EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned on Wednesday that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/after-brexit-defeat-in-parliament-pm-theresa-mays-government-to-face-no-confidence-vote-today-190589">British Parliament's overwhelming rejection </a>of a negotiated Brexit deal increases the risk that Britain will crash out of the European Union without an agreement.

"We are 10 weeks from the 31st of March and at 10 weeks the risk of a no deal has never seemed so high," Barnier told a session of the European Parliament in the eastern French city of Strasbourg.

Amid the political crisis, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/how-europe-reacted-to-brexit-deal-defeat-190587">France's Europe Minister Nathalie Loiseau</a> said the European Union could push back the looming March 29 Brexit deadline if London made such a request.

"Legally, technically, it's possible," Loiseau told France Inter radio.

"The British need to ask for it and there needs to be a unanimous agreement among the 27 other members of the European Union to say: 'Alright, you chose March 29 as the leaving date... Ok, we'll push it back."

Meanwhile, London's FTSE 100 index rose slightly at the open on Wednesday after the UK parliament handed the British government a bruising defeat over its Brexit deal with the EU.

The benchmark index of 100 companies gained 0.2 per cent to 6,910.20 points.&nbsp;

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 rose 0.5 per cent to 10,940.36 points and the Paris CAC 40 climbed 0.5 per cent to 4,811.59.

Prime Minister Theresa May will face a confidence vote today after MPs overwhelmingly rejected her deal to leave the European Union, leaving Britain with no plan as it hurtles towards Brexit on March 29.

May suffered the largest government defeat in modern British history on Tuesday night when the House of Commons rejected by 432 votes to 202 the withdrawal agreement she struck with Brussels late last year.

EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned on Wednesday that the British Parliament's overwhelming rejection of a negotiated Brexit deal increases the risk that Britain will crash out of the European Union without an agreement.

EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned on Wednesday that the British Parliament's overwhelming rejection of a negotiated Brexit deal increases the risk that Britain will crash out of the European Union without an agreement. "We are 10 weeks from the 31st of March and at 10 weeks the risk of a no deal has never seemed so high," Barnier told a session of the European Parliament in the eastern French city of Strasbourg. Amid the political crisis, France's Europe Minister Nathalie Loiseau said the European Union could push back the looming March 29 Brexit deadline if London made such a request. "Legally, technically, it's possible," Loiseau told France Inter radio. "The British need to ask for it and there needs to be a unanimous agreement among the 27 other members of the European Union to say: 'Alright, you chose March 29 as the leaving date... Ok, we'll push it back." Meanwhile, London's FTSE 100 index rose slightly at the open on Wednesday after the UK parliament handed the British government a bruising defeat over its Brexit deal with the EU. The benchmark index of 100 companies gained 0.2 per cent to 6,910.20 points. In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 rose 0.5 per cent to 10,940.36 points and the Paris CAC 40 climbed 0.5 per cent to 4,811.59. Prime Minister Theresa May will face a confidence vote today after MPs overwhelmingly rejected her deal to leave the European Union, leaving Britain with no plan as it hurtles towards Brexit on March 29. May suffered the largest government defeat in modern British history on Tuesday night when the House of Commons rejected by 432 votes to 202 the withdrawal agreement she struck with Brussels late last year.

Risk of 'no deal' has never seemed so high, says EU negotiator after PM May loses Brexit vote in Parliament

The United Kingdom will leave the European Union on March 29 and is not looking to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-may-says-any-article-50-extension-reopens-the-brexit-negotiations-180269"> extend the Article 50 exit process</a>, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said on Tuesday.

The Daily Telegraph reported that British and European officials are discussing the possibility of extending Britain's formal notice to withdraw from the EU amid fears a Brexit deal will not be approved by March 29.

"The government's policy is clear on this, the prime minister has said it on many an occasion: We are leaving the European Union on the 29th of March. We are not looking to extend," Barclay told Sky News.

When asked if any lawmakers in the Conservative Party had changed their minds on opposing May's deal, Barclay said: "Some have said they are much more open to but it is obviously challenging."

The Daily Telegraph reported that British and European officials are discussing the possibility of extending Britain's formal notice to withdraw from the EU.

The United Kingdom will leave the European Union on March 29 and is not looking to extend the Article 50 exit process, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said on Tuesday. The Daily Telegraph reported that British and European officials are discussing the possibility of extending Britain's formal notice to withdraw from the EU amid fears a Brexit deal will not be approved by March 29. "The government's policy is clear on this, the prime minister has said it on many an occasion: We are leaving the European Union on the 29th of March. We are not looking to extend," Barclay told Sky News. When asked if any lawmakers in the Conservative Party had changed their minds on opposing May's deal, Barclay said: "Some have said they are much more open to but it is obviously challenging."

UK not looking to extend Article 50: Brexit minister Stephen Barclay

The candidate selected by Britain's ruling Conservative Party to contest against London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the 2020 mayoral elections on Wednesday came under fire for the views he expressed 13 years ago about Hindus and Muslims.

Shaun Bailey had written a pamphlet for the Centre for Policy Studies back in 2005 in which he lamented Hindu and Muslim influences on the cultural landscape of Britain.

"You bring your children to school and they learn far more about Diwali than Christmas," he wrote in the pamphlet titled 'No Man's Land'.

Bailey, a member of the London Assembly, also seemed to be confused about the difference between Hindu with Hindi in the controversial document he had put together as a researcher with the London-based think tank.

"I speak to the people who are from Brent [north-west London] and they've been having Muslim and Hindi days off. What it does is rob Britain of its community. Without our community we slip into a crime-riddled cesspool," he wrote.

The central theme of the pamphlet seemed to reflect his views that Christianity was being sidelined in the UK as a result of multiculturalism.

"There are a lot of really good things about Britain as a place and British people as a body. But by removing the religion that British people generally take to, by removing the ethics that generally go with it, we've allowed people to come to Britain and bring their culture, their country and any problems they might have, with them," he wrote.

The MP, who is black, added: "Within the black community it is not such a bad thing because we've shared a religion and in many cases a language.

"It's far easier for black people to integrate. How we arrived here is different. If you talk to old black people, they will say they have been invited here by the Queen. They absolutely do not consider themselves refugees or immigrants."

The pamphlet has caused outrage among the Labour Party colleagues of Sadiq Khan, the first Asian of Pakistani-origin, with veteran Indian-origin MP Virendra Sharma calling on the Conservatives to withdraw Bailey's candidature for the 2020 local elections.

"It is appalling that in this day and age even the Tories can select a candidate for Mayor of London with views this outdated and objectionable.&nbsp; 
I don't see how Shaun Bailey can continue as candidate having written off the multiculturalism that makes London great," said Sharma, who is also co-chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

The senior politician questioned Baliey's ability to be an ambassador for a diverse city like London and travel to countries like India, Pakistan or Indonesia to boost business for the British capital.

"Bailey seems to believe that celebrating Hindu and Muslim culture will 'rob Britain of its community' and we will 'slip into a crime-riddled cesspool'. The messages of my faith Hinduism are of tolerance, compassion, honesty and self-restraint, lessons that Mr Bailey would do well to learn," he said.

The Tell MAMA [Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks] organisation, which records Islamophobic hate incidents in the UK, also attacked the mayoral hopeful.

"We do not tolerate such views about Muslim and Hindu communities. Nor do we tolerate any hatred or racism directed towards any other community. We will raise this further," Tell MAMA said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Bailey dismissed the attacks, saying the politician had worked with diverse communities for over 20 years and was in tune with the challenges faced by black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the UK.

"Whether it is working with one of London's biggest Muslim communities in North Kensington or helping young people from all communities to fulfil their potential, Shaun has always championed diverse communities.

"Shaun has made it his life's work to help those from migrant and disadvantaged communities, and to suggest otherwise is ludicrous," the spokesperson said.

The candidate selected by Britain's ruling Conservative Party to contest against London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the 2020 mayoral elections on Wednesday came under fire for the views he expressed 13 years ago about Hindus and Muslims.

