Month: January 2020

The deal has cleared its biggest hurdle with the vote that followed a third reading in Parliament, in which 330 voted for and 231 against, putting an end to three years of political wrangling following the 2016 Brexit referendum.

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Thursday was the last opportunity for MPs to reject the bill before it is sent to the House of Lords, after which it will be put into legislation in coming weeks.

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The deal had been shot down by a fractured House of Commons several times over the past year, sending Westminster into a tailspin over whether Brexit would happen at all.

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But Thursday’s vote in parliament stood in stark contrast to the upheaval that dominated British politics last year, which included the resignation of former Prime Minister Theresa May.

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Johnson’s plan is essentially the same as May’s, but replaces her Northern Irish backstop mechanism with a de facto customs border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, which was a sticking point in May’s deal.

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Brexit became inevitable, however, when Johnson’s Conservative Party won a commanding 365 of the House’s 650 seats in last month’s snap election.

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The deal was widely expected to clear the House of Commons Thursday, and with little mystery surrounding the outcome, only a few dozen MPs turned up to deliberations ahead of the vote.

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The near empty chamber in parliament stands in stark contrast to previous votes, when the House was bursting at the seams and the Brexit bill attracted fierce opposition and debate.

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Johnson is now poised to take his country out of the EU on January 31, some 10 months after it was originally scheduled to.

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Observers say Brexit will only get messier, as it enters its second phase and negotiations for a trade deal with the EU begin in earnest.

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The UK will remain under EU rules of trade until December 31. Johnson has said he expects to strike a trade deal in that time, though European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in London Wednesday that the timeframe was likely too short and pointed to potential trade barriers should the UK leave without a trade deal.

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Harry and Meghan announced their intention to step back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family and work towards becoming “financially independent.”

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There was said to be a mood of deep disappointment in the palace following the announcement; senior members of the family are hurt as a result of the news.

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In a statement issued just hours after the couple put out an Instagram post, Buckingham Palace said the situation was “complicated.”

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“Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage,” the unsigned Royal Communications statement said.

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A royal source told CNN Thursday that officials acting for the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William held talks about what to do about the announcement.

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CNN has tried to contact the office of the Sussexes on several occasions. The Evening Standard was the first to report Thursday’s news.

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The officials will work together “at pace” with the UK government and the Sussex household to find “workable solutions” within days, the source said.

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But while the only official statement from the palace said the issue “will take time to work through,” the Sussexes made it clear in their statement that they know what they want.

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“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” they said.

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In their social media post, the couple revealed they plan to split their time between the UK and North America.

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While surprising to the rest of the royal family, the couple’s move seems to have been thought through.

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Alongside the statement, they also released a new, updated version of their website. The new site includes more details about their vision for their future. It suggests that while Harry and Meghan intend to become “financial independent”, they are still planning to rely on publicly-funded security and make use of their official residence, the recently renovated Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

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The royal source told CNN that a plan is being worked on that would redefine the couple’s role while satisfying the palace and to see if there is a way to accommodate the couple’s desire to pursue private income.

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The duke and duchess have had a difficult relationship with British media. In October last year, the couple announced that Meghan was suing the Mail on Sunday newspaper, alleging it had illegally published a private letter to her father — a claim the newspaper denies.

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At the same time, Harry launched an emotional attack on the UK tabloid press for what he called a “ruthless campaign” against his wife. Some parts of the media have been accused of racism towards Meghan.

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Correction: This story has been updated to correct the day that royal officials held talks about the Sussexes’ announcement.

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Discussions between Irish nationalists, and unionists who want to remain part of the UK, have been ongoing all week at Stormont, Northern Ireland’s parliament buildings.

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If the draft wins the backing of Northern Ireland’s political parties, it will bring an end to three years of uncertainty and avoid fresh elections threatened by Westminster.

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Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, has for years been split over the question of whether it should remain part of Britain or become part of Ireland.

