May gives in to demands to publish Brexit plan

epa05748791 A wrapped-up British Prime Minister Theresa May departs Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, Westminster, London, Britain, 25 January 2017. The government lost its right to trigger article 50 without a parliamentary vote, 24 January, after the Supreme Court announced an 8-3 verdict against the government. EPA/ANDY RAIN

 

Bloomberg

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she will publish her plan for negotiations to leave the European Union after lawmakers demanded greater scrutiny in Parliament.
May said a so-called white paper will be published to allow proper debate of the strategy she outlined in a speech last week.
“I have been clear, as have senior ministers, that we’ll ensure Parliament has every opportunity to provide scrutiny,” May told lawmakers in the House of Commons in London on Wednesday. “I recognize there’s an appetite to see that plan set out in a white paper. I can confirm to the house that our plan will be set out in a white paper published to this house.”
Emboldened by the Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday to hand Parliament more power over the Brexit process, at least six Conservative legislators united with the main opposition Labour Party on Tuesday to demand May should publish an official government document detailing her negotiating goals.
May at first resisted the demand, and her climbdown will allow greater parliamentary scrutiny and accountability, ensuring lawmakers can better hold her to promises such as her pledge to deliver a sweeping post-Brexit trade deal with the EU. A white paper could limit her room to maneuver in the talks even if lawmakers prove unable to use their new-found strength to soften her strategy.

UK police make second arrest over Brexit
plaintiff threats

LONDON / AP

London police have arrested a second person for allegedly making threats to Gina Miller, the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court challenge related to Britain’s planned departure from the European Union.
The 51-year-old Miller, an entrepreneur, became the face of the lawsuit which demanded that Prime Minister Theresa May’s government get parliamentary approval before triggering Brexit.
Police arrested a 50-year-old man in central London on Wednesday on suspicion of racially aggravated malicious communications. Miller says that she hired bodyguards after the lawsuit was filed.

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