The candidate selected by Britain's ruling Conservative Party to contest against London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the 2020 mayoral elections on Wednesday came under fire for the views he expressed 13 years ago about Hindus and Muslims. Shaun Bailey had written a pamphlet for the Centre for Policy Studies back in 2005 in which he lamented Hindu and Muslim influences on the cultural landscape of Britain. "You bring your children to school and they learn far more about Diwali than Christmas," he wrote in the pamphlet titled 'No Man's Land'. Bailey, a member of the London Assembly, also seemed to be confused about the difference between Hindu with Hindi in the controversial document he had put together as a researcher with the London-based think tank. "I speak to the people who are from Brent [north-west London] and they've been having Muslim and Hindi days off. What it does is rob Britain of its community. Without our community we slip into a crime-riddled cesspool," he wrote. The central theme of the pamphlet seemed to reflect his views that Christianity was being sidelined in the UK as a result of multiculturalism. "There are a lot of really good things about Britain as a place and British people as a body. But by removing the religion that British people generally take to, by removing the ethics that generally go with it, we've allowed people to come to Britain and bring their culture, their country and any problems they might have, with them," he wrote. The MP, who is black, added: "Within the black community it is not such a bad thing because we've shared a religion and in many cases a language. "It's far easier for black people to integrate. How we arrived here is different. If you talk to old black people, they will say they have been invited here by the Queen. They absolutely do not consider themselves refugees or immigrants." The pamphlet has caused outrage among the Labour Party colleagues of Sadiq Khan, the first Asian of Pakistani-origin, with veteran Indian-origin MP Virendra Sharma calling on the Conservatives to withdraw Bailey's candidature for the 2020 local elections. "It is appalling that in this day and age even the Tories can select a candidate for Mayor of London with views this outdated and objectionable. I don't see how Shaun Bailey can continue as candidate having written off the multiculturalism that makes London great," said Sharma, who is also co-chair of the Indo-British All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). The senior politician questioned Baliey's ability to be an ambassador for a diverse city like London and travel to countries like India, Pakistan or Indonesia to boost business for the British capital. "Bailey seems to believe that celebrating Hindu and Muslim culture will 'rob Britain of its community' and we will 'slip into a crime-riddled cesspool'. The messages of my faith Hinduism are of tolerance, compassion, honesty and self-restraint, lessons that Mr Bailey would do well to learn," he said. The Tell MAMA [Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks] organisation, which records Islamophobic hate incidents in the UK, also attacked the mayoral hopeful. "We do not tolerate such views about Muslim and Hindu communities. Nor do we tolerate any hatred or racism directed towards any other community. We will raise this further," Tell MAMA said in a statement. A spokesperson for Bailey dismissed the attacks, saying the politician had worked with diverse communities for over 20 years and was in tune with the challenges faced by black and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the UK. "Whether it is working with one of London's biggest Muslim communities in North Kensington or helping young people from all communities to fulfil their potential, Shaun has always championed diverse communities. "Shaun has made it his life's work to help those from migrant and disadvantaged communities, and to suggest otherwise is ludicrous," the spokesperson said.

London mayoral candidate under fire for views on Hindus, Muslims

Britain will end preferential access for European Union workers after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday, saying she wanted to attract high-skilled immigrants wherever they were from.

In an announcement at her Conservative party conference, May said she would publish plans for a single system for EU and non-EU countries later this year, ahead of a bill to be published in 2019.

Immigration was a key issue in the Brexit campaign ahead of the 2016 vote to leave the bloc.

May said the EU's free movement of people will end with Brexit and "for the first time in decades, it will be this country that controls and chooses who we want to come here".

"It will be a skills-based system where it is workers' skills that matter, not where they come from," she said in a statement.

"It will be a system that looks across the globe and attracts the people with the skills we need."

She added: "For too long people have felt they have been ignored on immigration and that politicians have not taken their concerns seriously enough.

"The new skills-based system will make sure low skilled immigration is brought down and set the UK on the path to reduce immigration to sustainable levels, as we promised.&nbsp;

"At the same time we are training up British people for the skilled jobs of the future."

The announcement follows a government-commissioned report that last month recommended a level playing field for people coming from overseas but restrictions on low-skilled workers.

May said that those wanting to live and work in Britain for the long term would need to earn a minimum salary, and would only be able to bring their family if sponsored by their future employers.

However, she conceded that immigration policy could be affected by Britain's future trade deals.

The EU may seek to negotiate continued preferential treatment in return for Britain's access to its single market, while other countries could also seek visa waivers as part of their own trade agreements.

"The ability of people from trading partners to deliver services and student exchange programmes will form part of future trade agreements," the prime minister said.

The government has already promised to protect the rights of more than three million EU citizens currently living in Britain after Brexit, even if there is no divorce deal.

Britain will end preferential access for European Union workers after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday, saying she wanted to attract high-skilled immigrants wherever they were from.

Britain will end preferential access for European Union workers after Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Tuesday, saying she wanted to attract high-skilled immigrants wherever they were from. In an announcement at her Conservative party conference, May said she would publish plans for a single system for EU and non-EU countries later this year, ahead of a bill to be published in 2019. Immigration was a key issue in the Brexit campaign ahead of the 2016 vote to leave the bloc. May said the EU's free movement of people will end with Brexit and "for the first time in decades, it will be this country that controls and chooses who we want to come here". "It will be a skills-based system where it is workers' skills that matter, not where they come from," she said in a statement. "It will be a system that looks across the globe and attracts the people with the skills we need." She added: "For too long people have felt they have been ignored on immigration and that politicians have not taken their concerns seriously enough. "The new skills-based system will make sure low skilled immigration is brought down and set the UK on the path to reduce immigration to sustainable levels, as we promised. "At the same time we are training up British people for the skilled jobs of the future." The announcement follows a government-commissioned report that last month recommended a level playing field for people coming from overseas but restrictions on low-skilled workers. May said that those wanting to live and work in Britain for the long term would need to earn a minimum salary, and would only be able to bring their family if sponsored by their future employers. However, she conceded that immigration policy could be affected by Britain's future trade deals. The EU may seek to negotiate continued preferential treatment in return for Britain's access to its single market, while other countries could also seek visa waivers as part of their own trade agreements. "The ability of people from trading partners to deliver services and student exchange programmes will form part of future trade agreements," the prime minister said. The government has already promised to protect the rights of more than three million EU citizens currently living in Britain after Brexit, even if there is no divorce deal.

Britain will stop favouring EU workers after Brexit: PM Theresa May

Prime Minister Theresa May will urge her Conservative Party on Monday to show unity when parliament votes on changes to her Brexit blueprint, a potential showdown that could reshape her approach to Britain's departure from the EU.

Lawmakers will vote on Tuesday and Wednesday this week on amendments to the EU withdrawal bill, legislation to sever ties with the bloc by essentially copying and pasting the bloc's laws so that Britain's legal system can function after March next year.

Her government is most vulnerable over an amendment, introduced by the upper house of parliament, to change the so-called "meaningful vote" on any final Brexit deal by handing the lower house more power to set the "direction" of the government if it rejects the agreement.

She will also be tested by rebels in her own party over her commitment to leave the EU's single market and customs union, which will transform Britain's future trading relationship for many years to come.

May is expected to address a meeting of Conservative members called the 1922 Committee later on Monday and will repeat her stance that the EU withdrawal bill is purely technical "to ensure a smooth and orderly transition as we leave".

"The message we send to the country through our votes this week is important. We must be clear that we are united as a party in our determination to deliver on the decision made by the British people," she is expected to say.

"They want us to deliver on Brexit and build a brighter future for Britain as we take back control of our money, our laws and our borders."

May is struggling to unite not only her party but her top team of ministers over how to leave the EU, particularly over the future customs arrangements which have pitted those wanting closer ties with the EU against others who demand a clean break.

She got backing over the weekend, when two Conservative lawmakers from either side of the debate -- Amber Rudd, a former pro-EU campaigner and interior minister, and Iain Duncan Smith, a leading eurosceptic, joined forces to urge members to "march in lockstep behind the prime minister as she delivers on the vote".

But with only 10 months left before Britain is due to leave, her government is under pressure from EU negotiators, businesses wanting clarity, and from many in the country to start taking decisions on its preferred future trading ties.

May's decision to leave the customs union, which sets tariffs for goods imported into the EU, has also been criticised for raising the prospect of a "hard" border on the island of Ireland, which some fear could reignite sectarian violence.

She was forced into crisis meetings with her pro-Brexit ministers last week over fall back measures that would ensure no return to a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is in the EU.

The opposition Labour Party wants Britain to negotiate a new customs union with the EU and there are several Conservative lawmakers who want the close ties the, or a, customs union offers to offer certainty to businesses.

The government is trying to overturn 14 amendments handed down by the House of Lords but may swallow a defeat on the customs union because of the vague wording which only requires ministers to report what efforts they had made to secure a customs union by the end of October.

The opposition Labour Party wants Britain to negotiate a new customs union with the EU

Prime Minister Theresa May will urge her Conservative Party on Monday to show unity when parliament votes on changes to her Brexit blueprint, a potential showdown that could reshape her approach to Britain's departure from the EU. Lawmakers will vote on Tuesday and Wednesday this week on amendments to the EU withdrawal bill, legislation to sever ties with the bloc by essentially copying and pasting the bloc's laws so that Britain's legal system can function after March next year. Her government is most vulnerable over an amendment, introduced by the upper house of parliament, to change the so-called "meaningful vote" on any final Brexit deal by handing the lower house more power to set the "direction" of the government if it rejects the agreement. She will also be tested by rebels in her own party over her commitment to leave the EU's single market and customs union, which will transform Britain's future trading relationship for many years to come. May is expected to address a meeting of Conservative members called the 1922 Committee later on Monday and will repeat her stance that the EU withdrawal bill is purely technical "to ensure a smooth and orderly transition as we leave". "The message we send to the country through our votes this week is important. We must be clear that we are united as a party in our determination to deliver on the decision made by the British people," she is expected to say. "They want us to deliver on Brexit and build a brighter future for Britain as we take back control of our money, our laws and our borders." May is struggling to unite not only her party but her top team of ministers over how to leave the EU, particularly over the future customs arrangements which have pitted those wanting closer ties with the EU against others who demand a clean break. She got backing over the weekend, when two Conservative lawmakers from either side of the debate -- Amber Rudd, a former pro-EU campaigner and interior minister, and Iain Duncan Smith, a leading eurosceptic, joined forces to urge members to "march in lockstep behind the prime minister as she delivers on the vote". But with only 10 months left before Britain is due to leave, her government is under pressure from EU negotiators, businesses wanting clarity, and from many in the country to start taking decisions on its preferred future trading ties. May's decision to leave the customs union, which sets tariffs for goods imported into the EU, has also been criticised for raising the prospect of a "hard" border on the island of Ireland, which some fear could reignite sectarian violence. She was forced into crisis meetings with her pro-Brexit ministers last week over fall back measures that would ensure no return to a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which is in the EU. The opposition Labour Party wants Britain to negotiate a new customs union with the EU and there are several Conservative lawmakers who want the close ties the, or a, customs union offers to offer certainty to businesses. The government is trying to overturn 14 amendments handed down by the House of Lords but may swallow a defeat on the customs union because of the vague wording which only requires ministers to report what efforts they had made to secure a customs union by the end of October.

