Amber Rudd quits Cabinet and Tories

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Saturday 7 September 2019 22:16, UK

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has quit the Cabinet and the Conservative Party, dealing a fresh blow to Boris Johnson's government.

Ms Rudd hit out at the prime minister over his decision to kick out 21 Tory MPs and ban them from standing for the party at a general election - attacking the move as an "act of political vandalism" ...

Ms Rudd, who was seen as a leading pro-European voice in the government, wrote: "I cannot stand by as good, loyal moderate Conservatives are expelled."

She said in her resignation letter: "This short-sighted culling of my colleagues has stripped the party of broad-minded and dedicated Conservative MPs" ...

https://news.sky.com/story/amber-rudd-quits-cabinet-in-new-setback-to-boris-johnson-11804677

[OnDoutside]

1. The only good thing she's done. She's utter rubbish.

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11. :)

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2. Johnson 'will be forced from power if he defies no-deal law'

Toby Helm, Michael Savage, Andrew Rawnsley and Daniel Boffey in Brussels
Sat 7 Sep 2019 15.34 EDT

Boris Johnson would trigger a legal and constitutional crisis that would force his resignation as prime minister if he failed to obey a law mandating him to seek another extension to Brexit, according to high-level legal advice obtained by Labour.

The conclusions of a team of leading QCs, which have been sent to the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, make clear that the prime minister would be declared in contempt of court if he tried to remain in No 10 while refusing to obey legislation to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal on 31 October. The new law is expected to gain royal assent from the Queen early next week.

The legal advice, from lawyers at Matrix Chambers, says: “If the prime minister refused to comply with this order, then, while we would be in historically uncharted political territory, the legal position would remain clear – the prime minister would be in contempt of an order of the court and would be exposed to a full range of sanctions.”

One of the QCs who provided the unequivocal advice, Philippe Sands, told the Observer: “If the prime minister chooses not to comply with EU (Withdrawal) No 6 Act, he will be subject to an action for contempt which could, logically and as a matter of last resort, lead to imprisonment, but that has never happened and will not happen; Britain is a rule of law country, so he will comply or leave office. All other talk is bluster, as attorney general Geoffrey Cox will already have advised him” ...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/07/boris-johnson-could-trigger-constitutional-crisis-over-brexit-law

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3. MPs prepare court action to enforce Brexit delay

British legislators are preparing legal action in case Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries to defy legislation compelling him to seek a further delay to Brexit, main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has said.

The BBC reported on Saturday that legislators, including MPs expelled this week from Johnson's ruling Conservative Party for backing the cross-party bill, had lined up a legal team and were willing to go to court to enforce the legislation if necessary.

The bill will force Johnson to ask the European Union to postpone Brexit by October 19 unless parliament has signed off on a withdrawal deal or a no-deal exit ...

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/british-mps-prepare-court-action-enforce-brexit-delay-190907184436839.html

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4. Parliament's duty to resist dangerous no-deal Brexit strategy

Dominic Grieve
Sat 7 Sep 2019 16.00 EDT
Last modified on Sat 7 Sep 2019 16.26 EDT

... At the end of a difficult few days, the sovereignty of parliament, the first principle of our constitution, is alive and well.

We must however remain vigilant when parliament returns on Monday and prepare for the unexpected in the coming weeks. We are absolutely firm in our determination to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU, and by Tuesday we will have an act of parliament that will make that outcome illegal.

It is alarming to the majority of MPs, and many of my constituents, that this weekend the prime minister continues to say that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal, telling Conservative party members that he will not seek an extension under article 50, even if required to do so by law.

I ask the prime minister to accept what has happened in parliament and think this through. He must be aware that devices to block or ignore the law do not exist. The prime minister should meet the attorney general, take advice and get himself out of this situation. He is subject to the law of the land like anyone else ...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/07/parliament-duty-to-resist-boris-johnson-dangerous-no-deal-brexit-strategy

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5. Anti-Brexit protesters decry Johnson's 'coup' in cities across UK

Mattha Busby
Sat 7 Sep 2019 14.21 EDT
First published on Sat 7 Sep 2019 12.08 EDT

In the largest of a number of demonstrations across Britain on Saturday, crowds gathered outside Downing Street to protest against “Boris Johnson’s coup against the democratic process” and hear combative speeches from anti-Brexit campaigners.

