With low expectations, Conservatives and Labour resume Brexit talks

Political reporter(wp/reuters):::
Britain’s Conservative government and the opposition Labour Party resume Brexit talks on Tuesday to try to find a way to break the deadlock in parliament over the country’s departure from the European Union.

After Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal was rejected three times and she was forced to delay Brexit, the government has spent more than four weeks in talks with Labour - negotiations that have done little to soften positions in either party.

So far, there has been no agreement between Britain’s main parties and few held out any hope of a breakthrough on Tuesday. But with the clock ticking down before European elections, when both parties could face more bruising results after local polls last week, time is running out.

Almost three years since Britain voted to leave the EU, there is little clarity about how, when or even if Brexit will happen.

Addressing her cabinet team of ministers, May bolstered her argument for talks with Labour by saying last week’s local elections, when the Conservatives lost hundreds of council seats, underlined the need to get on with Brexit.

“The prime minister said that while an agreement with the opposition had not been reached, the public had sent a clear message in the local elections that they want both of the main parties to get on with delivering Brexit,” her spokesman said she told ministers.

Some pro-EU lawmakers say the local elections showed the tide was turning against Brexit after the Liberal Democrats, which supports a second referendum, gained many council seats.

The spokesman said a further negotiation session would take place on Tuesday afternoon starting about 4 p.m. (1500 GMT).

But on both sides of the talks, there was little suggestion that this would offer a breakthrough, rather that they wanted to see whether there was a sense that any agreement could be found and on what kind of timetable.

Neither party wants to contest the elections to the European Parliament on May 23, when they fear voters will again punish them by voting for alternative parties after showing their frustration at local elections last week.

Conservative Brexit supporters might flock to the newly launched Brexit Party of former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, while Labour pro-EU campaigners might look to Change UK, another new party, or support the Liberal Democrats.

But with both parties, like much of the country, deeply divided over Brexit, any breakthrough might be hard to come by.

Labour sources were dismissive over weekend reports the government would offer new concessions, including temporary customs union with the EU until a national election due in June 2022, saying such a proposal would not go far enough.

John McDonnell, Corbyn ally and Labour’s finance policy chief, also accused the government of undermining the confidentiality of the talks by briefing the proposal - something that was denied by May’s spokesman.

That offer was quickly played down by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said he did not believe a post-Brexit customs union would offer “a sustainable long-term solution”.

“I want to look at whatever deal is come to between the parties and I know this is a crucial week,” he told BBC radio.

Prince Alexander or just plain Albert? Fans await news of Harry and Meghan's baby

Royal correspondent(wp/reuters):::
A day after the birth of their baby boy to a global fanfare, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan on Tuesday were considering names for the newest member of the British royal family and when to show him off to the world.

Meghan gave birth in the early hours of Monday morning to the boy, the seventh-in-line to the British throne, leaving his father, the Queen’s grandson, and royal fans across the world thrilled and enthralled.

“I am so incredibly proud of my wife and, as every father and parent would ever say your baby is absolutely amazing, this little thing is absolutely to die for,” Harry said.Few details about the birth have been released by Buckingham Palace with the announcement itself a mix of traditional and modernity which many say the baby himself represents, being the first mixed race child to be born into a senior position in British royalty in recent history.

The news was relayed on an ceremonial easel outside the palace having already been splashed “It’s a Boy!” on the couple’s Instagram account, attracting more than 2.6 million “likes”.

It was not clear whether the birth took place at the couple’s home, Frogmore Cottage on the estate of Windsor Castle where they married in a lavish ceremony in May last year, or if Meghan had been rushed to a London hospital as a number of British newspapers reported.

So far, Harry and his aides have merely confirmed the boy weighed 7 lbs 3oz (3.26 kg) and that Meghan and the couple’s first child were both healthy and well.

Celebrities and world leaders were among those to send in messages of congratulations to the couple, a reflection of the star status of Harry, 34, and former U.S. actress Meghan, 37.

“Congratulations, Meghan and Harry! Barack and I are so thrilled for both of you and can’t wait to meet him,” former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama said on Twitter.

Harry and Meghan decided to eschew the recent royal tradition of posing for photographs with their new baby hours after the birth, leaving the world’s media and royal fans waiting for a first glimpse of the boy who is entitled to both British and American citizenship.

“We’ll be seeing you guys in probably two days time, as planned, as a family to share it with you guys and so everyone can see the baby,” Harry told reporters on Monday.

“We’re still thinking about names,” Harry said. “The baby’s a little bit overdue so we’ve had a little bit of time to think about it ... that’s the next bit.”

Bookmakers have James, Alexander, Albert, Philip, and Arthur as the favourite names, although other suggestions include Spencer, which was the surname of Harry’s late mother Princess Diana.

The baby, the eighth great-grandchild of 93-year-old Elizabeth, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, will not automatically be a prince or a princess or be known as “His Royal Highness” unless the queen issues a decree.However, when Elizabeth is succeeded by Harry’s father Prince Charles, royal rules mean the boy would then have such titles.

“It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever possibly imagine,” Harry said. “How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension.”

Britain will take part in European Parliament elections - David Lidington

Special report(wp/reuters):::

Britain will have to take part in European Parliament elections on May 23 as there is not enough time left to get an exit deal ratified by parliament before then, Prime Minister Theresa May’s de facto deputy said on Tuesday.

May had hoped to avoid taking part in the vote, but so far talks with the opposition Labour Party aimed at finding a way forward on Brexit have not succeeded in breaking the deadlock.

“It is regrettably not going to be possible to finish that process before the date that is legally due for the European parliamentary elections ... So those will now go ahead,” David Lidington, minister for the Cabinet Office, told reporters.

“We will be redoubling our efforts ... to try to make sure that the delay after that is as short as possible. Ideally we would like to be in a situation where those MEPs from the UK never actually take their seats in the European parliament, certainly to get this done and dusted by the summer recess.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Update

The Duchess of Sussex went into labour in the early hours of this morning.

The Duke of Sussex was by Her Royal Highnesses’ side.

An announcement will be made soon.

ROYAL PRESS-ENGLAND