Britain's Theresa May to urge Conservative unity before parliament's votes

Voters in London are expected to punish Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party at local government elections this week which could embolden critics of her Brexit strategy, but are not expected to trigger her downfall.

London and some other regions will on Thursday elect the local officials in charge of day-to-day public spending - a vote as much about issues like refuse collection and road repairs as it is about the national debate on immigration and May’s plan to take Britain out of the European Union after a 2016 referendum.

The elections which are seen as a public sentiment and polls&nbsp

The elections are seen as a bellwether of public sentiment and polls show voters are ready to deliver a critical verdict on both May’s leadership and her party’s eight years spent pursuing a policy of public spending cuts to shore up Britain’s finances.

“A government that’s been in power for eight years with an austerity programme is naturally going to suffer at elections,” said Robert Hayward, a former Conservative lawmaker who now sits in parliament’s upper house and specialises in polling analysis.

A YouGov survey published on April 26 gave the opposition Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, a 22 percentage point lead over the Conservatives in London, putting it on course for its best performance in the capital for 40 years.

Thursday’s vote will come less than a year after a snap parliamentary election splintered the previously rock-solid foundations of May’s position, stripping her party of its majority in a vote she had expected to win easily.

The result of that general election has been a weakened leadership, open dissent among Conservative lawmakers over exiting the EU and a nagging fear for some investors that her government could fall and be replaced by socialist-led Labour.

Thursday will not directly affect May’s practical ability to govern: the vote does not cause seats in parliament to change hands and the slim working majority she has thanks to a deal with a smaller party will be unaffected.

But a below-par performance will embolden critics in her party and could then complicate the already-difficult task of executing her Brexit plan without making concessions to pro-EU factions, such as agreeing to stay in the EU customs union.

“Politicians always look at the last set of election results and by definition they’re going to look at what happens on May 3 and make a judgement on that,” Hayward said.

“It will have an impact on what has to happen in the budget, ‘Do I take a more militant view in relation to the Customs Union, or Brexit, or nurses, or numbers of policemen?’

The key results in London will be Wandsworth and Westminster, both boroughs with a strong Conservative tradition that are now within reach of Labour.

However, anything short of a total Conservative wipeout is not expected to generate renewed calls for her to quit.

Although her party is deeply divided over Brexit, neither the faction that seeks a clean break from the EU nor those who favour a closer relationship have shown an appetite for a leadership contest before Britain has left the bloc.

Low Expectations

Fortunately for May, expectations are low.

London has in recent decades voted more towards Labour, favouring its more liberal policies on immigration and social issues. The Conservatives currently control only eight of 32 boroughs outright.&nbsp

Labour’s surprise surge in popularity under Corbyn, a crucial factor in May 2017’s election flop, was also strongly felt in London. The party won 54.5 per cent of votes in London last year - more than any other party for at least 70 years.

Factor in deep spending cuts overseen by May and her predecessor David Cameron, and the unpopularity of Brexit in a city that voted 60-40 against it - compared with a 52-48 per cent margin in favour nationally, and some of the remaining Conservative strongholds are expected to be under threat.

But the grim outlook leaves room for May to outperform. Polling suggests her handling of a nerve agent attack against a former Russian double agent in England in March and the decision to take military action in Syria has improved her public image.

Conversely, Labour could gain seats and control of boroughs in London but still fail to live up to the huge expectations generated by last summer’s stronger-than-forecast general election result.

“It’s more difficult for Labour to come out of this doing really well than the Tories given how low the expectations are,” said Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics Department of Government.

While May has gained from recent national and international crises, Corbyn has been criticised by opponents and some in his own party for misjudging the public mood in his responses.

The party has also recently found itself bogged down in a high-profile dispute with the Jewish community over what they say is its failure to stamp out anti-Semitism within the party.

That could affect its ability to get control of winnable boroughs like Barnet, which has the highest proportion of Jewish residents in England at 15.5 per cent according to the latest census data.

Nevertheless, polls show Labour will still make gains.

Labour activists say that is continuing evidence of the potency of “the Corbyn Project”, and even if headline gains from the Conservatives do not materialise, they have their eyes on a bigger prize.

“We’ve been treating the whole thing as a bit of a general election dry run, really... refining campaigning techniques and trying to come up with new ones,” said Joseph Todd, a spokesman for the influential pro-Corbyn grassroots campaign group Momentum. “This is the next step for the Corbyn Project.”

London and some other regions will on Thursday elect the local officials in charge of day-to-day public spending - a vote as much about issues like refuse collection and road repairs as it is about the national debate on immigration and May’s plan to take Britain out of the European Union after a 2016 referendum

Voters in London are expected to punish Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party at local government elections this week which could embolden critics of her Brexit strategy, but are not expected to trigger her downfall. London and some other regions will on Thursday elect the local officials in charge of day-to-day public spending - a vote as much about issues like refuse collection and road repairs as it is about the national debate on immigration and May’s plan to take Britain out of the European Union after a 2016 referendum. The elections which are seen as a public sentiment and polls The elections are seen as a bellwether of public sentiment and polls show voters are ready to deliver a critical verdict on both May’s leadership and her party’s eight years spent pursuing a policy of public spending cuts to shore up Britain’s finances. “A government that’s been in power for eight years with an austerity programme is naturally going to suffer at elections,” said Robert Hayward, a former Conservative lawmaker who now sits in parliament’s upper house and specialises in polling analysis. A YouGov survey published on April 26 gave the opposition Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, a 22 percentage point lead over the Conservatives in London, putting it on course for its best performance in the capital for 40 years. Thursday’s vote will come less than a year after a snap parliamentary election splintered the previously rock-solid foundations of May’s position, stripping her party of its majority in a vote she had expected to win easily. The result of that general election has been a weakened leadership, open dissent among Conservative lawmakers over exiting the EU and a nagging fear for some investors that her government could fall and be replaced by socialist-led Labour. Thursday will not directly affect May’s practical ability to govern: the vote does not cause seats in parliament to change hands and the slim working majority she has thanks to a deal with a smaller party will be unaffected. But a below-par performance will embolden critics in her party and could then complicate the already-difficult task of executing her Brexit plan without making concessions to pro-EU factions, such as agreeing to stay in the EU customs union. “Politicians always look at the last set of election results and by definition they’re going to look at what happens on May 3 and make a judgement on that,” Hayward said. “It will have an impact on what has to happen in the budget, ‘Do I take a more militant view in relation to the Customs Union, or Brexit, or nurses, or numbers of policemen?’ The key results in London will be Wandsworth and Westminster, both boroughs with a strong Conservative tradition that are now within reach of Labour. However, anything short of a total Conservative wipeout is not expected to generate renewed calls for her to quit. Although her party is deeply divided over Brexit, neither the faction that seeks a clean break from the EU nor those who favour a closer relationship have shown an appetite for a leadership contest before Britain has left the bloc. Low Expectations Fortunately for May, expectations are low. London has in recent decades voted more towards Labour, favouring its more liberal policies on immigration and social issues. The Conservatives currently control only eight of 32 boroughs outright. Labour’s surprise surge in popularity under Corbyn, a crucial factor in May 2017’s election flop, was also strongly felt in London. The party won 54.5 per cent of votes in London last year - more than any other party for at least 70 years. Factor in deep spending cuts overseen by May and her predecessor David Cameron, and the unpopularity of Brexit in a city that voted 60-40 against it - compared with a 52-48 per cent margin in favour nationally, and some of the remaining Conservative strongholds are expected to be under threat. But the grim outlook leaves room for May to outperform. Polling suggests her handling of a nerve agent attack against a former Russian double agent in England in March and the decision to take military action in Syria has improved her public image. Conversely, Labour could gain seats and control of boroughs in London but still fail to live up to the huge expectations generated by last summer’s stronger-than-forecast general election result. “It’s more difficult for Labour to come out of this doing really well than the Tories given how low the expectations are,” said Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics Department of Government. While May has gained from recent national and international crises, Corbyn has been criticised by opponents and some in his own party for misjudging the public mood in his responses. The party has also recently found itself bogged down in a high-profile dispute with the Jewish community over what they say is its failure to stamp out anti-Semitism within the party. That could affect its ability to get control of winnable boroughs like Barnet, which has the highest proportion of Jewish residents in England at 15.5 per cent according to the latest census data. Nevertheless, polls show Labour will still make gains. Labour activists say that is continuing evidence of the potency of “the Corbyn Project”, and even if headline gains from the Conservatives do not materialise, they have their eyes on a bigger prize. “We’ve been treating the whole thing as a bit of a general election dry run, really... refining campaigning techniques and trying to come up with new ones,” said Joseph Todd, a spokesman for the influential pro-Corbyn grassroots campaign group Momentum. “This is the next step for the Corbyn Project.”

London elections set to leave British PM May down, but not out

&nbsp;

By&nbsp;Rajendra K. Jain*

In calling for a snap UK elections on 8 June 2017 &ndash; the third one in two years &ndash;Prime Minister Theresa May hoped to &ldquo;guarantee certainty and security for years ahead&rdquo; by significantly increasing her majority in Parliament. What she sought was a &ldquo;strong and stable&rdquo; mandate to steer Britain through an uncertain period and ending 44 years of association with the European Union. With a significant 20-point lead, her logic seemed almost infallible at the time of the announcement.