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Its power-sharing arrangement obliges nationalists and unionists to work together, but that arrangement collapsed in January 2017, when the nationalist then-Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness stepped down after a dispute with then-First Minister Arlene Foster, a unionist, over a renewable-energy scheme.

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Sinn Fein, the largest nationalist party, withdrew from the power-sharing government, refusing to replace McGuinness as deputy first minister and complaining of unequal treatment.

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Since then, both Sinn Fein and Foster’s Democratic Unionist Party have blamed each other for the deadlock.

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London had threatened to call fresh elections if no agreement was made by January 13, 2020.

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The draft deal, titled “New Decade, New Approach,” sets out a vision for Northern Ireland’s future and aims to address issues that have arisen in the past three years, including ongoing strikes by health care professionals and restoring confidence in the government.

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UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Julian Smith has described the agreement as “a moment of truth” and called on all parties to form a government on Friday.

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“I have written to the Speaker asking him to call the assembly tomorrow to enable the restoration of the executive,” said Smith.

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Irish Deputy Minister Simon Coveney said the UK and Irish governments believe the deal was “fair and balanced.”

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“There is no need, and no public patience, for more process and more discussions,” he said.

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Prince Harry remains in the UK and Meghan is expected to come back to London on Tuesday, when the couple are set to attend an event with Janice Charette, High Commissioner of Canada to the UK, at Canada House.

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Meghan and Harry wanted to meet with Charette “as well as staff to thank them for the warm Canadian hospitality and support they received during their recent stay in Canada,” according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.

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The couple recently returned from Canada, where they spent the Christmas holidays with the duchess’ mother, Doria Ragland.

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“The Duke and Duchess have a strong connection to Canada. It’s a country The Duke of Sussex has visited many times over the years and it was also home to The Duchess for seven years before she became a member of The Royal Family,” the royals said on their Instagram page, Sussex Royal, on Wednesday.

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The latest developments follow the shock announcement that the pair plan to “transition into a new working model” and become “financially independent” after stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family.

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There was said to be a mood of deep disappointment in the palace following the announcement, and senior members of the family are hurt as a result of the news.

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Meghan and Harry’s desire to become “financially independent” has also sparked questions as to how they will be able to do this.

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The pair published detailed documents outlining the structure and funding of their household, which revealed they receive 5% of their income from the Sovereign Grant — a lump sum of UK taxpayers’ money given to the Queen every year — and 95% from the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate controlled by Prince Charles, Harry’s father.

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Media reports have suggested that Meghan was independently worth around $5 million before she married Harry, who inherited millions from his mother Princess Diana.

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However UK newspaper The Times reports that Charles may withdraw funding from the couple if they completely withdraw from their royal duties.

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Observers say the couple are unlikely to struggle for money and could generate income from a UK trademark for their brand ‘Sussex Royal,” which the couple applied for in June, as well as sponsorship or speaking tours.

Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, announced late Wednesday that they would be stepping back from their roles as senior members of the British royal family and begin working towards financial independence.

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The news, which the couple broke in a post on Instagram, came as a surprise to both the royal family itself — they did not consult any other royals about their decision — and the wider public, who swiftly began speculating about what was next for the pair.

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From whether Meghan might star in a future season of popular Netflix series “The Crown,” to how Harry might get a job without a proper last name, CNN’s Max Foster has answered all your most burning questions.

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Why now?

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The decision comes upon the couple’s return from a six-week family break in Canada and UK. But this is something has been building for years since Harry’s childhood; brought up under the glare of publicity, the young prince saw his mother, Princess Diana, suffer at the hands of the paparazzi.

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Harry said previously he didn’t think he’d be able to meet someone who could put up with the pressure, and, ultimately, Meghan has found it unbearable.

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The birth of their son, Archie, last spring, gave new impetus to their departure from the spotlight. In fact, Archie’s naming hinted at the move — they decided not to give him an official title, presumably to allow him a right to a private life.

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Will they lose their titles?

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Prince Harry and Meghan suggest on their new Sussex Royal website that they will be able to keep their titles, citing historic precedent.

