Chaos as suspected terrorist attack brings Arian Grande gig to an abrupt end

Chaos as suspected terrorist attack brings Arian Grande gig to an abrupt end

World Unknown   10:35

Wailing and mourning in Manchester after a suspect terrorist attack left 19 persons dead, while 50 persons have sustained different degree of injuries’

The police in Greater Manchester has announced that the tragedy would be handled as an alleged terror attack.

According to eye witnesses a "huge bang" was heard at the 21,000-capacity venue at the end of a sell-out Ariana Grande gig.

The US singer, who was unharmed, tweeted to say she is "broken".

"From the bottom of my heart, I am so, so sorry," she said. "I don't have words."

Her manager Scooter Braun said they mourned "the lives of children and loved ones taken by this cowardly act".

Accordingly, the city’s Victoria station has been closed after evacuating everyone and cancelling train services.

Residents in the city have been offering shelter to all those who went to the concert, even as taxi drivers offered to render free rides, while one of the hotel close to the venue has provided shelter for several children.

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in his tweet handle said: "My heart goes out to families who have lost loved ones, my admiration to our brave emergency services. A terrible night for our great city."

Theresa May in her message said her thoughts were with the victims and families of those affected and has condemned "what is being treated by the police as an appalling terrorist attack".

Home Secretary Amber Rudd also condemned the "barbaric act" and said: "The full details of exactly what happened are still emerging, but I am proud of the police and first responders who reacted to this tragic incident so swiftly."

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected and especially the families who lost their loved ones tonight - utterly heart-breaking," they said.

If it at the end is confirmed that the attack was an act of terrorism, the explosion will become the worst atrocity in the UK since the deaths of the 56 people killed in the 7/7 London bombings in 2005.

Battle line drawn, as Theresa May perfects plans to give Brussels Britain’s Brexit divorce bill

Battle line drawn, as Theresa May perfects plans to give Brussels Britain’s Brexit divorce bill

World Unknown   06:07

In a response to the huge Brexit divorce bill levelled against the United Kingdom, Theresa May’s led government has also concluded plan to hit Brussels with a huge Brexit bill.

According to the PM, Brussels is also owing Britain several billions of pounds as a result of its share of the European Investment Bank and other joint projects.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph the PM mentioned that “money paid in the past” by the UK must be taken into account in any final financial settlement.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged that the UK had financial “rights” which must be respected during Brexit negotiations about payments as well as “obligations” to the EU as it leaves.

The PM’s intervention is a clear refusal of hardline EU countries who have contended that the UK should not get back its proportion of EU assets.

According to the PM: “There is much debate about what the UK’s obligations might be or indeed what our rights might be in terms of money being paid in in the past. We make it clear that we would look at those both rights and obligations.”

“There’s the investment bank, there’s the investment fund, and there are various areas. This will be, as you know, an important part of the negotiations.”

The comment is the first time the Prime Minister has indicated publicly she wants to keep a share of the European Investment Bank.

It was also reported by Government sources that the UK’s share of the bank has been estimated at 16 per cent - which equals to around £8.5 billion.

Britain can rejoin EFTA in order to access the EU’s single market - Norway

Britain can rejoin EFTA in order to access the EU’s single market - Norway

World Unknown   05:49

It has once again be emphasized that if all efforts to keep Brexit Britain in the EU single collapses, the UK could still be allow membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as a stop-gap measure.

Three member countries of EFTA: Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland have all indicated their readiness to welcome the UK into their organisation, which enjoys single market access, in the event of divorce proceedings with Brussels breaking down.

Though if such becomes the case, it would only be used as a transitory measure by the British government, due to the fact that EFTA member countries are made to adhere to EU free movement and some EU regulations.

This measure is made to also ensure that Switzerland and the other three members of the club, maintain their close friendship with the UK which is one of their major trading partner.

EFTA member states are permitted by to enter into trade deals with as many countries they want to enter trade deals with, which EU countries are not to do.

Therefore, if that becomes the situation, the British government would be able to have sufficient time to draw out a strategy for its future economic plan, to enter into a new trading talks with EU.

Liechtenstein's foreign minister Aurelia Frick in his address stated that: "Solutions to soften the landing should be available to us. When the EU is negotiating the divorce from the UK, it automatically means a divorce from the EEA-EFTA countries as well.

"We are not ordinary third countries, but the EU's closest partners and friends.”

According to Ms Frick EFTA countries were "not first thing on the EU's mind when dealing with Brexit", but said they were "in the same boat" as the rest of the continent when it comes to what ties Britain decides to retain with the EU.

Also in a tempting message to the UK she said: “As a minister, I try to raise awareness about the EEA and the fact that it's actually functioning very well.

“In a time of populism and globalisation critics, we should be very happy that we have unexciting integration politics.”