&nbsp;

In the desultory six-week electoral campaign, there was no serious discussion on either Brexit or the key bread-and-butter issues confronting the country. Theresa May ran a dismal campaign. She increasingly came across as an uninspiring, insipid leader who was media-shy and clearly uncomfortable when confronted with difficult questions. She was assailed for making a major policy U-turn on care for the elderly. She also came under severe criticism for her poor handling of recent terror attacks in Manchester and London and for her role as Home Secretary when she oversaw cuts to the police force. On the eve of elections, her significant lead had declined to around 7 per cent.

&nbsp;

The results of recent general elections represent one of the biggest political upsets in British history and a hung parliament for the seventh time since the beginning of the 20th century. In what became a two-party contest, both the Green Party and the right-wing, Euroskeptic United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) were wiped out.

&nbsp;

With 649 of 650 seats declared so far, the Conservative Party won 318 seats and loss of a clear majority (down from 331 seats and a majority of 17 seats). The Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party got 261 seats for the Labour Party (a gain of 31 seats and a larger voice in Parliament). The smaller parties won Scottish National Party (35 seats), Liberal Democrats (12 seats), and Democratic Union Party (10 seats).

&nbsp;

Theresa May, therefore, grossly miscalculated and ended in a worse situation than in what she was before the elections. By hindsight, the snap general elections seem almost foolhardy: there was no need whatsoever as Theresa May and her party would have remained in office until 2020 if they had not been held.

&nbsp;

As the leader of the largest party with the greatest voting share, Theresa May is making efforts to cobble together a government with the support of the Northern Ireland-based Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

&nbsp;

While the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker expressed hope that the election result would have &ldquo;no major impact&rdquo; on Brexit negotiations, and that divorce talks could start as per schedule on 19th June. The EU&rsquo;s chief negotiator Michel Barnier also tweeted that the &ldquo;timetable and EU positions are clear&rdquo; and negotiations should start &ldquo;when the UK is ready&rdquo;. Negotiations will have to be concluded by April 2019, i.e. two years after Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty was triggered. This is fixed in treaty law.

&nbsp;

The EU-27 have mandated a two-stage process: first negotiating the terms of divorce and exit formalities prior to envisaging the architecture of future relations with the UK. London, however, would prefer simultaneous or parallel discussions on divorce terms and future or transitional arrangements in place. There may not be enough time to successfully complete both things.

&nbsp;

Brexit is irreversible. But still, there is no clarity whether it would be a &ldquo;hard&rdquo; or &ldquo;soft&rdquo; Brexit. The former would result in the UK giving up full access to the European single market and customs union, regaining control over borders (and thereby immigration) and freedom to negotiate new trade deals and apply laws within its own territory.

&nbsp;

A &ldquo;soft&rdquo; Brexit, on the other hand, would result in the UK retaining as much of the existing arrangements as possible with unfettered access to the single market. However, London would not get a voice in EU decision-making: no seat in the European Council, no MEPs in the European Parliament and no Commissioner. Such an arrangement would be somewhat like the one that Norway has.

&nbsp;

One of the biggest obstacles to a smooth Brexit is the hardening position of the EU about Britain&rsquo;s Brexit bill. Brussels&rsquo; opening demand has recently been significantly enhanced from the initial &euro;60 billion to &euro;100 billion to cover post-Brexit farm payments and EU administration fees in 2019 and 2010.

&nbsp;

Other difficult questions which need to be addressed include the role of the European Court of Justice during transitional arrangements and whether the UK should stay in all or none of the EU&rsquo;s regulatory regimes.

&nbsp;

Election results will make already complex negotiations more difficult. With a hung parliament and a weak prime minister, it would now become extremely difficult to make the kind of painful and controversial compromises necessary for a Brexit deal. It also leaves the new prime minister with very little wriggling room in dealing with right-wingers in her party. She will be compelled to constantly negotiate on most crucial issues both within the party and with the DUP, which prefers soft borders between the north and south of Ireland.

&nbsp;

Europe has clearly been shocked by the UK election results. We are heading towards a period of greater uncertainty. There is, as Commissioner G&uuml;nther Oettinger put it, a real danger that &ldquo;negotiations will turn out badly for both sides&rdquo;. Plagued as the EU has been with recurrent crises, the continent would like to concentrate on other pressing problems and revive hope in the future of the European project. Brexit is not merely about the future of the UK, but about the future of Europe as well.

&nbsp;

Jain is&nbsp;Professor of European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Election results will make already complex negotiations on Brexit more difficult

By Rajendra K. Jain* In calling for a snap UK elections on 8 June 2017 – the third one in two years –Prime Minister Theresa May hoped to “guarantee certainty and security for years ahead” by significantly increasing her majority in Parliament. What she sought was a “strong and stable” mandate to steer Britain through an uncertain period and ending 44 years of association with the European Union. With a significant 20-point lead, her logic seemed almost infallible at the time of the announcement. In the desultory six-week electoral campaign, there was no serious discussion on either Brexit or the key bread-and-butter issues confronting the country. Theresa May ran a dismal campaign. She increasingly came across as an uninspiring, insipid leader who was media-shy and clearly uncomfortable when confronted with difficult questions. She was assailed for making a major policy U-turn on care for the elderly. She also came under severe criticism for her poor handling of recent terror attacks in Manchester and London and for her role as Home Secretary when she oversaw cuts to the police force. On the eve of elections, her significant lead had declined to around 7 per cent. The results of recent general elections represent one of the biggest political upsets in British history and a hung parliament for the seventh time since the beginning of the 20th century. In what became a two-party contest, both the Green Party and the right-wing, Euroskeptic United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) were wiped out. With 649 of 650 seats declared so far, the Conservative Party won 318 seats and loss of a clear majority (down from 331 seats and a majority of 17 seats). The Jeremy Corbyn-led Labour Party got 261 seats for the Labour Party (a gain of 31 seats and a larger voice in Parliament). The smaller parties won Scottish National Party (35 seats), Liberal Democrats (12 seats), and Democratic Union Party (10 seats). Theresa May, therefore, grossly miscalculated and ended in a worse situation than in what she was before the elections. By hindsight, the snap general elections seem almost foolhardy: there was no need whatsoever as Theresa May and her party would have remained in office until 2020 if they had not been held. As the leader of the largest party with the greatest voting share, Theresa May is making efforts to cobble together a government with the support of the Northern Ireland-based Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). While the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker expressed hope that the election result would have “no major impact” on Brexit negotiations, and that divorce talks could start as per schedule on 19th June. The EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier also tweeted that the “timetable and EU positions are clear” and negotiations should start “when the UK is ready”. Negotiations will have to be concluded by April 2019, i.e. two years after Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty was triggered. This is fixed in treaty law. The EU-27 have mandated a two-stage process: first negotiating the terms of divorce and exit formalities prior to envisaging the architecture of future relations with the UK. London, however, would prefer simultaneous or parallel discussions on divorce terms and future or transitional arrangements in place. There may not be enough time to successfully complete both things. Brexit is irreversible. But still, there is no clarity whether it would be a “hard” or “soft” Brexit. The former would result in the UK giving up full access to the European single market and customs union, regaining control over borders (and thereby immigration) and freedom to negotiate new trade deals and apply laws within its own territory. A “soft” Brexit, on the other hand, would result in the UK retaining as much of the existing arrangements as possible with unfettered access to the single market. However, London would not get a voice in EU decision-making: no seat in the European Council, no MEPs in the European Parliament and no Commissioner. Such an arrangement would be somewhat like the one that Norway has. One of the biggest obstacles to a smooth Brexit is the hardening position of the EU about Britain’s Brexit bill. Brussels’ opening demand has recently been significantly enhanced from the initial €60 billion to €100 billion to cover post-Brexit farm payments and EU administration fees in 2019 and 2010. Other difficult questions which need to be addressed include the role of the European Court of Justice during transitional arrangements and whether the UK should stay in all or none of the EU’s regulatory regimes. Election results will make already complex negotiations more difficult. With a hung parliament and a weak prime minister, it would now become extremely difficult to make the kind of painful and controversial compromises necessary for a Brexit deal. It also leaves the new prime minister with very little wriggling room in dealing with right-wingers in her party. She will be compelled to constantly negotiate on most crucial issues both within the party and with the DUP, which prefers soft borders between the north and south of Ireland. Europe has clearly been shocked by the UK election results. We are heading towards a period of greater uncertainty. There is, as Commissioner Günther Oettinger put it, a real danger that “negotiations will turn out badly for both sides”. Plagued as the EU has been with recurrent crises, the continent would like to concentrate on other pressing problems and revive hope in the future of the European project. Brexit is not merely about the future of the UK, but about the future of Europe as well. Jain is Professor of European Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

Electoral Mayhem: The UK, Brexit and Europe

Senior members of Britain&#39;s ruling Conservative Party are supporting a new group to push Britain for a &#39;hard Brexit&#39;, media reported&nbsp;on Sunday. 
 
Property investor Richard Tice told the&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Telegraph, &#39;&#39;No deal is better than a bad deal.&quot; He said that leaving the European Union and its single market without an alternative deal is better than staying and signing a bad deal. 
 
Tice said&nbsp;the&nbsp;Britons had clearly&nbsp;voted in June to leave the European Union (EU)&nbsp;and &#39;the sooner we leave the more certainty and confidence for everyone&#39;. 
 
