This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2018/jul/09/david-davis-resigns-as-brexit-secretary-live-updates

The article has changed 43 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 23 Version 24
Dominic Raab becomes new Brexit secretary after David Davis resigns – politics live Dominic Raab becomes new Brexit secretary after David Davis resigns – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Sir Graham Brady, the Conservative MP who chairs the backbench 1922 committee, has refused to say if any MPs have submitted letters calling for a no confidence vote in Theresa May. He said:
My view ever since I became chairman of the ‘22 is that it would be entirely improper ever to comment in any way on that subject, because inevitably a commentary could influence the course of events.
Here is the Lib Dem MP Layla Moran responding to Andrea Leadsom saying EU nationals should not get preferential access to the UK after Brexit. (See 12.38pm.) Moran is a supporter of the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain, which issued her remark. She said:
Leadsom has undermined the Prime Minister in an attempt to shut down any possibility of preferential access for EU workers post-Brexit, as the cracks in the cabinet continue to worsen.
This would be a senseless and ideological move, leading to even more pressure on sectors which greatly rely on labour from the continent, not least our NHS and agricultural industries.
Nigel Farage, the former Ukip leader, says Boris Johnson will be a “hero” if he resigns.
Boris Johnson now has the chance to save Brexit, he will be a hero if he walks away from the betrayal of voters’ trust.
And more from the Sun’s Matt Dathan.And more from the Sun’s Matt Dathan.
BUT now the source rings back and says they're not sure Boris did turn up to Cobra after all. He was scheduled to but no one knows where he is. https://t.co/0hffDF1JiXBUT now the source rings back and says they're not sure Boris did turn up to Cobra after all. He was scheduled to but no one knows where he is. https://t.co/0hffDF1JiX
More from ITV’s Paul Brand on Boris Johnson.More from ITV’s Paul Brand on Boris Johnson.
BREAKING: Chief whip tells me “I don’t know where Boris is”. Sounds familiarBREAKING: Chief whip tells me “I don’t know where Boris is”. Sounds familiar
ITV’s Paul Brand claims there has been another Boris Johnson no-show. (See 1.20pm.)ITV’s Paul Brand claims there has been another Boris Johnson no-show. (See 1.20pm.)
I’m told he was also due at COBRA meeting - again, hasn’t turned up. #wheresboris https://t.co/QIk1f6xguOI’m told he was also due at COBRA meeting - again, hasn’t turned up. #wheresboris https://t.co/QIk1f6xguO
But the Sun’s Matt Dathan says Boris Johnson is at the Cobra meeting.But the Sun’s Matt Dathan says Boris Johnson is at the Cobra meeting.
Boris Johnson is currently attending the Government's Cobra meeting on the Amesbury incident, Whitehall source confirms.Boris Johnson is currently attending the Government's Cobra meeting on the Amesbury incident, Whitehall source confirms.
This is from the Times’ Sam Coates.This is from the Times’ Sam Coates.
Breaking: DexEUI’m told officials may be considering pairing back the department“A Robbins’ vivisection .... or perhaps amputation”Stand by......Breaking: DexEUI’m told officials may be considering pairing back the department“A Robbins’ vivisection .... or perhaps amputation”Stand by......
And this is from my colleague Pippa Crerar.And this is from my colleague Pippa Crerar.
Government insiders say that DExEu will still exist and be the lead department. But without the negotiating clout? Stand by for @DominicRaab announcement. https://t.co/XSXoHkUvljGovernment insiders say that DExEu will still exist and be the lead department. But without the negotiating clout? Stand by for @DominicRaab announcement. https://t.co/XSXoHkUvlj
This is from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.This is from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
Boris Johnson was due at Western Balkans summit by now - he hasn't turned up yetBoris Johnson was due at Western Balkans summit by now - he hasn't turned up yet
Paul Goodman, the former Tory MP who now edits the ConservativeHome website, is a close friend of David Davis’s. He has written a revealing post about what drove Davis to resign which says that Davis first drafted a resignation letter at least a month ago. Here is how Goodman’s article starts.Paul Goodman, the former Tory MP who now edits the ConservativeHome website, is a close friend of David Davis’s. He has written a revealing post about what drove Davis to resign which says that Davis first drafted a resignation letter at least a month ago. Here is how Goodman’s article starts.
