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David Davis: 'I wouldn't have done a good job' of delivering May's Brexit plan – politics live David Davis: 'I wouldn't have done a good job' of delivering May's Brexit plan – politics live
(35 minutes later)
This is from the Times’ Sam Coates.
Gosh pic.twitter.com/OC9u84dyNb
This may be the first formal acknowledgement from Number 10 that Theresa May will eventually need Labour votes if she wants parliament to approve her Brexit deal.
According to the Press Association, the Brexit department does not actually know whether Suella Braverman has resigned or not as a Brexit minister at the moment.
Last night it was reported that she had quit with David Davis and Steve Baker, her fellow Brexit ministers. (See 00.51am.) Braverman (Suella Fernandes until she married) was Jacob Rees-Mogg’s predecessor as chair of the European Research Group, and is a very hardline Brexiter.
But this morning it is being said she is staying. This is from Sky’s Beth Rigby.
Reports overnight that @SuellaBraverman has resigned. But told by a dexeu source that the former head of the ERG is still in post & it’s just @SteveBakerHW who has walked with @DavidDavisMP
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP who chairs the pro-Brexit European Reseach Group, is hosting his LBC phone-in this morning. He has just said he does not think a no confidence vote in Theresa May is “immediately” in the offing. He said:
I don’t think a no-confidence vote is immediately in the offing.
I think what the prime minister needs to do is give up on the Chequers proposals which, David Davis has pointed out in his resignation letter, don’t actually deliver Brexit.
You’ll note that hint of menace in the word “immediately”. He seems to be implying that, if Theresa May does not drop her Chequers plan, there could be a leadership challenge.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told the Today programme earlier that David Davis’s resignation was a “huge blow” to the prime minister and made a no-deal Brexit more likely. He told Today:
The Brexit secretary has resigned, effectively voting no-confidence in the prime minister and that plunges her into further chaos ... It exposes what has been the heart of the problem all along which is a huge division in the cabinet between those that want to stay economically close to the EU and those that want to rip up the economic model we’ve been operating for decades.
Starmer rejected the suggestion that the Chequers agreement amounted to Labour policy on Brexit. He said:
Look at the differences: we have argued for a comprehensive customs union with the EU. The prime minister has come up with a facilitated customs agreement that works on the basis that you can distinguish at the border goods that are going to stay in the UK and those that are going to go beyond to the EU. Businesses and everybody knows that is unworkable. It is dual system is a bureaucratic nightmare.
Labour plans to force a vote on the customs bill next week, Starmer said.
We have amendments down saying that the negotiation should seek to keep us in a customs union with the EU.
Asked why Labour wasn’t calling for a second referendum, Starmer said:
At the moment we are still in the middle of a negotiation so there is nothing to actually have a second referendum about. We have focused on getting a vote in parliament in the autumn on the deal. That’s the first thing that needs to happen.
We are not calling for a referendum. There needs to be a meaningful vote in parliament. If the article 50 deal is voted down or worse, there is simply no deal, and today makes that more likely, then I’ve always said we need to have all options on the table as to what we do next. But parliament must decide what happens in those circumstances. We are not at that stage but we do need to realise how serious today’s developments are.
Here are some Labour figures responding to David Davis’s Today interview.Here are some Labour figures responding to David Davis’s Today interview.
From Andrew Adonis, the former cabinet ministerFrom Andrew Adonis, the former cabinet minister
DD sounding death knell of Mrs May because of constant line: ‘no further concessions.’ It isn’t possible to agree a customs & trade deal without further movement to the Norway model. So constant party crisis is the only way Mrs May can continue, if she can carry on at allDD sounding death knell of Mrs May because of constant line: ‘no further concessions.’ It isn’t possible to agree a customs & trade deal without further movement to the Norway model. So constant party crisis is the only way Mrs May can continue, if she can carry on at all
From Claude Moraes MEPFrom Claude Moraes MEP
Listening to David Davis on #BBCR4today pretending he had a better plan than May. The reality is that the Brexit he promised is a figment, is undeliverable & he needed to get out now. The EU 27 believed he was not up to the job & he knew it.Listening to David Davis on #BBCR4today pretending he had a better plan than May. The reality is that the Brexit he promised is a figment, is undeliverable & he needed to get out now. The EU 27 believed he was not up to the job & he knew it.
