UK to favour skilled migration, no EU preference after Brexit - reports

Staff reporter(wp/reuters):
Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers have agreed to focus Britain’s post-Brexit migration system on high-skilled migrants and will not offer preference to European Union workers, newspapers said.

In a nod to the concerns of businesses, the plan backed by May’s cabinet on Monday would also allow some access for low-skilled foreign workers, the newspapers said.

Last week, official advisers recommended prioritising high-skilled migrant workers coming to Britain after Brexit, alarming companies in low-paid sectors. They also said there should be no preferential treatment for workers from the EU.

The Financial Times said that while ministers backed the advisers’ proposals, the idea of giving no preferential treatment to EU workers could change if Britain agrees a trade deal with the bloc.

“That would mean a better deal on migration, but the same offer would be available if we struck trade deals with other countries around the world,” the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

With little more than six months to go before Britain leaves the EU, London and Brussels remain at loggerheads on what their future relationship will look like, and May has insisted on new controls for migrant workers from the bloc.

Spokesmen for May’s office and for Britain’s interior ministry declined to comment on the reports.

Earlier, May’s office said the ministers had agreed that Britain would be able to “introduce a new system which works in the best interests of the United Kingdom – including by helping to boost productivity.”

The government’s advisers said in their report that evidence suggested high-skilled migrants had a more positive impact on productivity than lower-skilled workers from abroad.

After she was rebuffed by other EU leaders who told her last week that her Brexit plans would not work, May told her ministers that they must hold their nerve in the impasse, her office said after Monday’s cabinet meeting.

May said her plan was the only viable one on the table and that she remained confident of securing a deal, it said in a statement. “At the same time, the government will continue to sensibly plan for no deal,” the statement quoted her as saying.

May’s government published a latest batch of notices on Monday explaining to businesses and individuals what could happen if Britain leaves the EU without a deal.

The lack of an agreement could hamper airlines, stop the movement of goods to the world’s biggest trading bloc and cause headaches for pet owners who want to take their dogs on holiday, documents showed.

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Tourist arrested outside Buckingham Palace with 'mini-taser on his keyring' released by police

Pic:The man was arrested on Sunday afternoon(wp)
Royal correspondent/Crime reporter(wp/es):

A tourist who was arrested outside Buckingham Palace with a mini-taser on a keyring has been released by police.

Scotland Yard said officers were satisfied that the possession of the device was a “genuine error” on the 38-year-old’s part, and “posed no threat”.

The man, a visitor to London from the Netherlands, was released without further action by police on Sunday evening.

Police said the man had been detained at the tourist hotspot in central London on “suspicion of possessing a firearm” at about 12.45pm on Sunday.

The man had been stopped by security staff.

In a statement, police said: “Officers were satisfied that his possession of the device - which was low-powered and part of a keyring – was a genuine error on his part, and that he posed no threat.

“The man was released without further action on Sunday evening.

“Officers are reminding visitors to the United Kingdom to ensure that any items that they are carrying comply with legislation in the UK.

“This includes small knives and personal Taser-type devices, both of which may be considered offensive weapons or in breach of strict UK firearms laws.”
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Labour preparing to vote down Theresa May's EU withdrawal deal, says Sir Keir Starmer

Pic:Sir Keir Starmer will say his party is preparing to vote down the Prime Minister's Brexit bill (wp)
Political reporter(wp/es):

The Labour Party is preparing to vote down Theresa May’s EU withdrawal deal in Parliament, according to shadow Brexitsecretary Sir Keir Starmer.

During his upcoming speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Sir Keir Starmer will warn that Tory “division, chaos and failure” over Brexit is putting the country’s future prosperity at risk.

The move will leave the Prime Minister brutally exposed to a rebellion by Tory backbenchers with fewer than a dozen able to fracture her fragile control of the Commons in the upcoming vote.

He will say: “The party that once promised to fix the roof while the sun was shining now seems intent on burning the whole house down.”

His warning comes as Labour delegates prepare to vote on a compromise motion to keep the option of a second EU referendum "on the table".

Campaigners for a so-called People's Vote - who staged a march in Liverpool on the conference's opening day - have welcomed the motion, which states that if Labour cannot force an early general election it will "support all options remaining on the table, including campaigning for a public vote".

But they voiced concern after shadow chancellor John McDonnell indicated that the leadership envisage any vote would be on the terms of a Brexit deal, with no option to remain in the EU.

