Following Thursday's bombshell High Court decision that forces Theresa May to get parliamentary approval before taking Britain out of the EU, Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer is suddenly one of the most important figures in British politics. [Politico] But what is he doing with this opportunity?
Party hopes decision will encourage Labour to support Sarah Olney in cross-party effort to defeat former Tory MP for Richmond Park The Green party has backed the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Richmond Park byelection against former Conservative Zac Goldsmith, who quit his seat in protest at the government's decision to expand Heathrow airport.
Although most political attention at the moment is on the Richmond Park Parliamentary by-election, council by-elections roll on as normal. This Thursday brings 10 of these in principal local authorities and a Liberal Democrat gain on Stavely Town Council in the East Midland. Yesterday saw ten principal council by-elections across the country with Lib Dem candidates contesting all but one of them.
The Prime Minister is expected to speak to president of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Juncker today to say she intends to stick to her March 2017 deadline for triggering Article 50. Nick Clegg is the former deputy prime minister and prominent Remain supporter, and Theresa Villiers is the former Northern Ireland secretary and prominent Leave supporter. They were interviewed by John Humphries on the Today programme here at 8.10am
In an intelligent political world the gov would have made this decision, not a court. We now need a coherent #Brexit plan that works for all
The High Court today ruled that the Prime Minister cannot give notice of intention to withdraw from the European Union ("activate Article 50") without reference to Parliament. Social media has exploded this morning with comment about this. A lot of it is inaccurate and gets wrong why the court had ruled as it has and what are the practical implications of the ruling, which will be appealed to the Supreme Court in December.
The UK needs to strengthen both our Armed Forces and our soft power.
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day.
The UK must once again stand tall, leading on the world stage and working closely with those who share our interests – including, above all, our partners in Europe.
