UK Politics
The latest political news and updates from around the UK.
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Britain has not formally assessed impact of Brexit on economy - Brexit ministerBritain has not conducted a formal sector-by-sector analysis of the impact that leaving the European Union will have on the British economy, Brexit minister David Davis said on Wednesday, arguing that they were not necessary at the current time.
"There's no systematic impact assessment I'm aware of," Davis told a parliamentary committee, saying it would be more appropriate to conduct such analysis later in the negotiating process. -
UK manufacturers call for Brexit transition deal before Christmas
U.K.British manufacturers called for their government and the European Union to reach a Brexit transition deal before Christmas, or else risk damaging uncertainty in 2018. -
Britain has not formally assessed impact of Brexit on economy - Brexit minister
U.K.Britain has not conducted a formal sector-by-sector analysis of the impact that leaving the European Union will have on the economy, Brexit minister David Davis said on Wednesday, arguing they were not necessary at the current time. -
Leader of DUP says will not be rushed on Brexit border text
U.K.The leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party Arlene Foster has said she would "not be rushed" on agreeing the text of a deal between Britain and the European Union on the future of the region's border, the Belfast Telegraph reported. -
Irish finance minister says Brexit border text must be retained
U.K.The text agreed on Monday between British and EU negotiators on the future of Northern Ireland's border must be retained, Ireland's finance minister said on Wednesday. -
No Brexit deal this week, Sun political editor cites DUP source as sayingThere will be no Brexit deal done this week and hopes are fading fast in London that Prime Minister Theresa May will go back to Brussels on Thursday, the political editor of The Sun newspaper said on Twitter.
Tom Newton Dunn cited a source in the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up May's minority government, as saying: "No deal this week". -
Man appears in court accused of plotting to kill British PM May
A man appeared in a London court on Wednesday on suspicion of plotting to kill Prime Minister Theresa May.
A prosecution lawyer told Westminster Magistrates Court that the plot was to detonate an explosive device at the gates of Downing Street, gain access to May's office at Number 10 and to kill her. -
DUP says leader speaks to PM May but no plans to fly to London
U.K.The leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party Arlene Foster spoke to British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday but she has no plans to fly to London for talks, a party spokesman said. -
Sterling heads towards eight-day lows as Brexit uncertainty rises
U.K.Sterling edged towards an eight-day low on Wednesday as growing uncertainty over the progress on Brexit negotiations weighed on the British currency with some investors unwinding long positions after a recent rally. -
Britain's May working towards EU summit, progress made in talks - spokesman
British Prime Minister Theresa May is working towards unlocking Brexit talks at an EU summit later this month and, despite there being more work to be done, has made good progress, her spokesman said on Wednesday.
Asked whether there was any truth in reports that there would be no deal with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party over the border with EU member Ireland this week, the spokesman said: "As the PM said earlier this week, good progress has been made but there is work still to do."
"We continue to work towards making further progress at the EU Council later this month." -
DUP declines to comment on whether Brexit border deal possible by end of week
A spokesman for Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party on Wednesday declined to comment on whether agreement could be reached between Britain and the EU on the region's post-Brexit border by an end-of-week deadline.
The political editor of the Sun newspaper reported that no deal would be done this week, citing a DUP source.
"I don't know. I don't want to comment," the spokesman said. "Work will continue in London. I don't make predictions and I never will." -
Man appears in court accused of trying to kill PM May
U.K.A 20-year-old man appeared in court on Wednesday accused of plotting to kill British Prime Minister Theresa May by first detonating an explosive device to get into her Downing Street office. -
May's call with DUP leader has not changed much - BBC political editor says
U.K.British Prime Minister Theresa May's call to the leader of the Northern Irish political party which props up her minority government has not changed much, the BBC's political editor said on Twitter, referring to the Brexit talks. -
UK PM May says good progress in Brexit talks, expects a dealBritish Prime Minister Theresa May said she had made good progress in Brexit negotiations and that she expected to get a deal that was right for the whole of the United Kingdom.
