UK and the UN
UN experts have called for Julian Assange to be released from prison and have criticised the British Government for breaching his human rights.
Foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has promised a review into how his department handled the case of Matthew Hedges, the British academic convicted on spying charges by the United Arab Emirates, whilst Hedges and his wife are seeking the help of the UN in clearing Hedges’ name
Evaluation of UK’s international obligations
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has stated that the Government must improve its record on stopping cruel and inhuman treatment, including calling for the raising of the age of criminal responsibility up from 10 to bring it into line with international standards.
The latest report from the International Development Committee warned benefits from wider aid spending would be “nullified” by the effects of global warming unless the UK took urgent action to tackle the problem.
UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU
Downing Street has admitted that new UK MEPs may have to take their seats in European Parliament. Meanwhile the UK in a Changing Europe has published a report on the European elections and Brexit and a survey by ConservativeHome has found that three in five Tory members will vote for the Brexit party in the European elections..
Labour has accused the Government of not being “willing to compromise” as negotiations on a joint-Brexit deal once again broke up without agreement and the Government has conceded that it cannot reach a deal in time to avoid European elections, setting 1st August as its latest target for Brexit day.
The House of Commons Library has published a paper on the EU27: Internal Politics and Views on Brexit, concluding that the 27 EU Member States have mostly maintained a united front that the negotiated Withdrawal Agreement should not be re-opened.
Despite calls to set out a timetable for her departure, Downing Street has signalled that May will not set out a new ‘road map to resignation’, insisting she is determined to “get Brexit done”.
The Financial Times has stated that the October 31st deadline is already looking in need of an extension, and has suggested that UK involvement in the European elections could upset Brussels’ policymaking and play havoc with long-term relations. The Brexit crisis is tearing into the support for both main UK political parties, according to a Financial Times analysis of recent polls, with most Conservative voters shifting to more Eurosceptic groups and more than a quarter of Labour backers switching to pro-Remain parties
Jean-Claude Juncker has said that it was a mistake for Brussels to stay out of the UK’s Brexit referendum in 2016 on the advice of the then prime minister David Cameron.
Jeremy Corbyn is to hit out at Theresa May’s failure to secure Brexit on time when he launches Labour’s EU elections campaign. Meanwhile Theresa May is expected to put her Brexit deal to another Commons vote within days despite the ongoing deadlock in the Government’s talks with Labour.
Ministers have signed £160m worth of fresh contracts with outside consultants in a bid to boost preparations for Britain’s exit from the EU.
President of the European Council Donald Tusk has stated that the chances of the UK staying in the EU are as high as 30% as the country would be likely to reject Brexit in a second referendum.
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