Also speaking, Norway’s EU minister Frank Bakke Jensen said he was “open-minded” about the UK returning to a club it actually helped found in the 1960s, and which it belonged to before joining what was then the Common Market.

He said: "The EEA agreement has proven it is viable, useful, possible to adapt to an ever changing landscape and still relevant for us.

"Our relationship with the EU is a dynamic relationship. When EU changes its laws and agreement we do the same. We are working on this every day.

On Britain, he added: “The initiative would have to come from the UK. For the moment, the question is not on the table.”

Norway’s political elite has repeatedly tried to persuade voters to sign up to full EU membership, but they have twice rejected such a move first in the 1970s and then again in 1994. 

EU leaders finally sets out proposed date for Brexit negotiations after the upcoming general election

EU leaders finally sets out proposed date for Brexit negotiations after the upcoming general election

World Unknown   05:39

It is becoming apparent everyone in Brussels is now fully ready for the mother of all negotiations to kick start almost immediately after the UK’s general election coming up in June.

According to sources in Brussels the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michael Barnier has proposed June 19 as the beginning day of the Brexit talks that will formerly lead to Britain’s exit.

Once the proposed date is confirmed by the European Commission on Monday, the newly elected Prime Minister will be engaged in the Brexit hot seat to save the country’s future as demanded by the British people.

"The 19th (of June) is tentative, because Britain cannot confirm anything until after the elections," one official involved in the Brexit negotiation process said.

"The 19th is the earliest date they can envisage."

Information about the proposed date comes a day after EU Exit Secretary David Davis made it known to Daily Express that the PM had shown the Government "means business" and will not put up with "silly games" by Brussels if she returns to Downing Street after the general election. Where it was also warned that a "tense period" was ahead in the negotiations.

The Brexit Secretary also slammed the notion that Britain could be forced to pay up to £85billion to leave the EU.

In previously unpublished remarks from his Daily Express interview, the EU Exit Secretary said: "Picking numbers out the air doesn't work. I'm not going to do the negotiation in public anyway.

"What is plain is that the period of paying over vast sums of money into the EU is coming to an end - that is the most important thing."

He added: "We have said we will talk to them. We will meet our obligations. One of our great reputations globally is that we meet our obligations whatever they may be.

"We're going to have a very careful look. The numbers you see banded around, they are not legal obligations.

 "It is not in our interests to treat our allies badly, but on the other hand it's also not in our interests to hand over a load of taxpayers' money."

On the other hand, the EU chief negotiator told the Commission leaders at the beginning of this month that securing the rights of all EU nationals living and working in the UK and the divorce bill be given priority during the negotiations. Which he believes could be concluded between October and December.

All things being equal, if the proposed timetable is adhered to, both parties would begin talks on the future trade relationship.

Mr Barnier has proposed that his face-to-face talks with Mr Davis will be held in four-weekly cycles.

Week one would be all about preparations by the remaining 27 governments and the European Parliament and the second to an exchange of documents with Britain. While week three would be for negotiations, where EU officials would be expecting their UK counterparts to come over to Brussels for the week - and the fourth to report the results to the 27 governments and the European Parliament and prepare the next round of talks.

Scottish MEP condemns EU for threatening Britain over Brexit

Scottish MEP condemns EU for threatening Britain over Brexit

World Unknown   09:19

The European Parliament has come under and serious attack from a Scottish MEP David Coburn as they threaten to punish Britain for choosing to leave the union.

The MEP told his EU colleagues that Britain would be far better outside the bloc’s “socialist paradise” to contribute to the Continent’s financial markets. He also lambasted the French president elect for saying that there would have to be “consequences” for Britain as it leaves the EU.

Addressing an audience in Strasbourg, Mr Corburn said: “We hear the new French president and his Macaroons want to draw bankers from London and the EU wants to stop London clearing euros.

“These ladies and gentleman are not realistic threats. There is so much hot air from Mr Macron he could power a Montgolfiere!”

The Scottish MEP also said: “The EU should recognise even the socialist utopia, like the EU, is a properly functioning financial market.

“London’s pre-eminence in global finance could service this EU more easily from outside your socialist paradise.

“The UK has all of the attributes that could make it the EU’s best friend. But, instead, we are told by Macron that voting for Brexit is a crime that the UK must be made an example of so that no country considers leaving.”

Mr Coburn concluded: “He may be taking his orders from German Chancellor, but what sort of club is the EU that can only maintain…”

The Scot’s tirade was cut short by the chair of the parliament’s economic and monetary affairs committee.

However, during his speech in parliament on Wednesday, Michel Barnier reiterated the bloc weren’t seeking to punish Britain.

The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator said he had no intention of ending up without an agreement between the EU and UK.