"We're leaving the European Union, we're leaving the single market and the customs union but we will do what is right in the interests of the whole United Kingdom," May told parliament. "And nothing is agreed until everything is agreed." -
GSK, other drugmakers bet on post-Brexit UK science
U.K.Britain won a vote of confidence from its economically important life sciences sector on Wednesday as several major drug companies committed to invest in the country under the government's industrial strategy plans after Brexit. -
Irish PM says can pick up Brexit talks in new year if deal not possible
Ireland wants Brexit negotiations to move onto phase two next week once it is based on a text on the Irish border prepared this week but if that is not possible, talks can resume in the new year, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday.
"As far as we're concerned and as far as the European Commission are concerned, and I have confirmation from the European Commission on this, we stand by the text that had been agreed on Monday," Varadkar told parliament. -
May says details of UK internal market to be worked out in second stage of Brexit talks
U.K.Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday the government would give more details about how to preserve and protect the United Kingdom's internal market in the second phase of Brexit talks. -
UK PM May's spokesman warns against "speculating" that money involved in DUP Brexit row
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May warned on Wednesday against the idea that discussions with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to resolving a Brexit row could involve the Northern Irish budget.
"I'd warn you against speculating in that direction," the spokesman told reporters when asked if talks involved financial issues and Northern Ireland's budget. He said the government would not be providing further details of a telephone call between May and DUP leader Arlene Foster earlier in the day. -
Bespoke Irish border solutions might work if no Brexit deal - Hammond
Finance minister Philip Hammond said specific cross-border agreements could work in Ireland and Northern Ireland if Britain and the European Union fail to agree on broader issues about their relationship as part of the Brexit negotiations.
Hammond told MPs on Wednesday that there was already a single electricity market and shared rules for animal health spanning the island of Ireland.
"There may be specific areas where bespoke solutions could work and would not be offensive either to the government in the Republic or to unionists' interests in Northern Ireland," he told the Treasury Committee.
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Leaving EU customs union might not have big impact - UK's Hammond
U.K.Chancellor Philip Hammond said leaving the European Union's customs union need not represent a big change to Britain's relationship with the bloc, if the country replicates most of the current arrangements. -
Britain has not yet decided on final Brexit aims - Hammond
U.K.British finance minister Philip Hammond said on Wednesday that the government had not yet decided what it wants from a final Brexit agreement with the European Union because it is still waiting to clear preliminary negotiations with Brussels. -
May's spokesman warns against 'speculating' that money involved in DUP Brexit row
U.K.A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May warned on Wednesday against the idea that discussions with Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to resolving a Brexit row could involve the Northern Irish budget. -
Businesses, unions urge UK and EU to settle citizens' rights for Christmas
U.K.Major British business groups and trade unions called on Wednesday for Britain and the European Union to end the uncertainty around citizens' rights after Brexit and guarantee before Christmas that there will be no change. -
Britain to propose new language on Irish border, Irish PM says
U.K.British Prime Minister Theresa May told her Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar that she would propose suggestions to Brexit negotiators over the next 24 hours to try to break an impasse on the issue of the Irish border, Varadkar said on Wednesday. -
Chiding May, opposition Labour presses case for a customs union
U.K.Britain should leave open the option of being in a UK-wide customs union with the European Union after Brexit and aim to keep the benefits of the bloc's single market, the opposition Labour Party said on Wednesday. -
No Brexit deal worst-case scenario for Britain - Lords committee
U.K.Britain will fail to agree a free trade deal with the EU before it plans to leave the bloc in 2019 and should seek a transition period to avoid a worst-case scenario of crashing out without an agreement, lawmakers from parliament's upper house said. -
Britain will not sign up to a bad Brexit deal, transport minister says
