negotiate the non-negotiable
You have to feel sorry for Nigel Farage. Time and again he has told us how much he despises the EU and how its MEPs are worthless parasites. Yet for the last 20 years he just hasn’t been able to drag himself away. He has been forced against his will to pocket more than £12,000 a month in salary and living allowances, not to mention a generous pension on top, just for making the occasional unhelpful appearance in Brussels. It’s an outrage. And to add insult to injury, now he’s being made to get himself elected to the European parliament yet again. This time as leader of his new Brexit party. For a man who clearly suffers so much in the service of his people, Nige was looking remarkably chipper at his latest press conference in London. Suntanned, relaxed and with the blissed-out look of someone whose grin has been stitched in place by a third-rate plastic surgeon operating out of the backstreets of LA, he is not so much a politician as a cable TV evangelist promising salvation in exchange for his followers selling their mothers and their souls.
First though, we were treated to a Robert Kilroy-Silk tribute act, the property developer and man of the people Richard Tice, whose wealth has played no part in establishing him as Farage’s go-to warmup act. “People want change in politics,” said Tice. Which seemed a rash claim given that Nige has been something of a broken record for decades now and was not offering anything very different from before.
No matter how often he tries to reinvent himself, Farage invariably reverts to his default settings. At heart he still has the air of the dodgy financial salesman who mis-sells you an insurance policy then later phones you up to say he is prepared to act on your behalf in reclaiming the money you are owed provided you agree to give him one-third of whatever he can get out of the insurance company. Not content with that, he will then try to get a third hit out of you by persuading you to reinvest the damages in yet another of his iffy schemes. Tice went on to outline the new modus operandi. After winning the EU elections, the Brexit party was going to insist that its MEPs be invited to take part in negotiating a no-deal Brexit. Even though the whole point of a no-deal Brexit was that there wasn’t anything to negotiate, the Brexit party’s MEPs were going to be on hand to oversee the negotiations that weren’t going to happen. Like Nige before them, they would be in Brussels to do absolutely nothing whatsoever. “We have the highest-quality candidates,” Tice insisted. “People who are far better qualified in negotiations than our current MPs and civil servants.” Because the reason the UK was in its current state of crisis was that no one had asked Annunziata Rees-Mogg, Claire Fox, Ann Widdecombe or Martin Daubney to be involved as its chief Brexit negotiators.
Think about it a minute. What had been missing was a woman who couldn’t even negotiate the family nanny away from her brother, an apologist for IRA killings who holds others to far higher standards than she does herself, a Strictly Come Dancing contestant and a man whose chief contribution to public life had been to edit a lads’ mag. Who knew that the last three years could have been so different if only this quartet had been called into action. It’s a view, I suppose. Not that Farage seemed bothered. “This is about democracy,” he declared, without any sense of irony. Nothing Nige has ever done has been about democracy. It’s always been all about him. Ukip was his baby and the Brexit party is much the same. He runs the organisation like a totalitarian regime. What he says goes: everyone else is just a satellite orbiting his ego. Useful objects of desire to be used and discarded in the fulfilment of his narcissistic fantasies. Fantasies that change week by week, year by year. Before the referendum he was happy with a Norway-style Brexit. Now it’s no deal or nothing. Regardless of what the majority of the country may want. His is a democracy that tells the people what they are going to get and then sets about giving it to them. Nige rattled on undeterred. The Brexit party would contest a general election but it wouldn’t have any credible policies. But he wouldn’t seek to become an MP himself. Far too risky. Seven times bitten, eight times shy. Rather he was far better off showing his MEPs the Brussels ropes. How to fiddle expenses. That sort of thing. And just because he had previous form on antisemitism and Islamophobia didn’t make him a racist. After 30 minutes or so, Farage appeared to lose interest. Enough was enough. It had been a decent morning’s work. The more useless Westminster politicians appeared to be, the easier his job became. And right now it was something of a doddle. He didn’t need to sound even vaguely plausible. All he had to do was stand up and insist he would be different. As long as nobody started to look too closely, all would be well.