The US military achieves another scientific feat as its robotic co-pilot flies and lands Boeing 737 simulator aircraft

The US military achieves another scientific feat as its robotic co-pilot flies and lands Boeing 737 simulator aircraft

World Unknown   08:57

Another scientific breakthrough emerges from the US military, as its funded project invents a robotic co-pilot which managed to fly and land an aircraft Boeing 737 in flight simulator. The robotic project is named ALIAS (Aircrew Labour In-Cockpit Automation System), the robotic system can help a pilot fly and even land a Boeing 737.

The scientific feat was designed by Aurora Flight Sciences which is one of its research projects to support more automation on existing aircraft

The project was embarked on due to how expensive both civilian and military aircraft operations are, as it needs extreme and skilled experts are needed to react in the right direction during unforeseeable circumstances.

Taking the seat of the co-pilot, ALIAS makes use of machine vision to enable the computer running the automated system take and understand visual feedback as humans. Just like human beings, it can as well manipulate the flight control.

Just like the Amazon Alexa voice command assistant, it has the ability to recognise speech and synthesis, formulating responses to communicate with the pilot.

"Having successfully demonstrated on a variety of aircraft, ALIAS has proven its versatile automated flight capabilities," said John Wissler, Aurora's vice president of research and development.

"As we move towards fully automated flight from take-off to landing, we can reliably say that we have developed an automation system that enables significant reduction of crew workload."

The work was completed for a project for the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the US.

DARPA, is the US military's research wing, which supported projects that have been useful in non-military situations, including the ARPANET, the earliest predecessor of the internet.

The aims for ALIAS include it ultimately supporting the execution of an entire mission from take-off to landing, even in the face of serious aircraft system failures.

British Foreign Secretary confirms that Britain has no plan to hinder EU defence co-operation

British Foreign Secretary confirms that Britain has no plan to hinder EU defence co-operation

World Unknown   13:37

In a swift reaction to the allegation levelled against him, the UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has come out to clear the air saying the UK is not seeking to block closer European Union military co-operation. Mr Johnson instead made affirmed that Britain is "not going to stand in their way".

Though he affirmed the UK’s concerns over "some of the language" he insisted that the UK would not look to reject efforts being made to forge deeper defence ties.

This report comes as a it was told the UK was making some efforts to put the brakes on the planned command centre as a result of objections to it being mentioned as an" operational headquarters".

Upon his arrival for the summit in Brussels, Mr Johnson stressed that: "We understand the vital importance to us all as European countries working together to strengthen our defences.

"We all want to see our European friends and partners spending more on defence. If they can get up to 2%, that is terrific. We really want to encourage that as fast as possible.

"If they want to come together with other arrangements, we are not going to stand in their way.

"We are just working on some of the language to make sure that we get it totally right."

A lady who living disability benefit confronts Mrs May in the open, telling her £100 a month is not enough for her

A lady who living disability benefit confronts Mrs May in the open, telling her £100 a month is not enough for her

World Unknown   10:59

British Prime Minister confronted publicly by a furious lady living on disability benefit in Abingdon, Oxfordshire as she points out to Mrs May that: "I can't live on £100 a month."

She stopped Mrs May in the town's market, telling her the "fat cats get the money and us lot get nothing".

She added: "I'm talking about everybody. Everybody who's got mental health - and everybody who's got learning disabilities - I want them not to have their money taken away from them and being crippled."

Because so many people complain that the move from disability allowances to PIPs (Personal Independence Payment) has left them struggling to get by.

"I want my disability living allowance to come back, not have PIPs and get nothing. I can't live on £100 a month," Ms Mohan said.

"Who's going to help me?" she pleaded.

The exchange happened as the PM was walking through a market with the constituency's Tory candidate, Nicola Blackwood.

Mrs May made some efforts to reassure Ms Mohan, telling her: "Nicola can help you specifically. What I can do is ensure we're giving more help to people with mental health and learning disabilities.

"And that's exactly what we've done, we made an announcement the other day... When we look at the help we give to people with any disability, it's particularly we focus on those who are most in need."

PIPs payments currently vary from around £22 a week to £141.10, and depends on the severity of a person's disability.

When they were being introduced, the Institute for Fiscal Studies predicted 370,000 people would be affected, leaving them each an average of £3,500 worse off.

David Davis insists the UK will not need the ECJ after Brexit

David Davis insists the UK will not need the ECJ after Brexit

World Unknown   08:05

ITV host asserts even after the Britain finally leaves the EU, the European courts would still be necessary.

This was said as reaction to the Brexit Secretary David Davis, after he stated that the UK would no longer need the services of the European Courts, as he attacks those saying British courts were good enough to sort out the effect Brexit.