U.K.Britain will not sign up to a bad Brexit deal but its economy will succeed even if it does not get a deal, transport minister Chris Grayling said on Thursday. -
UK electoral body says investigating Labour-backing campaign group Momentum
U.K.Britain's Electoral Commission said on Thursday it was investigating campaign group Momentum - which backed the opposition Labour Party at a June election - over whether it breached campaign finance rules. -
Exclusive - EU parliament details UK concessions on rights
U.K.Britain will guarantee rights for as yet unborn children who join EU parents after Brexit and accept EU judges' rulings on such rights, according to a draft European Parliament resolution seen by Reuters on Thursday. -
Northern Ireland's DUP says border talks delay raises 'no deal' Brexit risk
U.K.The Northern Ireland party propping up the government of British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday warned that a stand-off over the wording of an agreement on the future of Northern Ireland's border increased the likelihood of a "no deal" Brexit. -
Companies prepare for disorderly Brexit as talks stall
U.K.Big companies are stepping up their plans in case Britain crashes out of the European Union without a deal as Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to get talks back on track after a major setback. -
Getting closer, but more work to be done on Brexit deal - May's spokesman
Britain is close to an agreement with the European Union to unlock Brexit talks but Prime Minister Theresa May knows there is more work to be done on a deal for the border with Ireland, her spokesman said on Thursday.
"As the PM set out ... we think we are close to an agreement but there is more work to be done. It's an ongoing process," the spokesman told reporters. -
EU sets Sunday deadline for May to cut Brexit deal
U.K.The European Commission effectively set a deadline of Sunday for British Prime Minister Theresa May to return to Brussels to deliver an offer on a Brexit divorce deal. -
Whole UK needs to take back control of borders and cash from EU, Johnson says
The United Kingdom as a whole needs to take back control of its borders, laws and cash when it leaves the European Union, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Thursday."It is very, very important that whatever happens now, whatever we agree has got to be consistent with taking back control of our laws, of our borders and of our cash," Johnson said."Whatever way we devise for getting onto the body of the (Brexit) talks, it's got to be consistent with the whole of the United Kingdom taking back control of our laws, of our borders and of our cash," he added in a speech. -
UK airport boss urges government to set out its Brexit vision
U.K.The British government needs to set out its vision for Brexit, the head of two of the country's biggest airports said on Thursday, reflecting exasperation building among the business community. -
Talks over Brexit divorce bill make progress - EU's Oettinger
The European Union's budget commissioner Guenther Oettinger said on Thursday that noticeable progress was being made on talks over the divorce bill that London will pay the EU as it leaves the bloc.He also said that talks were very far advanced on the topic of the free movement of people.The European Commission has effectively set a deadline of Sunday for British Prime Minister Theresa May to return to Brussels to deliver an offer on a Brexit divorce deal. -
From Poles to Filipinos? UK food industry needs post-Brexit workers
U.K.Britons who voted for Brexit in the hope of slashing immigration seem set for disappointment. In the farming and food industries at least, any exodus of Polish and Romanian workers may simply be followed by arrivals of Ukrainians and Filipinos. -
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'We won't hold back', minister-turned-editor Osborne warns May on Brexit
U.K."We won't hold back," former Chancellor and now newspaper editor George Osborne declared on Thursday in a warning to Prime Minister Theresa May that he will not relent in his criticism of her Brexit plans. -
Hammond says Brexit deal is a boost to the economy
U.K.The divorce deal agreed by London and Brussels on Friday is a boost to the British economy, Chancellor Philip Hammond said on Friday, as he urged both sides to now move on to a trade deal that supports jobs and prosperity. -
More work to do on Irish border before final Brexit deal agreed - DUP
U.K.There is more work to do to establish how Irish border arrangements will look after Brexit, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party said on Friday, after Britain and the European Union agreed the outline of a deal.
Myanmar police focused interrogation on Rohingya story: Reuters journalist
YANGON A Reuters reporter on trial in Myanmar said the police questioning after he and a colleague were arrested in December centered on their reporting of a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, not on secret state documents they are accused of obtaining.
