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Version 3 Version 4
David Davis steps down as Brexit secretary in blow to PM – live updates David Davis steps down as Brexit secretary in blow to PM – live updates
(35 minutes later)
To give you an idea of the week ahead (and beyond a little bit):
May was originally expected to make a statement on Monday morning, urging one and all to unite behind her Brexit plans, saying: “This is the right Brexit.” Previously released excerpts did sagaciously refer to “robust views echoing round the cabinet table as they have on breakfast tables up and down our country”. That statement might now take a different flavour.
Further Whitehall briefings on the Chequers plan were also scheduled for Monday morning.
The accompanying White Paper is due to be published on Thursday.
Pro-Brexit Donald Trump flies to the UK on Thursday.
The House of Commons is scheduled to go into recess a week on Friday, aka 20 July.
The atmosphere among some in the Tory party can reasonably be said to be febrile, and possibly also World Cup-related.
Come on we need a hat-trick! @BorisJohnson let's be having you! Time for true #Brexiteers to make it happen.
Theresa May’s Chequers blueprint has been savaged by business leaders and prominent Leavers over the weekend, building up to the spectacular events of Sunday night. As Toby Helm and Jennifer Rankin reported, more than 100 entrepreneurs and founders of UK businesses dismissed it as unworkable. The major issue is the new “facilitated customs arrangement” that would ideally remove the need for a hard border in Ireland, and the creation of a UK-EU free trade area, in which the UK would abide by a “common rule book” of EU regulations.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Tory MP and leader of the European Research Group (ERG) of hardline Brexiters, questioned whether signing up to elements of the EU rulebook would amount to Brexit at all, adding that “it is possible that this deal is worse” than a “no-deal” Brexit.
With a Prime Minister incapable of holding her ministerial team together & with such instability in government it’s impossible to see how EU leaders could take Theresa May seriously in the next round of negotiations. It’s time for her & her party to put country before party & go.
And May’s lengthier response. In the interests of balance, I should point out that the prime minister does devote half a page to praising Davis for, among other things, his “expertise and counsel” and his work steering through parliament “some of the most important legislation for generations”.And May’s lengthier response. In the interests of balance, I should point out that the prime minister does devote half a page to praising Davis for, among other things, his “expertise and counsel” and his work steering through parliament “some of the most important legislation for generations”.
Here is a hopefully easy-to-read version of David Davis’s letter of resignation:Here is a hopefully easy-to-read version of David Davis’s letter of resignation:
Foreign secretary Boris Johnson has been awfully quiet as far as I’m aware.Foreign secretary Boris Johnson has been awfully quiet as far as I’m aware.
David Davis, the UK’s Brexit secretary, has resigned from the cabinet following Friday’s summit at Chequers.David Davis, the UK’s Brexit secretary, has resigned from the cabinet following Friday’s summit at Chequers.
In his resignation letter he blames the “dilution” of what he said was a firm Chequers agreement, delays to the White Paper, and omissions from the “backstop” customs proposal that will at best leave the UK in a “weak negotiating position”.In his resignation letter he blames the “dilution” of what he said was a firm Chequers agreement, delays to the White Paper, and omissions from the “backstop” customs proposal that will at best leave the UK in a “weak negotiating position”.
He was followed by deputy, Steve Baker, and another Brexit minister Suella Braverman.He was followed by deputy, Steve Baker, and another Brexit minister Suella Braverman.
Theresa May has responded to his letter and voiced her sorrow that he is leaving just eight months before the UK’s official withdrawal from the EU. She says she disagrees with his characterisation of what was agreed at Chequers on Friday, saying powers would be returned from Brussels and that MPs would get to vote on where the idea of a “common rulebook” with the EU would be applied.Theresa May has responded to his letter and voiced her sorrow that he is leaving just eight months before the UK’s official withdrawal from the EU. She says she disagrees with his characterisation of what was agreed at Chequers on Friday, saying powers would be returned from Brussels and that MPs would get to vote on where the idea of a “common rulebook” with the EU would be applied.
Vocal pro-Brexit MPs have welcomed Davis’s move, with Andrea Jenkyns saying the next move was to make this a “game changer for Brexit”.Vocal pro-Brexit MPs have welcomed Davis’s move, with Andrea Jenkyns saying the next move was to make this a “game changer for Brexit”.
Davis frequently suggests No 10 has in effect agreed one thing and done another.Davis frequently suggests No 10 has in effect agreed one thing and done another.