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Other members of the royal family — like Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie — hold titles and also have jobs.

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What’s their last name?

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That’s a gray area for senior royals, but we can assume they will take Mountbatten-Windsor, as that’s what they gave Archie as his surname.

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Would the Queen have had to sign this off?

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Moves as significant as this typically require approval from Queen Elizabeth, the head of family and state. But the couple did not consult the Queen ahead of the decision.

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When you consider the royal family is essentially a firm, it seems unprecedented that they would not have spoken to “the boss” — especially as they are effectively demanding new roles, not walking out.

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There is said to be a mood of deep disappointment in the palace following the announcement; senior members of the family are hurt as a result of the news.

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Why wouldn’t Harry and Meghan consult the royal family?

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Last year, an ITV documentary chronicling the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s royal tour in southern Africa confirmed what many had suspected for quite some time: a rift within the royal family.

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Asked about media speculation of an estrangement with his older brother, William, Harry said the pair were “on different paths.” Given those tensions, it may not be entirely surprising that the couple didn’t consult the rest of the family.

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Do they pay taxes?

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The Duke and Duchess do not have any tax privileges. But, because they don’t have private incomes at the moment and largely live off public and family expenses, they have not had to pay any tax.

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Does the change mean Meghan will play herself in The Crown?

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In her first ever interview alongside Prince Harry, Meghan said she intended to quit acting after their marriage, calling the change a “new chapter.” Unfortunately for Crown fans, that means she is not likely to grace Netflix anytime soon.

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Will Meghan go back to acting at all?

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Again, unlikely. Meghan has made clear that her priority is female empowerment and her charitable work.

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Will Harry get a job?

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Presumably that’s the only option, if he wants financial independence. But it’s unclear what he might do, beyond his charitable work.

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What does it mean to be financially independent? Weren’t they already?

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Under the previous financing arrangements, Harry and Meghan were prohibited from earning any income in any form. Up until now, 5% of the couple’s official expenses were paid for by the Sovereign Grant — an annual lump sum from the UK government. But they say they are now giving up that public funding to become “financially independent.”

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The couple said they will continue to receive money from Harry’s father, Prince Charles, who funds the remaining 95% of the couple’s personal and professional expenses through his private estate, the Duchy of Cornwall. But will Charles continue to finance them at the same level, given how hurt the family was by the surprise announcement?

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Harry also inherited millions from Princess Diana, but it is probably not enough for the couple to live on with their current lifestyle.

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Didn’t they just take a bunch of public money to do up Frogmore?

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Yes. They spent £2.4 million (about $3 million) of British taxpayers’ money on renovations to, Frogmore Cottage, their official residence on Windsor Estate, west of London, according to the Royal Household’s latest annual financial statement.

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Works included the removal of a chimney, re-finishing the roof, new staircases, fireplace installations and a new “floating” wooden floor. Expenses related to fixtures, furnishings and fittings were funded privately by the couple.

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Where will they live now?

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The Duke and Duchess said on their website that they will continue to use Frogmore Cottage as their official residence so that “their family will always have a place to call home in the United Kingdom.” But that will require permission of the Queen. Her office says all the details will “take time to work through.”

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What happens to their foundation?

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That remains an open question.

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Does it mean anything for the line of succession? Does it mean anything for baby Archie?

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No.

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What is the ‘royal rota’ system?

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As part of the Sussex’s new “working model,” they’ve re-envisioned their relationship with the press. That includes no longer participating in the “royal rota” — a system that was set up to give UK media access to official engagements carried out by the royal family, which they then share between them.

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The couple has long had a rocky relationship with the press, and effectively torched parts of the UK media and some royal correspondents in a press release, saying that they had propelled misreporting and presented false impressions of their lives.

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“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year” they wrote on Instagram, explaining that they hope to “carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”

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“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen,” they said.

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Harry and Meghan did not consult any other members of the royal family about their decision, CNN has learned.