From David Lammy, the former ministerFrom David Lammy, the former minister
David Davis on #r4today is a man who can't take responsibility. For two years he's been in charge of Brexit. No one in the world is as much to blame for this monumental mess as himself.David Davis on #r4today is a man who can't take responsibility. For two years he's been in charge of Brexit. No one in the world is as much to blame for this monumental mess as himself.
From Andy Slaughter MPFrom Andy Slaughter MP
.@DavidDavisMP tells @BBCr4today that resignation not a matter of principle for other Cabinet members as it is for him as Brexit Sec and was for Robin Cook as Foreign Sec over Iraq. except Robin Cook wasn't Foreign Sec when he resigned. Not even trying to give Boris cover..@DavidDavisMP tells @BBCr4today that resignation not a matter of principle for other Cabinet members as it is for him as Brexit Sec and was for Robin Cook as Foreign Sec over Iraq. except Robin Cook wasn't Foreign Sec when he resigned. Not even trying to give Boris cover.
The Labour-led Welsh government has put out a statement saying David Davis’s resignation shows the government is “in complete disarray”.The Labour-led Welsh government has put out a statement saying David Davis’s resignation shows the government is “in complete disarray”.
The resignation of David Davis shows that the UK Government is in complete disarray over #Brexit and action urgently needs to be taken to resolve this chaos - businesses need certainty and the country needs leadership and directionThe resignation of David Davis shows that the UK Government is in complete disarray over #Brexit and action urgently needs to be taken to resolve this chaos - businesses need certainty and the country needs leadership and direction
The FT’s Kate Allen says there is a quite a difference in how commentators are assessing the impact of David Davis’s resignation and how the markets are reading it.The FT’s Kate Allen says there is a quite a difference in how commentators are assessing the impact of David Davis’s resignation and how the markets are reading it.
Markets say David Davis resignation is no biggie / raises chances of a soft Brexit; Remainer Tories say it increases likelihood of no deal, party fragmentation, leadership challenge, chaos. Who’s right ? https://t.co/Cz2yT0fs9FMarkets say David Davis resignation is no biggie / raises chances of a soft Brexit; Remainer Tories say it increases likelihood of no deal, party fragmentation, leadership challenge, chaos. Who’s right ? https://t.co/Cz2yT0fs9F
Allen was responding to this tweet.Allen was responding to this tweet.
The interview is over. In the post-match interview analysis on the Today programme, Nick Robinson says it is up to David Davis to decide if he wants to make a Geoffrey Howe-style resignation speech in the Commons. Robinson says Davis, who is still in the studio, is giving him “a look” which signals that he is not saying.The interview is over. In the post-match interview analysis on the Today programme, Nick Robinson says it is up to David Davis to decide if he wants to make a Geoffrey Howe-style resignation speech in the Commons. Robinson says Davis, who is still in the studio, is giving him “a look” which signals that he is not saying.
A David Davis resignation speech in the Commons would be quite dramatic, but it would not be like Howe’s, which was intended to provoke a leadership challenge. Davis has just said, very clearly, that that is not his intention. (See 8.28am.)A David Davis resignation speech in the Commons would be quite dramatic, but it would not be like Howe’s, which was intended to provoke a leadership challenge. Davis has just said, very clearly, that that is not his intention. (See 8.28am.)
Q: Are you saying you don’t expect the policy to change as a result of your resignation?Q: Are you saying you don’t expect the policy to change as a result of your resignation?
Davis says, if nothing else, it will put pressure on May not to make further concession.Davis says, if nothing else, it will put pressure on May not to make further concession.
Q: Can May survive this?Q: Can May survive this?
Yes, says Davis.Yes, says Davis.
He says he does not want to see her replaced.He says he does not want to see her replaced.
I like [May]. She is a good prime minister.I like [May]. She is a good prime minister.
Davis says, if May has a Brexit secretary who supports her strategy, that will strengthen her strategy.Davis says, if May has a Brexit secretary who supports her strategy, that will strengthen her strategy.
He says he will not be encouraging people to challenge May’s leadership.He says he will not be encouraging people to challenge May’s leadership.
He says he would not stand against her.He says he would not stand against her.
If he had wanted to do that, he would have acted after the election. But he did not. He flew down from Yorkshire in the middle of the night to support her.If he had wanted to do that, he would have acted after the election. But he did not. He flew down from Yorkshire in the middle of the night to support her.
