Theresa May says this week the UK is hosting the Commonwealth heads of government meeting. She says MPs will want to join her in welcoming leaders from 52 countries to London, who collectively represent a third of the world’s population.
The summit will focus particularly on how to revitalise the institution.
On the Daily Politics Ian Lavery, the Labour party chair, has just told Andrew Neil that he thinks around 100 Labour party members are being investigated for antisemitism. Asked about the complaints about Ken Livingstone, who is suspended in relation to comments seen as antisemitic pending a final decision, Lavery said that the case should have been resolved more quickly and that he hoped it would be resolved soon.
Theresa May met the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Downing Street this morning. According to Number 10, Anglo-Indian trade deals worth £1bn have been agreed today. And they discussed Brexit. Here is an extract from the Number 10 readout.
The prime minister updated Prime Minister Modi on the progress of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, saying the implementation period agreed in March gives Indian companies and investors the confidence that market access will continue on current terms until the end of 2020.
She reiterated that the UK will remain committed to global free trade and investment and that the UK will remain a leading hub for global finance.
Prime Minister Modi said there would be no dilution in the importance of the UK to India post-Brexit. He said the City of London was of great importance to India for accessing the global markets and would remain so.
The two leaders said trade between the UK and India had grown strongly over the last year and Prime Minister Modisaid that Brexit offers opportunities to further increase trade ties.
Ofcom announces 7 investigations in RT, saying since Salisbury its impartiality record has deteriorated
Here is the Ofcom statement in full.
Ofcom has today opened seven new investigations into the due impartiality of news and current affairs programmes on the RT news channel.
The investigations form part of an Ofcom update, published today, into the licences held by TV Novosti, the company that broadcasts RT.
Until recently, TV Novosti’s overall compliance record has not been materially out of line with other broadcasters.
However, since the events in Salisbury, we have observed a significant increase in the number of programmes on the RT service that warrant investigation as potential breaches of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.
We will announce the outcome of these investigations as soon as possible. In relation to our fit and proper duty, we will consider all relevant new evidence, including the outcome of these investigations and the future conduct of the licensee.
Ann Taylor, the former Labour MP and committee chair, goes next.
Q: What would happen if the resolution was amended to require a second vote?
Baker says this would be very controversial. The public have decided, he says. He says people do not want to be asked again.
Parliament needs to respect that democratic decision, he says. It needs to show people that, when they voted in 2016, that had meaning. There must not be attempts to stay in via the back door or to reverse the decision. He says parliament backed triggering article 50 by a large majority.
Q: But what would happen if it were carried?
Baker says the government would look at it carefully.
But the government will ask parliament to approve the withdrawal agreement and the future partnership proposal as a package.
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