“It is possible that you are right and I am wrong,” David Davis writes to Theresa May in his resignation letter. The phrase was in a draft that I saw just over a month ago on the evening of June 6. Earlier in the day, he had been asked, after delivering a speech at RUSI, whether or not he would resign if the prime minister did not offer a date by which, in the event of a Brexit deal, the backstop arrangement over the UK-Ireland border would end. “That’s a question, I think, for the prime minister, to be honest,” he replied. This was less of an evasion than a confession. The Brexit secretary was trying to think through, using the logic tree methods that he loves to deploy, what to do for the best – and what the range of outcomes of a resignation might be. He hadn’t made up his mind what to do.“It is possible that you are right and I am wrong,” David Davis writes to Theresa May in his resignation letter. The phrase was in a draft that I saw just over a month ago on the evening of June 6. Earlier in the day, he had been asked, after delivering a speech at RUSI, whether or not he would resign if the prime minister did not offer a date by which, in the event of a Brexit deal, the backstop arrangement over the UK-Ireland border would end. “That’s a question, I think, for the prime minister, to be honest,” he replied. This was less of an evasion than a confession. The Brexit secretary was trying to think through, using the logic tree methods that he loves to deploy, what to do for the best – and what the range of outcomes of a resignation might be. He hadn’t made up his mind what to do.
Goodman also defends Davis from the charge of not spending enough time talking to his EU opposite number, Michel Barnier. Goodman says:Goodman also defends Davis from the charge of not spending enough time talking to his EU opposite number, Michel Barnier. Goodman says:
Davis feared that if the Commons wasn’t presented with a detailed trade proposal in the autumn, it would vote the deal down, projecting the government and the country into unknown and unknowable political territory. Hence the urgent need to get a move on: get a proper customs policy – the stand-off over agreeing one was helping to tick the clock down – get a broader approach agreed and a white paper published; get back round the negotiating table. That he had spent only four hours since Christmas negotiating with Michel Barnier had been well reported. The bleeding obvious had gained less traction: that, until or unless the government had first closed its divisions, there wasn’t much to talk about.Davis feared that if the Commons wasn’t presented with a detailed trade proposal in the autumn, it would vote the deal down, projecting the government and the country into unknown and unknowable political territory. Hence the urgent need to get a move on: get a proper customs policy – the stand-off over agreeing one was helping to tick the clock down – get a broader approach agreed and a white paper published; get back round the negotiating table. That he had spent only four hours since Christmas negotiating with Michel Barnier had been well reported. The bleeding obvious had gained less traction: that, until or unless the government had first closed its divisions, there wasn’t much to talk about.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative chair of the pro-Brexit European Research Group who seems to appear on TV roughly every ten minutes today, has spoken to BBC News and has a couple of extra things to say. Firstly, he has praised Dominic Raab’s appointment – but only if he has some power:Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative chair of the pro-Brexit European Research Group who seems to appear on TV roughly every ten minutes today, has spoken to BBC News and has a couple of extra things to say. Firstly, he has praised Dominic Raab’s appointment – but only if he has some power:
Dominic is very able. But the key is – who will be doing these negotiations? Will it continue to be 10 Downing Street or will it be done by Dominic?Dominic is very able. But the key is – who will be doing these negotiations? Will it continue to be 10 Downing Street or will it be done by Dominic?
Secondly, Rees-Mogg claimed May would be able to get a hard Brexit-friendly Canada-style deal through the Commons, as Tory MPs would support it if the only other option was a no-deal departure. “So the parliamentary arithmetic is much more on the prime minister’s side than some commentators seem to think,” he said.Secondly, Rees-Mogg claimed May would be able to get a hard Brexit-friendly Canada-style deal through the Commons, as Tory MPs would support it if the only other option was a no-deal departure. “So the parliamentary arithmetic is much more on the prime minister’s side than some commentators seem to think,” he said.
On Friday Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, said that a free trade deal with the UK was a priority for the US. The pro-Brexit Daily Express event splashed on the news. The UK-US trade deal is totemic of some Brexiters; to them, it represents the bright economic future the UK will have when it leaves the EU.
EXPRESS: Trump ready to offer UK zero tariff deal #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/Kq6M3G1Rdi
But now the trade deal is in doubt. In an interview with Anna Foster on BBC Radio 5 Live, Johnson was asked about the status of the proposed deal in the light of what was agreed at Chequers. He replied:
I think that there was a briefing that came out, as I understand it. It was very short, a couple of pages. This is a lot more complicated than a couple of pages. I would say that the bilateral agreement, whether we have one or not, is totally up in the air at this point.
On the Daily Politics Andrea Leadsom, the Brexiter leader of the Commons, and the runner up behind Theresa May in the Conservative leadership contest, said that the UK will not offer EU nationals preferential access to the UK after Brexit. EU nationals would be in the same category as workers from a country like India, she suggested.
Freedom of movement will end and there will be no special favours for EU citizens over anybody else with whom you might have visa reciprocity. So, for example, with India we have some special visa arrangements for high-skilled jobs and so on ...
When asked specifically if EU nationals would get any preferential treatment, Leadsom said no.
But this is quite different from Theresa May was saying on Saturday. In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, May specifically did not rule out giving preferential treatment to EU nationals. She signalled that this was an option, and said that the government would decide later.
In Brussels it is assumed that any deal giving the UK half-decent access to the single market would have to involve EU nationals getting preferential access to the UK (and certainly a better deal than workers from a country like India, where there are regular complaints about UK visa policies being too restrictive.)
