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| Theresa May avoids questions on UK's future in EU single market | Theresa May avoids questions on UK's future in EU single market |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has again refused to say whether the UK could remain in the EU single market after Brexit, using her first prime minister’s questions since the summer recess to say she would not give a “running commentary on negotiations”. | |
| Following an exchange with Jeremy Corbyn on housing in which the prime minister mercilessly mocked the divisions in the Labour party – “We’re not going to let them anywhere near power again,” she said at one point – May was quizzed by Angus Robertson. | |
| The SNP Westminster leader asked May twice whether she planned a Brexit deal to include full access to the EU’s single market in goods and services, as hoped for by many businesses. | The SNP Westminster leader asked May twice whether she planned a Brexit deal to include full access to the EU’s single market in goods and services, as hoped for by many businesses. |
| May dodged the question both times, saying only she would seek “the right deal for the trade in goods and services with the European Union in a new relationship we will be building with them”. | May dodged the question both times, saying only she would seek “the right deal for the trade in goods and services with the European Union in a new relationship we will be building with them”. |
| Amid some jeers in the Commons, she added: “That new relationship will include control of the movement of people from the EU into the UK, and it will include the right deal for the trade in goods and services. That is how to approach it. | Amid some jeers in the Commons, she added: “That new relationship will include control of the movement of people from the EU into the UK, and it will include the right deal for the trade in goods and services. That is how to approach it. |
| “It would not be right for me or this government to give a running commentary on negotiations.” | “It would not be right for me or this government to give a running commentary on negotiations.” |
| Immediately after prime minister’s questions, May made a statement to the Commons on this week’s G20 summit in Hangzhou, China, beginning with an update on the Brexit process. | |
| While giving no more details, she promised a specific British variant on non-membership association with the EU, one that would be “ambitious and bold”. | While giving no more details, she promised a specific British variant on non-membership association with the EU, one that would be “ambitious and bold”. |
| She said: “It is not about the Norway model or the Swiss model or any other country’s model – it is about developing our own British model. | She said: “It is not about the Norway model or the Swiss model or any other country’s model – it is about developing our own British model. |
| “So we will not take decisions until we are ready. We will not reveal our hand prematurely and we will not provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiation. And I say that because that is not the best way to conduct a strong and mature negotiation that will deliver the best deal for the people of this country.” | “So we will not take decisions until we are ready. We will not reveal our hand prematurely and we will not provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiation. And I say that because that is not the best way to conduct a strong and mature negotiation that will deliver the best deal for the people of this country.” |
| In response, Corbyn said it was clear there had been a lack of planning for a Brexit vote. “The prime minister said she wouldn’t reveal her hand on this subject. Nobody would blame her because she hasn’t revealed her hand or indeed any of the government’s many hands. They’re unclear on what they’re trying to do. | In response, Corbyn said it was clear there had been a lack of planning for a Brexit vote. “The prime minister said she wouldn’t reveal her hand on this subject. Nobody would blame her because she hasn’t revealed her hand or indeed any of the government’s many hands. They’re unclear on what they’re trying to do. |
| “We accept the decision taken by the majority of our people but we cannot ignore the fact that the outcome has left this country divided, with rising levels of hate crime, huge uncertainty about what comes next for our country, the extraordinary lack of planning and preparation.” | “We accept the decision taken by the majority of our people but we cannot ignore the fact that the outcome has left this country divided, with rising levels of hate crime, huge uncertainty about what comes next for our country, the extraordinary lack of planning and preparation.” |
| Corbyn said negotiations “must focus on expanding trade jobs and investments and defending social and environmental protection”. | Corbyn said negotiations “must focus on expanding trade jobs and investments and defending social and environmental protection”. |
| During prime minister’s question’s Corbyn chose not to take the advice from his leadership challenger, Owen Smith, to press May on the Brexit deal, instead asking a series of questions on housing, some again submitted by voters. | |
| May dealt with the specific queries neutrally, but interspersed her answers with a series of brutal, scripted jibes at Corbyn and Labour. | May dealt with the specific queries neutrally, but interspersed her answers with a series of brutal, scripted jibes at Corbyn and Labour. |
| After Corbyn mentioned a question put by one voter, May quoted one Twitter response the Labour leader had received to a request for possible subjects, saying that “in a recent poll on who would make a better prime minister, ‘don’t know’ scored higher than Jeremy Corbyn”. | After Corbyn mentioned a question put by one voter, May quoted one Twitter response the Labour leader had received to a request for possible subjects, saying that “in a recent poll on who would make a better prime minister, ‘don’t know’ scored higher than Jeremy Corbyn”. |
| May added: “What we do know is that whoever wins the Labour party leadership, we’re not going to let them anywhere near power again.” | May added: “What we do know is that whoever wins the Labour party leadership, we’re not going to let them anywhere near power again.” |
| Following another question she made reference to Corbyn’s much publicised disagreement with Virgin trains over whether or not a service he took to Newcastle was full. | Following another question she made reference to Corbyn’s much publicised disagreement with Virgin trains over whether or not a service he took to Newcastle was full. |
| “Everything he says just tells us all we need to know about modern Labour,” May said. “The train has left the station, the seats are all empty, the leader’s on the floor. Even on rolling stock they’re a laughing stock.” | |
| Following a question from Corbyn on the issue of women’s refuges potentially having to close due to benefit cuts, May responded but then mocked Corbyn again, noting that it was 50 days since their last exchange. | Following a question from Corbyn on the issue of women’s refuges potentially having to close due to benefit cuts, May responded but then mocked Corbyn again, noting that it was 50 days since their last exchange. |
| “It’s very good to see him sitting in his place,” she said. “If we just look at the contrast of what’s been done over this summer, the Conservative government has been working tirelessly to support everyone.” | “It’s very good to see him sitting in his place,” she said. “If we just look at the contrast of what’s been done over this summer, the Conservative government has been working tirelessly to support everyone.” |
| She added: “What a contrast with the party opposite – divided amongst themselves and incapable of uniting our country.” | She added: “What a contrast with the party opposite – divided amongst themselves and incapable of uniting our country.” |