Well that's a good start to the negotiations. At this rate it'll all be done and dusted by the weekend.
Off to a flyer...... https://www.theguardian.com/politic...-0-defeat-in-the-first-round?CMP=share_btn_tw
Van driver killed near Calais as a result of illegal immigrants pulling tree trunks across the road. They may have a new President, but France does at times look like a lawless country
Eddie Mair destroying Boris Johnson on the wireless about the Queens Speech, Boris putting in an Abbottesque performance, shuffling his papers around 'hang on a second' all because he can't bring himself to say that the 'burning injustices' on race, education, home buying etc highlighted by May when she became PM can't now be addressed because they don't have a majority. Lame duck government with a zombie PM. Plus he didn't appear to actually know what's in the Queens Speech.
Apparently the Queen's Speech was delayed because it has to printed on vellum. They could have written it on the back of a *** packet.
Neither is Theresa. So who in the government is? Unless of course the unerring ability to repeat 2 or 3 catchy soundbites which misread the mood of the country counts as leadership quality.
Did you hear it Goldie? Much worse than not knowing the facts, he was trying to describe an alternative reality and failed, really odd, sounded nervous and completely unprepared. No control in the Tory party now, its central nervous system is ****ed.
No, I didn't hear it, but I've seen him in an unprepared state before. He likes to wing interviews, and bluster. I don't want to see him anywhere near the Brexit negotiations. I am content with Davis however.
Yes, one word, Brexit. They don't have the capacity to do much else and they'll struggle to manage that. As would any other government. The UK certainly looks to have enough problems that need tackling urgently at home. They should put Brexit on long term hold and handle these. Without the Brexit weight hanging round their necks they may manage something else.
UK population rise of 538,000 is biggest for 70 years 2 hours ago please log in to view this image Image copyright EPA The population of the UK has increased by more than half a million - the biggest rise for 70 years - according to official figures. There were 65,648,000 people in the UK in June 2016, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS said that was a rise of 538,000 on the figure in 2015, equivalent to a city the size of Bradford. Net migration of 336,000 accounted for 62.4%, while the difference between birth and death rates made up 35.8%. There was also an increase of 9,500 in armed forces personnel based in the UK. Baby boom The population went up in 364 local authority areas, with the biggest rises in the City of London (7.3%) and Tower Hamlets (3.3%). It fell in 26 areas, including South Lakeland and Aberdeen, 17 of them on the coast, and remained the same in one. Last year's increase was the highest since 1947, which saw a rise of 551,000, driven mainly by a surge in births after World War Two. Around the UK, the population of England jumped by 481,800 (0.9%) to 55,268,100 - and is now more than 55 million for the first time. The population of Scotland increased by 31,700 (0.6%) to 5,404,700, Wales by 14,100 (0.5%) to 3,113,200, and Northern Ireland by 10,500 (0.6%) to 1,862,100. 'Main driver' Neil Park, head of the Population Estimates Unit at the ONS, said: "The population of the UK continued to grow in the year to mid-2016 at a similar rate to that seen over recent years. "Net international migration continued to be the main driver, but there was also an increase in births and fewer deaths than last year." The population of the UK has increased by just over five million in 11 years - previously it took 35 years, from 1970 to 2005, to make the same leap. Population change in the UK has averaged 482,000 a year over the past decade. The ONS bases its figures on the usually resident population of the UK, and long-term international migrants who change their country of usual residence for a period of 12 months or more.
May unveils offer on EU citizens Close share panel please log in to view this image Image copyright Getty Images EU citizens who have lived in the UK for five years could get equal rights to UK nationals for good, under proposals unveiled by PM Theresa May. A new "settled EU" immigration status would grant them rights to stay in the UK and access health, education and other benefits after Brexit. But Theresa May said proposals would be adopted only if the same rights were granted to UK citizens in EU states. The plans were put forward at a European Council summit in Brussels. Those arriving after the cut-off date but before the date of Brexit in March 2019 would have a "grace period" - expected to be two years - to regularise their immigration status, with a view to later seeking settled status. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Theresa May had told EU leaders that the UK did not want any current resident to have to leave, nor to split families up. She said the deal would provide certainty to three million people who have "built families, lives and careers and contributed so much to our society".
