UK Politics
The latest political news and updates from around the UK.
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UK terrorism arrests soar to record level after attacks this year
U.K.The number of people arrested in Britain on suspicion of terrorism offences rocketed by 68 percent in the last year to the highest figure on record during a period when the country suffered four deadly attacks, figures showed on Thursday. -
Demonstrators protest against the Grenfell Tower fire outside a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting at Kensington Town Hall in London, Britain July 19, 2017. REUTERS/Neil HallA public inquiry into a fire that killed at least 80 people at London’s Grenfell Tower will get to the truth about the tragedy, its chairman pledged on Thursday, but critics said survivors of the blaze were still being failed. Read more -
Bank of England dove echoes rate hike message, sterling jumps
U.K.The prospect of British interest rates rising for the first time in 10 years grew on Friday when a Bank of England policymaker who had been its strongest advocate of ultra-low borrowing costs said rates might need to rise in the coming months. -
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UK nurses bid for 3.9 percent salary rise in latest push against pay cap
U.K.Nurses, midwives and cleaners working in Britain's publicly-funded National Health Service (NHS) called on ministers to boost their salaries by 3.9 percent, in the latest push against a government-imposed cap on pay rises. -
Improvised 'terrorist' bomb on packed London commuter train injures 22
U.K.A home-made bomb on a packed rush-hour commuter train in London engulfed a carriage in flames and injured 22 people on Friday in what police said was Britain's fifth terrorism incident this year, but apparently failed to fully explode. -
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UK employers' optimism falls to lowest since Brexit vote - REC
U.K.British employers are their most pessimistic about the outlook for the economy since last year's Brexit vote and want clarity about the departure from the European Union, a survey showed on Wednesday. -
Bank of England's Carney sees Brexit pushing up inflation, slowing growth
U.K.Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Monday that Brexit is likely to hurt Britain's growth prospects in the short term and push up inflation as the country adjusts to life outside the European Union. -
UK fishermen see Brexit boom, but there's a catch
U.K.Britain's vote to leave the EU has cast a shadow over the future of Europe's fishermen who fear that the British government could take control of the fish-rich waters around the British Isles and kick Europeans out of their patch. As Kate... -
EU wants May to make firm offers now for Brexit deal - Barnier
U.K.British Prime Minister Theresa May should make the EU firm offers by next week to break deadlock in Brexit talks if she wants an orderly withdrawal and transition to a new relationship, the bloc's negotiator said on Thursday. -
Britain will meet its Brexit financial obligations - minister
U.K.Britain will meet its financial obligations when it leaves the European Union, transport minister Chris Grayling said on Friday, hours before Prime Minister Theresa May makes a high-stakes speech to reset Brexit talks. -
RBS CEO will enact Brexit plans by March 2018 if no sign of a deal
U.K.Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) Chief Executive Ross McEwan said the company will enact its Brexit plans by the end of March 2018 if no clarity emerges about Britain's ability to retain access to the European single market when it leaves the EU. -
May seeks Florentine renaissance for deadlocked Brexit talks
U.K.British Prime Minister Theresa May will try to rescue stalled Brexit talks on Friday and set out a vision for future ties in a speech in the Italian city of Florence she hopes will convince the European Union she is ready to cut a fair divorce deal. -
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May says when UK will cease to be a EU member in March 2019 neither the UK or EU will be in position to implement details of new arrangements, and a period of implementation would be in our interest where access to one another's market should continue on the same terms.
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Highlights from Theresa May's speech in Florence on her plan for future ties with the European Union:
MAY ON EU BUDGET
"I do not want our partners to fear that they will need to pay more or receive less over the remainder of the current budget plan as a result of our decision to leave. The UK will honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership.
"And, as we move forwards, we will also want to continue working together in ways that promote the long-term economic development of our continent. This includes continuing to take part in those specific policies and programmes which are greatly to the UK and the EU's joint advantage, such as those that promote science, education and culture - and those that promote our mutual security."
MAY ON IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD FOR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH EU
"During the implementation period, people will continue to be able to come and live and work in the UK but there will be a registration system, an essential preparation for the new regime. As of today, these considerations point to an implementation period of around two years."
MAY ON UK COURTS REFERRING TO EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
"Over time ... the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens overseas will diverge. And I want to incorporate our agreement fully into UK law, and make sure the UK courts can refer directly to it. And when there is uncertainty around underlying EU law, I want the UK courts to be able to take into account the judgements of the European Court of Justice with a view to ensuring consistent interpretation. And on this basis I hope our teams can reach firm agreement quickly."
MAY ON UK NOT FEELING AT HOME IN EU
"Throughout its membership, the United Kingdom has never totally felt at home being in the European Union.
"And, perhaps because of our history and geography, the European Union never felt to us like an integral part of our national story, in the way it does to so many elsewhere in Europe. It is a matter of choices.
