The €60 billion question. The EU exit charge and what it means

The €60 billion question. The EU exit charge and what it means

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Picture: The front page of yesterday’s Times newspaper. Alastair Meeks, who accurately predicted the outcome of the Article 50 case, looks at the looming Brexit divorce settlement. One of the many points that will be up for discussion as part of Britain leaving the EU is what Britain will pay as part of the divorce settlement, if anything.  Michel Barnier, the EU’s negotiator, is reportedly making a demand for €60 billion his opening gambit.  The UK government, backed up by…

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Northern Ireland Assembly Election Result : March 2nd 2017

Northern Ireland Assembly Election Result : March 2nd 2017

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Changes in seats are based on readjusted Assembly calculations Unionist Bloc Democratic Unionist Party 227,270 votes (28.26% -0.90%) winning 28 seats (-6 seats) Ulster Unionists 103,314 votes (12.84% +0.28%) winning 10 seats (unchanged) Traditional Unionist Voice 20,523 votes (2.55% -0.87%) winning 1 seat (unchanged) Progressive Unionist Party 5,590 votes (0.69% -0.16%) winning 0 seats (unchanged) Northern Ireland Conservatives 2,399 (0.30%, no candidates in 2016) winning 0 seats (unchanged) United Kingdom Independence Party 1,579 votes (0.20% -1.26%) winning 0 seats (unchanged)…

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The Times reporting that the Tories are “deeply worried” about possible action over the GE2015 expenses investigation

The Times reporting that the Tories are “deeply worried” about possible action over the GE2015 expenses investigation

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Times says Downing St fears 2015 results in up to 6 seats cld be void if prosecutions follow #C4News expenses inquiry pic.twitter.com/AjF2vWm5qn — Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) March 4, 2017 Could this be another scalp for Michael Crick? The Times is reporting that the Tory GE2015 election expenses investigation, first brought to light by Channel 4`s Michael Crick, is getting to a point where charges could be be brought. “.. Downing Street is “deeply worried” about the outcome of a police…

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N Ireland’s election: the road to nowhere?

N Ireland’s election: the road to nowhere?

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We look to be heading back to a suspension Normalcy does not suit Northern Irish politics. A political structure designed to overcome the legacy of the seventeenth century (with a good deal of success, it has to be said), is in severe danger of being incapable of handling the practicalities of the twenty-first. It’s not unusual for a coalition to break down over some disagreement of policy or administration, and for elections to follow. It is, by contrast, unusual for…

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A grim set of local by-elections for Corbyn’s LAB losing a seat in Salford to CON and seeing average vote share down 13.4%

A grim set of local by-elections for Corbyn’s LAB losing a seat in Salford to CON and seeing average vote share down 13.4%

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Mudeford and Friars Cliffe on Christchurch (Con defence, resignation of sitting member) Result: Conservative 629 (47% -9%), Independent 466 (35%, no candidate at last election), Labour 91 (7% -9%), UKIP 85 (6% -22%), Green Party 72 (5%, no candidate at last election) Conservative HOLD with a majority of 163 (12%) on a notional swing of 22% from Con to Ind Redcar and Cleveland Hutton (Con defence, resignation of sitting member) Result: Conservative 860 (57% +3%), Liberal Democrat 326 (22% +5%),…

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In “normal times” concern about the NHS reaching a 15 year high would point to a big problem for ministers

In “normal times” concern about the NHS reaching a 15 year high would point to a big problem for ministers

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But LAB played the NHS card in Copeland and still lost For the third Friday in a row I’m off to hospital this morning after being one of those who’ve added to this winter’s unprecedented demand on the NHS. At the start of February after a heavy cold I woke one morning to discover both my ears had been bleeding and I’d lost 80-90% of my hearing. This was profoundly shocking, isolating and very worrying. I realised I needed the…

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Local By-Election and Northern Ireland Election Previews : March 2nd 2017

Local By-Election and Northern Ireland Election Previews : March 2nd 2017

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Mudeford and Friars Cliffe on Christchurch (Con defence, resignation of sitting member) Result of council at last election (2015): Conservatives 19, Independents 2, United Kingdom Independence Party 1 (Conservative majority of 16) Result of ward at last election (2015): Emboldened denotes elected Conservatives 1,900, 1,897, 1,437 (56%) United Kingdom Independence Party 945 (28%) Labour 558, 515 (16%) EU Referendum Result: REMAIN 12,782 (41%) LEAVE 18,268 (59%) on a turnout of 79% Candidates duly nominated: Fiona Cownie (Green), Sheila Gray (Ind),…

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