Lead News

Brexit-backing MPs have reacted angrily to the idea that the UK’s transition out of the EU could be extended for another year, to the end of 2021. No. 10 refused to rule out an extension after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels failed to make progress.   The move could buy the two sides more time to come up ...

Theresa May will urge other EU leaders to give ground on the issue of the Irish border when she addresses them at a summit in Brussels later. Brexit talks are deadlocked over the border, but the EU says it’s up to the UK to bring new ideas to the table.   BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says Mrs May will ...

Theresa May will try to rally ministers behind her this morning at the start of a critical 48 hours for Brexit. On Monday, the PM told MPs an agreement with the EU was “still achievable” despite apparent deadlock over the issue of the Irish border.   EU officials, though, have warned no-deal is “more likely than ever before”.   The ...

Prime Minister Theresa May has called for “cool, calm heads” as she insisted a Brexit deal was “still achievable” despite differences with the EU. She said it was “frustrating” the two sides could not agree how to guarantee no hard border in Northern Ireland.   The issue could not “derail” the chances of striking a deal, she said.   And ...

Minister’s remarks contradict PM’s and follow warning of poll tax-style backlash Theresa May faces a House of Commons revolt over universal credit after the minister responsible for the system contradicted the government line and admitted it will leave some families “worse off”. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) needs to pass regulations in order to implement the next phase ...

Downing Street spokeswoman tries to ease cabinet Brexiters’ concerns over Irish backstop Downing Street has insisted the government will not sign up to any deal with the EU that would keep the UK in a customs union indefinitely, as the prime minister tries to assuage concerns in her cabinet. British negotiators in Brussels are thought to be preparing to sign ...

  The UK’s foreign secretary has told Saudi Arabia that Britain expects urgent answers over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a phone call to Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, Jeremy Hunt warned that “friendships depend on shared values”.  Mr Khashoggi was last seen visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last week, and Turkey says he may ...

Penny Mordaunt increases pressure on government not to make concessions to EU Penny Mordaunt has refused to explicitly back Theresa May’s Chequers plan for Brexit, increasing pressure on the government not to make dramatic concessions to Brussels in the crucial days ahead. The international development secretary said she would not give a “running commentary” on the proposals when asked if ...

WFP urgently needs US $66mn to provide assistance till Mar 2019   Photo: This file photo shows miserable condition of a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar. Dhaka, Oct 9 : The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Bangladesh has welcomed a new contribution of US $22.25 million from the United Kingdom that will help meet the immediate food and ...

Watchdog demands meeting with education department over ‘potentially misleading’ claims about school funding The education secretary, Damian Hinds, has been publicly reprimanded by the UK statistics watchdog over his department’s repeated misuse of data, in particular its “potentially misleading” claims over schools funding. The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) complained it had had reason to write to the Department for Education ...