Laura Hughes
@Laura_K_Hughes
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Public Policy Correspondent, Financial Times. Stern Fellow, Washington Post, 2019. laura.hughes @ft .com
London
Joined February 2013
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Pinned Tweet
🚨 A UK parliamentary committee has launched an investigation into the human health risks posed by abandoned metal mines following revelations from a Financial Times investigation.
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This is a real moment. Professor Neil Ferguson:
"The epidemic was doubling every three to four days before lockdown interventions were introduced. So had we introduced lockdown measures a week earlier, we would have then reduced the final death toll by at least a half."
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One Number 10 official who attended the party on December 18 tells the FT: “It was huge, there must have been 40 to 50 people. It was really bad. There was cheese and wine ordered in by Number 10 staff. There was music.”
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Matt Hancock suggested at today's press conference that I was wrong to say there was a target of 25,000 coronavirus tests by mid-April. If I had been given the chance to ask a follow up question, I would have pointed to his department's press release from March 18.
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One Downing Street insider tells the FT there were often get togethers in the evenings in No 10 while the country was in lockdown last Christmas.
“It was the only place you could get together and socialise. They happened most Fridays."
EXCLUSIVE: Boris Johnson and his Downing Street staff have been accused of breaking Covid rules by attending parties at Number 10 in the run-up to last Christmas.
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Tom Tugendhat tells BBC: “I’m afraid weak sanctions like the ones that were imposed on Monday just encourage others to believe we are weak because we’re clearly not willing to do anything serious…it gave the suggestion or made clear that we weren’t wiling to do anything serious”
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The official said they had also been present during a leaving party in Downing Street for former aide Cleo Watson on November 27, in which Johnson had given a speech.
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New: Boris Johnson has been given two weeks by London’s assembly to explain his relationship with an American entrepreneur who received up to £126,000 in public funds during the prime minister’s eight-year tenure as mayor of the UK capital.
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DUP officials confirm there is NO chance of them abstaining on the vote. They are voting it down.
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New: Government u-turns on sewage amendment. Says the Environment Bill will be further strengthened with an amendment that will see “a duty enshrined in law to ensure water companies secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows.”
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Gender breakdown of MPs in the next parliament:
Labour: 104 women, 98 men
Conservatives: 87 women, 277 men
Lib Dems: 7 women, 4 men
SNP: 16 women, 32 men
DUP: 1 woman, 7 men
Sinn Fein: 2 women, 5 men
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Andrew Mitchell, former Tory international development secretary, describes FCO/ DFID merger as an “extraordinary mistake.”
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Tory MP says he has seen a text from Julian Smith to a paired Tory MP telling them to break the convention and that it was an "order", not a request”.
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EXC: Sir Timothy Sainsbury, a former Conservative minister, has made a “substantial” donation to the Liberal Democrats as fears mount Boris Johnson could take Britain out of the EU without a trade deal in December 2020.
@LibDems
@SamGyimah
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Kamala Harris on Trump: “I think he just does not have the ability to really have a sense of empathy for people who are enduring hardship and enduring pain. The fact that he’s playing golf while all this is happening is not surprising.”
.
@realDonaldTrump
golfs—as
#Dorian
nears Miami & TX reels from another mass shooting & search continues for 34 people missing off the CA coast—
@KamalaHarris
calls his golfing “unsurprising” & a reminder of his lack of “empathy”
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Dr Sarah Wollaston, the Conservative MP and chair of the Commons Health select committee, says: "Don’t even begin to swallow any rubbish that this will be some Brexit bonanza. In reality the tax rises and borrowing will need to be higher as a result."
#NHS
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Downing Street: "We are monitoring the situation closely and expect China to respect Hong Kong's rights and freedoms and high degree of autonomy."
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"It is a victory for all those who have stood up for the health of our rivers including the thousands of members of the general public who have made their wishes clear."
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Some of the bankers at the meeting today bluntly told Boris Johnson they do not believe UK sanctions against Russia have gone far enough.
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The Independent Group has announced that it is registering to become political party and will field candidates in the European Elections.
The party will be called ‘Change UK – The Independent Group’.
Heidi Allen has been appointed the interim leader.
