Daily Update – Arlene Foster faces vote of no-confidence

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Politics Live

11:27am – And confirmation that Lord Geidt will be the new ministerial advisor on standards, with his work cut out for him from the off.

No10 source confirms to me that Lord Geidt, the Queen's former private secretary, will be new ministerial advisor on standards, as per @SebastianEPayne scoop. Cabinet Office will announce shortly.

— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) April 28, 2021

11:22am – As mentioned in the previous update, the government will be concerned about the wording of the Electoral Commission’s statement:

Full @ElectoralCommUK statement. Most ominous part for Downing St is not the investigation but the section where they say that they’re satisfied to say that “there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred.” pic.twitter.com/KDmBfo1jDR

— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) April 28, 2021

11:00am – Ahead of what could be a lively PMQs, the Electoral Commission have said they will open a formal investigation into the Downing Street refurbishment:

Electoral Commission on No11: “We are now satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred. We will therefore continue this work as a formal investigation to establish whether this is the case."

— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) April 28, 2021

10:09am – Yes it’s a big day for many who celebrate Ed Balls day, in commemoration of a rather odd tweet sent by the former Shadow Chancellor a decade ago:

Ten years on… it remains one of the great days #EdBallsDay

https://t.co/IllZZXXMgX

— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) April 28, 2021

9:19am – Reports say it is likely Foster will resign very soon. She’s being ousted by groups who don’t think she has gone far enough on religious fundamentalism. If the new leader is stricter, there are fears it could cause the nation to destabalise.

credible political force was to move it to the centre ground, especially on social issues, whereas those who oppose her do so on the grounds of religious fundamentalism. Or to put it another way, the DUP is at a momentous cross roads. Will it choose a new leader that will…

— Robert Peston (@Peston) April 28, 2021

8:30am – Some big news this morning. The EU has ratified the EU-UK trade agreement.

NEW: It’s done.

The European Parliament has voted to endorse the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

660 in favour.
5 against.
32 abstentions

— Nick Beake (@Beaking_News) April 28, 2021

8:15am – So what’s in the news this morning?

• DUP leader Arlene Foster faces no-confidence vote by DUP politicians
• PM to face questions on flat refurbishment and ‘bodies’ comment at PMQs
• UK aid cuts to clean water projects criticised

8:00am – Welcome back to another day of Politics Live!

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