Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Chequers will lead to loss of 'democratic control', warns Priti Patel

Priti Patel, one of the most outspoken British politicians in favour of Brexit, on Monday (1) called on prime minister Theresa May to be less defensive in her strategy for the UK's exit from the European Union.

The former Cabinet member and senior Conservative party leader spoke out at the Tory party conference in Birmingham, where Brexit has been dominating the agenda.


Patel, often referred to by the media as one of the contenders for the top job as prime minister, said May's so-called Chequers strategy to strike a Brexit deal was not good enough and that alternatives were required after it had been ruled out as "unworkable" at a European Union (EU) summit in Salzburg last month.

"Theresa May has a good opportunity, post-Salzburg, not to be so defensive about Chequers but look at different ideas and approaches around advanced free trade arrangements," said Patel.

"However it is packaged up, Chequers is not the referendum mandate. It is not going to give us our freedom, our democracy. Chequers will make us rule-takers. It will mean we won't control our laws, and we won't have democratic control," said Patel, who has previously served as international development secretary in May's Cabinet.

The MP for Witham in Essex, who had campaigned vehemently in favour of a Leave vote in the 2016 EU referendum, said the Chequers strategy in favour of a common rulebook approach with the EU on trade limits Britain's freedom to have an independent trade policy that would allow it to "stand tall in the world".

"Although we won the referendum, we have yet to win Brexit... Too many people who are supposed to be on the negotiating side lack belief in our country. But we stand on the side of the British public, on the side of freedom and democracy, as we stand up for Brexit," Patel said.

During her fiery speech at the conference, the Tory MP also attacked the EU for its "unreasonable" stance in the negotiations.

"We must say no to their bullying and no to their unreasonable demands, and no to the £40 billion divorce settlement. Over the next six months, we must prepare our country for all eventualities," she said.

Patel also lashed out at the Labour party, including former prime minister Tony Blair, for "talking down to British public" in trying to overturn the referendum result by calling for second vote.

"Some call it the People's Vote. But in practice, it's a second referendum," she said.

Brexit has dominated the Tory party conference, which is set to conclude on Wednesday with May's keynote address – expected to set the course for future talks with the EU.

While she has maintained her Chequers plan is the only one on the table, Brexiteers feel it keeps the UK far too close to Brussels and does not fulfil the Leave campaign's promise during the 2016 referendum campaign to "take back control".

EU leaders have rejected the plan because they believe it would undermine the single market principles of the economic bloc by allowing the UK to "cherry pick" from EU law. May has repeatedly said that it is now up to the EU to come up with viable alternatives as the March 29, 2019, deadline for Britain's formal exit nears.

The UK government has said it will not agree to anything that divides Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. The Conservative party's MPs are deeply divided over the issue, with critics such as former foreign secretary Boris Johnson openly attacking Theresa May while others like UK Chancellor Philip Hammond speaking out in her favour.

More For You

F-35B jet

The UK has agreed to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the airport.

Indian Air Force

F-35B jet still stranded in Kerala, UK sends engineers for repair

UK AVIATION engineers are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to carry out repairs on an F-35B Lightning jet belonging to the Royal Navy, which has remained grounded after an emergency landing 12 days ago.

The jet is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy. It made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14. The aircraft, valued at over USD 110 million, is among the most advanced fighter jets in the world.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ahmedabad air crash
Relatives carry the coffin of a victim, who was killed in the Air India Flight 171 crash, during a funeral ceremony in Ahmedabad on June 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ahmedabad crash: Grief, denial and trauma haunt families

TWO weeks after the crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, families of victims are grappling with grief and trauma. Psychiatrists are now working closely with many who continue to oscillate between denial and despair.

The crash occurred on June 12, when the London-bound flight hit the BJ Medical College complex shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and 29 on the ground. Only one passenger survived.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

Prime minister Keir Starmer delivers a speech at The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London on June 26, 2025. (Photo by EDDIE MULHOLLAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer apologises for 'island of strangers' immigration speech

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he was wrong to warn that Britain could become an "island of strangers" due to high immigration, saying he "deeply" regrets the controversial phrase.

Speaking to The Observer, Sir Keir said he would not have used those words if he had known they would be seen as echoing the language of Enoch Powell's notorious 1968 "rivers of blood" speech.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

Sir Sajid Javid (Photo by Tom Nicholson-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Sir Sajid Javid leads commission 'tackling social divisions'

A cross-party group has been formed to tackle the deep divisions that sparked last summer's riots across England. The new commission will be led by former Tory minister Sir Sajid Javid and ex-Labour MP Jon Cruddas.

The Independent Commission on Community and Cohesion has backing from both prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. It brings together 19 experts from different political parties and walks of life.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Masum

Masum was seen on CCTV trying to steer the pram away and, when she refused to go with him, stabbed her multiple times before walking away and boarding a bus. (Photo: West Yorkshire Police)

West Yorkshire Police

Habibur Masum convicted of murdering estranged wife in front of baby

A MAN who stabbed his estranged wife to death in Bradford in front of their baby has been convicted of murder.

Habibur Masum, 26, attacked 27-year-old Kulsuma Akter in broad daylight on April 6, 2024, stabbing her more than 25 times while she pushed their seven-month-old son in a pram. The baby was not harmed.

Keep ReadingShow less