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Richard Ratcliffe has not eaten in 20 days. His body is beginning to shut down yet his voice is steady, his purpose resolute. This weeks ‘Person in the News’ via
@ftweekend
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The Conservative Party say they take allegations of alleged sexual misconduct seriously... I’m sorry but how seriously?
NEW: Tory whips are allowing Charlie Elphicke to vote tonight. He had been suspended pending a police investigation.
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Speaker Lindsay Hoyle on allowing female MPs to breastfeed in the Chamber or select committees (if they so choose).
"My view is that it is up to a woman, I think it would be wrong for me as a male to dictate on that policy. If it happens it happens, I wouldn't be upset by it."
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Tory whips have imposed a three-line whip on the Leadsom amendment, which has been selected for vote this afternoon.
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John Major refuses to comment on Boris Johnson's 'congestion charge' remarks on the Irish border issue- because he says he still wants to be considered a serious politician
#Brexit
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For the first time, the government says pregnant women are among those who should be avoiding social contact. They are now in the same category as the over 70s and those with underlying health conditions.
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The Rivers Trust: "This looks as though the intent of the Duke of Wellington’s amendment will now be met by the government."
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CONFIRMED: DUP MP tells FT they have voted against everything tonight.
NEW: Understand the DUP might have voted against all four proposals tonight
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Privately many female Tory MPs admitted they would put up with the abuse if they believed it was for a cause worth fighting for. Unease with the future of their party under Boris Johnson’s leadership was at the heart of the decision to step down.
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Just seen Jeremy Corbyn comfort Labour MP who has been pushed through the voting lobbies in a wheelchair. Visibly ill.. Ridiculous that we still don’t have a proxy voting system for ill MPs/ new parents.
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PA: 'Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke has been found guilty of three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court.'
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Sir Simon McDonald, the foreign Office perm secretary, just told
@CommonsForeign
"it was a political decision" not to take part in the EU joint joint procurement plan.
Said officials "briefed ministers about what was available, what was on offer and the decision is known."
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Diane Dodds: "The confusion and chaos being endured by the public at the moment is the result of a catastrophic failure by the Government to handle the exit negotiations in a proper manner. The negotiations have been an embarrassment for the fifth largest economy of the world."
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Smiled madly (to the point my face aches) at every policeman on my way into parliament this morning. There are lots around today and I wanted them to know how bloody grateful we are for what they do.
#Westminster
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Pete Buttigieg tells an audience in Iowa that the diversion of military resources for Trump’s 4th July parade is designed to "prop up a presidential ego" and is “not reflecting well on the country."
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“They were the only things that kept us going, bearing in mind we were the only people in Whitehall in the office working throughout”, the insider says. “We weren’t seeing anyone else outside of work and were our own bubble.”
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Helen MacNamara on 13 March, 2020:
“There is no plan. I think we are absolutely f***ed… I think we are going to kill thousands of people.”
#CovidInquiryUK
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This is such an honour, thank you!
I'm delighted to announce that
@Laura_K_Hughes
, political correspondent of the
@ft
, will be the Stern Fellow this year at the
@washingtonpost
, joining the superb young British journalists who have covered the American scene as part of the
@sternfellowship
.
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NEW: Boris Johnson has just confirmed the UK will open a path to citizenship for almost 3m Hong Kong residents in a bold riposte to China's security crackdown on its former colony.
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Helen MacNamara on Boris Johnson.
#CovidInquiry
“The jovial tone, the view that in implementing containment measures and suspending work and schooling, the Italians were overreacting, and the breezy confidence that we would do better than others had jarred with me.”
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Outside the venue where Jeremy Corbyn is launching the Labour party’s Race & Faith Manifesto this morning.
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It means the absolute world to us that these stories of harassment have been taken seriously. Still have hell of a way to go to make all MPs take seriously too. Couldn’t have done anything without brave people sharing their horrible experiences.
#metoo
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All the MPs the FT wrote about in this piece are STILL MPs in this new parliament. (In case anyone was wondering...)👇
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This Saturday's
@FTMag
piece is for anyone who thought the Westminster sexual harassment and bullying coverage last year was baseless. Spoken to over 30 current/ former MPs’ staff and interns. Here are some of their stories.
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Angela Raynor at
#PMQs
: "In no other profession in our country could somebody be found guilty by an independent process and just have their mates vote them back into the job?"