And the three-page government document (pdf) summarising May’s Brexit policy released on Friday night clearly implied that EU nationals would not be treated like all other non-UK nationals after Brexit. It said the government plan would:
include a mobility framework so that UK and EU citizens can continue to travel to each other’s territories, and apply for study and work – similar to what the UK may offer other close trading partners in the future.
And here is Theresa May’s response to Steve Baker’s resignation letter. (See 12.05pm.)
In it, May suggests that Baker could return to the government in the future. “I know that you have much left to contribute in the future,” May writes.
Number 10 has released the resignation letter from Steve Baker, the Brexit minister.
It is noticeably less critical than David Davis’s letter. (See 8.10am.)
The Ukip leader Gerard Batten has written an open letter saying Theresa May should resign, my colleague Peter Walker reports.
Ukip leader Gerard Batten is to deliver this letter to Theresa May at 12.30pm, demanding she resign over her Brexit policy. In truth, I don't think this is going to be among her key challenges today. pic.twitter.com/M1lvgSIPku
Margaritis Schinas, the European commission’s chief spokesman, told journalists at his morning briefing this morning that the resignation of David Davis would not affect the Brexit talks.
Asked if it was a problem, he replied: “Not for us. We are here to work.”
As the Press Association reports, Schinas said the commission did “not have a specific comment” about the resignation and refused to be drawn when asked to pay tribute to the outgoing cabinet minister.
He said the commission was “available 24/7”, including over the summer, to discuss Brexit. He added:
In this house it is very clear that our position has always been very cool. We avoided positioning the commission in terms of psychological elements - concern, enthusiasm, disappointment and so on. We are here to do a job.
No 10 is in full, “Everything is completely normal” mode today, with any suggestions of future turmoil dismissed. Asked if Theresa May had spoken to Boris Johnson in the last 24 hours, the PM’s spokesman said: “Not that I am aware of.”
On cabinet unity, the line was:
The government agreed to the position on Friday. The prime minister looks forward to working with Dominic Raab on delivering Brexit... We’ve set out our position and it’s is now the EU’s turn to move.
There was, however, no answer on whether May might have to give way some more in response to EU demands. The only response to such queries was: “That’s our position.”
Some Tory Brexiters are telling journalist they don’t think Dominic Raab should have accepted David Davis’s job.
This is from Sky’s Beth Rigby.
Senior Brexiteer on Raab: “If I was him I’m not sure I would have accepted. Clear from David Davis the position doesn’t give any power” What was his demand in return? That Robbins steps back? If not, his position as weak as DD’s. It’s a poisoned chalice
And this is from the FT’s Laura Hughes.
One Eurosceptic MP says they wish Dominic Raab had been "part of a mass resignation", rather than accepting a promotion. MP adds: "I'm disappointed, for ministers to say they are not happy and then stand by Theresa May and her policies is pretty pathetic."
Jacob Rees-Mogg, head of hard Brexit backbench contingent, has said David Davis’s resignation will buoy feelings among Tory MPs who hope to object to the Chequers plan. He told Sky News:
What he has done is crucially important. If David Davis was going along with what was agreed at Chequers it was quite hard for Brexiteers like me to point out what seemed to be its obvious failings, because if it was supported by the people most directly involved, surely they knew more than we did and there must be something in it that I had missed. It’s now quite clear that this is not the case.
Rees-Mogg was scathing about May’s position, saying:
The problem with Chequers is it’s not a U-turn, it’s a handbrake turn … Chequers is not really leaving the European Union ... She has advanced backwards. She has advanced not to have Brexit.
Rees-Mogg also indicated he felt May had broken her word: “What you are saying is that the prime minister is inconsistent with her promises, and that’s a very bad position for a political party to be in.”
Saying he wanted a Canada-style trade deal, Rees-Mogg said May might now be reliant on Labour votes to get her plan through the Commons:
It’s fascinating that the prime minister’s chief of staff is going to brief Labour members, because I think that if the prime minister wants to get Chequers through she will be dependent on socialist votes. That’s always possible. It’s very, very difficult territory for somebody to run a government on the back of opposition support.
Asked if he would go for the Tory leadership if May was ousted, Rees-Mogg gave something of a classic non-denial. He said:
My sole ambition is that we get Brexit. It is not about me personally – that is a complete distraction.
Pressed on it, he said only: “There isn’t a vacancy.”
On the Daily Politics Steve Baker, the former Brexit minister, said he was “absolutely furious” about the hostile briefing coming out of Number 10 that was aimed at Brexiters on Friday morning. He said it was “childish nonsense”.
Asked who was responsible, Baker said he did not want to name name.
Baker was referring to the ‘We’ve got the number for a taxi firm if they want to quit’ briefing that was around on Friday morning. The best account was in Jack Blanchard’s London Playbook briefing.
"It would be in all of our interests if I didn’t name the particular individual who I would hold accountable. We all know who it is.” @SteveBakerHW on briefings against him #bbcdp pic.twitter.com/3hKSTDpnR4