Doughnut Live!

Hello, and welcome to Doughnut Live on this pivotal day of news both nationally and a bit closer to home. We will be bringing you all the events as they happen – from the latest round of BUCs games involving our sports teams as they prepare for Varsity 2019, what’s going on, who’s doing what and why they’re doing it in Marjon’s SU presidential elections, plus we’ll be rounding up all the Brexit chaos from today in parliament as it happens…

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17:09pm

Marjon’s Student Union Presidential Election is underway!

Have YOU voted yet? I know, I know, you’re gonna do it later when you have time. But what if someone was there to talk you through the process, step by step?

Surprise! Election Ambassadors’ are here to do yet that. 

15:45 pm

JAM Live Exclusive: Interview with Charlie Pettinger  

Interview with Charlie Pettinger, who is a central midfielder for the women’s football team ahead of their match against Bristol UWE.

15:21 pm

Parliament LIVE Brexit Debate 

Following PMQ and the spring statement, we receive live footage of MPs debating Brexit following the government’s defeat yesterday as well as preceding tonights vote on either a no-deal exit or an extension on Article 50. 

15:15 pm

Jam Live Exclusive: Post-match interview with Marjon Women’s forward Amber Pollock

Our sports reporters manage to snag a post-match interview with Marjon Women’s forward Amber Pollock after their 15-0 trashing over UWE. 

15:10 am

JAM Live Exclusive: Interview with Marjon SU President Rhys Roberts 

Jam Live reporters Rebecca Hocking and Rebecca Toogood interview Marjon SU president in SU election week.

15:03 pm

Phillip Hammond pledges to spend £26.6 billion on the ECONOMY IF MPs Vote to Leave with Deal

In today’s spring economic statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond has pledged to spend a £26.6 billion war chest in order to boost the economy, but only on the conditions that MPs vote in favour of the government’s leave deal. 

Mr Hammond has warned MPs that a “disorderly” Brexit will deal a “significant” blow to the UK’s economy. He has also stated that the MPs decision to reject Theresa May’s deal has cast a shadow of uncertainty on the UK’s economic future. 

Such plans to commit the war chest are based around a smooth and ordered Brexit.

Student Loans and the War Chest

Whilst Mr Hammond has plans to set aside this large chunk of money as plans to give the economy a post-Brexit boost, some have noticed that the change in how student loans are handled will certainly eat away at the government’s funds. 

These changes, which have been implemented due to the reality that many students will never fully pay off their loans, is anticipated to reduce this war chest by an estimated £12 billion. This recent turn of events has cast a gloomy outlook over the prospect of eliminating the deficit. This leads to questions regarding the future of the state of student loans and the debts they usher in, especially in a remarkably competitive market where income inequality is at an all time high. 

13:45 pm

The UK can Still Leave with a “Good Deal”, says Theresa May

During today’s PMQ, Theresa May addressed her defeat in parliament that occurred yesterday. She has warned MPs that they are due to face “hard choices” upon rejecting her deal for the second time. 

Despite her loss her faith in her withdrawal deal remains and has declared her intentions to rule out a no-deal Brexit on the 29th of March – the Brexit due date. In addition she continues to persist that a “good deal” with the EU is indeed attainable, however judging by the lack of support behind her from members of both the opposition and her own party it seems as if anything can happen. 

Time is running low, and it appears that no-one knows what they want. Mrs May is content on running down the clock in order to force her deal through Parliament, and it appears that a crises is around the corner. With the EU warning that the risks of a “disorderly” Brexit are higher than ever; Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, has said that the EU “cannot go any further” in its attempts to persuade MPs in compromising and agreeing to the set terms on a withdrawal from the EU.  

12:54 am

Spring Statement 2019 is underway. Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond giving the run-down! 

12:24 pm

Following Theresa May’s defeat yesterday, the PM continues forth with PMQ. 

12:10 pm 

Brexit: What could happen next? 

Now that MPs in Parliament have rejected Theresa May’s deal again, it would appear that time is running slim and a no deal Brexit is looking ever more likely. 

