Good morning. Here’s your daily Politics Update.
Study shows majority of voters in Labour constituencies back second referendum
A study commissioned by the People’s Vote campaign group has found that a majority of voters in all Labour held seats in the UK support a second referendum.
The study of 26,000 participants across Labour-held constituencies found that a majority of voters supported a second referendum on Brexit, if Theresa May’s Brexit deal which is brought to parliament is rejected, and a general election does not take place as a result.
The survey is intended to show Labour MPs in these constituencies that there is an appetite for a second referendum, and hopefully get their support. Labour MP Jess Phillips is already on board – her constituency, Birmingham Yardley, voted 60% in favour of Leave in 2016 but now, according to the survey, 63% support a second referendum and 52% would remain.
“It’s no surprise to me that my constituents feel that they have been failed in the negotiations and are changing their mind on Brexit,” Phillips said. “If I had to pick who decided my fate between Theresa May or the people in my community I’d pick them every single time.”
Which bit of Brexit negotiations are we in now?
Brexit negotiations will enter a phase known as ‘the tunnel’ this week, nicknamed so because there will likely be no publication of either Britain’s or the EU’s stance on the negotiations until the next agreement is made.
The Irish border backstop issue remains the most significant obstacle in the way of a deal being struck. The British government has said they intend to make “decisive progress” on the backstop by Friday, in the hopes that this would prompt a November summit with EU leaders to be arranged, giving Britain another opportunity to reach a final deal.
The Guardian reported on Sunday that EU diplomats and officials have put the chances of reaching a deal that satisfies both sides as “50-50”, contradicting views from those such as Dominic Raab that a deal could be reached earlier than expected.
Arron Banks: ‘no Russian money’ in £8m given to Brexit campaign
Aaron Banks, the co-founder of Leave.EU, has told Andrew Marr in a BBC interview that he received “no Russian money” as part of the £8m given to the campaign.
Banks and other leading Brexiteers are being investigated by the National Crime Agency over claims they committed “a number criminal offences” during the EU referendum.
Banks told Marr on Sunday: “There was no Russian Money, and no interference of any type”. He added: “The money came from a UK registered company, it was generated from cash, generated from businesses in the UK…”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te7k-2613pI
Privatisation of railways cost taxpayers £5bn
Privatising Britain’s railways has costed taxpayers £5bn per year, according to an analysis by the Labour Party.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Railways Act, which – under then prime minister John Major – saw British Rail privatised in 1993, the party have released a study which suggests fares have increased by 20 percent, and government subsidies have increased fourfold since that date
Labour claim that the cost of a single journey from London to Exeter which used to cost a passenger £37.50 now costs £129.50, whilst a single far from London to Swindon has risen from £20 to £66.
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