BRIEF – ME! – UK NEWS BRIEFING

In today’s briefing update, Tory rebels and opposition MPs have defeated the government. It’s a major step in blocking a no-deal Brexit. 

Nigel Farage has named his price for an election pact with Boris Johnson. Farage confirms his party is “ready to go” if there’s a snap election. 

HS2 rail project has been delayed by five years and costs have soared to a massive £88bn.

 All in today’s UK news briefing – A daily roundup of all the news headlines that you need to know, summarised as part of WTX News Briefing.

…………………………………………………….

BREXIT: BORIS JOHNSON DEFEATED AS MPS TAKE CONTROL

BBC News says Tory rebels and opposition MPs have defeated the government and won the first stage of their attempt to block a no-deal Brexit. The commons voted 328 to 301 to take control of the agenda. Resulting in being able to bring forward a bill to delay the UK’s exit. In response, Boris Johnson has said he would bring forward a motion for an early general election. And Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the bill should be passed before an election was held. In total, 21 Tory MPs joined opposition parties to defeat the government. Downing Street confirmed the Tory rebels will have the whip removed, expelling them from the parliamentary party. They had hoped the threat of expulsion and an election would pull potential rebels back into line. 

Read the full story on BBC News

…………………………………………………….

FARAGE NAMES HIS PRICE FOR AN ELECTION PACT WITH BORIS

The Sun says Nigel Farage has named his price to make an election pact with Boris Johnson – a No-deal Brexit. He confirmed The Brexit Party will stand with the PM if the current deal is dropped. Farage said they are “ready to go” if a snap election is called before 31 October. However, he said a completely new deal or a No-deal Brexit is the only acceptable options. “If Boris Johnson thinks that the withdrawal agreement can stand then we don’t,” Farage said. Adding: “At the moment he is suggesting no change at all to the withdrawal agreement other than the Irish backstop. This is not acceptable.”

Read the full story on The Sun 

…………………………………………………….

HS2: RAIL PROJECT DELAYED AND COSTS RISE TO £88BN

The Guardian reports a delay of up to five years is expected for the completion of the first phase of HS2. The government announced the cost of the high-speed rail network has soared up to £88bn. Whilst the first phase (London Euston and Birmingham) could be delayed until 2031, the completion of the northern section ( to Manchester and Leeds) could be pushed back until 2040. The budget has risen by £22bn from the official 2015 prices. It has been said, the discovery of “significantly more challenging” ground conditions along the London-to-Brimighman route is the biggest factor in the delay and additional cost. And they expect the conditions to be repeated on the northern phase. 

Read the full story on The Guardian 

https://wtxnews.com/2019/09/03/uk-news-briefing-snap-election-if-mps-block-no-deal-white-supremacist-in-court-teaching-assistant-jailed-for-grooming-boy/