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Theresa May would fight any no-confidence vote, says No 10 – politics live Theresa May would fight any no-confidence vote, says No 10 – politics live
(35 minutes later)
The former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, has told the prime minister the UK is “headed for the status of colony” under the approach the cabinet adopted at Chequers on Friday. In his resignation letter to Theresa May, he added that the Brexit “dream is dying”.
Describing May’s position, which he – along with the rest of the cabinet – initially backed, as just an opening offer that would be watered down yet further during negotiations, Johnson wrote:
It is as though we are sending our vanguard into battle with the white flags fluttering above them.
He told the prime minister he believed the UK was “heading for a semi-Brexit”.
Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative Brexiter, has said Boris Johnson “acted on principle” when he resigned from the cabinet, the FT’s Laura Hughes reports.
Bernard Jenkin tells the FT #BorisJohnson “has acted on principle.”
That is not the way many people would characterise Johnson’s behaviour. As a reminder, this is what Tim Shipman said about Johnson’s conduct at the Friday cabinet meeting at Chequers in the Sunday Times (paywall) yesterday.
Boris Johnson was joking but his frustration was self-evident. The foreign secretary was blunt about Theresa May’s new plan for Brexit. “It’s a big turd,” he pronounced to the cabinet. It was the morning session of the prime minister’s Friday summit at Chequers aimed at thrashing out a negotiating position for a trade deal with Brussels.
In what was described by one minister present as “a six-minute moan”, Johnson complained that May’s customs plan — in which the UK will collect tariffs on behalf of the European Union — and which the foreign secretary had thought was dead, had instead “emerged zombie-like from the coffin”.
He warned May and her spin doctors that plans to accept EU rules on the sales of goods going forward would leave Britain a “vassal state”. It was a clear failure to fulfil the referendum pledge to “take back control of our laws”.
Anyone defending the proposal “will be polishing a turd” if they wished to sell the deal to the public and the party, he said, pointing out that he had recently watched similar activities on a trip to Whipsnade zoo. “I see there are some expert turd polishers here,” he added ...
Yet by the time dinner of cured Scottish salmon and Oxfordshire beef fillet was served, the Brexiteers were cowed. Davis gave a speech explaining how the blueprint could be sold to the EU. Johnson, now a cheerleader, said they must all help to sell the deal ...
This weekend Johnson’s allies said he had stayed because he fears that if he left the cabinet there would be further concessions and it would make life easier for senior figures in the EU.
“The only people who would benefit from Boris leaving the cabinet would be [Michel] Barnier, [Angela] Merkel and [Martin] Selmayr,” a friend said.
That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over now.
Sir Alan Duncan, the Foreign Office minister, has paid this tribute to his former boss.
I had two amazing years in the foreign office working with Boris Johnson. He was and remains a larger than life figure, one of politics’ great characters. He was probably the best known foreign secretary before he became foreign secretary and I am sure he will contribute massively still to British politics and I think we should just really say to him thank you for playing your part in public life in the way you have.
A lot of what he did in the foreign office was not seen by people outside. He was a supremely strong character in diplomatic lobbying and persuasion. I really enjoyed working for him, and I count him as a friend.
The table-bangers are out in force for the prime minister, the BBC’s Iain Watson and Ross Hawkins report.The table-bangers are out in force for the prime minister, the BBC’s Iain Watson and Ross Hawkins report.
PM walks in to the 22 to loud banging of tablesPM walks in to the 22 to loud banging of tables
Pm enters 1922 to raucous banging of tables. Says to journalists - with a smile - wonder what you’re doing herePm enters 1922 to raucous banging of tables. Says to journalists - with a smile - wonder what you’re doing here
All things considered, May seemed surprisingly confident. She did not say anything especially new or revealing about the Chequers plan, and Labour MPs were very critical, suggesting that its shelf life may turn out to be very limited. (The EU will not accept it without changes anyway but, even if they were to, Brexiter opposition means May would need opposition support to get it through the Commons - which on the basis of what is being said today, she does not have.)All things considered, May seemed surprisingly confident. She did not say anything especially new or revealing about the Chequers plan, and Labour MPs were very critical, suggesting that its shelf life may turn out to be very limited. (The EU will not accept it without changes anyway but, even if they were to, Brexiter opposition means May would need opposition support to get it through the Commons - which on the basis of what is being said today, she does not have.)