Is Boris Johnson going to fail at the last moment to become prime minister – again?
f there is a Conservative leadership election this summer, Boris Johnson will probably win it. A survey of Tory party members last month had him seeing off all rivals in run-off contests – Dominic Raab, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid. I understand that Conservative HQ is already divided between pro and anti-Johnson factions – one working for the incoming prime minister; the other trying to resist his arrival. So why do the betting markets suggest that there is only a 22 per cent chance that he will be the next Tory leader? That implies a 78 per cent chance that someone else will **** victory from him, once again, just as he ambles up to the finish line. The key is the word with which I started: “If.” If there is a vacancy this summer, Johnson has a good chance of becoming prime minister. And Theresa May is being jostled towards the exit, rather in the way I once saw an obnoxious drunk man being ejected from a crowded Tube train. No one said anything, they just turned their shoulders until he was pushed out https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/is-boris-johnson-going-to-fail-at-the-last-moment-to-become-prime-minister-–-again/ar-AABdSjU?ocid=spartanntp
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The Daily Telegraph says it has discovered that MPs - including Energy minister Claire Perry - are boosting their expenses by claiming for adult children dependent on them.
According to the paper, the age limit when claiming for children is 18, rising to 21 for certain exceptions.
Ms Perry says all her claims are made in accordance with the rules; two other MPs have told the Telegraph they will return money.
The paper's leader column says the rules may have changed in the wake of the expenses scandal 10 years ago - but it is clearly going to take a long time to remake the culture in Westminster.
It concludes by advising politicians to listen to the words of Lord Tebbit - "If you wouldn't be happy to read something about yourself on the front pages, don't do it."
The FT Weekend says Jeremy Hosking's decision illustrates "the growing disenchantment" among Tory donors about Theresa May's failure to take Britain out of the EU on schedule - and highlights the challenge that the Brexit Party poses to the Conservatives in this month's European elections.
According to the i weekend, funding for the Tories has "dried up so badly" that the party is struggling to pay the rent on its headquarters in Westminster.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-48235813
The ultra-blunt publicity stunt comes as Jeremy Corbyn launches Labour's EU election plan - and Theresa May doesn't appear to have one at all
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/eu-elections-lib-dems-plaster-15018697
As polls show a sustained lead for remain, the Lib Dems have schooled Change UK with their direct, unambiguous message
Here’s how we can halt Brexit in its tracks. Uefa, the governing body of European football, should announce that from now on participation in the Champions League and the Europa League will be limited to members of the European Union. If Britain leaves the EU, the Premier League’s finest will be barred from taking part. The response would be immediate: support for Brexit would plummet, with the plunge most visible in Liverpool, Chelsea and concentrated parts of north London.
With “**** to Brexit”, the Lib Dems have replied to Farage’s simple, and simplistic, messaging in the same coin. And it’s worked. People are speaking about the stance of a party that, until last week’s English council elections, had been given up for dead. Now it seems as if the Lib Dems were merely sleeping, that they had not lost the campaigning nous that made them a formidable force locally and in successive general elections, regularly polling a fifth or more of the vote.
The ground might just be shifting on Brexit. The polls are saying it, with a steady and sustained lead for remain over leave. The cause of remain was counted out, but if there’s one thing this week has shown – when it comes to a high-stakes fight for staying in Europe, even the most dramatic comebacks are possible.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/10/secret-stop-brexit-keep-simple
THE ECONOMIC record of the European Union has come under fierce attack by leading Brexit advocate Douglas Carswell, who argued Brussels is “killing Europe”
The former MP for Clacton made the argument on Thursday at an event hosted by pro-free market publication 1828. Mr Carswell took particular aim at the Euro currency, which he claimed had produced “nothing but poverty and debt”. He argued Brexit is an opportunity for the UK to push a ‘Heyekian’ policy based on boosting free trade.
The prominent Brexiteer commented: “For generations the mantra of our ruling elites in every European country, was that European integration was the key to the strength and success and prosperity of Europe.
“Absolute twaddle. Since 2009 the output of China has grown by 139 percent. Of India by 96 percent.
“The output of the Eurozone since 2009 is down minus two percent.”
Mr Carswell was first elected as MP for Clacton in 2005 on a Conservative ticket.
In 2014 he sensationally defected to UKIP, retaining his seat in both a by-election and the subsequent 2015 General Election.
The Brexiteer later quit UKIP and served out his term as an independent.
Mr Carswell argued overregulation from Brussels has strangled economies across Europe.
He asserted: “Look at the EU’s attempt to order Europe by design.
“It’s got a currency created by experts that has created nothing but poverty and debt.
“Since 1992 Europe’s trade has grown much more slowly than the rest of the world
“It creates uniform rules so a 35 hour working week, data rules, the belief that someone in Brussels knows what data can and can’t do in the future.
“It’s killing Europe, it’s killing European innovation. It’s a disaster I would say.”
The UK had been set to depart the EU on March 29.