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There is said to be a mood of deep disappointment in the palace following the announcement; senior members of the family are hurt as a result of the news.

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Couple keen for private life

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In a statement issued just hours after the couple’s Instagram post, Buckingham Palace said the situation was “complicated.”

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“Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage,” the unsigned Royal Communications statement said. “We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

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The Duke and Duchess did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.

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The announcement could indicate that the couple will now have the private life they’ve always argued for.

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They are opting out of the system but they’ll be able to opt in to the elements that they like: the family elements and those where they’re seen to be supporting the Queen, who they’re both very close to.

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Shock Instagram announcement

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In their social media post, the couple revealed they plan to split their time between the UK and North America.

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“This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity,” they wrote.

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“We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support.”

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The Duke and Duchess have long had a fraught relationship with sections of the British media. In October last year, the couple announced that Meghan was suing the Mail on Sunday newspaper, alleging it had illegally published a private letter to her father — a claim the newspaper denies.

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At the same time, Harry launched an emotional attack on the UK tabloid press for what he called a “ruthless campaign” against his wife.

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He likened their treatment of her to that faced by his mother. Princess Diana died in 1997 when her car crashed as it was being pursued by members of the paparazzi.

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The couple will feel that they can win these court cases on the basis that they do have a right to a private life.

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Members of the royal family are often criticized for not allowing enough public access, given that they are publicly funded, and now the Duke and Duchess are effectively saying, “Okay, you win, we’re out.”

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The Sussexes’ decision to step back from leading roles within the royal family means they will “no longer participate in the Royal Rota system,” which gives UK broadcasters and newspapers access to royal engagements, according to the official SussexRoyal website.

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Christmas holidays in Canada

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Harry, 35, the younger son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Meghan, a former actor best known for her role in legal drama Suits, 38, met in 2016.

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They were married in a lavish, star-studded ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor in May 2018.

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The couple welcomed their first child, son Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor, in May 2019.

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The Sussexes and baby Archie spent the recent Christmas holidays in Canada with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland.

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On Tuesday, they paid a visit to Canada House, in London, to thank officials for the hospitality shown to them while they were there.

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This story has been updated.

On Wednesday night, their problems worsened. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the shock announcement that they would be stepping back from their roles as senior royals. “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year,” the couple said in a post on Instagram, adding that they hoped to “carve out a progressive new role within this institution.”

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While many were surprised, rumors that all was not well in the clan had been rife for months in Britain. From day one, Prince Harry and Meghan’s desire to do things differently irked many traditionalists. Their televised wedding in 2018 had so many personal touches that it stood in stark contrast to the relatively drab wedding of Prince William and Catherine just seven years earlier. Markle walked to meet her husband alone, with no man to give her away to another man. The couple left the chapel as a gospel choir sang Etta James’s version of “This Little Light of Mine,” a song synonymous with the American civil rights movement.

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The couple’s individualistic approach to royal life did annoy some, but was on the whole considered to be charming. Crucially, even in 2018, many British media commentators suggested the approach was driven by Meghan, and that Harry was simply giving her what she wanted.

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At a cursory glance, this might make sense. Meghan’s history of using her platform as a famous actor to speak out on issues ranging from gender equality to ending modern day slavery gives the impression of an independent woman. However, the idea that Harry — a headstrong young man who had spent a decade in the British Army, marching to the beat of a very different drum to that of his older brother — is merely living a life for the convenience of his wife is hard to believe.

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Indeed, the qualities of both Sussexes — and their very obvious public affection for one another — suggests that they are very well matched.

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The British media spent much of 2019 turning their fire on Meghan. She was painted by many as a whinging, out-of-touch celebrity who did little more than complain about how restrictive life in the clan was.

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Much of this will be down to the fact that Meghan and Harry didn’t engage much with the relationship that some of the British press have with the royal family, which is often criticized for being too transactional.

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The Sussexes bucked this trend when their son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, was born in May last year. The couple were accused of being too private with pictures of their new child. They were then blasted for being overly protective when opting to make Archie’s christening a private affair.

