Downing Street has failed to reject speculation that government minister, Tracey Crouch, plans to resign over a delay to a gambling crackdown on addictive fixed-odd betting terminals.
According to reports, the sports minister, who did not attend her departmental questions in the Commons on Thursday, had been left "really upset" over the timeline to cut the maximum stake at betting terminals from £100 to £2.
Asked about the speculation, the prime minister's spokesperson said Theresa May had not spoken to Ms Crouch, adding: "As far as I'm aware, the minister has been travelling back from the United States."
It comes before MPs take part in a series of votes on the government's Budget later today as Labour braces for a revolt over its support for the chancellor's tax cuts for predominately higher earners.
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Downing Street yet to decide on freedom of movement for EU citizens after no-deal Brexit
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European customers are increasingly turning away from Britain as a source of components due to fears of supply chain disruption due to BrexitIn other news, Downing Street have rejected they are planning an end of round-the-clock "boozing" at airports (as reported by The Sun this morning). The newspaper suggested a Home Office review could see an end to the "morning pint" for travellers.
But at a regular briefing, a spokesperson for the PM said they had "No intention of banning the consumption of alcohol at airports."
The evidence of a problem is "anecdotal", they added, saying the government had simply established a call for evidence to probe the scale of the problem.
In regards to speculation regarding Tracey Crouch threatening to resign, the prime minister's spokesperson has just attempted to play down reports at a regular briefing, saying: “As far as I'm aware, the minister has been travelling back from the United States.”
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One week left to agree Brexit deal before deadline, Irish foreign minister warns
Brexit negotiators will have to make progress “in the next week or so” if there is to be any hope of concluding a deal before the end of November deadline, Ireland’s foreign minister has said.
Speaking in Paris after a meeting with his French counterparts Simon Coveney said Britain needed to “follow through on the commitments the have already made” on the Irish border issue.
EU officials have repeatedly said that December would be too late to sign a withdrawal agreement because of the time needed to ratify such a treaty, which was supposed to be completed by October. But some now believe a lack of progress could mean the deadline slips again.
Jeremy Wright, the culture secretary, is currently responding to an urgent question on fixed-odds betting terminals - after reports in the Daily Telegraph that one minister in the government department, Tracey Crouch, is on the brink of resigning from her role over a decision to delay the gambling crackdown by several months.
Mr Wright, however, is rejecting the claim in the Commons that the government is delaying the introduction of the crackdown, saying policy has not changed.
Tom Watson, the shadow culture secretary, asks if Ms Crouch is resigning, but Mr Wright plays down the speculation, adding she is "doing an oustanding job as minister for sports and civil society" and deserves considerable credit for the decision to cut the maximum stake at betting terminals from £100 to £2.
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Britain can now use its foreign aid budget to help richer countries in crisis
Wealthy UK overseas territories will be allowed to receive foreign aid after the government secured a “significant” change to international rules.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will now include richer countries that have been affected by natural disasters on a list of nations deserving of aid.
It comes after the UK government urged other developed nations to change the rules, pointing out that Caribbean countries damaged by hurricanes last year had not received official assistance because they were deemed too wealthy.
Jeremy Hunt insists there will be 'no conflict of interest' if business leaders become ambassadors
Jeremy Hunt has insisted plans to allow high-flying business people to become British ambassadors will not lead to conflicts of interest in the posts.
The Foreign Secretary unveiled the move in a speech in which he announced a programme to recruit an additional 1,000 diplomatic staff in the UK and abroad.
With Brexit just five months away, he told an audience at the Policy Exchange think tank "we must reinvigorate and expand British diplomacy".
Labour MPs to revolt against Corbyn’s controversial support for Tory tax cut benefiting top earners
Labour MPs are planning a major revolt against Jeremy Corbyn’s controversial support for a Conservative tax cut that will mainly benefit top earners.
The Labour leader has been warned that the move is “unacceptable” to many of his backbenchers ahead of a vote late on Thursday.
The leadership will order its MPs to abstain in the vote, but Lisa Nandy, a respected former shadow minister, said many of her colleagues viewed such a tax cut for the rich as “immoral”.
Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog - we will be bringing you the latest updates from Westminster, as a series of votes are due to be held on Philip Hammond's Budget that was unveiled earlier this week.
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