With a Commons vote expected in the next few months, Sir Keir Starmer is set to say that Labour will oppose any deal which fails the party's six tests, including delivering the "exact same benefits" of single market and customs union membership.

While stopping short of an absolute commitment to vote down Mrs May's plans, he will tell delegates that it is highly unlikely any deal based on her Chequers blueprint could meet Labour's tests.

And he will pledge not to back a "blind Brexit", under which MPs would be asked to approve the £40 billion withdrawal agreement without being given a clear outline of future relations with Europe.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to say: "Just when we need a strong government, what do we see from the Tories? Division, chaos and failure.

"No credible plan for Brexit. No solution to prevent a hard border in Ireland. And no majority in Parliament for the Chequers proposals.

"A Tory civil war that has gone on for years now threatens our future prosperity."

And he will issue a message to Mrs May: "If your party wants to tear itself apart, that's fine, but you're not taking our country with you."

Setting out Labour's approach to the upcoming Commons vote, Sir Keir Starmer said: "If Theresa May brings back a deal that fails our tests - and that looks increasingly likely - Labour will vote against it. No ifs, no buts.

"And if the Prime Minister thinks we'll wave through a vague deal asking us to jump blindfolded into the unknown she can think again.

"You can't meet Labour's tests by failing to provide answers. We will vote down a blind Brexit.

"Let me be clear: this isn't about frustrating the process. It's about stopping a destructive Tory Brexit. It's about fighting for our values. And about fighting for our country."

Sir Keir Starmer released an analysis of the Brexit blueprint agreed by the Cabinet at Mrs May's country residence, which he said showed it failed to pass Labour's six tests.

The tests demand: a "strong and collaborative" future relationship with the EU; the "exact same benefits" as single market and customs union membership; fair management of migration; defence of rights and protections; protection for national security; and delivering for all regions and nations of the UK.

Brexit minister Robin Walker said: "Labour seem determined to take us all back to square one by rejecting a deal out of hand then trying to delay Brexit and re-run the referendum.

"Labour promised to respect the referendum result, but are just playing political games and trying to frustrate it.

"This Conservative government is negotiating the right deal for the UK, one that promotes jobs and protects security and the precious Union between the four nations of the UK."

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'Hidden notes show real reason our daughter died in crisis hospital'

Pic: Nailah’s mother said she was always smiling ( ES Local Feed )
Health reporter(wp/es):

The grieving parents of a four-year-old girl today revealed how they discovered a shortage of doctors at a London hospital contributed to her death after asking for her medical records.

Wajid and Shahenaz Shah were initially told their daughter Nailah died in July 2014 at Whipps Cross hospital as a result of fluid on the lungs that was unavoidable because of her rare genetic disease.

In an attempt to uncover the whole truth, they asked the hospital’s parent trust, Barts Health, for her medical notes. In 2016 they learned of another report that said Nailah was likely to have died as a result of over-hydration and kidney failure because no one had been monitoring her fluid levels. At this point the Shahs instructed lawyers. 

Nailah had a severe form of Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia, which limits growth, the immune system and kidney function and typically results in death in childhood. Two of Nailah’s brothers, Muhammad, three, and Armaan, two, have the same condition, but her older brother Hanif does not.

The second report, written by another NHS trust and never previously disclosed, revealed there was only one paediatric registrar on duty on the night Nailah began to deteriorate. 

The registrar had to cover child attendances at A&E, the labour ward and the special care baby unit, which were all in different parts of the sprawling hospital. The doctor’s case load included two other children who were regarded as being sicker than Nailah.

The report said a locum doctor could not be found to share the workload, despite extra government funding being available, due to the nationwide shortage of trained medics. It concluded: “The lack of medical staff led to the failure to effectively manage her slow deterioration during the night.”

Last October, Barts Health admitted that negligence in failing to monitor Nailah accelerated her death. A settlement and undisclosed amount of compensation was agreed at the High Court in January, and an apology was received in March. 

Today Mr and Mrs Shah, aged 36 and 32, from Leyton, said they had faced a “constant battle for answers” in their attempt to learn about their daughter’s death. They were initially told the trust was unable to locate medical records relating to Nailah’s admission to hospital, and there were no minutes of a “rapid response” meeting of doctors after her death.

Mrs Shah said: “Nailah was a wonderful and affectionate girl who, despite her condition, was always happy and smiling. While she had a shortened life-expectancy she still deserved the basic human right of receiving the best-possible care. We feel totally let down.”  

