Bercow says May cannot return the same deal to the Commons
Theresa May’s Brexit plans were thrown into chaos on Monday, after the speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, ruled that the prime minister could not bring back her deal for another meaningful vote unless it is substantially changed.
May was forced to give up her plans to return her deal to parliament for another vote, after Bercow quoted from a guide to parliamentary procedure which stated that a question “may not be brought forward again during the same session”, and that it must be “not different in terms of wording, but different in terms of substance”.
The prime minister is now far more likely to ask for a lengthy extension to article 50 when she returns to Brussels on Thursday to meet with EU leaders. This delay could mean that the UK will officially take part in European parliament elections.
May has called a meeting with her cabinet on Tuesday morning to help decide the best way forward, after being blindsided by the speaker, who did not warn Downing Street that the ruling would be made.
No-deal could hit research budgets by £130m
Universities have warned that a no-deal Brexit could impact the research undertaken in the UK with the help of EU funding in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
If Britain leaves the EU without a deal, researchers worry they could potentially lose hundreds of millions of pounds worth of EU grants, threatening life changing research that “could be days away from stalling”.
Researchers who have submitted applications for funding from the European Research Council (ERC) claim they are still in the dark about what could happen if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal. Universities urged the government to set up contingency plans to protect access to funding vital research.
Prof Dame Janet Beer, president of Universities UK, which represents 138 higher education institutions, said: “Researchers at UK universities doing life-changing work remain in the dark over what will happen to their current ERC applications or where they will go in future for funding if there is no-deal.
“Without clarity very soon vital research could be disrupted, which would be hugely damaging to people’s lives. The UK also risks losing some of our brightest minds to other countries if they don’t know how their research will be progressed.”
Former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya proclaims innocence in new video
Disgraced former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya, who was imprisoned for a month for lying over a speeding offence, has proclaimed her innocence in a
In the video, the former MP can be seen in front a New York skyline, explaining that the media had told a ‘one-sided’ story of her case, and that she had been unable to defend herself whilst the case was being carried out.
Onasanya has insisted she is willing to stand again as an independent MP, telling her constituents: “If you wish for me to continue as your independent MP, I am willing and able to do so, but the choice is now in your hands”.
She continues: “I would like to say I have a deep gratitude to all who have offered prayers, support and love during this difficult period of time over the past few months and also say to you all, thank you.
“I will continue to be your voice of change in parliament for as long as you wish me to do so and if you do wish me to do so I can tell you I will continue to lobby government, I will continue to fight for social justice with all of the veracity and power that I have been so far, and continue to be your voice, because you deserve nothing less.”
