News and Opinion

Live updates as Britain gears up for the Brexit election on June 8. .

The manifestos are a few weeks away yet. But here is a look at some of the main themes already taking shape. CONSERVATIVES For the Tories this is going to be the Brexit election – and the manifesto is likely to outline a dreaded Hard Brexit. Theresa May, will put her plans for withdrawing from […]

Leaked documents have revealed Brussels will demand Britain pays the cost of moving EU agencies out of the UK after Brexit. And the European Commission will insist that the UK stumps up its ‘divorce bill’ in euros, ensuring that Britain bears the risk of any currency fluctuations. The tough negotiating guidelines, obtained by the Politico.eu […]

Sitting MP Douglas Carswell has announced he will not stand in the general election – dodging a dust up with Brexit bad boy Arron Banks. The former Tory who defected to UKIP – before quitting that party as well – said he would be voting Conservative on June 8 but has decided that ‘it is […]

Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out backing a second referendum on the final Brexit deal after suggestions Labour could include the policy in their general election manifesto. A spokesman for the Labour leader said: ‘A second referendum is not our policy and it won’t be in our manifesto.’ It comes after shadow chancellor John McDonnell said […]

Labour leader’s speech, Burnham and Carswell stand down MORE: The saboteur’s guide to General Election 2017: 8 ways YOU can make a difference

There have been various proposals for ‘neutral’ international languages to help countries to get along, but politics always get in the way Once the UK has left, the number of native English speakers in the EU will fall from around 14% to just 1%. English will, almost certainly, remain one of the EU’s 24 official […]

…not hygge Of all the great things to come out of Denmark, it’s a shame that hygge, the fad for all things cosy and gemutlich, has taken centre stage. In truth the Danes’ best 21st century export by far is the superb actress Sidse Babett Knudsen, in the news at home and abroad at the […]

Don’t miss your chance to vote on election day, June 8: This is everything you need to know about registering to vote in GE2017 Who needs to register? If you have never voted, have moved constituency, or have turned 18 recently then you will need to register if you have not done so already. When […]

Theresa May wants to railroad Britain into a Hard Brexit by increasing her majority in the House of Commons to stifle any opposition or Tory rebellion. The Prime Minister has admitted she called the shock General Election to give her a clearer ‘mandate’ during negotiations with the European Union and many now fear her apparent […]

Parliament gives Theresa May’s snap election the nod. . . . . .

Former prime minister Tony Blair has warned of the huge ‘damage’ to the country that will follow if Theresa May is able to pursue ‘Brexit at any cost’. The Prime Minister has called the election for two reasons. Firstly, the state of the Labour leadership offers such an obvious target that it would be an […]

For many Brexit, and the political and economic uncertainty around it, is causing anxiety. We examine the possible impact on the workforce and industry Since the triggering of Article 50 the media have highlighted every Brexit development – most of which are fairly negative. Take for example banks considering leaving the City for Frankfurt, Paris […]

The election machine is rolling into action – here are the key dates: • Tuesday April 18 Prime Minister Theresa May calls for a snap general election on June 8 to strengthen her hand going into the Brexit negotiations. • Wednesday April 19 The Prime Minister tables a Commons motion calling for an election on […]

Could this data help to determine who to vote for in your area? This election may be the time to put long help party political conviction to one side and tactically vote to stop Brexit. Tactical voting tools are beginning to spring up including this one by Twitter user @chickabiddybex. Becky S has compiled data […]

Although it makes absolute political sense to do it – very few Westminster watchers saw this decision coming. Wherever you stand on Theresa May this is clearly the boldest call of her short term in Number 10 especially after repeatedly saying an election would be ‘destabilising’ and even telling Andrew Marr: ‘I’m not going to […]

Theresa May is trying to impose a Hard Brexit with the announcement of a snap general election, Nicola Sturgeon said, as she urged voters north of the border to ‘stand up for Scotland’. The First Minister accused the Prime Minister of using the shock June 8 poll to seek to force the UK further to […]

Here is Prime Minister Theresa May’s statement announcing that a General Election is to be held on June 8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIlWw0xLGco ‘I have just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet, where we agreed that the Government should call a general election, to be held on June 8. ‘I want to explain the reasons for that decision, […]

Reactions to the snap general election called by Theresa May for 8 June PA – Credit: PA Theresa May has shocked the nation by declaring a General Election. .

The Prime Minister has shocked the nation by announcing a snap General Election. The poll will be held on June 8. The news comes after repeated denials by Number 10 that the PM would call a snap election but also just days after some polls showed Labour at an historic low. As a stunned Westminster […]

Theresa May has announced her intention to hold a snap general election to strengthen her hand going into the Brexit negotiations. • What happens now? The Prime Minister will table a Commons motion calling for an election to be held on Thursday June 8. Under the terms of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, she needs […]

After a damaging Brexit, would the EU have us back? We take the temperature in the continent’s capitals, to gauge how different countries might respond to a British U-turn on Brexit Most, if not all, readers of this newspaper would like to see Brexit reversed. But, in one sense, even Remain supporters have been infected […]

The Brexit brigade is still going on about bendy bananas and the return of imperial measures. But it is a strategy born of ignorance or – worse – panic For many of its advocates, Brexit seems mostly an exercise in nostalgia – hence preoccupations with things like blue passports, a new royal yacht and war […]

Theresa May used her traditional Easter message to talk of people ‘coming together’ ignoring growing fears over Hard Brexit Theresa May has again claimed the whole country is backing Brexit. Seemingly ignoring the fact that 48% of Britons – including the PM herself – voted to remain inside the European Union May used her Easter […]

Filming has started on a movie which aims to persuade Leave voters to change their minds on Brexit. Experienced film-maker and distributor David Wilkinson launched Postcards From the 48% in response to the rush towards the EU exit door in a bid to not only give a voice to the resistance but educate the opposition. […]

There are plenty of ways to change the world, and sometimes the simplest ideas are the best Another day, another speech, another audience going broadly the same way as all the others – a majority pessimistic about Brexit, hugely pessimistic about Trump (just two out of 450 raised their hands for ‘optimistic’) and just one […]

Brexit has raised some existential questions about national identity, with many Britons feeling their faith in Britishness eroding Citizens of the world, or citizens of nowhere? Thousands of Britons appear to have answered the confrontational question asked by Prime Minister Theresa May by applying to other EU countries for citizenship before the Brexit deadline falls. […]

The European debate is in the grip of a stultifying herd mentality; but there are some maverick voices out there In a world with too many opinionated columnists like me, but not enough boring old facts {‘comment is free, but facts are expensive,’ as CP Scott meant to say), one of the grandees of Fleet […]