This has since been delayed twice, to October 31, unless Theresa May’s Brexit deal is approved by Parliament.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1125682/Brexit-news-EU-exit-backer-Brussels-European-regulation-Douglas-Carswell-UKIP-Brexit-Party
'This would be the beginning of the end of lying in politics in the UK,' private prosecutor says
A crowdfunding campaign attempting to have Boris Johnson prosecuted for his “lies” about Brexit will receive a hearing in court later this month.
The Brexit Justice campaign alleges Mr Johnson abused public trust by “intentionally misleading” voters over his claim Britain pays £350m a week to the European Union.
The former foreign secretary has previously been warned by the UK’s official statistics watchdog the figure, which was infamously emblazoned on the side of a Brexit campaign bus, is a “misuse of public statistics”.
Mr Johnson’s case will receive its first private hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 14 May, where the campaign hopes it will proceed to trial on criminal charges for misconduct in public office – an offence carrying a potential prison sentence.
Since its launch last year, thousands of backers have donated more than £370,000, while celebrities such as Sir Alan Sugar and Paloma Faith have tweeted their support.
Marcus Ball, a private prosecutor who brought the case against the Conservative MP, said: “If a company director lies to shareholders about financial matters they can be prosecuted. If a self-employed person lies to HMRC about their spending or income they can be prosecuted. If a member of the public lies to the police about an ongoing investigation they can be prosecuted.
“This is because society and public trust cannot function based upon false information. So, why shouldn’t a politician be prosecuted for abusing public trust by lying about public spending figures?”
The 29-year-old, who revealed he has been working on the prosecution for three years, said the “world first” case was an attempt to make it illegal for MPs to “lie to the public about financial matters”.
“This would be the beginning of the end of lying in politics in the UK,” he added.
Mr Johnson has previously been rebuked over the £350m-a-week claim.
In 2017, Sir David Norgrove, head of the UK Statistics Authority, wrote to him saying: “I am surprised and disappointed that you have chosen to repeat the figure of £350m per week, in connection with the amount that might be available for extra public spending when we leave the European Union.
“This confuses gross and net contributions. It also assumes that payments currently made to the UK by the EU, including for example for the support of agriculture and scientific research, will not be paid by the UK government when we leave. It is a clear misuse of official statistics.”
Mr Johnson has previously defended his use of the figure.
Earlier this year he told The Guardian: “There was an error on the side of the bus. We grossly underestimated the sum over which we would be able to take back control.
“As and when the cash becomes available – and it won’t until we leave – the NHS should be at the very top of the list.”
Mr Johnson has been contacted for comment.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-boris-johnson-court-prosecution-vote-leave-bus-westminster-magistrates-a8904286.html
1/45 Brexit campaign
Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign
2/45 Brexit campaign
Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: “We send the EU £350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead.”
3/45 Voting day
A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union
4/45 Referendum results
Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union
5/45 Protesting the result
A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading “I’m not leaving” protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016
6/45 David Cameron resigns
British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union
8/45 Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit
British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of “no deal is better than a bad deal”, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a “tone of trust” between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU
9/45 Triggering of Article 50
British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017
10/45 Gibraltar nonsense
Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute
11/45 Shock snap election
Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU
12/45 Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign
Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign
13/45 Conservatives lose parliamentary majority
An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government
14/45 Labour gains
Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority
15/45 Brexit negotiations begin
Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017
The list by region can be found here >>>>
https://thebrexitparty.org/meet-our-candidates/
'We have asked a question. She’s coming, I assume, to answer it'
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-quit-brexit-news-graham-brady-1922-committee-a8909226.html
16/45 May speaks in Florence
British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights
17/45 EU council summit – insufficient progress
German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made
18/45 DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit
DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK
19/45 May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill
Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a “meaningful” vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305
20/45 EU council summit – sufficient progress
Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days
21/45 The game moves to transition
Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018
22/45 Trade deal is what May wants
French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018
23/45 Transition period agreed
The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018
24/45 No agreement on Irish border
The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues
25/45 EU attacks May’s ‘fantasy’ strategy
For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britain’s ‘fantasy’ negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue
26/45 UK releases Ireland plan
Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves ‘unanswered’ questions and would not prevent a hard border
27/45 Chequers plan agreed
The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan
28/45 Chequers plan sparks resignations
Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement
29/45 Davis out, Raab in
On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis
30/45 Barnier's "deal like no other"
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain
31/45 "My deal or no deal"
In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg
32/45 EU leaders reject Chequers
Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work"
33/45 May demands respect
Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that “throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it."
