The UK citizenship test book is riddled with errors and omissions, a House of Lords report has warned. The report, about integration into UK society, argues that the Life in the UK handbook needs "completely rewriting" because it contains out-of-date information and mistakes. The report says "matters are stated as facts which were correct at the date of publication, but which might reasonably have been expected not to be accurate for long". For example, it says, Margaret Thatcher was included in a list of Prime Ministers who were still alive, but this was only true for two months after publication. One question also calls the Human Rights Convention the "European Convention", even though it is one of the few passed by the Council of Europe which does not actually have European in its title. Previous editions contained many more factual errors which have now been corrected, including a claim that Charles II had been recalled from exile in France, when in … [Read more...] about Citizenship test for migrants full of errors and omissions, House of Lords says
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Theresa May Faces a New Brexit Challenge From the House of Lords
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit strategy faces a renewed threat on Wednesday when her flagship bill returns to Parliament’s upper chamber, where Lords of all political stripes are seeking to amend it.A proposal to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU after leaving the bloc may pass by more than 50 votes, according to Dianne Hayter, a Labour peer who sponsored the amendment with independent member John Kerr, former Conservative Party Chairman Chris Patten and Liberal Democrat Sarah Ludford.May has rejected business demands that Britain stays in the customs union, saying it would prevent the government negotiating trade deals with other countries. Should the Lords back the amendment to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, the danger for May is that the lower chamber, the House of Commons, votes to retain it.That’s because most opposition lawmakers and some of her own Conservatives also favor retaining a customs union, which would keep goods traded … [Read more...] about Theresa May Faces a New Brexit Challenge From the House of Lords
Theresa May set for a series of damaging defeats on the flagship Brexit bill in the House of Lords with peers set to back keeping UK in the EU customs union
THERESA May is staring down the barrel of a series of damaging defeats on the flagship Brexit bill in the House of Lords this week. The upper chamber is debating the legislation - which lays the legal ground for our withdrawal from the bloc - with peers set to back an amendment keeping the UK in the EU customs union. It would mean tariffs on goods traded with the continent would stay the same post-Brexit, but would hinder the Government from signing new deals with other countries. The Prime Minister has repeatedly said she wants to take Britain out of both the customs union and the single market. Her stance has been spelled out in the EU Withdrawal Bill, which has cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons after being passed by MPs. But Ministers have reportedly resigned themselves to the fact the House of Lords will almost certainly pass amendments to try and force the PM to change her position. A government insider told The Independent: “Are we expecting a defeat? … [Read more...] about Theresa May set for a series of damaging defeats on the flagship Brexit bill in the House of Lords with peers set to back keeping UK in the EU customs union
Brexit: Ministers get ready for defeats in the House of Lords on key piece of EU withdrawal legislation
The government is bracing itself for defeats in parliament on Brexit this week, including over its plans to take the UK out of a customs union with the EU. Ministers have resigned themselves to the fact that the House of Lords will almost certainly pass amendments backed by Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat peers aimed at forcing Theresa May to rethink her position. Sources in the upper house told The Independent the only way she can realistically avoid a defeat is by making significant concessions, including one softening her approach to an EU customs union that is likely to enrage Tory Brexiteer MPs. Read more Jaguar Land Rover to cut 1,000 UK jobs as Brexit hits motor industry It comes as a new broad campaign for a “people’s vote” referendum on the final Brexit deal holds a rally in London on Sunday, following a day of action on Saturday involving thousands of activists across the country. The prime minister’s EU (Withdrawal) Bill … [Read more...] about Brexit: Ministers get ready for defeats in the House of Lords on key piece of EU withdrawal legislation
Feltham lorry driver admits causing death of peer in House of Lords crash
A lorry driver has admitted causing the death of a Labour peer by knocking him off his mobility scooter outside the House of Lords. Kul Pandey, 56, from Feltham , pleaded guilty to causing the death by careless driving of Lord Taylor of Blackburn. The 87-year-old peer was knocked off his mobility scooter outside the House of Lords, in Westminster , in November 2016. He died from his injuries nine days later. Read More West London headlines Pandey entered his guilty plea during a hearing at the Old Bailey before Judge Anuja Dhir QC on Tuesday (March 20). Speaking after Lord Taylor's death, Baroness Smith of Basildon, Labour’s leader in the House of Lords, said: “Tom Taylor had a lifelong commitment to the Labour Party, through both local government and Parliament, and was held in high regard and with great affection by his party colleagues. He was also actively involved for many years in the education and higher education sectors. “Tom was a committed member of … [Read more...] about Feltham lorry driver admits causing death of peer in House of Lords crash