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BREAKING: Chris Pincher has quit his job in Whips office and referred himself to the police
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NEW: A Labour Lords spokesperson says:
“Jeremy Corbyn has this evening asked Lord Mendelsohn to step back from the frontbench as he attended the Presidents Club dinner, and he has agreed to do so."
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EXC: Jo Swinson tells the FT she would sooner push the UK into another general election than put Jeremy Corbyn or Boris Johnson into Downing Street in the event of a hung parliament.
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Why don’t victims of sexual misconduct come forward with complaints against MPs? Gosh I have no idea.👇🏻
Funny how the Conservatives can suddenly reinstate the whip to an MP whose support they rely on.
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Tom Watson, Labour's Deputy leader, returns to London following a night at Glastonbury.
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NEW:
@RuthDavidsonMSP
to FT: “If I was a politician in NI I would absolutely 100 % vote to change the law.But as someone who operates in a devolved administration I know how angry I would be if the House of Commons legislated on a domestic Scottish issue over the head of Holyrood"
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Theresa May confirms vote has been pulled: "If we went ahead and held the vote tomorrow the deal would be rejected by a significant margin."
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Lord Lister’s written evidence also confirms Boris Johnson said in September 2020 that he would rather “let the bodies pile high” than impose another lockdown. This was denied by cabinet ministers when first alleged in April 2021.
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Crumbs. GuyVerhofstadt tells MPs: “This whole bunch of agreements will be put in the ratification machine of the European Union, including the member states, we are going to be in ratification - and in uncertainty - for more than one decade, even two decades".
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Pete Buttigieg is here in Storm Lake for the 4th July parade.
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Bercow on proxy voting for pregnant MPs:
"It is extremely regrettable that almost a year after the first debate... this change has not been made. This is frankly injurious to this house."
Comes after
@KateProctorES
revealed
@TulipSiddiq
has delayed cesarean to vote tomorrow.
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This has made my day/month/year. Women who have called out sexual harassment make
@TIME
's Person of the Year, 'The Silence Breakers' .
#TimePersonOfTheYear
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NEW:
@PennyMordaunt
is calling on the government to abolish the law that prevents the daughters of hereditary peers from being elected to the House of Lords.
@DaughtersRights
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Lord Lister backs up claims of toxic culture in No 10 as he’s shown messages in which Simon Case says “top drawer people” had refused to work there because of the “toxic reputation” of Boris Johnson’s operation. Case says “at this rate, I will struggle to last six months.”
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Helen MacNamara:
“It was only much later that I realised that what was meant by NHS capacity being elastic was the capacity of people working in the NHS to work themselves into the ground to keep people alive.”
#CovidInquiryUK
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Lord Edward Lister confirms to the
#CovidInquiry
that Boris Johnson had offered to be injected with coronavirus on television to “demonstrate to the public that it did not pose a threat.”
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EXC: Afternoon lobby sessions with journalists will be televised from Downing Street.
Officials have also been told of plans to dramatically reduce the government’s communications operation and no of press officers across Whitehall.
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As chaos continues in the UK, David Cameron is in Florida.
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Gavin Williamson: "I am sorry for the distress this has caused young people and their parents but hope this announcement will now provide the certainty and reassurance they deserve."
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Today the Commons chamber really felt Jo Cox's absence. Won't just be me who missed hearing her thoughts.
#AleppoDebate
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Dame Tessa Jowell in January: "In the end, what gives a life meaning is not only how it is lived, but how it draws to a close. I hope this debate will give hope to other cancer patients like me. So that we can live well with cancer, not just be dying of it.All of us.For longer."
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A DUP source has told the FT “no”, they cannot see how the party can back the PM’s deal in the Commons tonight after reading Geoffrey Cox’s legal advice.
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A heavily pregnant Tulip Siddiq is just outside the chamber in a wheelchair. She delayed her caesarean to be here tonight.
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Can’t remember the last time I finished a book and then genuinely considered starting it all over again. Bravo 👏🏻
@caitlinmoran
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Sir John Major:
"Parliament must now be recalled immediately to recommence its work, and to receive the Prime Minister’s unreserved apology.
"No Prime Minister must ever treat The Monarch or Parliament in this way again."