The Brexit was also resolute about a rational deal over the rights of all EU nationals living in the UK, and British nationals living in other EU nations.

 Mr Davis also confirmed how he will "have an argument" with Michel Barnier on how to deal with EU citizens after Brexit.

On his part, Mr Barnier has also said that the European Court of Justice "must absolutely" oversee the rights of EU citizens in the UK after the country leaves the bloc.

Conversely, Mr Davis ripped into this red line and said Britain will not stand for it ahead of his planned meeting with Mr Barnier at the end of June.

He told Peston: "There will be arguments over fine detail such as whether the European Court of Justice oversees these rights after we've left."

When pressed by Peston on the "need for the ECJ", Mr Davis hit back: "We are not prepared to accept that. We'll have an argument about that.

"The simple truth is that we are leaving, we are going to be outside the reach of the European court. We do not want the ECJ getting involved in our affairs.

"I take slight offence to the idea that the Supreme Court couldn't oversee this. We have very good courts in this country."

 Britain's Secretary for leaving the EU stressed that the British public voted for a future without the single market, the customs union, the European Court of Justice, and returned control over immigration.

Mr Davis added: "Both sides knew that if we leave, we leave it all!

"We are seeking a comprehensive free trade agreement covering all products and alls services, and a customs agreement to go along that.

"We want the most beneficial economic outcome while respecting the referendum."

Later in the interview, Mr Davis mocked those who claimed a bad deal with the EU was better than no deal.

He told Peston: "Nobody wants no deal, but you need the option. We have to the option to walk away, or else we will be blackmailed.

"When you go buy a house and say I will buy this house no matter what, you'll be charged a fortune!"

Michael Barnier assures the Irish people that Brussel with work hard to protect their interest post-Brexit

Michael Barnier assures the Irish people that Brussel with work hard to protect their interest post-Brexit

World Unknown   08:52

Delivering his speech to both houses of the Irish parliament yesterday, Michael Barnier again reassured the people of Ireland how he try his possible best to avoid a hard during Brexit.

He used the moment to also acknowledge saying: "I am fully aware that some member states will be more affected than others.

"I want to reassure the Irish people: in this negotiation Ireland's interest will be the Union's interest ... Brexit changes the external borders of the EU.

"I will work with you to avoid a hard border."

In addressing both houses of parliament, Mr Barnier was given a privilege normally only afforded to visiting heads of state and prime ministers, joining luminaries like Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton.

He further stated that there was no reason why the EU and Britain cannot maintain a "strong relationship" post Brexit, but Brexit will unavoidably have costs.

Resounding comments made last week, Mr Barnier said Brexit would "come at a cost" to both the UK and the remaining 27 members of the EU, but his objective was to reach a "fair deal" with London.

Mr Barnier said: "If we put things in the right order, if we negotiate with mutual respect, without any kind of aggressivity ... if we are open to finding solutions, there is no reason why a strong Europe cannot maintain a strong relationship with the UK."

Knowing that Brexit poses particular issues to Ireland, he said: "I want to reassure the Irish people: in this negotiation Ireland's interest will be the union's interest.

"We are in this negotiation together and a united EU will be here for you."

He repeated the EU's position that the issue of the UK-Ireland border, citizens' rights and "the financial settlement" must be the first priorities for talks.

"We first must make sufficient progress on these points before we start discussing the future of our relationship with the UK.

"The sooner this will happen, the better.

"If the conditions are right, a close partnership with the UK is in everybody's interest. And in Ireland's interest in particular."

A barrister in France launches legal action against Brexit, saying it is illegal

A barrister in France launches legal action against Brexit, saying it is illegal

World Unknown   10:21

More trouble stirs in the atmosphere as a French legal expert files a legal action to prove the illegality of the Brexit Referendum

Several British nationals residing in France who were restrained from voting during the referendum as a result of the ’15-year’ have been spoken to by Julien Fouchet, of Cornille-Pouyanne avocats based in Bordeaux, with respect to have such a decision might have affected their lives and rights.

The barrister claimed he is not against Brexit, however, he is of the opinion that another referendum should be organised, so that all British adults can participate.

He said: “A lot of people have explained their situation – that they have been in France a long time and could not vote, and they encouraged me.

“Now, I’ve been writing to them all and I have explained that if they want to help as much as possible they could take legal action with me; but I’ve not had much response to that so far.

“People have given their experiences but don’t necessarily want to go to court.”

He also said: “Personally I am doing this out of European solidarity, not to enrich myself."

Nevertheless, he is likely to face a hard task in trying to convince the General Court of the EU to accept his case.

In the meantime, he said he is preparing an English translation of his letter that he will also be sending to those who got in touch to help clarify the French legal terms.