34/45 People's Vote march
As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018
35/45 More resignations
As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers
36/45 Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street
People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018
37/45 May delays vote
On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support
38/45 No confidence motion
Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117
39/45 Commons rejects the deal
Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes
40/45 Corbyn tables a no confidence motion
Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19
41/45 Plan B
The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion
42/45 EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: ‘Special place in ****’
There is a “special place in ****” for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit “without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely.” Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa May‘s hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: “I’ve been wondering what a special place in **** looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely.” He also tweeted the accusation moments later
43/45 EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels
Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find “a way through” the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a “robust but constructive” meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop – with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead
44/45 Brexit strategy lost
MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat
45/45 Labour and Conservative MPs resign
Credit where it’s due. It had not yet been 24 hours since Nigel Farage had been on the Sunday politics shows, warning of the “final betrayal” that was coming. And here he was, not even waiting for it not to come, but delivering it himself.
The Brexit Party, the party Farage set up himself to contest the European elections he so desperately does not want to be contesting, was holding a press conference to announce it was betraying its own voters.
Farage was introduced by the Brexit Party chairman, a man called Richard Tice, who is best known, though nevertheless unknown, for appearing at political events in a white open-topped bus with “Leave Means Leave” painted down the side.
When it turned up at Tory party conference last year, he promised free non-EU booze to anyone who could spare five minutes to talk to him.
Two people turned up, and one of them, I must reveal, was your humble sketch writer, there exclusively to take the **** out of the whole thing. It did not prove hard.
Anyway, I digress. Tice had a message, and that message was that a vote for the Brexit Party in the European elections was a vote for “a WTO Brexit”, which is better known as a “no-deal Brexit” and best understood as a Place-Sanctions-On-Yourself Brexit.
Quite the volte face then. When Farage and co were going round the country three years ago, armed with slightly different lies, no one whispered a word about no-deal Brexit. Asked about it at the time, Farage’s view was that Angela Merkel simply wouldn’t allow it. She would be running for president again in 2017, and the German car makers would be so angry about it, “she would throw the election”.
And yet, here we are, three years on, and, wouldn’t you know, Farage is betraying himself. Betraying everyone he talked round to his cause three years ago, betraying everything he’s ever said, just for the sake of standing in an election, which, just to be absolutely clear, he absolutely definitely doesn’t want to be standing in. Oh no.
This was nevertheless, the less startling of the two big announcements. For we also learn that as well as a vote for the Brexit Party being a vote for “WTO Brexit”, it is also a vote for the Brexit Party’s MEPs to be involved in the Brexit negotiations. It is a vote to simultaneously sit down at the negotiating table and turn it over and walk away.
And who would be doing the negotiating? “The highest quality candidates,” claimed Tice, which are currently not limited to Ann Widdecombe and former Loaded mag editor Martin Daubney, who not so long ago was proud to organise a “straight pride” march through London, fearlessly sticking it to gay pride, standing up for downtrodden straight men everywhere.
The betrayal Farage had been warning about still hasn’t come, by the way. That “betrayal” is a May/Corbyn deal on a temporary customs union, which we are led to believe is imminent but has not yet happened.
If it does, Farage will have every right to be angry. He warned about this at the time, if you remember. He warned and no one listened. You’ll recall the “Breaking Point” poster, where he stood in front of a non-existent queue of lorries stretching no distance whatsoever up the M20, warning that the British people had had enough of frictionless trade with the European Union.
That just-in-time supply chain had to be smashed up. It was never about free movement, ended under Theresa May’s deal. Never about payments to the EU, also ended. It was always, always, about the customs union.
And if that’s not how you remember it, then maybe, just maybe, the betrayers aren’t who Farage says they are.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nigel-farage-betraying-own-voters-154814141.html
Chipper Nigel Farage grins and barely tries to sound plausible
It’s no deal or nothing for Nige, and his Brexit party is ready to negotiate the non-negotiable
You have to feel sorry for Nigel Farage. Time and again he has told us how much he despises the EU and how its MEPs are worthless parasites. Yet for the last 20 years he just hasn’t been able to drag himself away. He has been forced against his will to pocket more than £12,000 a month in salary and living allowances, not to mention a generous pension on top, just for making the occasional unhelpful appearance in Brussels. It’s an outrage. And to add insult to injury, now he’s being made to get himself elected to the European parliament yet again. This time as leader of his new Brexit party.
