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A north-east council is no longer under Brexit Party control after several members returned to their previous political groups. Ten independent councillors on Hartlepool Council had joined the party in September. However, council leader Shane Moore has rejoined the Independent Union along with a number of his colleagues. Councillor Moore said it was "job done" after Prime Minister Boris Johnson "delivered Brexit". The Independent Union and Conservative Group leads the […]

Boris Johnson has nominated two men he kicked out of the Tories in the Commons for opposing him on Brexit for seats in the Lords, the BBC has learned. Former Chancellors Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond had the Conservative whip withdrawn last year for attempting to block a no-deal Brexit. They have now stood down as MPs but have continued to be critical of the prime minister's policies. The nomination […]

The UK will "drive a hard bargain" as it seeks trade deals with the US and other countries that benefit consumers and businesses while maintaining standards, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has said. Ms Truss set out the government's broad negotiating aims for talks with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand in coming months over post-Brexit deals. It has launched a consultation on plans which will see tariff rates […]

Australia is ready to begin talks on an "ambitious" free trade deal with Britain "as soon as possible", the foreign secretary has said. Dominic Raab was speaking after meeting his Australian counterpart at the start of a four-country tour of Asia and the Pacific. It is his first foreign trip since Britain left the EU last week. As a result of Brexit, the UK will be able to strike its own trade agreements with […]