The EU will be digging their own grave, if they failed to reach a deal with the UK – Professor Minford

The EU will be digging their own grave, if they failed to reach a deal with the UK – Professor Minford

World Unknown   08:02

An economist analyst has warned the EU that failure to reach a deal with the UK could result to an overwhelming recession within the continent, reason being that the UK has an upper hand in the Brexit talks billed to commence June.

Professor Patrick Minford speaking further, also predicted that due to the huge debt owed by Greece, the recession would collapse due to colossal fall in tourism and tariffs imposed on the country’s exports.

Because of the fear of losing other member nations, the EU is pressing towards a ferociously hard hard Brexit negotiations in order to protect the union.

Speaking to express.co.uk he said: “The people who have got the most to lose from not having a deal with the UK are the Europeans.

“They are going to do themselves a lot of damage. They’ve just come out of recession, they don’t need a recessionary shock like this any more than one needs a hole in the head.

“The banking system there is as rickety as hell and they are stuffed to the gills with government debt.

“The whole situation is very fragile and it just needs a shock pushing it back into recession to make it quite a mess, and the euro would fall in those circumstances.”

Also in his conclusion, he stated that: “So all this talk of punishing Britain is very silly and very immature. This really looks like an own goal from their point of view.”

Speaking further, he said: “The Greece problem isn’t going away, but it’s not getting any worse for now.

“But a blow which knocks their exports is potentially quite a recessionary impact and the particular impact in Greece could be very significant because it’s always teetering on the edge of chaos because of the way they’ve treated it.”

Prof Minford, who does not believe any other countries will leave the EU said: “If we don’t get a deal with the EU we’ll be in a perfectly good position as we’ll simply free trade with the rest of the world.

“For them the big problem is actually that we go to no deal and we have free trade with the rest of the world.

“They will find this is a very competitive market indeed and they will sell far less in it because stuff will be coming in from the rest of the world without those protectionist barriers.”

Saying the election of Emmanuel Macron was a good thing for the Brexit talks, he added: “We do want a strong Europe, we’d like them to sort themselves out. It’s not in our interests to have them falling apart at all.”   

Michael Barnier beg to reset Brexit negotiation button after being condemned for his misconduct against Theresa May

Michael Barnier beg to reset Brexit negotiation button after being condemned for his misconduct against Theresa May

World Unknown   08:36

After days of several backlash from some European leaders against Michael Barnier for his misconduct against the British government after having a dinner meeting with the PM at No. 10 Downing Street, the EU Brexit negotiator has made an urgent move to reset negotiation button.

Though he is still putting the blame of his misconduct on Britain, the EU Chief negotiator stressed that it was time to start afresh.

Leaked reports suggested how the European Commission chief Jean Claude-Juncker was scornful of Theresa May after their dinner meeting last week.

While delivering a speech at the European University Institute “State of the Union” conference, Mr Barnier stated that Brexit - and the choice made by the UK - is the only thing to blame for the breakdown in relationships.

Mr Barnier also understood that the Cameron’s administration which opened borders for new EU nations in 2004 fermented the taste for immigration in Britain.

He suggested saying: “Let’s turn the page together in mutual respect and find solutions together.”

He said: “We will not discuss our future relationship with the UK until the 27 member states are reassured that all citizens will be treated properly and humanely.

“Otherwise, there can be no trust when it comes to constructing a new relationship with the UK.

“And I know, for this new partnership with the UK to be solid and to be sustainable, we have together to build it on the base on mutual trust.”

Speaking further, he said: “The integrity of the single market will never ever be compromised during these negotiations. “Free movement of people is at the heart of EU citizenship.”

According to Barnier’s believe, Britain would be worst hit if it prevents EU nationals from being part of its labour market, as he gave instance of how 1 in 15 job applicants in supermarkets are British citizens. And that there is going to be about 60,000 hospitality vacancies pro-Brexit which would be hard to fill.

Nonetheless, the PM and her Brexit team is yet to reveal what rights EU citizens working in Britain will have.

Notwithstanding his insistence that both parties need to begin again and communicate peacefully, he went on to maintain the EU must be given certain assurances before talks can begin seriously. Stating that its citizens will be “properly and humanely” treated by the UK.

The EU maintained they want equal rights for all EU nationals in the UK, as well “protection for the lifetime of the citizens who are concerned”.

Mr Juncker however said the English language is “losing importance in Europe” as he accused the UK of “abandoning” the EU. 

BREXIT BOMBSHELL: Economic crisis looms in Germany is 200,000 bankers relocates from the UK

BREXIT BOMBSHELL: Economic crisis looms in Germany is 200,000 bankers relocates from the UK

World Unknown   07:22

It has been revealed by a senior banker in Germany that Europe is on the brink of becoming entrapped in battle should 200,000 bankers relocate from London post-Brexit.

