-May suggests free movement could continue during transition period, hints those who brought diseal cars when Brown government encouraged it will get some sort of help if cities begin hitting them with charges
-Labour suspend Livingstone from acting as a Labour figure for one more year to make a two year ban but remains member, an unapologetic (his words) Livingstone will appeal and can't see what the fuss is about as he is telling the truth, blames Chief rabbi, Guido Fawkes, MP's (has also blamed Jewish Chronicle in recent days) for the trouble. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis (presumably not a Jew in Livingstone's mind?) says Labour has let down the Jewish community and clearly isn't serious about tackling anti-Semitism, Baroness Shami Chakrabarti (possibly the worst person Labour's cabinet could have sent out for this?) says it shows the party can handle such cases fairly and look at itself, West Streeting says Livingstone's comments have hampered Labour's ability in elections.
Tom Watson says failure to expel is incomprehensible and is ashamed of the distress Labour has caused the Jewish community, Livingstone is still bringing party into disrepute. Sir Stramer says Livingstone must be expelled, Khan says disappointing and gives impression Labour are not doing their duty to combat anti-Semitism (if Corbyn said that, he would be hammered for being a weak statement), Tulip Siddiq says a year long slap in the face for her community and she is seeing members resigning over this, urging Corbyn to take it to NEC. After several several hours (hearing result was announced Tuesday night, Corbyn response was around 14:30 pm on Wednesday, way way too slow) says other action by NEC should be taken against Livingstone for his more recent remarks which are deeply hurtful to Jewish community, urges Livingstone to keep quiet for awhile and to recognise hurt he has caused. Carefully avoiding interfering with committee independence but opening another route to get Red Ken out
So the comment was unacceptable, found guilty on three charges so why two years and only from running from office? Pleases nobody, Livingstone was never going to accept any ban, those unhappy with him are hardly going to go "wow, what a hard and fair ban that shows Labour are taking this seriously." The damage to Labour among the Jewish community was already done but this furthers the problem rather then helps begin the healing. Corbyn has been handed a hospital pass by that committee and now they have to go through another process which keeps this issue in the headlines
-Public Accounts Committee chairman Meg Hillier fears private consultants for Brexit negotiations will take advantage and warns Whitehall hasn't got a good record of keeping an eye on private contractors
-Business Committee warns executive pay has no credibility, pay ratio's to be published annually and wants workers to have a say
-President Junker says EU will miss UK and a no deal would be bad for everyone
-Bariner warns EU parliament (and UK) that if EU is divided during Brexit then there can be no deal, negotiations will be transparent, says Brexit bill would be nothing more then settling the accounts, says UK demands for talking about Brexit and trade is very risky
-Guy Verhofstad's speech to EU Parliament praised for likes of O'Flynn and Hannan for things like
"Perhaps it was always impossible to unite Great Britain with the continent. Naive to reconcile the legal system of Napoleon with the common law of the British empire. Perhaps it was never meant to be.
But, our predecessors should never be blamed for having tried. Never. It’s as important in politics as it is in life: to try; new partnerships, new horizons, to reach out to each other, the other side of the Channel. I am also sure that - one day or another - there will be a young man or woman who will try again, who will lead Britain into the European family once again. A young generation that will see Brexit for what it really is: a catfight in the Conservative party that got out of hand, a loss of time, a waste of energy, stupidity.
Let’s not forget: Britain entered the union as the ‘sick man of Europe’ and - thanks to the single market - came out of the other side. Europe made Britain also punch above its weight in terms of geopolitics, as in the heydays of the British empire. And we from our side must pay tribute to Britain’s immense contributions: a staunch, unmatched defender of free markets and civil liberties. Thank you for that. As a liberal, I tell you, I will miss that"
In press conference says they must be firm with UK but generous to it's citizens and promises no hard Ireland border but admits it will be very difficult
-Our carmarket has recorded ever sales for a month at 562,337, service sector has highest growth this year thanks to City making up for things like restaurants and gyms that struggled, productivity up though still weak
-European Parliament backs negotiation plan by 560 votes to 133: we can't have same benefits as before, no trade talks till most of Brexit work is done and not done till after we have left, ECJ must be supervising authority and be part of transition period, Brexit bill, no trade deal that involves UK cutting standards, no special sectoral provision and highlighting the City of London, transition period should be limited to three years, wanr sUK not to start trade talks with others till after Brexit.
Seen as same as Tusk's plans but taking a harder line on some of the clauses.
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-Dr Murrison says
Eu needs UK defence forces and better remember it-Peers complaining about mumbling during TV programs with Lord Blunkett pointing he does need to actually be able to hear things
-Geraint Davies
fears for food safety if we have deal with USA-Graham Brady interviews
Australian ambassador Alexander Downer about Brexit-Farage decides the best way to get a good Brexit deal is tell MEP's they are acting like the mafia (when called out of order, changes it to gangsters in reference to national sensitivities) with Brexit bill being a ransom demand, says some of EU demands are impossible for UK. Tells LBC he is not optimistic about deal after EU Parliament speeches (but didn't he tell us during referendum we were bound for a good deal?)
-David Miliband (speaking before the verdict) calls the Livingstone saga unspeakable, he never imaged a day where Labour was in such an anti-Semitism scandal, argue Corbyn needs to look at the way Britain is rather then way he would like it to be
-Ukip MEP Jonathan Arnott calls the EU plan pernicious
-Lord Mandelson urges May to face down the "wild men" in her own party trying to scupper trade deal and Remainers like him should help May in any fight with the Brexit ultra's, May has choice between "economic reality" and "political intransigence, will have to remain under ECJ during transition, says threatening to shoot ourselves in both feet is not a good negotiating strategy, warns against feeding public unrealistic expectations as will lead to backlash, feels sorry for UK negotiators, Brexit bill will be small change for UK, says people have ghastly choice at next election
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-John Elledge
recalls the glory days of Livingstone the mayor-Alex Mortan on
the rise of the new professional class-Andrew Brown on
Easter row and Saudi Arabia-Mike Katz, National Vice-Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement,
vows to fight on to see Livingstone expelled
“You, are a rebellious son who abandoned his father. You are a cruel brigand who murdered his lord. How can Heaven and Earth put up with you for long? And unless you die soon, how can you face the sight of men?”