Davis says he wants May to stay as prime minister.Davis says he wants May to stay as prime minister.
He rules out standing against her.He rules out standing against her.
Davis says it is “very important” May appoints a new Brexit secretary who believes in May’s strategy.Davis says it is “very important” May appoints a new Brexit secretary who believes in May’s strategy.
Davis says May always made it clear to him when he took the job that she would be in charge of the Brexit negotiations ultimately.Davis says May always made it clear to him when he took the job that she would be in charge of the Brexit negotiations ultimately.
He says the EU will now demand further concessions.He says the EU will now demand further concessions.
It seems to me we are giving too much away too easily.It seems to me we are giving too much away too easily.
Q: What will happen next?Q: What will happen next?
Davis says he thinks there might not be a deal by October. There could be an emergency EU summit in November. That is what happens in EU negotiations, he says. He says they go to the wire.Davis says he thinks there might not be a deal by October. There could be an emergency EU summit in November. That is what happens in EU negotiations, he says. He says they go to the wire.
Q: What did you disagree with?Q: What did you disagree with?
Davis says the plan for a common rulebook with the EU on goods means that it will be very, very difficult for the UK not to agree with what the EU is doing. Final decisions will be taken by the European court of justice. And if the UK decides it does not want to along with EU rules, the Northern Ireland backstop could be triggered. That would be a “sword of Damacles”.Davis says the plan for a common rulebook with the EU on goods means that it will be very, very difficult for the UK not to agree with what the EU is doing. Final decisions will be taken by the European court of justice. And if the UK decides it does not want to along with EU rules, the Northern Ireland backstop could be triggered. That would be a “sword of Damacles”.
He says any power parliament will have will be “illusory”.He says any power parliament will have will be “illusory”.
This is painted as returning power back to the House of Commons. In practice, it is not doing so.This is painted as returning power back to the House of Commons. In practice, it is not doing so.
Davis says the claim the PM’s plan will return power to parliament is “illusory”.Davis says the claim the PM’s plan will return power to parliament is “illusory”.
He says, if UK diverges from EU rules on goods, the Northern Ireland backstop would kick in. That would amount to a “sword of Damocles” hanging over the UK.He says, if UK diverges from EU rules on goods, the Northern Ireland backstop would kick in. That would amount to a “sword of Damocles” hanging over the UK.
Davis says in any cabinet, there will be 10% or 20% of things the government is doing that a minister does not agree with.
But he says in this case the government is doing something he disagrees with in an area central to his responsibility.
Davis says he would have to have been “front and centre” explaining Theresa May’s country.
That would not have been plausible given the reservations he has, he says.
He says the next Brexit secretary has to be someone who believes in the policy.
He says his letter to the PM said he hoped that her strategy was right.
Davis says it would not have been plausible for him to remain as Brexit secretary and promote May’s policy.
He says he would have had to stay and promote a policy that he does not think will work.
Q: On Friday you agreed to support Theresa May’s plan. Last night you resigned. What happened in between?
Davis says on Friday his opening was remark was: “Prime minister, I’m going to be the odd man out on this.”
Q: But you supported her?
Davis questions this. There was collective cabinet responsibility, he says. But after the cabinet meeting he talked to his local association. That is what Conservatives do, he says. And he spoke to his wife.
Q: You could have talked to them before.
Davis says he could not talk to his association chair about forthcoming cabinet business.
Resigning was a matter that required very careful thought, he says.
This is the sort of thing you have to think through carefully and do properly.
Rushing out of a cabinet meeting, as Michael Heseltine did, would not have been right, he says.
Davis says he did not resign on Friday because he wanted to consult his local association first.
John Humphrys is interviewing David Davis on Today.
He starts by quoting from Davis’s resignation letter.
Here is an easier-to-read version of David Davis’s resignation letter.
Dear Prime Minister
As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the Commission’s sequencing of negotiations through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market.
I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely. Whether it is the progressive dilution of what I thought was a firm Chequers agreement in February on right to diverge, or the unnecessary delays of the start of the White Paper, or the presentation of a backstop proposal that omitted the strict conditions that I requested and believed that we had agreed, the general direction of policy will leave us in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one.
The Cabinet decision on Friday crystallised this problem. In my view the inevitable consequence of the proposed policies will be to make the supposed control by Parliament illusory rather than real. As I said at Cabinet, the “common rule book” policy hands control of large swathes of our economy to the EU and is certainly not returning control of our laws in any real sense.