&quot;Working people will hope Number 10 rejects this approach and instead seeks membership of the single market, which is vital for jobs and growth,&quot; Conservative lawmaker and supporter of Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said in a statement. 
 
The group had the backing of a former justice minister, Dominic Raab, and other leading Conservatives, the&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Telegraph reported. 
 
&#39;Change Britain&#39;, a group including people who were in the Leave campaign, was launched last week and endorsed by foreign&nbsp;secretary Borish Johnson. 
 
May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after the referendum, is expected to trigger&nbsp;Article 50 which would start the process of Brexit&nbsp;early next year. She has said that she needed time&nbsp;to form an exit policy. 
 
The divisions in the Conservative Party over how to negotiate the Brexit are coming to the fore as some within the party&nbsp;push for a soft process while others want a clean speedy&nbsp;break from the EU. 
 
Nicky Morgan, a Conservative former education secretary, said that splits in the ruling party&nbsp;was &quot;absolutely inevitable&quot;. 
 
&quot;Well it was absolutely inevitable that there were going to those on the &#39;leave&#39; side of the debate who would say that any government is not going to go hard enough and fast enough and would set up a group to do that,&quot; she told ITV&#39;s Peston&nbsp;on Sunday&nbsp;programme. She said that the government needed to say &#39;this is what the plan is, this is where we want to get to&#39;. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The new group, called Leave means Leave, is urging the British government to sever all ties with the European Union swiftly

Senior members of Britain's ruling Conservative Party are supporting a new group to push Britain for a 'hard Brexit', media reported on Sunday. Property investor Richard Tice told the Sunday Telegraph, ''No deal is better than a bad deal." He said that leaving the European Union and its single market without an alternative deal is better than staying and signing a bad deal. Tice said the Britons had clearly voted in June to leave the European Union (EU) and 'the sooner we leave the more certainty and confidence for everyone'. "Working people will hope Number 10 rejects this approach and instead seeks membership of the single market, which is vital for jobs and growth," Conservative lawmaker and supporter of Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said in a statement. The group had the backing of a former justice minister, Dominic Raab, and other leading Conservatives, the Sunday Telegraph reported. 'Change Britain', a group including people who were in the Leave campaign, was launched last week and endorsed by foreign secretary Borish Johnson. May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after the referendum, is expected to trigger Article 50 which would start the process of Brexit early next year. She has said that she needed time to form an exit policy. The divisions in the Conservative Party over how to negotiate the Brexit are coming to the fore as some within the party push for a soft process while others want a clean speedy break from the EU. Nicky Morgan, a Conservative former education secretary, said that splits in the ruling party was "absolutely inevitable". "Well it was absolutely inevitable that there were going to those on the 'leave' side of the debate who would say that any government is not going to go hard enough and fast enough and would set up a group to do that," she told ITV's Peston on Sunday programme. She said that the government needed to say 'this is what the plan is, this is where we want to get to'. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

UK lawmakers in ruling party back group pushing for 'hard Brexit'

Britain&#39;s Home Secretary Theresa May, a candidate in the contest to be the UK&#39;s next prime minister and leader of the Conservative party, said today that if she became the next premier she would not trigger article 50 this year to ensure a clear negotiating stance on a post-Brexit deal with the European Union. 
 
May is a front-runner in the contest to be the country&#39;s next prime minister but said that there should still be an election within the party rather than a &quot;coronation&quot; of the most popular candidate. 
 
&quot;I think there should be a contest. I think it&#39;s important that members have their opportunity to have their say. And I think that what people want to hear is what the arguments are and people putting those arguments together and this isn&#39;t a new position that I&#39;ve taken,&quot; she told journalist Robert Peston. 
 
Prime Minister David Cameron resigned after Britons voted to leave the EU on June 23. He had led the campaign for &quot;Remain&quot; alongside May. 
 
May said that the vote was a &quot;very clear message&quot; that the British public wanted control over immigration. 
 
&quot;What I know is that there&#39;s no single silver bullet that actually solves the problems and concerns people have on immigration,&quot; she told Peston on Sunday. &quot;The Brexit vote gave us a very clear message from people that we couldn&#39;t allow free movement to continue as it had done hitherto, we need to bring control into movement of people coming into the UK from the EU.&quot; 
 
Cameron has said his successor would have to decide when to trigger article 50, the formal step that will begin the process of negotiating the terms of Britain&#39;s exit. 
 
May said it was not possible to set an &quot;absolute deadline&quot; and if she were to be the next prime minister she would not invoke article 50 before the end of the year. 
 
&quot;We need to establish our own negotiating position. Of course, once we hit Article 50, once we invoke that the process at the EU level starts, they say that could take up to two years. What&#39;s important for us though is that we get the right deal. And that&#39;s a deal which is about controlling free movement but it&#39;s also about ensuring that we&#39;ve got the best deal possible in trading goods and services,&quot; she said. 
 
Work and Pensions Secretary, Stephen Crabb, was the first Conservative minister to put himself forward to succeed Cameron and also backed Remain during the referendum campaign. 
 
But he said that his party must unite despite a majority of his colleagues supporting Leave. 
 
&quot;Every day that goes by, the longer that we as colleagues use labels like Remain or Leave to describe each other, the deeper the division that will be in the party,&quot; he told ITV. &quot;And I tell you, if we allow this leadership contest to be seen just through the prism of whether you were leave or remain, we risk splitting the party, mark my words.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Prime Minister David Cameron said his successor would have to decide when to trigger the formal step that begins the UK's EU exit

Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May, a candidate in the contest to be the UK's next prime minister and leader of the Conservative party, said today that if she became the next premier she would not trigger article 50 this year to ensure a clear negotiating stance on a post-Brexit deal with the European Union. May is a front-runner in the contest to be the country's next prime minister but said that there should still be an election within the party rather than a "coronation" of the most popular candidate. "I think there should be a contest. I think it's important that members have their opportunity to have their say. And I think that what people want to hear is what the arguments are and people putting those arguments together and this isn't a new position that I've taken," she told journalist Robert Peston. Prime Minister David Cameron resigned after Britons voted to leave the EU on June 23. He had led the campaign for "Remain" alongside May. May said that the vote was a "very clear message" that the British public wanted control over immigration. "What I know is that there's no single silver bullet that actually solves the problems and concerns people have on immigration," she told Peston on Sunday. "The Brexit vote gave us a very clear message from people that we couldn't allow free movement to continue as it had done hitherto, we need to bring control into movement of people coming into the UK from the EU." Cameron has said his successor would have to decide when to trigger article 50, the formal step that will begin the process of negotiating the terms of Britain's exit. May said it was not possible to set an "absolute deadline" and if she were to be the next prime minister she would not invoke article 50 before the end of the year. "We need to establish our own negotiating position. Of course, once we hit Article 50, once we invoke that the process at the EU level starts, they say that could take up to two years. What's important for us though is that we get the right deal. And that's a deal which is about controlling free movement but it's also about ensuring that we've got the best deal possible in trading goods and services," she said. Work and Pensions Secretary, Stephen Crabb, was the first Conservative minister to put himself forward to succeed Cameron and also backed Remain during the referendum campaign. But he said that his party must unite despite a majority of his colleagues supporting Leave. "Every day that goes by, the longer that we as colleagues use labels like Remain or Leave to describe each other, the deeper the division that will be in the party," he told ITV. "And I tell you, if we allow this leadership contest to be seen just through the prism of whether you were leave or remain, we risk splitting the party, mark my words." (Reuters)

Theresa May: Britain needs clear negotiating stance before article 50

Britain&#39;s two main political parties were embroiled in leadership battles today to decide who will lead the country through turbulent times in the wake of a vote to leave the European Union. 
 
Interior minister Theresa May, who had been a low-key supporter of remaining in the bloc, announced her bid to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron after he resigned in the wake of the referendum. 
 
&quot;Following last week&#39;s referendum, our country needs strong, proven leadership to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union,&quot; May wrote in The Times newspaper. 
 
The 69-year-old&#39;s main rival for the Conservative leadership, the mop-haired former mayor of London and prominent &quot;Leave&quot; campaigner Boris Johnson, is expected to launch his campaign today. 
 
Challengers have until 1100 GMT to declare. Work and pensions minister Stephen Crabb and right-wing former defence minister Liam Fox are also expected to run. 
 
Cameron has left to his successor the task of renegotiating Britain&#39;s relationship with the EU following an exit vote that has roiled the markets, sunk the pound, and prompted economists to slash their growth forecasts for the country. 
 
The next Conservative party leader will take over by early September and will face a decision on whether to seek an election to gain a public mandate. 
 
But Britain is also under pressure from the EU not to delay starting the formal notification of leaving the bloc, Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. 
 
European leaders, keen not to encourage burgeoning anti-EU movements across the continent, have warned that Britain will not be able to pick and choose the cosiest terms of divorce. 
 
Britain&#39;s main opposition party Labour has also been thrown into turmoil by the vote, as lawmakers moved in its aftermath to oust left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn in a slow-motion revolt. 
 
Senior lawmaker Angela Eagle is expected to announce a leadership challenge to Corbyn, who has refused to resign despite losing a confidence vote by MPs. 
 
Corbyn, 67, has been criticised for making a lacklustre bid for Britain to remain in the EU, and even insinuations from former allies that he harboured eurosceptic feelings himself. 
 
At a rally at a London university on Wednesday, a heckler called out &quot;What about Europe, Jeremy? Where were you when we needed you?&quot; before being drowned out by booing. 
 