"The profound pooling of sovereignty that is a crucial feature of the European Union permits unprecedentedly deep cooperation which brings benefits but it also means that when countries are in the minority they must sometimes accept decisions they do not want, even affecting domestic matters with no market implications beyond their borders."
MAY ON OPTIMISM
"We are moving through a new and critical period in the history of the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union. The British people have decided to leave the EU and be a global free-trading nation able to chart our own way in the world.
"For many, this is an exciting time full of promise. For others it is a worrying one. I look ahead with optimism."
MAY ON WORKING WITH EU ON DEFENCE, SECURITY
"Our commitment to the defence and indeed the advance of our shared values is undimmed. Our determination to defend the stability, security and prosperity of our European neighbours and friends remains steadfast."
MAY ON PROGRESS SO FAR IN BREXIT TALKS
"We have now conducted three rounds of negotiations and while at times those negotiations have been tough it's clear that, thanks to the professionalism and diligence of David Davis and Michel Barnier, we have made concrete progress on many important issues."
(Reporting by David Milliken and William Schomberg in LONDON; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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Sterling slips on UK PM's Brexit speech
U.K.Sterling slipped and Britain's main FTSE 100 stock index climbed on Friday, as Prime Minister Theresa May gave a closely watched speech in Italy laying out her plans for Britain's exit from the European Union. -
Britain's May calls for post-Brexit transition in single market
U.K.Prime Minister Theresa May called on Friday for Britain to stay in the European Union's single market during a roughly two-year transition out of the EU while offering concessions on a divorce deal as she appealed for a revival of Brexit negotiations. -
'Even more concerned' after May Brexit speech - senior EU lawmaker
U.K.The head of the European Parliament's biggest group, the centre-right European People's Party, said British Prime Minister Theresa May's speech on Brexit on Thursday did not clarify London's position and had left him more concerned than before. -
EU praises constructive spirit of May speech, wants more clarity
U.K.The European Union's Brexit negotiator praised on Friday the speech of British Prime Minister Theresa May for a "constructive spirit" in divorce talks with the EU, but said he needed more clarity on what some of her declarations meant. -
Commentary: The ‘somewheres’ and the ‘nowheres’ in Britain’s Brexit mayhem
U.K.By John LloydBritish politics are a terrible mess. But don’t blame populism, however that’s defined. If anything, blame democracy – however that’s or -
Britain's Labour shifts on Brexit, proposes staying in customs union
U.K.The opposition Labour Party said on Monday that Britain could stay in a customs union with the European Union for the long term after leaving the bloc should it take power. -
Too early to say if UK has made sufficient progress in Brexit talks - Irish PM
U.K.Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Monday it was not possible to say that Britain had made sufficient progress to move onto the next phase of Brexit talks with the European Union, adding there was a "bit of a way to go yet". -
Britain links EU divorce bill to deal on new trading relationship
U.K.Britain will honour its financial commitments made during its membership of the European Union after it leaves the EU, but that deal must be linked to an agreement on future economic ties, Britain's chief Brexit negotiator said. -
Britain would have to accept all EU rules during Brexit transition - Barnier
U.K.Britain, which asked on Friday for a two-year transition period after it leaves the European Union in 2019, would have to abide by all EU rules during this phase, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Monday. -
Labour 'scenario planning' for run on sterling if elected
U.K.Britain's opposition Labour Party is drawing up a plan to counter capital flight and a run on the pound if it is elected to run the country, the party's economic policy chief has said. -
Putting May on notice, Corbyn says Labour ready for government
U.K.Britain's main opposition Labour Party is ready for government, its leader Jeremy Corbyn will say on Wednesday, calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to end her government's "Brexit bungling", give up power and make way for his negotiators. -
Two worlds of Labour, Britain's opposition party struggles to unite
U.K.A baby gurgles in the background, posters defend workers' rights and between DJ decks and a well-stocked bar of an old nightclub, dozens of young activists flesh out their demands that Britain's Labour Party become a wider movement for the left. -
Outgoing Northern Ireland leader says U.S. Bombardier ruling 'not end of process'
U.K.Northern Ireland's outgoing leader Arlene Foster, whose region produces the wings for Bombardier Inc's (BBDb.TO) CSeries jets, said a U.S. decision to slap duties on the plane was disappointing, but "not the end of the process." -
Labour 'scenario planning' for run on sterling if elected
U.K.Britain's opposition Labour Party is drawing up a plan to counter capital flight and a run on the pound if it is elected to run the country, the party's economic policy chief has said.
Malaysian court to rule on women accused of killing brother of North Korean leader
KUALA LUMPUR A Malaysian court will decide on Thursday whether to continue hearing a case against two women charged with the murder of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, or acquit them.