I am also unpersuaded that our negotiating approach will not just lead to further demands for concessions.
Of course this is a complex area of judgement and it is possible that you are right and I am wrong. However, even in that event it seems to me that the national interest requires a Secretary of State in my Department that is an enthusiastic believer in your approach, and not merely a reluctant conscript. While I have been grateful to you for the opportunity to serve, it is with great regret that I tender my resignation from the Cabinet with immediate effect.
Yours ever,
David Davis
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver.
David Davis is about to give an interview to John Humphrys on Today.
To recap, here is our main story about Davis’s resignation.
And here is the text of David Davis’s resignation letter.
Who is in the running as the new Brexit secretary?
Michael Gove
The environment secretary is a true Brexit-believer but one who spoke passionately in favour of the prime minister’s Chequers plan on Friday, and was sent out to bat for it on the airwaves on Sunday. He is a member of the inner cabinet Brexit sub-committee and has a firm grasp of the detail. It would give him a platform for a future leadership challenge but there has long been a lack of trust between Gove and May, dating back to her days at the Home Office when back-and-forth briefing wars forced out her aide Fiona Hill.
David Lidington
The PM may choose to appoint a loyalist like Lidington, who is her de-facto deputy at the cabinet office. Number 10 has been leading the key decision-making on Brexit ever since Oliver Robbins, formerly Davis’ chief advisor, moved over to Downing Street. Putting Lidington in charge would probably enrage leavers but be a formal declaration that the centre of power has formally moved from DExEu’s Number 9 Downing Street headquarters next door to Number 10.
New generation
Downing Street was briefing ahead of the Chequers’ summit that there was “a new generation” of younger, enthusiastic (and Brexit-backing MPs) ready to take ministers’ places round the cabinet table if they resigned. Housing minister Dominic Raab, DCLG junior minister Rishi Sunak and DWP Kit Malthouse were among the names mentioned. It would be an enormous leap from a junior ministerial position to become Brexit secretary, however, but May could bring in a new generation Brexiter into another department if Gove or Lidington get the nod.
There are mixed signals on when Theresa May plans to appoint a new Brexit secretary.
May to announce her new Brexit secretary after 9am. One Brexiteer source reckons Grayling or Fox - they have been the most loyal. Gove possible too; but trickier to handle
Stand down - I'm told new Brexit Secretary WON'T be announced at 9am. "These things take a while... it will be sometime this morning," says No10 source
Another Brexiter MP has also expressed backing for Davis. Andrew Bridgen said the former Brexit secretary had done “absolutely the right thing” in resigning.
Spekaing to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Bridgen said: “I take my hat off to him. I also salute his two deputies who’ve also resigned - Steve Baker and Suella Braverman - that’s basically cleared out the whole of the Exiting the European Union department.
“I think (with) the now-discredited Chequers agreement the prime minister is going to have to have a complete re-think on this. There’s no way she’s going to get that proposal through Parliament. Not even through the government benches.”
Jenkin stopped just short of calling for Theresa May to go, but he was scathing of her Brexit plan and suggested she was intent on reversing the result of the referendum.
He said: “The establishment and the government is in the grip of remainers. And they seem to refuse to accept the EU referendum. They have deliberately extended the uncertainty for as long as possible and that is now hitting investment.
“They have never pushed back on any of the guidelines that the EU has published. So there has not really been any negotiation, there’s only been submission.
“What we have here is the elected politicians trying to overturn the result of the referendum with the support of the European Union.”
Jenkin added:
There has been a massive haemorrhage of trust in the last few days because in all my meetings with the prime minister, I never expected this to be the result. And I never expected the vicious briefing against Eurosceptics in the cabinet to take place as it has done.
There needs to be a rebuilding of trust and I think that trust can only be rebuilt on the basis of the policy that was reflected in Mrs May’s original speeches, not in this hybrid proposal ... All the way through in this document there is a specific reference to the European Court of Justice. So if our courts or our parliament deviates from what the European Court of Justice and the Commission wants, it says there will be consequences.
So clearly we going to have to carry on being a kind of fax democracy which is the worst of all possible worlds.
This isn’t cabinet government and if the prime minister thinks she has consent and support from every member of her cabinet she is deluding herself, as we have just seen.
He added that if May did not reform her Brexit plan “I fear for our country and I fear for this party.”