UK Politics
The latest political news and updates from around the UK.
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UK MPs cast doubt on plan to avoid Ireland border after Brexit
U.K.Britain's intention to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit is inconsistent with its plan to withdraw from the European Union's single market and customs union, a committee of lawmakers said on Friday. -
Half of Britons support a second vote on Brexit, poll finds
U.K.Half of Britons support a second vote on whether to leave the European Union and a third said they would be worse off financially outside the world's largest trading bloc, according to a new opinion poll. -
Irish foreign minister says Brexit border breakthrough possible on Monday
U.K.No agreement has yet been reached between Britain and Ireland on the future of the Northern Irish border, but the breakthrough required to allow wider Brexit talks to proceed could come later on Monday, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said. -
Irish government says significant progress on Brexit talks
U.K.Ireland has made "significant progress" in talks with Britain on the future of the Northern Irish border, but the sides are "not there yet", a spokesman for Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Monday. -
Last-minute wrangling as May heads for Brussels Brexit lunch
U.K.British negotiators were locked in last-minute talks with their European Union and Irish counterparts on Monday, trying to put together a Brexit deal that Prime Minister Theresa May might agree over lunch in Brussels. -
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (C), and European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt (R) and his Brexit team from the European Parliament, attend a meeting at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium December 4, 2017. REUTERS/Yves Herman
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EU's Verhofstadt says no Brexit deal yet
U.K.Britain and the EU have yet to strike a deal on an initial Brexit divorce package, the European Parliament's Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said on Monday after meeting the EU's negotiator Michel Barnier. -
As Brexit deal takes shape, Juncker to meet MEPs
U.K.The European Commission added to mounting confidence in Brussels that it is set for a Brexit deal with London when it scheduled talks with EU lawmakers ahead of a crunch meeting on Monday with Theresa May. -
EU's Tusk cancels Mideast trip due to Brexit crunch
U.K.European Council President Donald Tusk cancelled a trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories planned for this week due to a "critical moment" in Brexit negotiations, an EU official said on Monday. -
Factbox - Countdown to Brexit breakthrough?
U.K.British Prime Minister Theresa May meets European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker for lunch in Brussels on Monday for what could be a breakthrough in Brexit talks. -
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Davis says vital that Brexit talks progress onto trade
U.K.Britain's Brexit minister David Davis said on Monday it was vital that European Union negotiators agree to move the talks on to discuss trade, saying it was of huge value to all members of the trading bloc. -
Luxembourg PM Bettel says has had "rather positive" news on Brexit talks
U.K.Talks on Brexit on Monday have brought positive news, Luxembourg's prime minister said ahead of British Prime Minister Theresa May's meetings with EU officials later in the day in Brussels. -
Britain committed to keeping UK's "economic integrity" after Brexit - PM's spokesmanBritain is committed to maintaining its economic and territorial integrity after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Monday, when asked about the prospect of regulatory divergence between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
"The PM has been clear the UK is leaving the European Union as a whole and the territorial and economic integrity of the United Kingdom will be protected," the spokesman said. -
Draft Brexit border text commits to "continued regulatory alignment" - RTEBritain and the European Union will commit to "continued regulatory alignment" between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit, Irish national broadcaster RTE reported on Monday, citing a draft negotiating text.
The Irish government has sought such a commitment if it is to allow Brexit talks to move onto the next stage this month, although RTE said it remained an open question whether the final text will be agreeable to both Dublin and London. -
Britain and EU agree to avoid hard border in Ireland - Daily Telegraph
U.K.Britain and the European Union have agreed a deal that ensures there will be no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit, the chief political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph said on Twitter on Monday. -
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Brexit deal agreed on all Irish issues - Irish government sourcesBritish and European Union Brexit negotiators have reached agreement on a deal for all Irish issues, including the maintenance of regulatory alignment on the island to avoid a hard border, two Irish government sources told Reuters.
"Agreement has been reached on an overall deal for the Irish issues," one of the sources said.
"The key phrase is a clear commitment to maintaining regulatory alignment in relation to the rules of the customs union and internal market which are required to support the Good Friday Agreement, the all-island economy and the border." -
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Brexit deal on Ireland will ensure no hard border - ministerBritish and European Union negotiators are "very close to final agreement" on issues relating to Ireland that will ensure there will be no re-imposition of a hard border on the island, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said on Monday.
"We hope to be in a place in just over an hour's time that the Taoiseach (prime minister) will be able to make a positive statement to the country that some of the key issues that we have been raising for months will be addressed comprehensively in phase one," Coveney told national broadcaster RTE.
"I think we have now a language that gives us the safeguards we need that, regardless of how the phase two discussions go, that there will be reassurance for people that they will not see the re-emergence of a border on this island."
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EU getting closer to starting trade talks with Britain in December - Tusk
U.K.The chairman of European Union leaders said on Monday he was encouraged by the progress of talks on avoiding a physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Britain leaves the EU, which brought closer the prospect of starting trade talks with Britain. -
UK agrees to 'regulatory alignment' on both sides of Irish border
U.K.Britain agreed on Monday to keep Northern Ireland in "regulatory alignment" with the European Union after Brexit, Irish government sources said, raising hopes Prime Minister Theresa May can strike a deal in Brussels to start free trade talks. -
Scotland's Sturgeon sees no reason not to get special Brexit deal like Northern Ireland
U.K.An agreement to keep Northern Ireland in "regulatory alignment" with the Europen Union after Brexit could be replicated in other parts of the UK, Nicola Sturgeon, the head of Scotland's devolved pro-independence government, said on Monday. -
London mayor says wants special Brexit deal if Northern Ireland gets one
U.K.London should get a special Brexit deal allowing it to stay within the European Union's single market and customs union if Northern Ireland is allowed to, the city's mayor said on Monday. -
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LATEST: EU's Juncker says despite significant progress, not possible to reach complete deal today.Juncker says just two or three open issues, ready to resume negotiations later this week, positions narrowed to a huge extent.Juncker says this is not a failureTheresa May says need more consultation on some issues, confident will have positive conclusion.May to have further meetings with EU's Tusk.
Putin says Russia will follow up fast after Ukraine call with Biden
MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia would send ideas to Washington within a week to follow up his talks with U.S. President Joe Biden on the Ukraine crisis.