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The press doesn’t want to upset any royal, but the risk here was low. Harry is only sixth-in-line to the throne and Meghan is a US citizen. And yes, even in 2020, that somehow still seems to matter.

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Stories began to appear in the press suggesting splits between Meghan and her sister-in-law Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge. Over time, that morphed into differences between Harry and William, although the implication that Meghan was really the cause of all the trouble was lathered on thick in much of the coverage.

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Whatever the personal differences were, everything spilled into the open in October, when Harry told a British reporter in a documentary that he and William were “certainly on different paths at the moment,” but added “I will always be there for him, and as I know he will always be there for me.”

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Cue more media hysteria, as reports emerged that William was “worried” about his brother. Palace sources told the BBC at the time that rather than being angry with his brother, there was a view the couple were “in a fragile place.”

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Of course, brotherly concern is better than spitting blood. But the picture being painted by the palace was one of Harry and Meghan being a delicate couple, struggling to cope with the pressure of living in the spotlight, while William and Catherine were simply looking out for them.

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The coverage of Meghan herself became increasingly toxic. One real low point was a British newspaper, the staunchly royalist Daily Mail, running a feature titled “How Meghan’s favourite avocado snack — beloved of all millennials — is fuelling human rights abuses, drought and murder.”

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In October, the couple sued the Mail’s sister paper, the Mail on Sunday, for publishing a private letter that Meghan had sent to her father. Harry said in a public statement that “Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences.” He added that he feared “history repeating itself,” a reference to how the media treated his mother, Princess Diana, who it should not be forgotten died in a 1997 car crash in Paris while fleeing press photographers.

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The direct line of succession — the Queen, Charles, William, George — is currently very strong. But the Sussexes’ decision to take a back seat is a headache for the royals, especially the Queen. Prince Philip is now 98 and has officially retired from public life. Prince Charles, first in line, is far from being the most popular royal. Prince Andrew stands accused of having sex with an underage girl, provided to him by Epstein — an allegation the royal vehemently denies. To borrow a sporting expression, the bench is looking light for the clan.

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However, possibly worse for the monarchy, it will raise more questions about how happy a place the family is these days, and cause many to wonder why the fairytale of marrying into royalty is such a horror show that an independently successful, confident royal couple felt they had no choice but to walk away.

The Leeds midfielder clearly left a mark on the talkSPORT host, who watched the Championship side’s FA Cup defeat to Arsenal on Monday night.

Reiss Nelson hit the only goal of the game as the Gunners took advantage of profligate finishing from Leeds to secure their place in fourth round.

A decade on from a memorable FA Cup shock at rivals Manchester United, Leeds looked set to once again ruffle the feathers of the established order, only to fall agonisingly short after a fine display in front of a vast away following at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, taking charge of just his fourth match, must have displayed the half-time attributes of someone like his opposite number Marcelo Bielsa – whose first foray into management came when his counterpart was just eight years old – as Arsenal were a different prospect after a dismal first-half.

Leeds wasted a glut of chances to take the lead and make it a jittery night for Arteta and the home fans, Patrick Bamford coming closest when he rattled the frame of the goal.

In particular, Phillips shone in midfield as he dictated the tempo to suit the second tier side and Durham heaped praise on the 24-year-old on Drivetime.

“In terms of midfield, there was a midfielder for Leeds who outshone everybody,” Durham said.

“It’s the player Granit Xhaka probably dreams of being.”

“I think he could play for England as well,” Durham added. “I don’t think there is any doubt.

“And if he had been in the Premier League this season, I think he would be in the England squad!”

The Drivetime host was joined in the studio by Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder nurtured in the famous Crewe Alexandra academy.

Having first noticed Phillips around 18 months ago, Murphy admitted it was the movement and understanding of the game which set him apart.

And, ultimately, means he is likely to be playing in the Premier League irrespective of Leeds’ promotion push.

Murphy said: “When the ball is getting knocked about between the back four and the keeper, that holding role is really, really important.