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Morning top 5: Commons prepares for crunch Brexit vote; Pence to arrive in Dublin; 314 homes repossessed this year

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson could call for a general election as soon as this evening - just ...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

06.44 3 Sep 2019


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Morning top 5: Commons prepare...

Morning top 5: Commons prepares for crunch Brexit vote; Pence to arrive in Dublin; 314 homes repossessed this year

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

06.44 3 Sep 2019


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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson could call for a general election as soon as this evening - just a day after telling the UK he didn't want one.

The House of Commons returns from its summer recess today with a cross-party group of MPs planning to table legislation aimed at preventing the UK from crashing out of the EU without a deal.

It is understood Mr Johnson will ask for a snap poll if the bill passes.

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He has urged opposition parties and Tory rebels not to back the bill – which he says will weaken his negotiating hand and lead to a ‘pointless’ delay.

Meanwhile, the UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has insisted he will be “delighted” if Mr Johnson does call an election.

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Britons living in Ireland will protest outside the British Embassy in Dublin later to highlight their anger at Boris Johnson's decision to suspend the UK parliament.

Legal action aimed at stopping Mr Johnson from proroguing Parliament is due to be heard in Scotland’s highest civil court today.

If the suspension goes ahead, MPs will not sit until after October 14th – just days before the crunch EU summit and two weeks before the official Brexit date.

Critics say it is a deliberate play to stifle debate at a crucial time in the process and the 'Brits Not Out' group is urging people to join this evening’s protest against it.

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The Taoiseach plans to discuss Brexit, trade and immigration with the US Vice-President when they meet later.

Mike Pence arrived in Shannon Airport yesterday afternoon, on what is his first official state visit to Ireland.

Today he will meet with President Michael D Higgins at Arás and Uachtaráin before heading to Farmleigh to meet the Taoiseach.

Leo Varadkar says he wants 'spell out' the consequences of Brexit for Ireland to Vice President Pence, in the hope that the message will get back to the US administration.

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A man is due to appear in court in Dublin today over a one-million euro drugs seizure.

The heroin was recovered in Dublin and Meath on Saturday, and three men, in their 40s and 50s, were arrested.

One of them has been charged and will appear before Blanchardstown District Court this morning.

One man was released without charge, with a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The other man remains in custody.

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314 home repossessions were granted in Irish courts in the first half of this year.

Banks were given permission to repossess 290 homes in circuit and district courts, including 246 primary dwellings.

48 orders were granted in Dublin, which was closely followed by Meath, where banks got the go-ahead to repossess 40 homes.

There were 30 granted in Cork, 20 in Kildare and 15 in Offaly.


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