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Theresa May holding crunch Brexit cabinet at Chequers Ministers conclude crunch Brexit talks at Chequers
(about 5 hours later)
Theresa May and her senior ministers are meeting at the PM's country retreat in the latest attempt to settle the government's approach to Brexit. Theresa May and her senior ministers met for eight hours at the PM's country retreat in the latest attempt to settle the government's approach to Brexit.
The group of 11 are at Chequers to decide how closely the EU and UK should align after exit day in March 2019. The group of 11 were at Chequers to decide how closely the EU and UK should align after exit day in March 2019.
There have been clear differences between ministers over the way forward - but Cabinet Minister David Lidington said he did not foresee a problem. Downing Street said the prime minister would "set out the way forward" in a speech next week, after a discussion by the full cabinet.
It is thought the meeting could continue late into the evening. There have been clear differences between ministers over the way forward.
The Brexit sub committee includes key figures like Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond, who were on opposite sides of the EU referendum argument in 2016. But Cabinet Minister David Lidington said: "All of us in Cabinet are determined to get the best possible deal for every part of the United Kingdom."
Mrs May will be hoping to secure sign-off for a key Brexit speech she is expected to give in the next month. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister and cabinet ministers met at Chequers for eight hours.
Cabinet Office minister David Lidington insisted the gathering was one of "a whole number of meetings" on Brexit, adding: "All of us in Cabinet are determined to get the best possible deal for every part of the United Kingdom." "They held discussions including about the automotive sector led by Greg Clark, agrifood led by Michael Gove, digital trade by Liam Fox and a discussion on the overall future economic partnership that was led by the prime minister."
BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth said Mrs May will "lay out more detail of her vision, hopefully to answer the call for clarity that has been growing" in a speech expected next week. Chief Whip Julian Smith and senior UK diplomats Tim Barrow and Ed Llewellyn were among those present, alongside the cabinet's Brexit sub-committee.
The sub-committee includes key figures like Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Chancellor Philip Hammond, who were on opposite sides of the EU referendum argument in 2016.
BBC political correspondent Alex Forsyth said Mrs May will "lay out more detail of her vision, hopefully to answer the call for clarity that has been growing" in a speech next week.
"But first she needs to get her top team to agree to compromise.""But first she needs to get her top team to agree to compromise."
As well as finding agreement within her government, the prime minister will need to convince the EU of her approach. The prime minister will also need to convince the EU of her approach but documents suggest European Commission negotiators will not approve of a UK proposal that seeks to select which EU rules to stick to post-Brexit and which to diverge from.
Documents released on the eve of the Chequers gathering suggest European Commission negotiators will not approve of a UK proposal that seeks to select which EU rules to stick to post-Brexit and which to diverge from.
Slides published online by the commission say such an approach would be "not compatible with the principles" set out in the EU's own guidelines and posed a risk to the "proper functioning" of its single market.Slides published online by the commission say such an approach would be "not compatible with the principles" set out in the EU's own guidelines and posed a risk to the "proper functioning" of its single market.
Chequers Brexit menu
Cream of sweetcorn soup with a ham hock croquette
Guinness short rib of Dexter Beef with onions and parsnip mash
Lemon tart with raspberry sorbet and fresh raspberries
But an EU diplomat told the BBC "we are hoping for a relationship that is as close as possible to the existing relationship", adding that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier should be given a mandate "to explore all possibilities".But an EU diplomat told the BBC "we are hoping for a relationship that is as close as possible to the existing relationship", adding that EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier should be given a mandate "to explore all possibilities".
What to expect from Chequers?
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
It is safe to say that the differences in the cabinet are real, if not as dramatic and dastardly - or indeed as straightforward - as portrayed.
It is, therefore, also safe to say that getting to a clear, detailed and bold picture after months of tensions, in one day, is unlikely if not impossible.
And if very much is to move forward and be agreed it will either require, as one minister gently lamented, "the PM to actually make a decision", overtly, on her own position and force others along - or for others to budge.
One former minister described the situation as this: "If everyone is happy it's a fudge. If anything's genuinely decided someone has to be unhappy.
"Either Philip Hammond has to agree that he is signed up to divergence, or Boris Johnson has to agree that he can accept alignment, or, someone resigns."
Number 10 would, of course, not agree with that characterisation.
Read Laura's full blog on the Chequers meeting
Before the final arrangements with the EU kick in, a temporary transition period is planned - although the details have yet to be negotiated.Before the final arrangements with the EU kick in, a temporary transition period is planned - although the details have yet to be negotiated.
On Wednesday the UK set out its plans for how this "status quo" transition phase should work. On Wednesday, the UK set out its plans for how this "status quo" transition phase should work.
The document suggests the UK will abide by new EU laws and be involved in talks on future fishing quotas, but will not be able to sign trade deals without the EU's permission.The document suggests the UK will abide by new EU laws and be involved in talks on future fishing quotas, but will not be able to sign trade deals without the EU's permission.
It also says the period should last as long as it takes to "prepare and implement the new processes and new systems".It also says the period should last as long as it takes to "prepare and implement the new processes and new systems".
Divorce bill
No 10 denied this meant it would be longer than the planned two years.No 10 denied this meant it would be longer than the planned two years.
But Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee, warned that the UK could face an extra £4bn-£5bn Brexit "divorce bill" if the post-withdraw transition period extends beyond the EU's preferred end date of 31 December 2020.But Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee, warned that the UK could face an extra £4bn-£5bn Brexit "divorce bill" if the post-withdraw transition period extends beyond the EU's preferred end date of 31 December 2020.
He said that the current £35-39bn agreement was intended to cover to the end of the current EU budget period at the end of 2020.He said that the current £35-39bn agreement was intended to cover to the end of the current EU budget period at the end of 2020.
For Labour, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he would like to see "a customs union" option on the table, which would "solve some of the issues around Northern Ireland" and enable the UK to influence future trade negotiations.For Labour, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he would like to see "a customs union" option on the table, which would "solve some of the issues around Northern Ireland" and enable the UK to influence future trade negotiations.
Taking questions after a speech in London, he also said Labour would rather have a general election than a second referendum on Britain's EU membership because "there needs to be a wider debate" about the UK's future relationship with Europe.Taking questions after a speech in London, he also said Labour would rather have a general election than a second referendum on Britain's EU membership because "there needs to be a wider debate" about the UK's future relationship with Europe.
Other Brexit developments Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry also told LBC that while Brexit meant the UK could not be in the customs union, a new agreement was needed: "That we think is likely to be a customs union that will look pretty much like the current customs union."
Amnesty International is claiming the government's key EU (Withdrawal) Bill could "significantly reduce existing human rights protections" in the UK.
In its annual report, Amnesty pointed to the decision to exclude the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights from the bill, which translates EU legislation onto the UK statute book.
The UK government has said human rights will not be jeopardised by Brexit, saying protections in the EU charter will be covered by domestic law.
The Wellcome Trust - one of the biggest voices of sciences in the UK - has also weighed into the debate, urging continued collaboration between scientists in the UK and Europe, saying "excellent science is critical to the future of this country".
Former MI5 boss Eliza Manningham-Buller, now chair of the Wellcome Trust, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Over the history of the EU, collaboration between this country and the countries of the EU has been extensive. It's delivered fantastic results for society, for health and for our economies.
"Collaboration comes best with close alignment because science is never done in isolation. Collaboration also comes from harmonising regulation. Regulation in this area protects privacy - patient data - it protects patients - patient safety. It protects the use of animals in research."