This was made known to Bloomberg News by a member of board at Deutsche Bundesbank Andreas Dombret, warning that banks had to be "very, very, very careful" as Brexit nears. The warning was issued after it was predicted that about 200,000 banker "could flee" London if the City loses passport rights after Brexit.

In a similar vein, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have announced plans this week to transfer hundreds of their London staff to Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Dublin.

The banker said: "We have to be very very very careful that we don’t have a regularity race in the eurozone with one country trying to market its financial centre over others and making promises it cannot keep.

"We need to resolve this - or else this presents a major stability risk for Germany."

This scenario would mean a fight between EU countries to be the financial capital of the continent.

However, Mr Dombret confirmed that London "will remain an important financial centre and a big proportion of their HR force will stay". 

Theresa May still determined to cut net migration to the tens of thousand despite her party's failure on the issue

Theresa May still determined to cut net migration to the tens of thousand despite her party's failure on the issue

World Unknown   06:51

Despite their inability to meet their net immigration target to date, former Home Secretary and now British Prime Minister Theresa May has once again reassured the British people that her party is still on course in trying to reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands”.

It was very obvious that the issue of immigration was the major factor that made the British people to vote in favour of Brexit, thus several leave voters have welcomed the Tories promise regarding the issue.

During an interview with the Home Secretary, she was asked if the “tens of thousands” figure that appeared in the 2015 manifesto would be repeated in the 2017 document, she said: “It’s not going to be identical to the last one. We’re setting it out for hopefully a five year term, we’ve got a lot to think through to work out what’s the best way to deliver on our priorities.

"My personal view is we need to continue to bring immigration down.

"I want to make sure that we do it in a way that supports businesses - you know we're ending freedom of movement when we leaving the European Union.

"So the situation from that time the [2015] manifesto... has changed because we're leaving the European Union, so it's right that we look at it again."

Though some fears were raised by various businesses that such a measure is likely to bring about labour shortage in certain key sectors of the British economy, but Ms Rudd said firms should “do more” to try to hire workers from the UK.

Earlier this year it emerged that just one in 50 of the applications received by sandwich chain Pret a Manger were from applicants from the UK.

Moreover, in March, the company told a committee of MPs that they could face a labour shortage after Brexit but last month, the firm’s chief executive Clive Schlee said a new drive to hire British workers had shown “very encouraging” results.

Ms Rudd said: "I did hear that Pret a Manger had come out and said it's absolutely essential for us to have European workers because if we don't we're going to have to make more of an effort to recruit in the UK.

"Well, good I'd quite like them to make more of an effort to recruit in the UK. So we will be trying to push them as well to do more in the UK. Them and all business so that we make sure we look after people who are otherwise unemployed in the UK better.” 

Legal expert advises Theresa May to file a legal action Brussels regarding the controversial Brexit divorce bill

Legal expert advises Theresa May to file a legal action Brussels regarding the controversial Brexit divorce bill

World Unknown   06:05

Due to the huge financial divorce bill being demanded by the Brussels and denying the UK of taking any part of the EU’s asset it helped to build, the British government has been advised to “call the bluff” of Brussels and seek an independent tribunal to scrutinize the legal basis in which such demands are being made.

This piece of advice was issued by one of Tory barrister Martin Howe QC advising said: “One thing we could say is let’s agree to refer this to an international tribunal as to whether or not there is a legal claim and then it will be decided,” he said.

“It will put paid to any argument that the UK is trying to run away from or dodge its legal obligations.”

“That’s one way that the EU’s bluff could be called.”

Mr Howe, who is a founding member of Lawyers for Britain, a group of lawyers who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU in last year’s referendum, added: “My strong suspicion is that the EU side would never agree to that because they know their legal argument is completely empty.

“So saying that in practice may be just a way of calling their bluff.

“The other reason they wouldn’t agree to it is that they are desperate for the cash immediately.

“A decision five years down the line would not be appealing to them - although you can run these international arbitrations very fast if you want to and certainly within the two year period.”

The legal expert totally condemns such a huge demand which according to him has no legal basis claiming that it is “hard to see any credible basis upon which the UK could be said to be obliged” to pay for the deficit.

He further stressed his position on the issue, after Brussels raised the controversial divorce bill to about £84 billion.

“At the moment I haven’t seen anything of their legal papers explaining their claim so am relying on their public statements but from what I have heard and seen there is no obligation at all.

They add they are concerned that the EU still believe Mrs May won’t walk away in the event of a bad deal – allowing the EU to feel confident enough to ramp up the pressure.

Meanwhile, Zsolt Darvas, of thinktank Bruegel, has also said that the final demand may be far less than the amounts suggested, but then would still be in the tens of billions. The money is said to be owed because of projects Britain committed to which run until 2025. As he said not paying  a penny would make a trade deal practically impossible.