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Last story for
@FT
before I head to
@washingtonpost
@sternfellowship
I’ll be back for Tory party conference! Be good everyone 👋🏻
Tuesday’s Financial Times: Ten Tories line up in battle to replace May in Downing Street
#tomorrowspaperstoday
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.
@labourlewis
is making a formal complaint to the Cabinet Office ethics watchdog over the appointment of
#GeorgeOsborne
to the LE Standard
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NEW: Charlie Elpicke, whose suspension from Conservative party was lifted before vote of confidence, is still under police investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Metropolitan Police have confirmed to FT that an investigation is ongoing.
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Over at the European Scrutiny select committee, eurosceptic Tory MP Bill Cash reveals has has three grandchildren currently living in Spain and urges immigration minister Caroline Nokes to protect their rights after
#Brexit
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Tory MP Ben Bradley tells the FT: "It's costing us £39bn for a document that says things will be 'considered' and 'recognised'. There are no guarantees of agreement on anything at all. We're giving them lots of money for nothing, except to give away control of our own future."
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Happy International Midwives' Day! We had our 20 week scan yesterday and while my other half wasn’t allowed to join us, the only thing that matters is the little one is ok and we keep our amazing NHS staff as safe as possible 🌈 🌈 🌈
#ThankYouMidwives
#IDM2020
@NHSuk
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Evidence to
#CovidInquiry
. Cabinet Secretary Simon Case messages Dominic Cummings about their boss Boris Johnson:
“I am at the end of my tether… He changes strategic direction every day… – today we were in ‘let it rip’ mode cos the UK is pathetic, needs a cold shower etc.)
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Hearing chatter that No 10 are pulling staff off leave. Something coming tomorrow...
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According to the Press Gallery website: 'In 1890, the Serjeant at Arms turned down a request by the Women’s Penny Paper to have a female parliamentary reporter in the gallery, warning darkly that “the consequences were too difficult to conceive”'.
It was 1964 when Westminster got its first female political correspondent for a national newspaper: Nora Beloff of The Observer. A remarkable woman and a story ripe for revival...
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NEW: DUP will vote WITH the government on Queen Speech tomorrow.
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Adds that “many of the senior figures who are key to Britain’s role as a development superpower will likely leave and go elsewhere in the international system - at a stroke destroying a key aspect of Global Britain.”
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Expect more chaotic voting scenes this afternoon. MPs have been told:
'The Speaker has decided that no new voting system will be in place until next week at the earliest. Any division today will therefore be conducted under the system used last week to allow social distancing.'
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Julian Smith has told the Commons that the first same-sex marriages in Northern Ireland will take place in the week of Valentine’s Day, 2020.
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I think this the first time I have actually sat back and realised what an extraordinary job us lobby journos have. I really do love my job!
#brexitstorm
You could spend next couple of hours waiting for results of MPs indicative votes OR you could get ready to watch our film about how we got to this point of total chaos
#brexitstorm
, 9pm BBC 2
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NEW: Understand the DUP might have voted against all four proposals tonight
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NEW:
@joswinson
has called on Boris Johnson to pledge to resign if his Brexit deal results in checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
@LibDems
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On the possibility of Northern Ireland staying in the EU customs union, even temporarily, the DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson tells the FT: “We won’t be agreeing to that if that is what is being discussed.”
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Minister says MPs are increasingly discussing whether PM’s time in power is drawing to a close after party fiasco. “In a way I haven’t heard before, colleagues I wouldn’t have expected are talking about what the end-game might be for the PM”,they tell FT.
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Been told the whip for Charlie Elphicke and Andrew Griffiths has been restored for the foreseeable future. They are no longer suspended. Right.
The Conservative Party say they take allegations of alleged sexual misconduct seriously... I’m sorry but how seriously?
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🕵🏻♀️ On the 5th of April, I’ll be finishing my maternity leave and joining the FT’s new special investigations team, working alongside two of the most impressive, dedicated and empathetic journalists
@miss_marriage
@antoniacundy
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DUP spokesman tells the FT:
“The EU must respect the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK. This proposal does not. It is no more acceptable to place a new border between NI and GB than it would be to put a new border between NI and RoI.”
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And warns it will “destroy one of the most effective and respected engines of international development anywhere in the world.”
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