&quot;We`re in the midst of a very interesting political time in this country. I was very honoured to be elected to lead the Labour party last year,&quot; Corbyn told the cheering young activists who form his support base. 
 
&quot;The mandate was given by hundreds of thousands of ordinary people... I`m very proud to be carrying on with that work.&quot; 
 
Though Labour lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence against him by 172 to 40, Corbyn insists he still has the support of the party membership and will fight any leadership challenge he sees as a plot by the more right-wing elements of his party. 
 
The former pensions minister Eagle quit as Corbyn`s business spokeswoman earlier this week in one of a string of resignations. 
 
The ructions in both parties were splashed across today&#39;s front pages. 
 
&quot;Now it`s civil war&quot; declared the Daily Mirror, a historically Labour-supporting newspaper, with a photograph of Corbyn. 
 
&quot;Boris: I want to be your PM&quot; read the eurosceptic Daily Express, while The Times read &quot;May: I will reunite Britain&quot;. 
 
May has a record as a hardliner on immigration, a driving issue in the EU referendum which was presented by &quot;Leave&quot; campaigners as an opportunity to reduce the numbers arriving in Britain. 
 
Following through with that promise could prove a challenge. 
 
EU president Donald Tusk warned Wednesday that if Britain wanted access to the bloc`s huge single market of 500 million people, it would have to accept the free movement of EU citizens. 
 
(AFP)

Boris Johnson is expected to announce his candidacy today, Theresa May has already announced her's

Britain's two main political parties were embroiled in leadership battles today to decide who will lead the country through turbulent times in the wake of a vote to leave the European Union. Interior minister Theresa May, who had been a low-key supporter of remaining in the bloc, announced her bid to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron after he resigned in the wake of the referendum. "Following last week's referendum, our country needs strong, proven leadership to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union," May wrote in The Times newspaper. The 69-year-old's main rival for the Conservative leadership, the mop-haired former mayor of London and prominent "Leave" campaigner Boris Johnson, is expected to launch his campaign today. Challengers have until 1100 GMT to declare. Work and pensions minister Stephen Crabb and right-wing former defence minister Liam Fox are also expected to run. Cameron has left to his successor the task of renegotiating Britain's relationship with the EU following an exit vote that has roiled the markets, sunk the pound, and prompted economists to slash their growth forecasts for the country. The next Conservative party leader will take over by early September and will face a decision on whether to seek an election to gain a public mandate. But Britain is also under pressure from the EU not to delay starting the formal notification of leaving the bloc, Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. European leaders, keen not to encourage burgeoning anti-EU movements across the continent, have warned that Britain will not be able to pick and choose the cosiest terms of divorce. Britain's main opposition party Labour has also been thrown into turmoil by the vote, as lawmakers moved in its aftermath to oust left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn in a slow-motion revolt. Senior lawmaker Angela Eagle is expected to announce a leadership challenge to Corbyn, who has refused to resign despite losing a confidence vote by MPs. Corbyn, 67, has been criticised for making a lacklustre bid for Britain to remain in the EU, and even insinuations from former allies that he harboured eurosceptic feelings himself. At a rally at a London university on Wednesday, a heckler called out "What about Europe, Jeremy? Where were you when we needed you?" before being drowned out by booing. "We`re in the midst of a very interesting political time in this country. I was very honoured to be elected to lead the Labour party last year," Corbyn told the cheering young activists who form his support base. "The mandate was given by hundreds of thousands of ordinary people... I`m very proud to be carrying on with that work." Though Labour lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence against him by 172 to 40, Corbyn insists he still has the support of the party membership and will fight any leadership challenge he sees as a plot by the more right-wing elements of his party. The former pensions minister Eagle quit as Corbyn`s business spokeswoman earlier this week in one of a string of resignations. The ructions in both parties were splashed across today's front pages. "Now it`s civil war" declared the Daily Mirror, a historically Labour-supporting newspaper, with a photograph of Corbyn. "Boris: I want to be your PM" read the eurosceptic Daily Express, while The Times read "May: I will reunite Britain". May has a record as a hardliner on immigration, a driving issue in the EU referendum which was presented by "Leave" campaigners as an opportunity to reduce the numbers arriving in Britain. Following through with that promise could prove a challenge. EU president Donald Tusk warned Wednesday that if Britain wanted access to the bloc`s huge single market of 500 million people, it would have to accept the free movement of EU citizens. (AFP)

War of the British succession

Conservative Party member Theresa May said in an article published in The Times, London, on Thursday she was set to launch her campaign for the position of the leader of the Tory party and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 
 
&quot;Today I will launch my campaign to become the leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. And I do so for three clear reasons.&nbsp;First, following last week&rsquo;s referendum, our country needs strong, proven leadership to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union,&quot; she wrote in the piece. 
 
Her article assumes significance in a scenario where former London mayor Boris Johnson&#39;s name was still doing the rounds as the front-runner for the Prime Minister&#39;s position following David Cameron&#39;s decision to step down. Johnson was one of the foremost &#39;Leave&quot; campaigners. 
 
Barely a few hours before the nominations for the leadership of the Tory party closed on Thursday, Johnson announced he was no longer in the race&nbsp;for Prime Ministership after Micheal Gove, justice minister, announced that he would no longer support his candidature. 
 
Now the contest is pitched between Gove and May who as the interior minister campaigned to remain in the EU. 
 
May pitched the Tories as the only solid option for UK &quot;with the labour party tearing itself to pieces&quot;. 
 
&quot;We need leadership that can unite our party and our country. With the Labour Party tearing itself to pieces, and divisive nationalists in Scotland and Wales, it is the patriotic duty of the Conservative Party to unite and govern in the best interests of the whole country,&quot; she wrote. 
 
&quot;We need a bold, new, positive vision for the future of our country &mdash; a vision of a country that works not for a privileged few but for everyone, regardless of who they are and regardless of where they&rsquo;re from.&quot; 
 
May went on to write about the hardships the poor and the marginalised faced in today&#39;s Britain. &quot;If you&rsquo;re born poor in today&rsquo;s Britain, you will die on average nine years earlier than others. If you&rsquo;re black, you&rsquo;re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you&rsquo;re white. If you&rsquo;re a white, working-class boy, you&rsquo;re less likely than anybody else in Britain to go to university.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
May wrote she will be arguing in favour of a new and radical programme of social reform. This programme will include big changes to the way Britian thinks about its economy, its society and its democracy. She stressed that she was a believer in capitalism and free markets, but where capitalism was not helping to provide opportunity for all, she wanted to reform it. 
 
&quot;We need to think differently about the role of the state. Instead of thinking of it always as the problem, we should acknowledge that often it is only the state that can provide solutions to the problems we face. So yes, the state needs to be small, but it needs to be strong.&quot; 
 
She added, &quot;Under my leadership, the motives of the Conservative Party will never be in any doubt. We will put ourselves at the service of ordinary, working people and we will strive to make Britain a country that works for everyone, regardless of who they are and regardless of where they&rsquo;re from.&quot; 
 
(WION)

In an editorial for The Times, the interior minister announced her campaign for occupying 10, Downing Street

Conservative Party member Theresa May said in an article published in The Times, London, on Thursday she was set to launch her campaign for the position of the leader of the Tory party and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. "Today I will launch my campaign to become the leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. And I do so for three clear reasons. First, following last week’s referendum, our country needs strong, proven leadership to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union," she wrote in the piece. Her article assumes significance in a scenario where former London mayor Boris Johnson's name was still doing the rounds as the front-runner for the Prime Minister's position following David Cameron's decision to step down. Johnson was one of the foremost 'Leave" campaigners. Barely a few hours before the nominations for the leadership of the Tory party closed on Thursday, Johnson announced he was no longer in the race for Prime Ministership after Micheal Gove, justice minister, announced that he would no longer support his candidature. Now the contest is pitched between Gove and May who as the interior minister campaigned to remain in the EU. May pitched the Tories as the only solid option for UK "with the labour party tearing itself to pieces". "We need leadership that can unite our party and our country. With the Labour Party tearing itself to pieces, and divisive nationalists in Scotland and Wales, it is the patriotic duty of the Conservative Party to unite and govern in the best interests of the whole country," she wrote. "We need a bold, new, positive vision for the future of our country — a vision of a country that works not for a privileged few but for everyone, regardless of who they are and regardless of where they’re from." May went on to write about the hardships the poor and the marginalised faced in today's Britain. "If you’re born poor in today’s Britain, you will die on average nine years earlier than others. If you’re black, you’re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white. If you’re a white, working-class boy, you’re less likely than anybody else in Britain to go to university." May wrote she will be arguing in favour of a new and radical programme of social reform. This programme will include big changes to the way Britian thinks about its economy, its society and its democracy. She stressed that she was a believer in capitalism and free markets, but where capitalism was not helping to provide opportunity for all, she wanted to reform it. "We need to think differently about the role of the state. Instead of thinking of it always as the problem, we should acknowledge that often it is only the state that can provide solutions to the problems we face. So yes, the state needs to be small, but it needs to be strong." She added, "Under my leadership, the motives of the Conservative Party will never be in any doubt. We will put ourselves at the service of ordinary, working people and we will strive to make Britain a country that works for everyone, regardless of who they are and regardless of where they’re from." (WION)

Theresa May in race for Tory leadership and UK PM's post

Britain could have a new prime minister by early September, the ruling Conservative Party said today, after David Cameron started laying the groundwork for his successor to trigger the country&#39;s exit from the European Union. 
 