“I can’t see the EU singing a free trade agreement with the UK under those circumstances,” said Mr Darvas.

However, if Britain did end up contributing until 2025, it would entitle it to remain in the single market until that date.

“When you leave a club, you should have full rights during the cancellation period,” he said.

“If the UK is asked to pay the full fee, it should also benefit to single market access, maybe up to 2025.” 

Trouble in Brussels as Angela Merkel strongly condemns Mr Juncker's unwholesome conduct against his meeting with Theresa May

Trouble in Brussels as Angela Merkel strongly condemns Mr Juncker's unwholesome conduct against his meeting with Theresa May

World Unknown   08:05

Confusion brews among top EU leaders as German Chancellor Angela Merkel expresses her displeasure with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after some sensitive details of his meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May was leaked.

The leakage was made public by a German newspaper as it outlined details of the dinner meeting at No 10 Downing Street. The newspaper reported how Mr Juncker said the PM was “living in another galaxy” and claimed that he left the talks “10 times more sceptical than I was before" that a deal could be struck.

The Commission President’s conduct was strongly condemned by Mrs Merkel, who was expressing some optimism for a little or no confrontational start in Brexit negotiations.

This is because, Mrs Merkel believes that it was either Mr Juncker or his Chief of staff Martin Selmayr hinted newsmen about what was talk about in a private meeting and indicted them of ”fuelling the flames”  before Brexit talks have even got under way.

According to reports in Der Spiegel she said: “It was not particularly helpful to fuel the flames like this.”

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung said Mr Juncker repeated his claims that Mrs May was “from another galaxy” and his “having delusions” during a telephone call with Mrs Merkel after the confrontational Downing Street dinner date.

Thus the Prime Minister was annoyed by Juncker's statements and stressed that she was prepared to walk away from the Brexit negotiating table with no deal at all rather than a bad one.

She told the BBC she would be a “bloody difficult woman” when dealing with Mr Juncker in future talks.

She said: “During the Conservative Party leadership campaign I was described by one of my colleagues as a bloody difficult woman.

“And I said at the time the next person to find that out will be Jean-Claude Juncker.”

Mrs May has made it clear she does not want leaks about the Brexit negotiations but many doubt that such secrecy is achievable when Brexit issues affect the interests of 27 other EU countries.

Brexit Secretary David Davis accused the European Commission of "trying to bully the British people" with an £85bn divorce bill from the EU.

Mr Juncker said: "We will negotiate fairly with our British friends, but let's not forget that it is not the EU that is abandoning the UK - it is the UK that's abandoning the EU, and that makes a difference.”

Gibraltar PM fires back at Spain over its moves to undermine his people's interest during Brexit talks

Gibraltar PM fires back at Spain over its moves to undermine his people's interest during Brexit talks

World Unknown   10:21

Spanish government flabbergasted by the Prime Minister of Gibraltar as he accused them of "seeking to make a profit" over Brexit in an angry tirade.

The PM made his indignation known after the Spanish government released its plans for Brexit, which involves clamping down of its rock and economy.

In a document called ‘Negotiations on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU’ which has been sent to congress, Spain said it plans to end Gibraltar’s “privileged” existence as a “tax haven”.

How Mr Picardo has issued a serious warning to Spain, saying that Gibraltar would fire back if it carries out such a plan during Brexit negotiations, an action which would make the inhabitants of Campo de Gibraltar victims, as they cross the border on a daily basis to work in the colony.

‘Campo de Gibraltar’ is a county in the province of Cadiz, in the most southwestern part of Andalusia. At least 7,000 to 9,000 Spaniards leave Campo de Gibraltar to go to the Rock to work every day.

Though a Spanish media which revealed the information said that the Spanish government is threatening not to accept that after Brexit the colony should maintain the "unjustified privilege" that has turned it into a tax haven "which competes unfairly with Spain".

Mr Picardo fired back at Spain saying "the Spanish Government’s mask is slipping”.

He added that he "saw in the report a way of Spain trying to use Brexit to take narrow advantage".

He said Gibraltar will continue to seek dialogue and friendship "over Spanish aggression and belligerence".

But he warns, however, his "goodwill and good faith will not be abused".

The Prime Minister added that "soon, Madrid will have to explain to the Campo why Spanish citizens starting work in Gibraltar post-Brexit don’t have the same rights as Gibraltarians".

Last week, he addressed Gibraltarians at a rally on Labour Day, saying that they will act with "reciprocity" if the EU "discriminates" against it.

He also recommended Spain seek protection for their workers after March 2019, once the UK leaves the EU.

The Spanish Government, however, has been insisting that it wants to reach agreements that allow workers in Campo de Gibraltar to keep their jobs, which Gibraltar needs.

