General Election explained

The SNP has won the general election in Scotland. The Tories have lost their majority at Westminster.



News story: PM calls with world leaders: 9 June 2017

The Prime Minister has taken two telephone calls today from other world leaders.

The French President Emmanuel Macron called to congratulate the Prime Minister, and said he was pleased that she would continue to be a close partner. The President invited the Prime Minister to visit France at the earliest possible opportunity, and they agreed that the strong friendship between our two countries was important and would endure.

The US President Donald Trump called the Prime Minister to offer his congratulations. Both sides agreed they look forward to continuing the close cooperation between our two countries.



News story: Election 2017: Prime Minister and ministerial appointments

The following Cabinet posts have been confirmed:

  • The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP continues as Chancellor of the Exchequer
  • The Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP continues as Secretary of State for the Home Department
  • The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP continues as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
  • The Rt Hon David Davis MP continues as Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
  • The Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB MP continues as Secretary of State for Defence

Further appointments will be added to this list as they are announced.



News story: Election 2017: Prime Minister and ministerial appointments

Updated: Updated with further Cabinet appointments.

The Cabinet is as follows:

  • Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service – Rt Hon Theresa May MP
  • First Secretary of State, and Minister for the Cabinet Office – Rt Hon Damian Green MP
  • Chancellor of the Exchequer – Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP
  • Secretary of State for the Home Department – Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP
  • Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs – Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
  • Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union – Rt Hon David Davis MP
  • Secretary of State for Defence – Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB MP
  • Secretary of State for Health – Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP
  • Lord Chancellor; and Secretary of State for Justice*– Rt Hon David Lidington CBE MP
  • Secretary of State for Education, and Minister for Women and Equalities – Rt Hon Justine Greening MP
  • Secretary of State for International Trade, and President of the Board of Trade – Rt Hon Liam Fox MP
  • Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Rt Hon Greg Clark MP
  • Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
  • Secretary of State for Transport – Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP
  • Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government – Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP
  • Lord Privy Seal, and Leader of the House of Lords – Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
  • Secretary of State for Scotland – Rt Hon David Mundell MP
  • Secretary of State for Wales – Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP
  • Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP
  • Secretary of State for International Development – Rt Hon Priti Patel MP
  • Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport – Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP
  • Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – Rt Hon David Gauke MP
  • Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster* – Rt Hon Sir Patrick McLoughlin MP

The following also attend Cabinet:

  • Chief Secretary to the Treasury – Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP
  • Lord President of the Council, and Leader of the House of Commons – Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP
  • Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) – Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP
  • Attorney General – Rt Hon Jeremy Wright QC MP
  • Minister of State (for Immigration), Home Office – Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP

Further appointments will be added to this list as they are announced.

*unpaid



News story: CMA set to remove bus undertakings in Bristol

The undertakings had been put in place following the 1989 merger of local bus companies Badgerline and Midland Red West which was investigated by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC). The MMC ruled that the merger would remove competition for bus services contracted by the former Avon County Council. Local authorities tender for – and subsidise – unprofitable bus services to maintain important transport links for residents.

Badgerline was subsequently renamed FirstGroup Holdings Limited (a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc), which then became subject to the restrictions, including a cap on the amount they could receive from the local authority for running a tendered service – and a requirement to return any excess profit from such services.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been reviewing the undertakings since January to see if there has been any change of circumstances which justifies their removal or variation.

The CMA has found that FirstGroup’s share of tendered bus services in the region has reduced significantly since the MMC report and that in the most recent tender rounds, FirstGroup did not win any contracts at three of the four Local Transport Authorities. The CMA engaged with local stakeholders and no party that we spoke to argued that the undertakings were having a beneficial effect and should be retained.

Given these changes and the increased level of competition between operators when the relevant local authorities contract bus services, the CMA has provisionally decided that there is no longer any need for the protection given by the undertakings.

The CMA is now consulting on this provisional decision and invites responses via the review case page, where all information relating to the review including the provisional decision is available.