The next big vote in Parliament will be either for or against a  ‘No-deal’ Brexit, this is due on the 14th of March – only 15 days before the planned leave date of the 29th of March!

If MPs vote for a no deal then the UK will leave as planned on the 29th with no deal or plan. Whilst many prominent Brexiteers have been pushing for this result it could mean for a rocky period after the UK leaves, however the country would not be bound to a lengthy divorce from the EU. 

However, if MPs reject this vote in Parliament then that really opens up seven possibilities as to what could happen in the coming days, weeks and months! 

1. A Second Referendum

Whilst the idea of a second referendum has been passed around over the past two years, it’s becoming an increasingly plausible option. Almost all opposition parties of prominence, such as the Liberal Democrats, SNP and, recently, the Labour Party (as well as the newly formed Independent Group) are backing the prospect of a second referendum. However, Theresa May has continually stated that a second referendum was a strict no-no. But never say never.

The original referendum back in 2016 was non-binding, however many see the idea of a second referendum is one that undermines a democratic vote, such is why Mrs. May has been so reluctant to do a U-turn on the issue. It’s also why Jeremy Corbyn is more actively pursuing a snap election, if Labour would win then it would be seen as an affirmation that the public’s mood has shifted in favour of a remain vote. 

But the idea of a second referendum also begs the question of how a vote would be done, the original vote was a simple ‘leave’ or ‘remain’ choice. However, there are questions as to whether this would be done again, or whether the vote should have additional categories, for instance a ‘remain’. a ‘leave with a deal’ and ‘leave without a deal’. `Nevertheless this too has attracted contention from the Brexiteers, who say it divided the leave vote. There are numerous other options however. 

2. Another Election

As previously mentioned, Corbyn (and many others) are pushing for a snap-election in order to change the course of the Brexit negotiations. 

3. Another Vote of No Confidence

MPs are also backing a vote of no confidence for Theresa May, after narrowly surviving one back in January by a margin of 325 to 306. This would lead to a change of leadership of the Conservative and, most likely, also lead to back to option number two. 

4. No Deal at a Later Date

Whilst MPs are still overwhelmingly against the prospect of leaving without a deal it’s not impossible to see the UK leave deal-less at a later date. Possibly after another period of unsuccessful renegotiations. 

5. A Vote for May’s Deal at a Later Date

Same can be said for Theresa May’s consistently rejected deal. 

6. Extension on Article 50 and Major Renegotiation 

The EU have stated that they would allow for an extension on the leave date, such would allow for a lot of extra breathing room as well as an opportunity to radically renegotiate the withdrawal plan. This may also give extra time for a genera election, second referendum as well as all the possibilities.  

7. No Brexit

Such may be the result of a remain vote on the second referendum, however if the government suddenly decided out of the blue that they didn’t want to leave then (technically) they could. 

The European Court of Justice has said that the UK could completely revoke Article 50 without a vote from the remaining 27 member states. However, at this current point in time this is very unlikely lest a second referendum or a new government takes power. Theresa May and her cabinet are very committed to leaving the EU, and an abrupt decision to remain would be a death sentence to the Conservatives from ardent leavers.

11.28am

We have just spoken to Marjon Women’s Football midfielder Charlie Pettinger ahead of their crucial match against Bristol UWE. Check back for live updates as we follow all of the action pitch side.

11:07 am

Today follows another starving defeat for PM Theresa May as she attempted again to push her withdrawal deal through parliament.

The result was yesterday ended in 242 voting for May’s deal (primarily Conservative MPs) whilst the remaining 391 votes stood for a no deal (almost all of the opposition). Mrs May was defeated by a 149 margin.

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn again pushed for Theresa May hold an election after the defeat in Parliament. 

Prior to the vote that occurred at 19.00 yesterday, the government announced that it would implement a temporary scheme in which imports to the UK would not attract a tariff during the planned transition faze – this aimed at softening brunt of the fall that would inevitably happen. In addition to this, May also announced that she would not introduce no new checks and controls from Northern Ireland and Ireland if the UK leaves without a deal.

That’s not all though, I’m going to be keeping you up with updates on events and explain what could potentially happen in the upcoming weeks and months.