New survey reveals that young Europeans do not want the EU anymore

New survey reveals that young Europeans do not want the EU anymore

World Unknown   09:29

With the level of protest from various EU nations, it is becoming apparent that bloc may be heading towards extinction in the nearest future.

According to a recent opinion poll conducted, it was showed that most people within the member states do not support the idea of maintaining their membership anymore. This is because over three quarters of youths within the bloc perceive the EU as a merchandising union, and not an alliance of common countries.

The result also shows that an average of 21% are of the opinion that their country should exit the union. Amazingly, 42% of Brits saying they would vote to leave if a new referendum was held tomorrow.

The online survey, commissioned by Germany’s TUI Foundation, polled 6,000 people aged between 16 and 26 in seven EU countries: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain and Britain.

Thus, it was established by the survey that 40% wanted the EU to allow national governments to have control of power.

While in Greece, that figure rose to a whopping 60 per cent as citizens continue to struggle under the bloc’s tough austerity rules. German and Greece respondents voted in favour of democracy.

Also in France, Italy and Poland - all home to increasing populist movements - less than half of respondents were convinced of its effectiveness.

 Markus Spittler, of the Berlin Science Research Center for Social Research, said: "In principle, young adults support the European idea, but they are increasingly suspicious when it comes to concrete measures and short-term projects.

“They can be called critical Europeans. They are critical because they question specific policies and institutional arrangements."

Even though the majority still supported remaining in the EU, an average of 21 per cent of voters said they would vote to leave.

In Germany, 69 per cent were pro-EU while Italy, Poland and Spain voted 59 per cent, 61 per cent and 73 per cent respectively.

Greeks were also most likely to dream of leaving the EU, with 31 per cent believing in a Greece-exit.

But the results were lowest in Germany in Spain, where just 12 per cent voted in favour of quitting the union.

The financial mathematics of the EU states that Britain must bear part of the bloc’s liabilities without have any portion in the assets

The financial mathematics of the EU states that Britain must bear part of the bloc’s liabilities without have any portion in the assets

World Unknown   08:47

BREXIT: It is indeed with a strong shock the British people received the news from Brussels saying that Britain has not right to share any of the assets the country contributed hugely as a member for decades. Yet EU leaders are forcing huge financial liabilities on the British people.

The questions being asked now is, how can one party be forced to pay for such a huge financial liability without have its own fair share of the assets that it helped to build to date? The UK being a major net contributor for several years, since the inception of the bloc.

So if the EU leaders is claiming that all the assets which includes buildings, loans, wine and fine art, is are owned exclusively by Brussels and not the member states, one can boldly conclude also that, all the financial liabilities should also be borne by Brussels, as you cannot have an asset without liabilities.

Theresa May’s government in trying to balance the equation, has suggested that let the UK’s share of the assets be matched against the liabilities, so that if there is any left after that, the country can then pay it up. Therefore, looking at it from a business perspective, one can conclude that, such an idea is ideal for both parties.

However, UKIP leader Paul Nuttal has claimed that, it is the EU is indeed indebted to the UK for all the huge financial contributions Britain had made to the bloc for decades.

Speaking with express.co.uk, he stressed that: “The appalling cheek of these people is absolutely breath-taking. You could hardly make it up.

“They spout similar ideas to Corporatist spin doctors, ie that  a company's profits are private but its losses are public.

“Of course the UK has a call on the assets. The UK taxpayer paid for the buildings, the financial resources etc and in negotiations we have a duty to demand them back from the money –grabbing EU.

“And by the way, if they claim that their assets belong solely to the EU, so too must their liabilities."

A senior EU official authorised to speak about the Brexit bill said that because the bloc is a “legal personality” in its own right member states have given up all claim to its assets even though they paid for them.

The Commission bigwig, who is a top figure in Michel Barnier's negotiating team, stated: "Member states do not have any right to those assets, there’s no shareholding in the EU.

“All of the EU’s assets belong to the EU and that includes buildings and other assets both tangible and intangible, financial and non financial, drinkable and non drinkable."

Britain being a net contributor of about £10bn per annum to the bloc’s budget, is being treated as nobody by EU leaders all in an effort to frustrate and deny the public their democratic mandate.

The EU currently owns a stunning £36 billion in property and cash including its £300 million ‘space egg’ Europa building, which is the new home of the European Council.

Britain has also made considerable contributions to the European Investment Bank, which lends money to EU states, and which has an astonishing £56 billion in capital.

Finally there is the bloc’s world famous wine cellar, which contains 42,500 bottles of premium plonk, and its burgeoning modern art collection, now valued at around £15 million.

In total it has been calculated that Britain, which contributes around 12 per cent of the bloc’s total budget, could lay claim to a staggering £58bn of the EU’s total assets.