Invictus begins, fashion on show and HS2 faces public
MAY’S MOMENT
While it is already starting to seem that the Brexit process has been going on forever, the next chapter in Britain’s long farewell to the European Union may begin to be written in Italy this week.
Theresa May is due to make a speech in Florence on Friday that has been trailed as a bid to break the deadlock in negotiations between the UK and the EU.
The Prime Minister is expected to emphasise the Government’s wish for a “special partnership” with the EU after Brexit, days before the next round of talks begin in Brussels. TIME FOR HEROES
The third Invictus Games will take start at the weekend in Toronto, with Prince Harry due to be in attendance at the parasport championships he established for wounded, injured and sick armed services personnel.
The Games, running between September 23 and 30, will bring together more than 550 competitors from 17 nations.
New countries competing for the first time include Romania and Ukraine.
They will take part in 12 adaptive sports including archery, athletics, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby. Also, new to the sports line up will be golf. CONFERENCE SEASON
You may or may not have noticed the Liberal Democrats holding their party conference in Bournemouth this weekend, but never fear – the event continues until tomorrow.
Then it will be Labour’s turn in the spotlight from this weekend.
Jeremy Corbyn, his ever-changing shadow cabinet, backbench MPs and party members will be gathering in Brighton for this year’s conference for the usual mix of speeches and fringe events.
The event gets started on Sunday and will run until Wednesday. Ukip, the Green Party and the Conservatives will all hold their own conferences in the next few weeks. ON TRACK
HS2 bosses will continue their tour of Yorkshire this week as members of the public are given the chance to quiz them about how the high-speed rail plans will affect their lives.
Thousands of people have already attended information events held this month on the Phase 2B route, running between the West Midlands and Leeds and passing through South and West Yorkshire on the way.
The final three meetings are planned today at the Burntwood Court Hotel in Brierley, Barnsley, tomorrow at the Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa in Leeds and on Wednesday at Thwaite Mills Watermill in Leeds. Each of the meetings will take place between 2pm and 8pm.
Construction on the Phase 2B route is expected to start in 2022. EN VOGUE
London Fashion Week will come to its conclusion on Tuesday as its mixture of catwalk shows, networking opportunities and parties draws to an end. More than 5,000 guests are due at the 66th London Fashion Week, with highlights this year including the likes of Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger and Emporio Armani showcasing their latest collections.
According to the organisers, across the course of the seven days, 20,000 espressos will be drunk, 5,000 glasses of Prosecco consumed and 32,000 miles driven between shows by a luxury fleet of chauffeured MercedesBenz cars.
The London Fashion Week Festival will follow the official event between Thursday and Sunday to give consumers the chance to visit special shopping galleries.
Those attending had best remember the credit card.