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No 10 responds to criticism of Theresa May's leadership PM urged to 'see off' hard Brexiteers as Tory divisions continue
(about 5 hours later)
Downing Street has responded to critics claiming that Theresa May has been too cautious as prime minister. Theresa May has been warned the UK risks disaster unless she "sees off hard Brexiteers" in her own party amid continuing Tory divisions over Europe.
The PM's official spokesman said she was "grasping the many opportunities" of Brexit while also acting on housing, schools and the NHS. Ex-minister Anna Soubry said the PM must not let what she said were 35 MPs dictate the terms of the UK's EU exit.
The defence came after former cabinet minister Justine Greening urged her colleagues to stop "sounding off". No 10 says Mrs May had made progress in the negotiations and set out a "clear vision" of the UK's future relations.
Downing Street also rejected suggestions that Chancellor Philip Hammond should be sacked. But Labour said days of infighting showed the Tories were "incapable" of setting out a clear position on Brexit.
There have been rumblings among some Conservative MPs about both the performance of both the chancellor and the prime minister as Brexit dominates the agenda. During an urgent question in the Commons on the second phase of Brexit talks, Sir Bill Cash urged the UK to reject the EU's guidelines for a transition period after its departure on March 29, 2019, while Philip Hollobone said the Treasury must "get with the programme" and accept the UK was separating itself from the EU.
At a Westminster event on Monday one Conservative MP, Johnny Mercer, said the "window is closing" for the prime minister to meet the challenges of leadership. Downing Street has rejected calls for Chancellor Philip Hammond - who has come under fire in recent days after suggesting Brexit should result in "very modest" changes in EU-UK trade - to be sacked.
Brexit pressure on May There have been rumblings among some Conservative MPs about the performance of both the chancellor and the prime minister.
Ms Greening's first interview since she lost her job came amid backbench criticism of Theresa May about Brexit and policy direction. At a Westminster event on Monday one Conservative MP, Johnny Mercer said the "window is closing" for the PM to meet the challenges of leadership.
Over the weekend one Tory MP tweeted "we need to get a grip and lead" while another urged "less policy making by tortoise". And Ms Soubry - who favours the UK remaining in the customs union and single market - said Mrs May must exert her authority over the Brexit process by putting the "interests of the economy over and above ideology".
And as Brexit talk focuses on the transition period planned for immediately after Brexit on 29 March 2019, there have been warnings from Conservative Eurosceptics that the UK will stay in the EU "in all but name". "When is the government going to stand up against the hard Brexiteers who mainly inhabit these benches - there's only about 35 of them - see them off, and make sure that we get a sensible Brexit, because if we don't, we will sleepwalk into a disastrous Brexit for generations to come."
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Tory Brexiteers had by and large stuck by Mrs May so far, but were now becoming concerned that the compromises being suggested could be the "prelude to a sell-out". As the EU published its guidelines for negotiations on a transition or implementation period after the UK leaves, there have been warnings from Tory Eurosceptics that the UK will stay in the EU "in all but name".
Former Tory minister and leading Brexit supporter John Redwood told BBC Radio Berkshire Mrs May had been too "friendly and encouraging to the EU" so far, and called on her to take "a firmer line". Sir Bill Cash said the PM must reject any outcome which saw the UK having to accept EU law during the transition period and submit to the authority of the European Court of Justice to enforce compliance.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Greening said she remained a "firm supporter" of Mrs May. "Given we are leaving the EU, and therefore the customs union, single market and provisions relating to free movement, is the government going to reject this new EU ultimatum," he said.
"The soundings off have to stop," she said. "Does the government reject this European Council decision as inconsistent with us leaving the
"I think they need to stop and I think people need to get behind her. Greening on Brexit and losing her job
"I think she is doing an important job for our country. We need to support her in that impossible, almost, task that she has negotiating Brexit." Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, former education secretary Justine Greening said she remained a "firm supporter" of Mrs May and called on "soundings off" to stop.
Greening on losing her job "I think people need to get behind her. I think she is doing an important job for our country. We need to support her in that impossible, almost, task that she has negotiating Brexit."
During the reshuffle earlier this month, Mrs May had wanted to move Mrs Greening to the Department for Work and Pensions, but she refused and quit the government instead.During the reshuffle earlier this month, Mrs May had wanted to move Mrs Greening to the Department for Work and Pensions, but she refused and quit the government instead.
She said it was "absolutely" the prime minister's prerogative to carry out a reshuffle, and that she had turned down the move because she felt "passionately about social mobility".
Since her departure, Ms Greening has been accused by the PM's former adviser Nick Timothy of blocking moves to reduce tuition fees in her old job.Since her departure, Ms Greening has been accused by the PM's former adviser Nick Timothy of blocking moves to reduce tuition fees in her old job.
Asked about this, Ms Greening said she had opposed a review into cutting the maximum level of fees that can be charged, suggesting this would have kicked the issue "into the long grass".Asked about this, Ms Greening said she had opposed a review into cutting the maximum level of fees that can be charged, suggesting this would have kicked the issue "into the long grass".
She warned that variable tuition fees could lead to science, technology, engineering and maths degrees becoming more expensive with poorer students feeling they ought to focus on "cheaper" subjects.She warned that variable tuition fees could lead to science, technology, engineering and maths degrees becoming more expensive with poorer students feeling they ought to focus on "cheaper" subjects.
And she said it was "wrong" that poorer students were the main losers from the scrapping of maintenance grants. And she said it was "wrong" that poorer students were the main losers from the scrapping of maintenance grants. The £3,387 grants towards living costs were available to students from families with annual incomes of £25,000. "I think we have to have a student finance system that's progressive, not regressive."
The £3,387 grants towards living costs were available to students from families with annual incomes of £25,000.
"I think we have to have a student finance system that's progressive, not regressive," Ms Greening said.
MP's 'swivel-eyed' text revealed
Not all Conservative MPs agree on the best way forward on Brexit, and a government minister has said her passions "spilled over" when she described some critics as "swivel-eyed".
The Daily Telegraph revealed that Claire Perry had used the term about people calling colleagues "traitors" in the row about how much the UK should pay as it leaves the EU.
Responding on WhatsApp to colleague Ben Bradley who said the "usual suspects" were criticising him, she reportedly replied: "The 'sell out traitor mob' should be ignored. Listening to them means wrecking the economy in the short term and via a Corbyn government delivering a long steady slow decline for the country we love.
"I would hypothesise that they are mostly elderly retired men who do not have mortgages, school-aged children or caring responsibilities so they represent the swivel-eyed few not the many we represent."
The energy minister responded to the story on Twitter:
Environment Secretary and Brexit campaigner Michael Gove backed Ms Perry, saying she was a "superb minister" and a privilege to work with.