The government is under pressure to fill a vacuum left when Cameron announced he would resign by October after Britain ignored his advice and voted to leave the 28-member bloc in last week&#39;s referendum. 
 
Triggering a leadership battle which could draw in some of his closest advisers, Cameron urged ministers to work together in the meantime. But he also formed a separate unit, staffed by public servants, to help advise Britain on its departure and its options for a future outside the EU. 
 
Graham Brady, chair of the &quot;1922 committee&quot; of Conservative lawmakers which sets the party&#39;s ground rules in parliament, said the group had recommended that the leadership contest should begin next week and conclude no later than Sept. 2. 
 
That recommendation will almost certainly be passed. 
 
&quot;Both the Conservatives and the country more generally really want certainty. We would like a resolution and we think it would be a good thing to conclude this process as soon as we practicably can,&quot; Brady told Sky News. 
 
He said there should be no new parliamentary election before Britain had negotiated the terms of its exit from the EU. 
 
Several Conservative lawmakers have urged leadership candidates to try to broker a deal quickly to make sure that any campaign is as painless as possible, to avoid deepening divisions exposed during the referendum campaign. 
 
&quot;A leadership contest now is not in the interests of our country,&quot; said Justine Greening, international development minister. &quot;It will mean our party focuses inward at the very time our country most needs us to focus outward.&quot; 
 
Jockeying for position 
 
All eyes are on former London mayor Boris Johnson, the most prominent of the &quot;Leave&quot; campaigners and now bookmakers&#39; favourite to succeed Cameron. 
 
But not all party members back him and many are pressing for &quot;Anyone But Boris&quot;, seeing his decision to back the Leave campaign as a betrayal of his former ally Cameron, according to media reports. 
 
Cameron&#39;s spokeswoman declined to comment on the leadership battle and said there had been no discussion at today&#39;s cabinet meeting, which did not include Johnson, about the possibility of an early parliamentary election. 
 
Instead, she said, the Prime Minister had urged unity both in government and in the country and had announced he had set up an advisory unit to help manage Britain&#39;s departure from the European Union and to make sure his successor has all the possible information necessary to decide the country&#39;s future. 
 
The unit would &quot;make sure we have done the groundwork ready for a new prime minister. So it is about preparing advice on the whole range of issues that will need to be looked at, things like transitional issues,&quot; she said, adding that Oliver Letwin, a lawmaker and friend of Cameron&#39;s, would be involved in it. 
 
For now, the priority was working together on government business, which some critics say has been all but put on hold since campaigning for the referendum began in February, and reassuring the many migrants who fear their status may change. 
 
Cameron would not put up with intolerance, she added, after reports that migrants, particularly those from Poland, had been told by some Britons to &quot;go home&quot; after the referendum. 
 
&quot;Across Britain we should be standing together at the moment, to not allow the result of this referendum to divide communities or to provoke fear amongst some.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

All eyes are on former London mayor, Boris Johnson, the most prominent of the 'Leave' campaigners expected to succeed David Cameron

Britain could have a new prime minister by early September, the ruling Conservative Party said today, after David Cameron started laying the groundwork for his successor to trigger the country's exit from the European Union. The government is under pressure to fill a vacuum left when Cameron announced he would resign by October after Britain ignored his advice and voted to leave the 28-member bloc in last week's referendum. Triggering a leadership battle which could draw in some of his closest advisers, Cameron urged ministers to work together in the meantime. But he also formed a separate unit, staffed by public servants, to help advise Britain on its departure and its options for a future outside the EU. Graham Brady, chair of the "1922 committee" of Conservative lawmakers which sets the party's ground rules in parliament, said the group had recommended that the leadership contest should begin next week and conclude no later than Sept. 2. That recommendation will almost certainly be passed. "Both the Conservatives and the country more generally really want certainty. We would like a resolution and we think it would be a good thing to conclude this process as soon as we practicably can," Brady told Sky News. He said there should be no new parliamentary election before Britain had negotiated the terms of its exit from the EU. Several Conservative lawmakers have urged leadership candidates to try to broker a deal quickly to make sure that any campaign is as painless as possible, to avoid deepening divisions exposed during the referendum campaign. "A leadership contest now is not in the interests of our country," said Justine Greening, international development minister. "It will mean our party focuses inward at the very time our country most needs us to focus outward." Jockeying for position All eyes are on former London mayor Boris Johnson, the most prominent of the "Leave" campaigners and now bookmakers' favourite to succeed Cameron. But not all party members back him and many are pressing for "Anyone But Boris", seeing his decision to back the Leave campaign as a betrayal of his former ally Cameron, according to media reports. Cameron's spokeswoman declined to comment on the leadership battle and said there had been no discussion at today's cabinet meeting, which did not include Johnson, about the possibility of an early parliamentary election. Instead, she said, the Prime Minister had urged unity both in government and in the country and had announced he had set up an advisory unit to help manage Britain's departure from the European Union and to make sure his successor has all the possible information necessary to decide the country's future. The unit would "make sure we have done the groundwork ready for a new prime minister. So it is about preparing advice on the whole range of issues that will need to be looked at, things like transitional issues," she said, adding that Oliver Letwin, a lawmaker and friend of Cameron's, would be involved in it. For now, the priority was working together on government business, which some critics say has been all but put on hold since campaigning for the referendum began in February, and reassuring the many migrants who fear their status may change. Cameron would not put up with intolerance, she added, after reports that migrants, particularly those from Poland, had been told by some Britons to "go home" after the referendum. "Across Britain we should be standing together at the moment, to not allow the result of this referendum to divide communities or to provoke fear amongst some." (Reuters)

Britain may see new PM by early September, readies for Brexit

Heidi Alexander, who resigned as health policy chief for Britain&#39;s opposition Labour Party today, said she expected several of her colleagues in party leader Jeremy Corbyn&#39;s top team to do the same. 
 
The party is in open conflict following Britain`s vote to leave the European Union on Thursday. Labour&#39;s widely respected foreign policy chief Hilary Benn was sacked earlier after saying he had lost confidence in Corbyn. 
 
&quot;I think that there are a fair number,&quot; Alexander told ITV television in response to a question about how many of her colleagues she expected to resign. 
 
&quot;I know from the conversations that I&#39;ve had with colleagues that this is a very difficult time for all of us. It&#39;s not a decision that we want to take but some of the time you do have to take tough decisions in politics and so I know a lot of my colleagues will be asking themselves similar questions to the one I&#39;ve asked myself this morning.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Labour's widely respected foreign policy chief Hilary Benn was sacked earlier after saying he had lost confidence in party leader Corbyn

Heidi Alexander, who resigned as health policy chief for Britain's opposition Labour Party today, said she expected several of her colleagues in party leader Jeremy Corbyn's top team to do the same. The party is in open conflict following Britain`s vote to leave the European Union on Thursday. Labour's widely respected foreign policy chief Hilary Benn was sacked earlier after saying he had lost confidence in Corbyn. "I think that there are a fair number," Alexander told ITV television in response to a question about how many of her colleagues she expected to resign. "I know from the conversations that I've had with colleagues that this is a very difficult time for all of us. It's not a decision that we want to take but some of the time you do have to take tough decisions in politics and so I know a lot of my colleagues will be asking themselves similar questions to the one I've asked myself this morning." (Reuters)

'Fair number' of UK Labour policy chiefs to resign: Heidi Alexander

Britain&#39;s opposition Labour party plunged into turmoil today and the prospect of Scottish independence drew closer, ahead of a showdown with EU leaders over the country&#39;s seismic vote to leave the bloc. 
 
Two days after Prime Minister David Cameron resigned over his failure to keep Britain in the European Union, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn faced a revolt by his lawmakers who called for him, too, to quit. 
 
US secretary of state John Kerry will also fly first to Brussels and then on to London on Monday, amid dismay in Washington over Britain&#39;s decision. 
 
European leaders have called for a swift divorce amid fears of a domino-effect of exit votes in eurosceptic member states that could imperil the integrity of the 28-country alliance. 
 
Britain&#39;s political world is in disarray, while two new polls today showed a surge in support for independence in Scotland, where voters defied the national mood and chose to stay in the EU. 
 
European leaders meet on Monday to discuss the result, which wiped $2.1 trillion from global equity markets Friday amid fears of a new threat to the global economy. 
 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and EU President Donald Tusk for talks in Berlin. 
 
Cameron is then due to attend a summit of EU leaders on Tuesday to explain Britain&#39;s decision. 
 
Britons cast aside warnings of isolation and economic disaster to vote 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of quitting the EU in Thursday&#39;s referendum. 
 
The historic vote, fought on the battlefronts of the economy and immigration, exposed deep divisions in the country that politicians are scrambling to respond to. 
 
Cameron has said he will stay on until a successor is found from within his governing Conservative party, which could take until October, at which point the new prime minister will launch the EU exit negotiations. 
 
But EU foreign ministers on Saturday urged Britain not to delay, with France&#39;s Jean-Marc Ayrault directly calling on Cameron to go quickly. 
 
&quot;A new prime minister must be designated, that will take a few days but there is a certain urgency,&quot; he told AFP. 
 
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Britain&#39;s exit talks should not &quot;drag on forever&quot; but said that until they were completed, Britain would remain a fully-fledged EU member. 
 
&quot;There is no reason to be nasty in the negotiations. We have to follow the rules of the game,&quot; she said. 
 
