Front bench cabinet ministers

The political chaos of Brexit is threatening to bring down British Prime Minister Theresa May , a matter of days before she is due to host President Donald Trump on his controversial first visit to the U.K. The sudden resignation of Brexit Minister David Davis over May's roadmap for leaving the European Union left the prime minister facing attacks from both inside and outside her Conservative Party. Trump's visit already threatens to embarrass May as Trump is kept away from massive protests, forcing the president to spend most of his time outside London . But with the latest cabinet emergency, it is possible May will not even be prime minister when the unpopular president arrives. The resignation of the Brexit minister threatens to open a chasm in May's Conservative—or Tory—government, with moderates calling for a "soft" Brexit on one side and extremists lobbying for a "hard" Brexit on the other. The split between the two camps has been evident since May replaced David … [Read more...] about Will Theresa May still be prime minister when Donald Trump visits the U.K?

Iran's foreign minister warned Saturday on a visit to Damascus that Turkish military action in Syria would destabilise the region after Ankara threatened to launch a new offensive on Kurds in the country's north. "Any Turkish military action in the north of Syria would be a destabilising element in the region," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a press conference in Damascus, according to a simultaneous translation from Farsi to Arabic. Iran is a major ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and an important trading partner for Turkey. However, Tehran is eager to find a diplomatic solution to prevent Ankara from invading. Turkey has launched successive offensives in Syria since 2016 targeting Kurdish militias as well as Islamic State group jihadists and forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this year he wanted to encourage one million Syrian refugees to return to their country by building the housing and … [Read more...] about Iranian foreign minister opposes “any military action” in Syria

Media mogul Richard Desmond is reviving plans for a controversial £1bn housing development in London’s docklands even after the Government blocked the scheme. Accounts filed this week revealed the businessman has held early-stage discussions with lenders to bankroll the Westferry Printworks scheme on the Isle of Dogs. Mr Desmond’s holding company, Northern & Shell, said bankers had signalled their support for the project. Ministers blocked the 1,500-home development in November last year, overturning the decision of former housing secretary Robert Jenrick. Mr Jenrick’s verdict, which contradicted the advice of the planning inspector, was quashed after a High Court case filed by Tower Hamlets found “apparent bias” in favour of the businessman. The minister had exchanged text messages with Mr Desmond, a former adult magazine tycoon, shortly before the plans were approved. That approval came a day before Tower Hamlets Council brought in a new tax that would have cost the … [Read more...] about Richard Desmond revives £1bn Isle of Dogs development blocked by Government

Boris Johnson’s move to extend tariffs on imported steel by two years — a probable breach of World Trade Organisation rules — was welcomed by protectionist MPs from both sides of the political aisle. Industry also predictably lauded the decision, saying it will be protected from artificially cheap imports. Much like fishing, steel carries with it a disproportionate amount of political focus compared to its size — in 2020 the £2bn it contributed to the economy was the equivalent of just 0.1pc of total economic output and 1.2pc of manufacturing. But as the industry likes to point out: everything is made of steel. The metal goes into cars, aircraft, new buildings and the machinery that forms almost everything else. Without it, steel insiders say the logic of having a manufacturing industry in the UK would be considerably weaker — a fact that will not be lost on the Prime Minister. The move was pegged as an effort to “protect the steel sector”, Trade Secretary Anne-Marie … [Read more...] about With the Tories in turmoil, steel helps Boris Johnson show his mettle

The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that Russian forces have "liberated" all of Ukraine's Luhansk region. The ministry on Sunday said Russian forces had captured Lysychansk, the last major Ukrainian-held city in Ukraine's Luhansk province. Russia's defense minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin that Russia's troops and members of a local separatist militia "have established full control over Lysychansk and some nearby settlements," according to a post on the ministry's Telegram channel. "The total area of ​​the territories liberated over the past day amounted to 182 square kilometers," the post said. Control of Lysychansk would bring Moscow closer to its stated goal of seizing all of Ukraine's Donbas region. Ukraine's military did not immediately provide a response, but on Saturday, Ukrainian authorities had said that Lysychansk remained under Ukrainian control. Early on Sunday, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces were gaining a … [Read more...] about Moscow claims control over Luhansk region as missiles hit border towns