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.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.
Some more choice words from Davis’s resignation letter. He points out that he has disagreed with No 10 “on a significant number of occasions in the last year or so” but continued under the obligation of collective ministerial responsibility in the hope of delivering the Brexit referendum mandate. “I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely.”Some more choice words from Davis’s resignation letter. He points out that he has disagreed with No 10 “on a significant number of occasions in the last year or so” but continued under the obligation of collective ministerial responsibility in the hope of delivering the Brexit referendum mandate. “I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely.”
Alternatively, you can all stay here with me.Alternatively, you can all stay here with me.
Right, let's go to bed and reconvene in about 8 hours to find out who the Prime Minister is.Right, let's go to bed and reconvene in about 8 hours to find out who the Prime Minister is.
May takes particular issue with Davis’s suggestions that the “inevitable consequence of the proposed policies will be to make the supposed control by parliament illusory rather than real”. She says the deal will “undoubtedly” mean the returning of powers from Brussels to the UK and that MPs will get to vote on the areas where the UK chooses to apply the “common rulebook” with the EU.May takes particular issue with Davis’s suggestions that the “inevitable consequence of the proposed policies will be to make the supposed control by parliament illusory rather than real”. She says the deal will “undoubtedly” mean the returning of powers from Brussels to the UK and that MPs will get to vote on the areas where the UK chooses to apply the “common rulebook” with the EU.
Theresa May has replied to David Davis’s somewhat terse letter of resignation. Over two-and-a-half pages she sets out the case for her vision of Brexit and says she is sorry to hear of his resignation when so much progress has been made towards a “smooth and successful Brexit” and given there are just eight months before withdrawal from the EU.Theresa May has replied to David Davis’s somewhat terse letter of resignation. Over two-and-a-half pages she sets out the case for her vision of Brexit and says she is sorry to hear of his resignation when so much progress has been made towards a “smooth and successful Brexit” and given there are just eight months before withdrawal from the EU.
Here is PM’s 3 page response to Davis punchy resignation letter: pic.twitter.com/XkMUi11iEnHere is PM’s 3 page response to Davis punchy resignation letter: pic.twitter.com/XkMUi11iEn
Explosive stuff.Explosive stuff.
Davis says he could not be a “reluctant conscript” in selling the PM’s Brexit deal in his resignation letter.Davis says he could not be a “reluctant conscript” in selling the PM’s Brexit deal in his resignation letter.
DD letter... wow pic.twitter.com/CPh9Zlla9tDD letter... wow pic.twitter.com/CPh9Zlla9t
He does add:He does add:
Of course this is a complex area of judgement and it is possible that you are right and I am wrong.Of course this is a complex area of judgement and it is possible that you are right and I am wrong.
We will see.We will see.
Three of the five Brexit ministers have resigned: David Davis, Steve Baker and Suella Braverman.Three of the five Brexit ministers have resigned: David Davis, Steve Baker and Suella Braverman.
It’s hard to say what all this means just yet, but Theresa May’s former policy chief says the chance of a no deal Brexit scenario “just got a lot more likely”.It’s hard to say what all this means just yet, but Theresa May’s former policy chief says the chance of a no deal Brexit scenario “just got a lot more likely”.
Hmmmmm. Not sure. Think #NoDeal just got a lot more likely. https://t.co/gKIMCKehCUHmmmmm. Not sure. Think #NoDeal just got a lot more likely. https://t.co/gKIMCKehCU
But Laura Kuenssberg, who has gone back to bed, says number 10 might take charge of Brexit negotiations from now on.But Laura Kuenssberg, who has gone back to bed, says number 10 might take charge of Brexit negotiations from now on.
One last thought, I"ll put a fiver on Number 10 taking on most of Brexit negotiation now and Dexeeu becoming a less prominent ministry now so unlikely it will be Gove - but no final decisions, lets see tmrwOne last thought, I"ll put a fiver on Number 10 taking on most of Brexit negotiation now and Dexeeu becoming a less prominent ministry now so unlikely it will be Gove - but no final decisions, lets see tmrw
Suella Braverman, another Brexit minister, has also resigned. That makes three-fifths of the Department for Exiting the European Union.Suella Braverman, another Brexit minister, has also resigned. That makes three-fifths of the Department for Exiting the European Union.
Suella Braverman gone too, so if May keeps DexEU going she'll need three new ministers there.Suella Braverman gone too, so if May keeps DexEU going she'll need three new ministers there.