LONDON: Fresh from its victory in European polls, Nigel Farage’s (pix) Brexit Party is hoping to win its first seat in Britain’s parliament on Thursday in a by-election in Peterborough. The poll in the eastern English cathedral city was triggered after the sitting MP, Fiona Onasanya, was dumped by voters after being jailed for lying over a speeding offence. The Brexit Party, formed by eurosceptic figurehead Farage only a few months ago, secured 38% of the vote in Peterborough in May 23 elections for the European Parliament. It is hoping to capitalise on that momentum as well as voter disillusionment with the main Conservative and Labour parties, who have historically shared the seat. Both parties were punished by voters in the European polls for the political chaos over Brexit, which has forced out Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May. Onasanya was a Labour MP but was expelled following her conviction and the party is fighting to keep the seat. It got 17% of the vote in … [Read more...] about Farage’s Brexit party aims for first UK MP in by-election
Labour party mp
Britain’s Brexit Party triumph raises chances of no-deal
LONDON: Nigel Farage's anti-EU Brexit party topped European Parliament polls in Britain, putting intense pressure on the ruling Conservatives who suffered a historic rout and raising the chances of a no-deal outcome.The populist party, founded just three months ago, capitalised on public anger over delays to Britain's exit from the European Union, winning 31.6 per cent of the vote and picking up 29 seats, final results showed.Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party meanwhile slumped to 9.1 per cent, its worst national election result since 1832.In a sign of the divisions still gripping Britain three years after the referendum vote for Brexit, the pro-European Liberal Democrats and Greens also made significant gains.The elections, which took place on Thursday, were never meant to happen, as Britain was due to be out of the bloc on Mar 29.But parliament has been unable to agree on how to leave, slowly sapping May's authority and forcing her to finally announce last week … [Read more...] about Britain’s Brexit Party triumph raises chances of no-deal
May to make MPs a final ‘bold offer’ on Brexit deal
May said that when she brings the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before parliament early next month, it will come with a new package of measures attached that she hopes can command majority support. "I still believe there is a majority in parliament to be won for leaving with a deal," May wrote in The Sunday Times newspaper. MPs three times rejected the deal May struck with Brussels, forcing Britain's EU departure date to pushed back from March 29 to April 12 and again to October 31. The bill is needed to ratify the divorce agreement struck with the European Union. On Thursday, May agreed to set out a timetable for her departure following the vote in the week beginning June 3, regardless of whether MPs back her deal at the fourth time of asking. It is thought that she will trigger a contest for the leadership of her governing Conservative Party once the bill either falls or completes all of its stages through parliament. - 'New and improved' - "When the Withdrawal Agreement … [Read more...] about May to make MPs a final ‘bold offer’ on Brexit deal
UK MPs to vote on Brexit bill early next month
UK MPs will vote on a Brexit bill again in early June whether or not the government of Prime Minister Theresa May and the opposition Labour Party have reached a deal, a Downing Street spokesperson has said. The spokesperson said on Tuesday night that a vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill that would pave the way for Brexit was "imperative" if the UK was to leave the European Union (EU) before the MPs' summer recess, reports the BBC. However, this would not amount to a fourth so-called meaningful vote on the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement itself. UK needs to pass a law to implement the withdrawal agreement - the part of May's Brexit deal which will take the country out of the EU - in UK law. This is a requirement under the terms of previous Brexit legislation passed last year. The legislation would make the citizens' rights part of the agreement directly enforceable in UK courts, and set their relationship with the EU's Court of Justice. Attempts to find a cross-party compromise … [Read more...] about UK MPs to vote on Brexit bill early next month
Main UK parties suffer Brexit battering in local elections
Prime Minister Theresa May's governing Conservatives lost control of several local authorities and hundreds of seats -- but the main opposition Labour Party also lost ground, with voters instead turning to smaller parties and independents in Thursday's polls. "There was a simple message from yesterday's elections to both us and the Labour Party: just get on and deliver Brexit," May said. Britain's bitterly-divided MPs have been unable to agree on a divorce deal with the EU, with the two main parties in talks on breaking the impasse that have produced little fruit so far. "This is a difficult time for our party and these election results are a symptom of that," May told the Welsh Conservative Conference, having faced down a heckler calling for her to quit. The results do not bode well for the Conservatives and Labour ahead of the European Parliament elections, set to take place in Britain on May 23. After voting in June 2016 to leave the European Union, Britain was meant to … [Read more...] about Main UK parties suffer Brexit battering in local elections