For a man who clearly suffers so much in the service of his people, Nige was looking remarkably chipper at his latest press conference in London. Suntanned, relaxed and with the blissed-out look of someone whose grin has been stitched in place by a third-rate plastic surgeon operating out of the backstreets of LA, he is not so much a politician as a cable TV evangelist promising salvation in exchange for his followers selling their mothers and their souls.
First though, we were treated to a Robert Kilroy-Silk tribute act, the property developer and man of the people Richard Tice, whose wealth has played no part in establishing him as Farage’s go-to warmup act. “People want change in politics,” said Tice. Which seemed a rash claim given that Nige has been something of a broken record for decades now and was not offering anything very different from before.
No matter how often he tries to reinvent himself, Farage invariably reverts to his default settings. At heart he still has the air of the dodgy financial salesman who mis-sells you an insurance policy then later phones you up to say he is prepared to act on your behalf in reclaiming the money you are owed provided you agree to give him one-third of whatever he can get out of the insurance company. Not content with that, he will then try to get a third hit out of you by persuading you to reinvest the damages in yet another of his iffy schemes.
Tice went on to outline the new modus operandi. After winning the EU elections, the Brexit party was going to insist that its MEPs be invited to take part in negotiating a no-deal Brexit. Even though the whole point of a no-deal Brexit was that there wasn’t anything to negotiate, the Brexit party’s MEPs were going to be on hand to oversee the negotiations that weren’t going to happen. Like Nige before them, they would be in Brussels to do absolutely nothing whatsoever.
“We have the highest-quality candidates,” Tice insisted. “People who are far better qualified in negotiations than our current MPs and civil servants.” Because the reason the UK was in its current state of crisis was that no one had asked Annunziata Rees-Mogg, Claire Fox, Ann Widdecombe or Martin Daubney to be involved as its chief Brexit negotiators.
Think about it a minute. What had been missing was a woman who couldn’t even negotiate the family nanny away from her brother, an apologist for IRA killings who holds others to far higher standards than she does herself, a Strictly Come Dancing contestant and a man whose chief contribution to public life had been to edit a lads’ mag. Who knew that the last three years could have been so different if only this quartet had been called into action. It’s a view, I suppose.
Not that Farage seemed bothered. “This is about democracy,” he declared, without any sense of irony. Nothing Nige has ever done has been about democracy. It’s always been all about him. Ukip was his baby and the Brexit party is much the same. He runs the organisation like a totalitarian regime.
What he says goes: everyone else is just a satellite orbiting his ego. Useful objects of desire to be used and discarded in the fulfilment of his narcissistic fantasies. Fantasies that change week by week, year by year. Before the referendum he was happy with a Norway-style Brexit. Now it’s no deal or nothing. Regardless of what the majority of the country may want. His is a democracy that tells the people what they are going to get and then sets about giving it to them.
Nige rattled on undeterred. The Brexit party would contest a general election but it wouldn’t have any credible policies. But he wouldn’t seek to become an MP himself. Far too risky. Seven times bitten, eight times shy. Rather he was far better off showing his MEPs the Brussels ropes. How to fiddle expenses. That sort of thing. And just because he had previous form on antisemitism and Islamophobia didn’t make him a racist.
After 30 minutes or so, Farage appeared to lose interest. Enough was enough. It had been a decent morning’s work. The more useless Westminster politicians appeared to be, the easier his job became. And right now it was something of a doddle. He didn’t need to sound even vaguely plausible. All he had to do was stand up and insist he would be different. As long as nobody started to look too closely, all would be well.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/may/07/chipper-nigel-farage-grins-and-barely-tries-to-sound-plausible
f there is a Conservative leadership election this summer, Boris Johnson will probably win it. A survey of Tory party members last month had him seeing off all rivals in run-off contests – Dominic Raab, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt and Sajid Javid.
I understand that Conservative HQ is already divided between pro and anti-Johnson factions – one working for the incoming prime minister; the other trying to resist his arrival.
So why do the betting markets suggest that there is only a 22 per cent chance that he will be the next Tory leader? That implies a 78 per cent chance that someone else will **** victory from him, once again, just as he ambles up to the finish line.
The key is the word with which I started: “If.” If there is a vacancy this summer, Johnson has a good chance of becoming prime minister. And Theresa May is being jostled towards the exit, rather in the way I once saw an obnoxious drunk man being ejected from a crowded Tube train. No one said anything, they just turned their shoulders until he was pushed out
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/is-boris-johnson-going-to-fail-at-the-last-moment-to-become-prime-minister-–-again/ar-AABdSjU?ocid=spartanntp