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“When they came to me and said ‘I’m afraid you’ve got no choice, Prime Minister, the Benn Act..means you’ve got to extend’...the first time I filed it vertically”...

PM acknowledges to @SophyRidgeSky knew he had no choice but to extend, after Benn passed
“They” - Law Officers?
“When” - 7 weeks of No Deal prep after Benn passes before extension requested.

I’ve never heard expression “filed vertically” before - but previously used when Mayor in relation to Heathrow...
But PM also gave fullest account of why he repeatedly said that he “will” meet October 31st, and promised eg to Con members, when he obvs knew Commons arithmetic - says he never could have imagined that Parliament would pass a constitutional “abomination” such as Benn Act...
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Faisal Islam
@faisalislam
Corporation tax was due to fall from 19% to 17% in April announced at 2016 Budget - so cancelling the cut still leaves UK c-tax at lowest rate. Means UK will still have lowest in G20 just not as low as Switzerland/Singapore..

£6bn cost to business as opposed to £1bn cut briefed
So that’s £5bn net tax rise versus what is already planned & legislated.

Though still a large gap on Labours existing plans (not yet confirmed in new manifesto) for 26% corporation tax.

Though that too is middle of G7 range
Given that the Government’s argument has long been that the cuts to corporation tax raise revenue, it is interesting to see the PM say raising it (or not going ahead with further cuts) will also raise revenue...
Read 3 tweets
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Faisal Islam
@faisalislam
5 questions about Labour’s broadband policy...

1. What shares would the Government buy? It wants to buy Openreach off BT, not the whole of BT PLC. Openreach shares don’t exist.

2. What happens if BT refuse to sell at price Parliament sets?
3. How have they come up with an ongoing cost of £230m a year to run the entire broadband network? Openreach alone employs 30,000 people whose jobs have been guaranteed. What about repairs?
4. What revenues will British Broadband have - presumably zero?
So what asset value will British Broadband be to UK balance sheet?
Read 5 tweets
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Faisal Islam
@faisalislam
Broadband plan is two different policies melded into one...

1. industrial policy - of investing billions in a perceived strategic industry

2. On top, they have layered what they see as an election-friendly retail policy of free broadband.

Attempt at statist populism /1
... Wheras Mrs Thatcher turned the 1980s privatisations into a retail policy, share windfalls/ giveaways/ mass participation capitalism, this, four decades on seeks to achieve the exact reverse, turn state ownership into a retail policy - of free broadband for all. /2
This is part of a more general push by Labour into “Universal Basic Services” that McDonnell argues the country “cant afford not to invest in”... and for which he says there is an international consensus (eg IMF) on deploying cheap state borrowing /3
Read 7 tweets

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Mercedes Stephenson
@MercedesGlobal
Brief opening statement from Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau: Canadians sent a clear message they want issues of affordability and climate change addressed #cdnpoli
PM Trudeau says that the government plans to continue with the Trans Mountain pipeline #cdnpoli
Trudeau says he is reaching out to western leaders to address “very real concerns” of westerners #cdnpoli
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Jo Maugham QC
@JolyonMaugham
This motion, for Saturday, even if passed, will not avoid the Prime Minister having to seek an extension under the Benn Act. We will ask the Inner House on Monday to order the Prime Minister to apply to extend under the Benn Act and/or to send the letter itself.
First (our argument today) the agreement is unlawful (section 55). Second, there is no "concluded" agreement with the EU (unlike the May deal this has not been agreed by the Council). Third, the motion will not have been debated by the Lords (section 1(1)(b) Benn Act).
It is even clearer that a Withdrawal Agreement agreed at negotiator level cannot satisfy the terms of the 2018 Withdrawal Act which is explicit that there must be "political" - which I take to mean Council rather than Commission - agreement.
Read 9 tweets
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Michael Gray
@GrayInGlasgow
I’m in Court 1 at Court of Session, as petitioners @JolyonMaugham @joannaccherry move case seeking to enforce the Benn Act - requiring a request to extend Brexit Exit Day if no Deal is agreed. Seek use of court’s ‘Nobile Officium’ to sign letter if Boris Johnson refuses.
Petitioner’s Counsel currently in detailed discussion of full timetable. Like Prorogation case, time is tight (deadline day is 19 October) & case may need to wind through any Outer House, Inner House, & then UK Supreme Court processes.
Mr O’Neill QC, for petitioners, says it’s ridiculous to suggest there’s no serious time pressure. Points to 12 days between Benn Act deadline & crashing out, within which letter needs sent & then EU Governments would likely need to meet & agree. Court rises to consider.
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The SNP
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First Minister @NicolaSturgeon: "We have witnessed some astonishing developments in the three years since the Brexit referendum in June 2016."
@NicolaSturgeon FM: "The previous Prime Minister was forced to resign after losing three House of Commons votes on her Brexit deal.

One of those votes was lost by a record margin.

The work of the Westminster Parliament has ground to a halt."
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Jon Worth
@jonworth
This thread could well be very relevant within 24 hours of writing it.

I'd welcome a few minutes of your time to consider it now, before #UKSupremeCourt makes its judgment tomorrow.
*If* prorogation is justiciable, and *if* this prorogation is either nullified, or there is somehow a way for the Commons and the Lords to sit again within the next week or so, there are two major questions to answer.
FIRST, does Boris Johnson resign, having unlawfully prorogued Parliament?

and - if the Commons is sitting again

SECOND, does it immediately try to No Confidence (VONC) Johnson if he does not resign?
Read 10 tweets
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Sumisha Naidu
@SumishaCNA
BREAKING: Malaysia's 14th General Election will be held on Wednesday, May 9. Nomination day will be on Saturday, April 28.
The minimum period of 11 days has been set for campaigning. Unlike past polls, these elections will be held on a weekday. #GE14
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