The London protest was marred by violence when scores of pro-Brexit counter-protesters attempted to disrupt the rally and provoke the anti-Brexit demonstrators by marching through the crowd holding a banner demanding the UK reverts to WTO rules – which some believe would be the default eventuality after a no-deal Brexit – and verbally insulting them.

The Metropolitan police confirmed that there had been skirmishes and said 16 arrests had been made in connection with the protests in Westminster, mainly for violent disorder, but also for possession of an offensive weapon and a racially aggravated public order offence ...

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/07/anti-brexit-protesters-decry-johnsons-coup-in-london-and-leeds

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6. Angry clashes in Parliament Square

BONNIE CHRISTIAN
KATY CLIFTON
1 hour ago

Hundreds of pro and anti-Brexit protesters have gathered in Parliament Square for separate demonstrations, leading to clashes and a strong police presence in Westminster.

Scotland Yard said 16 people had been arrested by 6.30pm on Saturday after about 200 people joined a pro-Brexit demonstration organised by the Democratic Football Lads Alliance while the March for Change rally took place in Parliament Square.

Speaking at the anti-Brexit rally, Labour and Co-operative MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle branded Brexit as “evil” in a passionate speech.

Meanwhile, Green Party co-leader Sian Berry has praised the work of opposition MPs for proposing and passing a Bill to prevent a no-deal Brexit prior to the suspension of Parliament ...

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-protests-live-updates-as-hundreds-of-protesters-gather-in-parliament-square-during-march-for-a4231326.html

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7. Chief aide insists Johnson CAN refuse to delay Brexit

Brittany Vonow
7 Sep 2019, 19:15
Updated: 7 Sep 2019, 21:09

... The bill orders Mr Johnson to ask for a Brexit delay until January 31 next year if no agreement has been reached by October 19 and MPs do not back No Deal.

And the Prime Minister was today warned by the former Director of Public Prosecutions Lord MacDonald that he could face jail if he ignored the legislation.

But Cummings is said to have a "different interpretation" of the law - and reportedly told the PM at a special adviser's meeting that he didn't need to worry about the bill ...

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9882716/boris-johnson-jail-brexit-law-cummings/

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8. Brexit stalling action on climate

Robin McKie
Sat 7 Sep 2019 13.45 EDT

Britain has one of the world’s best capabilities for dealing with the climate crisis but is failing to make use of it. That is the stark view of leading expert Baroness Brown, a member of the UK Committee on Climate Change. “We have the ingredients to do good things in response to climate change but are not making use of them,” she warned last week.

Brown, who chairs the CCC’s adaptation sub-committee, said little progress had been made in planning to protect farmland and wildlife from intense storms and changing weather systems, or tackle health threats from rising heat – with grim short-term political consequences.

The UK has pledged to persuade other governments at the UN climate change summit in New York this month to commit more to adaptation. But Bob Ward of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment said: “Britain’s failure to adapt to our changing climate could severely undermine efforts to persuade other countries to invest more in resilience. The UK may have a good track record of helping poor countries to become more resilient but we are not doing enough. The country needs to lead by example.”

The UK is bidding to host another international summit, that is to be held in December 2020, the fifth anniversary of the Paris climate agreement. “If the UK wants to host that crucial summit, which will dictate the path we take to combating global warming, we will need to be seen to be doing a lot more about climate change,” added Ward ...

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/07/brexit-stalling-britain-vital-action-climate-change

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9. Soubry 'too frightened' by counter protesters to address anti-Brexit rally

... Anna Soubry, leader of the Independent Group for Change, said she was too “frightened” to speak at the rally due to counter-protests from the DFLA and left after consulting with the police ...

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/brexit-clash-parliament-today-protesters-democratic-lads-football-alliance-latest-a9095776.html

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10. Diane Abbott lashes out at fascists

y KATIE WESTON
PUBLISHED: 16:33, Sat, Sep 7, 2019
UPDATED: 22:32, Sat, Sep 7, 2019


... The Shadow Home Secretary ... Speaking at the anti-Brexit protest .. said: “It’s fantastic to see you all here.

“And one thing we’re saying, because there are one or two fascists hanging about, fascists are not going to keep us off the streets.

“It’s not been a great week for Boris Johnson, but I think we can assure him that it is going to get much worse.

“And I might add, I don’t want to get personal, but if his own brother can’t trust him, why should we? ...

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1175142/Brexit-news-Diane-Abbott-latest-protest-Stop-the-Coup-London-today-anti-march-2019