Labour revolt 
 
Likely candidates to succeed Cameron, including Brexit campaigner and former London mayor Boris Johnson, began sounding out support over the weekend. 
 
The referendum decision has also lit a fuse under disgruntled members of the Labour party, many of whom have been unhappy with Corbyn&#39;s leadership since he took office last September. 
 
Support for leaving the European Union was strong across northern England, the Midlands and Wales, including many areas that traditional vote Labour. 
 
The party leadership had campaigned to stay in the EU, but critics accuse Corbyn of failing to reach out to working-class voters drawn in by the &quot;Leave&quot; camp&#39;s anti-establishment rhetoric. 
 
After a symbolic vote of no confidence on Friday against Corbyn, he sacked foreign affairs spokesman Hilary Benn late Saturday for challenging his leadership. 
 
Hours later, health spokeswoman Heidi Alexander quit, and media reports suggested several other colleagues were poised to join her.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding,&quot; Alexander wrote in her resignation letter. 
 
But allies of the veteran socialist said he had no plans to step down. &quot;He&#39;s not going anywhere,&quot; finance spokesman John McDonnell told BBC television. 
 
The motion of no confidence is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour party on Monday. 
 
Any challenger would need the support of 20 percent of the party&#39;s 229 MPs and it would then be put to party members. 
 
Boost for Scottish independence&nbsp; 
 
As Westminster politicians bickered, Scotland appeared to be moving closer towards independence, just two years after they voted by 55 per cent to stay in the UK. 
 
&quot;The UK that Scotland voted to stay in in 2014 does not exist any more,&quot; First Minister and Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon told BBC television Sunday. 
 
Scots had defied the national trend and voted to remain in the European Union, and the prospect of being taken out against their will has boosted the nationalist cause. 
 
Two polls today support for independence at 59 percent and 52 percent respectively. 
 
Sturgeon has said a second independence referendum was now &quot;highly likely&quot;, and a meeting of her cabinet on Saturday agreed to start drawing up the necessary legislation. 
 
&quot;This is not going to be a re-run of the 2014 referendum. The context and the circumstances have changed dramatically,&quot; she told the BBC. 
 
Across Britain, more than three million Britons signed up to a rapidly-growing petition on an official government website pleading for a new vote. 
 
The number of signatories far surpassed the 100,000 required for a proposal to be discussed in the House of Commons. A committee will consider the motion on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
(AFP)

Scots defied the national mood and voted to stay on in EU. The 'leave' sentiment was strong in northern England, Midlands and Wales

Britain's opposition Labour party plunged into turmoil today and the prospect of Scottish independence drew closer, ahead of a showdown with EU leaders over the country's seismic vote to leave the bloc. Two days after Prime Minister David Cameron resigned over his failure to keep Britain in the European Union, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn faced a revolt by his lawmakers who called for him, too, to quit. US secretary of state John Kerry will also fly first to Brussels and then on to London on Monday, amid dismay in Washington over Britain's decision. European leaders have called for a swift divorce amid fears of a domino-effect of exit votes in eurosceptic member states that could imperil the integrity of the 28-country alliance. Britain's political world is in disarray, while two new polls today showed a surge in support for independence in Scotland, where voters defied the national mood and chose to stay in the EU. European leaders meet on Monday to discuss the result, which wiped $2.1 trillion from global equity markets Friday amid fears of a new threat to the global economy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will host French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and EU President Donald Tusk for talks in Berlin. Cameron is then due to attend a summit of EU leaders on Tuesday to explain Britain's decision. Britons cast aside warnings of isolation and economic disaster to vote 52 percent to 48 percent in favour of quitting the EU in Thursday's referendum. The historic vote, fought on the battlefronts of the economy and immigration, exposed deep divisions in the country that politicians are scrambling to respond to. Cameron has said he will stay on until a successor is found from within his governing Conservative party, which could take until October, at which point the new prime minister will launch the EU exit negotiations. But EU foreign ministers on Saturday urged Britain not to delay, with France's Jean-Marc Ayrault directly calling on Cameron to go quickly. "A new prime minister must be designated, that will take a few days but there is a certain urgency," he told AFP. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Britain's exit talks should not "drag on forever" but said that until they were completed, Britain would remain a fully-fledged EU member. "There is no reason to be nasty in the negotiations. We have to follow the rules of the game," she said. Labour revolt Likely candidates to succeed Cameron, including Brexit campaigner and former London mayor Boris Johnson, began sounding out support over the weekend. The referendum decision has also lit a fuse under disgruntled members of the Labour party, many of whom have been unhappy with Corbyn's leadership since he took office last September. Support for leaving the European Union was strong across northern England, the Midlands and Wales, including many areas that traditional vote Labour. The party leadership had campaigned to stay in the EU, but critics accuse Corbyn of failing to reach out to working-class voters drawn in by the "Leave" camp's anti-establishment rhetoric. After a symbolic vote of no confidence on Friday against Corbyn, he sacked foreign affairs spokesman Hilary Benn late Saturday for challenging his leadership. Hours later, health spokeswoman Heidi Alexander quit, and media reports suggested several other colleagues were poised to join her. "I do not believe you have the capacity to shape the answers our country is demanding," Alexander wrote in her resignation letter. But allies of the veteran socialist said he had no plans to step down. "He's not going anywhere," finance spokesman John McDonnell told BBC television. The motion of no confidence is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary Labour party on Monday. Any challenger would need the support of 20 percent of the party's 229 MPs and it would then be put to party members. Boost for Scottish independence As Westminster politicians bickered, Scotland appeared to be moving closer towards independence, just two years after they voted by 55 per cent to stay in the UK. "The UK that Scotland voted to stay in in 2014 does not exist any more," First Minister and Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon told BBC television Sunday. Scots had defied the national trend and voted to remain in the European Union, and the prospect of being taken out against their will has boosted the nationalist cause. Two polls today support for independence at 59 percent and 52 percent respectively. Sturgeon has said a second independence referendum was now "highly likely", and a meeting of her cabinet on Saturday agreed to start drawing up the necessary legislation. "This is not going to be a re-run of the 2014 referendum. The context and the circumstances have changed dramatically," she told the BBC. Across Britain, more than three million Britons signed up to a rapidly-growing petition on an official government website pleading for a new vote. The number of signatories far surpassed the 100,000 required for a proposal to be discussed in the House of Commons. A committee will consider the motion on Tuesday. (AFP)

UK's split with EU boosts Scottish nationalists

Thousands of Australians marched at same-sex marriage rallies across the country today, calling on whichever party wins a July 2 national election to quickly introduce same-sex marriage laws. 
 
Conservative Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull supports same-sex marriage and has pledged a public vote on the issue before the end of 2016. 
 
The Labour opposition will skip a public vote and introduce a bill to parliament within 100 days if it wins the election. 
 
Opinion polls say Turnbull&#39;s Conservative coalition and Labour are neck-and-neck ahead of the election. 
 
Protesters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth marched carrying rainbow flags and signs which read &quot;Equality now&quot;. 
 
Some dressed up in costumes of former prime minister Tony Abbott, an opponent of same-sex marriage, who Turnbull ousted in a party room coup last September. 
 
Openly-gay Labour candidate Pat O&#39;Neill, who marched in Brisbane, said the election will give the gay community a &quot;voice at the ballot box&quot;, reported Australian Associated Press (AAP). 
 
Greens senator Larissa Waters told the crowd a public vote was a waste of time. &quot;It&#39;s not going to be binding on their (government) members - what a joke,&quot; said Waters, reported AAP. 
 
Australia has been criticised by international human rights groups over its slowness to act on same-sex marriage. Several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, France, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa, have already amended their marriage laws to recognise same-sex unions. 
 
Turnbull, considered a moderate, brushed off criticism from conservatives to become the first sitting prime minister to attend Sydney&#39;s annual gay Mardi Gras parade in March. 
 
Australia has seen a revolving door of political leadership in recent years. If Turnbull loses on July 2, the change in prime minister would be the fifth since 2010. 
 
(Reuters)

The rally-goers demand that whichever party wins the July 2 national election should quickly introduce same-sex marriage laws

Thousands of Australians marched at same-sex marriage rallies across the country today, calling on whichever party wins a July 2 national election to quickly introduce same-sex marriage laws. Conservative Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull supports same-sex marriage and has pledged a public vote on the issue before the end of 2016. The Labour opposition will skip a public vote and introduce a bill to parliament within 100 days if it wins the election. Opinion polls say Turnbull's Conservative coalition and Labour are neck-and-neck ahead of the election. Protesters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth marched carrying rainbow flags and signs which read "Equality now". Some dressed up in costumes of former prime minister Tony Abbott, an opponent of same-sex marriage, who Turnbull ousted in a party room coup last September. Openly-gay Labour candidate Pat O'Neill, who marched in Brisbane, said the election will give the gay community a "voice at the ballot box", reported Australian Associated Press (AAP). Greens senator Larissa Waters told the crowd a public vote was a waste of time. "It's not going to be binding on their (government) members - what a joke," said Waters, reported AAP. Australia has been criticised by international human rights groups over its slowness to act on same-sex marriage. Several countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, France, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa, have already amended their marriage laws to recognise same-sex unions. Turnbull, considered a moderate, brushed off criticism from conservatives to become the first sitting prime minister to attend Sydney's annual gay Mardi Gras parade in March. Australia has seen a revolving door of political leadership in recent years. If Turnbull loses on July 2, the change in prime minister would be the fifth since 2010. (Reuters)

Thousands rally in Australia for same-sex marriage