Uk politics

Chris Grayling has managed to take the government's 'Global Britain' agenda up a gear this week with an appearance in the New York Times. The under fire Transport Secretary is the subject of a blistering editorial in the American paper (which has developed a penchant for negative UK stories these days) titled 'How Does He Survive? The Curious Case of ‘Failing Grayling’. The paper claims Grayling has 'bumbled his way from one government post to another' starring 'in a black comedy sideshow of his own'. Yet it's fair to say that in one respect the paper has gone easy on him. In the print article, it cites that the Labour party has calculated that Chris Grayling's misadventures have cost British taxpayers £2.7 million. However, it's actually £2.

Are Brexiteer MPs about to row in behind May’s deal? This is the question that has dominated the weekend's papers with speculation rising that the threat of a delay to Brexit – or no Brexit – means the European Research Group (ERG) are ready to soften their red lines. Sir Graham Brady – chair of the 1922 committee of Conservative backbenchers – has used an op-ed in the Mail on Sunday to say that he is now ready to back the Prime Minister's deal – so long as the 'right compromise is offered'. The Sunday Times splashes 'Brexiteers offer peace terms to May' with news of three tests the ERG will use to test out what ever concession the government returns from Brussels with.

MPs have 10 days to pass Theresa May’s Brexit deal or calamity strikes, I say in The Sun this morning. May’s deal is far from perfect. But what will happen if it doesn’t pass is truly appalling. If May’s deal hasn’t won a Commons vote by March 12th, the Commons will vote on whether to proceed with no deal. The parliamentary arithmetic is such that no deal will almost certainly be defeated. The next day, parliament will then vote on whether to request an extension from the EU. This vote will almost certainly pass. At this point, the United Kingdom would be in the weakest position it has ever been in this negotiation. Whether to grant an extension or not would be up to the EU and would require all 27 member states to agree.

The myth at the heart of the ‘Corbyn project’ is that it is a grassroots movement of enthusiastic young people. This group, so the theory goes, is disgusted by free markets and longs for industries to be nationalised and collectives of workers to seize control of the means of production. Books have even been written about how the ‘young’ have ‘created a new socialism.’ But if this is true, why does a poll today reveal that support for the newly-formed centrist Independent Group predominantly come from young people? Forty-seven per cent of 18-24 year olds approve of the creation of TIG, with just 14 per cent disapproving of it.

When the week began, there was speculation that a group of ministers would resign over Theresa May's Brexit stance. The Prime Minister had been warned that up to 22 members of government could quit unless she promised the chance for MPs to extend Article 50 if no deal looks likely. In the end, May blinked and paved the way for such a vote if her deal is rejected in two weeks' time. However, that decision has led to a government resignation that few were expecting. This afternoon George Eustice resigned as Defra minister over May's promise to allow MPs a vote on delaying Brexit if her deal is rejected.

Most people at Westminster are betting against the Tiggers. Most people, if forced to guess, would predict that the Independent Group won’t become a new political party that wins scores of seats in the Commons. We can all recite the reasons: no membership, no machine, no leader, no policy platform, the electoral system… But maybe that doesn’t matter. Because there are more ways to change things than winning seats. Just ask Ukip – if you can find it these days. Ukip only ever won one seat in the Commons, and in truth it was Douglas Carswell not the party who delivered it. But Ukip still changed history: without it, David Cameron would very likely have got out of calling the EU referendum.

This evening Jacob Rees-Mogg joined Rod Liddle in being able to say he has sold out the London Palladium for a Spectator event. The arch-Brexiteer appeared before a packed crowd – of over 2,000 – for an in conversation with editor Fraser Nelson. Despite a busy day in the Commons on Brexit and a spot on the stage, the Moggster still found time in the interval to help out on the ice cream stall. Here are seven Rees-Mogg takeaways from the event: 1. Most people who want to delay Brexit want to stop Brexit In reference to the news today that Theresa May will give MPs a chance to vote to delay Brexit, Rees-Mogg said he questioned the motives of the politicians pushing to extend Article 50: 'Most people who want a delay want to stop Brexit.