United Kingdom

    British motorists might be stopped from driving in Europe after Brexit because UK licences will no longer be recognised, it has been claimed. If ministers fail to strike a deal with the EU on transport holidaymakers might find themselves unable to hire a car on the Continent. During a presentation yesterday the European Commission suggested the mutual recognition of driving licences could be withdrawn as a “consequence of the UK becoming a third country in the road transport sector”. It said if the UK left the internal market all current EU law-based rights, obligations and benefits would cease. This would mean the end of mutual recognition of driving licences, vehicle registration documents and certificates of professional competence for drivers, the Commission s...

    Jeremy Corbyn has won an apology and payout from a Tory MP who tweeted the Labour leader had sold secrets to Communist spies. Ben Bradley tweeted Corbyn sold British secrets to communist spies on Monday but then deleted it after he was threatened with legal action. It came amid headlines alleging Corbyn had met a Czech spy in his early days an MP in the late 1980s On Saturday, it was announced Bradley had agreed to pay Corbyn’s legal costs and an undisclosed substantial sum to charity for the tweet. Labour said Bradley, who is also Tory Party vice chair, was due to tweet: “I fully accept my statement was was wholly untrue and false. I accept that I caused distress and upset to Jeremy Corbyn by my untrue and false allegations, suggesting he betrayed his country by...

    Theresa May Britain's best days really do lie ahead of us, Theresa May has said in comments ahead of a key speech about Brexit. The Prime Minister will hold a special Cabinet meeting on Thursday ahead of her speech in the North East the day after. It comes after she held a war Cabinet meeting at her country residence Chequers to work out forthcoming Brexit negotiations strategy. Mrs May said: On Thursday, I told the Cabinet committee at Chequers that the deal we negotiate with the EU must present an ambitious future for our great country. Next week I will present the committee's conclusions to an additional session of the full Cabinet before travelling to the North East on Friday to give a speech setting out this Government's vision of what our future economic par...

    Former and current detainees met with Diane Abbot on Friday About 120 detainees in immigration detention centre Yarl's Wood have reportedly been on four days of hunger strike against continued incarceration of migrants in the UK. The detainees, who are all women, began striking on 21 February, in a protest at what they described as some of the most offensive government practices on immigration. They include the detention of survivors of rape, torture and human trafficking, poor heath care conditions, and the detention of people indefinitely and without the decision of a judge. In a note circulated by campaigners online, detainees say the Home Office is overwhelmed, not fit for purpose and operates in a rogue manner. This is a fraction of the 30,000 who enter the U...

    The Archbishop of Canterbury says Meghan Markle's divorce is something the Church of England has dealt with in the same way it would with any other couple. Speaking as he prepares to officiate at Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry in May, the Most Reverend Justin Welby was asked whether her previous marriage was an issue. We went through that as anyone would who will officiate at a wedding where someone has been separated and a partner is still living. The Church of England agreed in 2002 that divorced people could remarry in church, with the discretion of the priest. Ms Markle married American film producer Trevor Engelson in 2011. They filed for divorce in 2013, citing irreconcilable differences. It was also confirmed that the service will begin at midday at St G...

    The former Prime Minister dismissed the Government’s claim of a new unity and purpose after the Chequers away day arguing the Cabinet was still trying to have cake and eat it. Mr Blair said there were still irreconcilable differences between ministers and, just as crucially, no majority in Parliament for any of the many proposed versions of Brexit. There is a real possibility of an impasse in Parliament, he told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme In those circumstances, Mr Blair said, the case is ever more stronger for this going back to people to allow them a final say in the deal that is actually agreed by the Government. Arguing the Commons is key, he added: I think it is increasingly unlikely that they are going to get a proposition through the House of Comm...

    It seems like South Korea is having a great few weeks. With the Winter Olympics in full swing and global eyes on the Asian nation, it has just been revealed that it is now the proud owners of the world’s most powerful passport. Tied with Singapore, South Korea is able to enter 162 countries visa-free, beating out Japan and Germany who can both enter 161 countries sans visa. These findings were presented by the Passport Index, which is constantly tracking passport allowances and updating as frequently as new visa waivers and changes are implemented. In a recent statement, the company said during 2017 that it saw a massive surge of Asian countries climbing the ranks in terms of being able to enter other countries visa-free. We are currently seeing not one but two...

    Brexit plans thrashed out in a meeting of key Cabinet ministers on Thursday are an illusion, Donald Tusk has claimed. The European Council president said he was glad the government was coming up with more detailed plans but suggested the UK was still trying to have its cake and eat it. Theresa May is to deliver a long-awaited speech setting out her vision for Britain’s future relationship with the European Union on Friday March 2. The Prime Minister cleared the way for the speech by securing agreement from senior ministers at a meeting at Chequers on Thursday on key features of the future relationship. The Government will pursue a policy putting Britain outside a customs union with the EU but matching Brussels rules in certain sectors in an attempt to achieve fric...

    Police say they are treating as a racist hate crime a letter containing white powder sent to Meghan Markle, which sparked an anthrax scare. The letter was received this month at St James’s Palace in central London. The powder inside was found to be harmless after being examined by experts. It is understood the package contained a racist note and was received on February 12. The force added: The matter is being investigated by officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. Markle, a successful actress, is from a mixed-race background. The couple are due to be married in May. The letter was received at the palace shortly before a package containing white powder also prompted a scare at the Palace of Westminster. Prince Harry has acknowledged dating American ac...