News and Opinion

For many Britons living in towns and villages across Europe, the arrival of Brexit on Friday night will mean losing the right to vote and run for office. From being active participants in the communities where they have spread roots and paid taxes, British expatriates in France, Germany and elsewhere in the European Union will […]

Meeting controversial actor Laurence Fox demonstrates the importance of talking to those we disagree with, insists BONNIE GREER. I did not know Laurence Fox when he tweeted me recently and asked me to meet him for coffee. Like most people who might recognise his name, I knew him as an actor. I have done lectures […]

Outgoing BBC director general Tony Hall has criticised the corporation for trying to ‘catch out’ politicians with its journalism. Hall, who will move into a top role at the National Gallery after leaving the broadcaster, said the BBC had to more carefully consider its role. “I’m a great believer in the long form political interview […]

With Britain’s exit from the EU looming, ANDREW ADONIS says we must be optimistic – and formulate a bold plan for the future. I feel unutterable sadness at our departure from the European Union this Friday. We are once again, as Orwell put it, a family with the wrong members in control, and the younger […]

Boris Johnson has said that the UK will make a ‘dignified’ exit from the European Union. The prime minister said Brexit at 11pm on Friday would be a “moment of hope” for the country. But with the country still deeply split following the 2016 referendum, Johnson said he would be celebrating in a “respectful” manner. […]

Who is on Question Time tonight? Here’s your guide… The BBC’s flagship current affairs programme tonight comes from Buxton, hometown of Mary Poppins director Robert Stevenson. But whose performance will be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – and whose policy announcements will amount to little more than kite-flying? Here’s your complete guide to the panel… James Cleverly Who? Chairman […]

A Liberal Democrat MEP says she thinks the ‘silver lining’ to Brexit will be the anger and pain will drive people to campaign for electoral reform. Caroline Voaden, who was only elected as an MEP in May, said it was ironic that the UK now has the biggest pro-European movement of any member state. “British […]

Political discourse in the UK ‘must no longer be divided by Leave and Remain’ the acting leader of the Liberal Democrats is to urge. Sir Ed Davey is to use a speech in Manchester for referendum divisions to be buried after Britain leaves the European Union. In an apparent admission that the Remain campaign is […]

The Royal Mint is to sell gold and silver versions of the commemorative Brexit coins for up to £945. The coins, available in gold, silver and brilliant uncirculated versions, have been produced to mark the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and will go on sale from Friday. The design on the coins reflect the Treasury’s […]

A London woman is putting on an exhibition of pictures of Brexit-related politicians – all made entirely from adult magazines Artist Jeyda Heselton, who is displaying her Brexit portraits in Hackney, East London – Credit: Jeyda Heselton 27-year-old Jeyda Heselton hit upon the idea of the coarse collages after making something similar for a colleague’s […]

The Official Charts Company has revealed that EU anthem Ode To Joy will chart this week. Pro-Europeans have been buying a live version of Dutch composer Andre Rieu’s version of the song, which is accompanied by the Johann Strauss Orchestra. It has now topped the downloads chart on both Amazon and iTunes, just ahead of […]

Nigel Farage has used his farewell speech to claim that the UK is ‘never coming back’ to the EU. As the European Parliament prepared to back the Withdrawal Agreement paving the way for Brexit on Friday, Mr Farage said he hoped it was the end of the European Union project. The Brexit Party leader, who […]

The Council of Europe is set to take on more, not less, significance for the UK after Brexit, says Labour MP Kerry McCarthy Much has already been written about the contrast between the two events that bookend this week. Monday was Holocaust Memorial Day – a solemn day of commemoration and remembrance in its own […]

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage says it’s not ‘wholly unreasonable’ to hold a second referendum on Brexit. The Brexit Party leader said that the second vote, however, should only happen once voters had time to see the effects of leaving the European Union first. Farage claimed there was still a place for him and his […]

The last PMQs with the UK still in the EU was another dispiriting walk in the park for Boris Johnson “Mr Speaker, can we take just a minute to remember Nicholas Parsons?,” asked Jeremy Corbyn. “In memory of Nicholas Parsons, I think we should all avoid hesitation, deviation, or repetition in this House,” said Boris […]

People on both sides of the EU referendum divide are being urged to come together for a breakfast of British and European foods on Brexit day. Organisers of the Make Britain Breakfast Again event at a hotel in Worthing, West Sussex, guests will be treated to a proper English fry-up, with continental options also available. […]

Tory Party HQ has been accused of cashing in on Brexit to fill its party coffers by selling a range of merchandise celebrating the UK’s departure from the EU. Each piece of merchandise carries the message “got Brexit done” – and can be purchased on a £12 tea towel, a £15 blue and white mug, […]

European Research Group chairman and leading Brexiteer Steve Baker has told Leavers not to rub celebrations in Remainers’ faces. Baker is planning to speak at a number of events on Friday, but is not planning to attend Nigel Farage’s Brexit celebration. Instead it has been left to the usual suspects – in the form of […]

Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal is set to pass its final hurdle as the European parliament votes on the legislation. MEPs meeting in Brussels are expected overwhelmingly to back ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, paving the way for the UK to leave with a deal in place on Friday. It follows the completion of the passage […]

The meaning of the word have has changed over the centuries to denote more dynamic activities, says PETER TRUDGILL At Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, passengers are often urged – in announcements made by Dutch people speaking English – to keep their boarding-passes ready. At British airports, passengers are generally asked to have their boarding-passes ready. American […]

An official report into Labour’s election defeat blames a second Brexit referendum rather than Jeremy Corbyn. The post-mortem examination circulated to the party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) found it would be “unrealistic” not to say its policy to hold a fresh referendum played a “decisive” role. Radicalism was largely ruled out as being at […]

Nigel Farage has unveiled the list of speakers for his Westminster celebration this Friday – with names including Ann Widdecombe, Tim Martin and Julia Hartley-Brewer. Leave Means Leave, the anti-European campaign group given approval to hold the event in Parliament Square, had called for Boris Johnson to appear on stage “to mark the extraordinary date”. […]

Pro-European activists in the Grassroots for Europe movement met for its biggest conference yet – and left with a clear message that Remainers are not throwing in the towel after Brexit. More than 450 local activists representing at least 200 splinter groups travelled to Westminster over the weekend to take part in the event which […]

Labour Movement for Europe, the pro-EU group affiliated to the party, has nominated Keir Starmer in the race to be the next leader. The society, which describes itself as “the home of the pro-Europeans in the Labour and trade union movement” gave the shadow Brexit secretary its backing, saying he “understands the importance of keeping […]

After claiming Theresa May’s Brexit deal was bad, Jacob Rees-Mogg made a surprising u-turn when Boris Johnson managed to rehash a version of the document. It is little surprise, therefore, that with just days until the UK is due to leave the European Union under such a deal, Brexiteers are scrambling to rewrite history. Or […]

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has ordered officials at the Scottish parliament to keep the European flag flying after the UK leaves the EU on Friday. There had been anger among Remainers – and some SNP and Green politicians – after it was decided by the parliamentary corporate body to support a decision to remove […]

Things look set to go from bad to worse for Nigel Farage’s Brexit celebrations as the weather forecasts predicts rain on Friday. The Brexit Party leader has encountered a number of setbacks in his bid to run a party in Parliament Square. Fireworks are not allowed to be set off to mark the 11pm departure […]

An unlikely Brexit battle has been emerged just days before the UK is due to leave the European Union. Remainers are on a mission to get European Union anthem Ode to Joy to Number 1 in the next official chart – which is revealed on January 31st, the date of the UK’s departure. Pro-European activists […]