Meghan Markle will visit the United States to see her friends and family without Prince Harry. Us Weekly reported that Markle's trip would take place before the couple undertook a royal tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, planned for October. This would coincide with the Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style competition for military veterans which was founded by the prince and is due to be held in Sydney from October 20 through October 27. The couple are said to be keen to go the United States together next year, so that Meghan can introduce Harry to "everything she loves about the U.S," and as a way to highlight and strengthen ties between the countries. Markle's solo trip would be an unofficial one, the magazine reported. Earlier in July, the couple visited Dublin on a two-day trip in which they met the Irish president and prime minister and were mobbed by fans. Days earlier, Markle's half sister, Samantha Markle, criticized her sibling on Twitter after … [Read more...] about Meghan Markle is heading to the U.S. alone to visit her friends and family for the first time since her wedding

Iain Duncan Smith says UK needs to focus on 'growth' Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The former leader of the Conservative Party recently co-authored a report for the Centre for Brexit Policy, which argued that the establishment is holding the country back from unlocking its true potential. Instead of viewing the UK as a declining international force, the report argues Brexit gives Britain the chance to become a dominant global power now it is free from the EU’s shackles. Related articles IDS crushes Sturgeon's Indyref2 as ‘ridiculous’ distraction Iain Duncan Smith's cost-cutting masterplan to avoid 'disaster' In an … [Read more...] about Brexit: IDS slams ruling elites for ‘locking to Europe’ in masterplan to slash red tape

Steph McGovern in the press room at the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards 2018 (Image: Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images) Sign up for FREE for the latest news from the world of showbiz SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Chatty and friendly are the order of the day, something that pervades her successful daily Packed Lunch on Channel 4. And yet, the world might never have got to know her. "I come from Middlesbrough and I went to a college that was very much focused on the needs of the local area which is rooted in heavy industry," she explains. "We spent a lot of time getting input from companies like British Steel and ICI. I was pretty good at science so I saw my future in engineering." Related articles BBC's Naga Munchetty … [Read more...] about What Donald Trump said that made TV talkshow host Steph McGovern laugh

John Cleese clashes with BBC World News interviewer Sign up for FREE for the latest news from the world of showbiz SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info John Cleese, 82, has taken to Twitter to admit he declined the peerage he was once offered. The Monty Python star sarcastically said he regretted the decision. Related articles Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz risked awkward run in at Met Gala Amber Heard sobs as she claims in court Johnny Depp slapped her The actor posted the tweet out in full view of his 5.7 million followers. He said he had never previously regretted turning down the peerage - a decision he made because of the British weather. John said: “Until now I have never regretted … [Read more...] about ‘Sad I didn’t accept’ John Cleese admits regretting turning down peerage for first time

Something happened last week that made me rather sad. The 600-year-old Bretton Oak, near Peterborough, one of the last survivors of Grimeshaw Woods, an ancient forest that once covered much of that part of the world, was felled after final desperate attempts to save it failed. This ancient tree, which had stood since the reign of Henry VI, was ripped apart by men with hi-vis jackets and chainsaws in a matter of minutes, to the horror of many locals. Its crime? The roots were allegedly causing ‘structural damage’ to nearby housing. Although, as one resident pointed out, that case was debatable. No matter. Insurance companies were refusing to underwrite the affected properties, and so the man from the council decreed that the oak had to go. Six centuries of history, a living organism that had outlasted kings, queens, plagues, war and famine, felled by petty bureaucracy. The Bretton Oak had stood since the reign of Henry VI Oh, it’s just an old tree, I hear you say. And … [Read more...] about SARAH VINE: Why felling old trees is an arrogant assault on history