Alexandra Winch, of Irwin Mitchell solicitors, who represented the family, said: “There has been a particular lack of openness by Barts Health NHS Trust in relation to the circumstances surrounding Nailah’s death which is in breach of their duty of candour.

“The trust has now admitted liability and have apologised to the family, but it is unfortunate that they were forced to commence legal action in order to simply get the answers that they were looking for.”

In 2015, Whipps Cross, in Leytonstone, was judged by NHS inspectors to be unsafe after 208 serious incidents in 2014. This resulted in Barts Health being put in special measures. Last year, Whipps Cross’s “inadequate” rating was raised to “requires improvement”.

A trust spokesman said: “We are very sorry for the failings in care and have expressed our condolences to Nailah’s family. We’ve transformed our services since, with over 170 more staff in post and strengthened processes for monitoring hydration. We train all staff to ensure absolute openness and honesty when things haven’t gone right.”
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Fears of centrist purge as new party rules make it easier to sack MPs

Political reporter(wp/es):

Labour MPs warned of a “purge” of centrists today after the party voted through new rules making it easier to sack Members of Parliament deemed to be out of touch.

In an overwhelming result on a card vote of members and union chiefs,  the historic chance was backed by 65.32 per cent to 34.68 per cent. 

The new rules stopped well short of calls made by Momentum for automatic mandatory reselection for all MPs, and the left-wing group denounced them as “meagre”. But critics said they could still would cause turmoil by putting the power to trigger a reselection battle into the hands of relatively small numbers of people.

Ilford South MP Mike Gapes said some MPs would be forced to waste long periods of time trying to defend themselves against deselection moves that could be triggered by small numbers of malcontents.

He told the Standard: “It is obviously a defeat for the Momentum ultras, which is good news. But it makes it possible for small groups within trade union branches to trigger reselections.”

He said it was a “diversion” from Labour’s efforts to win new seats because energy would be taken up by local arguments.

Neil Coyle, the MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark, said there would be more deselections of independent-minded MPs like Frank Field, who quit the parliamentary party after being targeted.

He stormed: “I have a constituency mired in cuts, and the debate is being wasted on internal factionalism and the desire to have more clones and drones rather than independent-minded Labour MPs. 

“I find it genuinely quite frustrating. There will be more Frank Fields.”

Under old rules a clear majority of local members of affiliated unions must back an open selection contest before it takes place. Now the threshhold is being slashed to a third - meaning a handful of people in a small branch or union branch could force it.

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May will change her mind on Brexit, says Rees-Mogg

Political reporter(wp/reuters):

British Prime Minister Theresa May will eventually decide to abandon her strategy for maintaining close trade ties with the European Union because it lacks support, a leading eurosceptic lawmaker in her Conservative Party said on Monday.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of anti-EU lawmakers in May’s ruling Conservative party, said the so-called Chequers plan is opposed by European politicians and large parts of the British public.

“The prime minister is a lady of singular wisdom and therefore is likely to recognise the reality that Chequers does not have much support either in this country or abroad,” Rees-Mogg said.

Last week, EU leaders rejected May’s proposal to seek a free trade area for goods with the EU and some rebels in May’s party have threatened to vote down a deal if she clinches one.

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EU gives Britain two months to pay 2.7 bn euros over China fraud

Law reporter(wp/afp):

The EU on Monday gave Britain two months to recover 2.7 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in lost customs duties or risk referral to the EU's top court after London allegedly ignored a scam by Chinese importers.

The demand, part of a so-called infringement action launched by Brussels, threatens to further inflame tensions amid fraught Brexit negotiations just days after an EU summit in Austria ended in acrimony.

"The United Kingdom now has two months to act; otherwise the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU," said a statement by the commission, the European Union's executive arm.

The case follows an investigation last year by the EU fraud watchdog that found Britain turned a blind eye to the rampant use of fake invoices and customs claims by Chinese importers for textiles and footwear.

The commission believes that "despite having been informed of the risks of fraud", Britain "failed to take effective action to prevent the fraud" -- a failure which in turn short-changed the EU budget.

The affair is especially ill-timed as Britain's proposal for future trade ties with Europe after Brexit centres on an offer that London handle customs checks on behalf of the EU after the split.

Britain's Brexit proposal was flatly dismissed as "unworkable" by EU Council President Donald Tusk, to the frustration of British Prime Minister Theresa May.
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