Tory Brexiters were more critical of May’s plan than they have been of anything she has said or done in the past. But the complaints were coming from the “usual suspects”, and they attacked her plan, not her leadership. And we did not seen mainstream, middle-of-the-road Tory heavyweights - swing voters, so to speak - denouncing her. She won’t be chalking up this afternoon as a triumph, but it could have been a lot worse.Tory Brexiters were more critical of May’s plan than they have been of anything she has said or done in the past. But the complaints were coming from the “usual suspects”, and they attacked her plan, not her leadership. And we did not seen mainstream, middle-of-the-road Tory heavyweights - swing voters, so to speak - denouncing her. She won’t be chalking up this afternoon as a triumph, but it could have been a lot worse.
She is now addressing the 1922 committee. That is a private meeting, and so the dynamics of that will be different. Some MPs feel that it is disloyal to criticise in public, but feel less inhibited about doing so in private. But at 1922 meetings loyalists can drown out their opponents (literally - these are the meetings where they bang the desks enthusiastically), and presumably May’s supporters are trying to orchestrate that sort of reception for her tonight.She is now addressing the 1922 committee. That is a private meeting, and so the dynamics of that will be different. Some MPs feel that it is disloyal to criticise in public, but feel less inhibited about doing so in private. But at 1922 meetings loyalists can drown out their opponents (literally - these are the meetings where they bang the desks enthusiastically), and presumably May’s supporters are trying to orchestrate that sort of reception for her tonight.
Sir Peter Bottomley, a Conservative, tells May she has the “overwhelming support” of her party and MPs in the Commons.Sir Peter Bottomley, a Conservative, tells May she has the “overwhelming support” of her party and MPs in the Commons.
May welcomes what he says.May welcomes what he says.
And that’s the end of May’s statement. John Bercow says 95 backbenchers asked questions.And that’s the end of May’s statement. John Bercow says 95 backbenchers asked questions.
Theresa May is almost certainly not planning to appoint Jacob Rees-Mogg as foreign secretary. But if she were to try, he would say no, ITV’s Carl Dinnen reports.Theresa May is almost certainly not planning to appoint Jacob Rees-Mogg as foreign secretary. But if she were to try, he would say no, ITV’s Carl Dinnen reports.
NEW Jacob Rees Mogg tells me he would certainly not accept the post of Foreign Secretary on the basis of having to defend the Chequers deal.NEW Jacob Rees Mogg tells me he would certainly not accept the post of Foreign Secretary on the basis of having to defend the Chequers deal.
Conor Burns, who was Boris Johnson’s parliamentary private secretary, has told Radio 4’s PM programme that there could be more ministerial resignations, the Independent’s Ashley Cowburn reports.Conor Burns, who was Boris Johnson’s parliamentary private secretary, has told Radio 4’s PM programme that there could be more ministerial resignations, the Independent’s Ashley Cowburn reports.
Boris Johnson's PPS Conor Burns tells Radio 4 it's "certainly possible" more resignations will follow the foreign secretary.Boris Johnson's PPS Conor Burns tells Radio 4 it's "certainly possible" more resignations will follow the foreign secretary.
ITV’s Robert Peston reckons Sir Graham Brady hasn’t (yet?) received the 48 letters that would trigger a confidence vote.ITV’s Robert Peston reckons Sir Graham Brady hasn’t (yet?) received the 48 letters that would trigger a confidence vote.
For what it's worth, I am pretty sure crucial 48 letters from Tory MPs calling for a vote of confidence in @theresa_may's leadership have NOT been received by @Graham__Brady, chair of 1922 Tory backbench committee. And there won't be any announcement of a confidence vote tonightFor what it's worth, I am pretty sure crucial 48 letters from Tory MPs calling for a vote of confidence in @theresa_may's leadership have NOT been received by @Graham__Brady, chair of 1922 Tory backbench committee. And there won't be any announcement of a confidence vote tonight
The Conservative Brexiter Nigel Evans asks if there is anything in the Chequers plan that could inhibit a trade deal with the US.The Conservative Brexiter Nigel Evans asks if there is anything in the Chequers plan that could inhibit a trade deal with the US.
May says, in any trade deal, the UK must decide what standards it wants to comply with.May says, in any trade deal, the UK must decide what standards it wants to comply with.
In the Commons Labour’s Kevin Brennan asked May about the Kuenssberg 48 letters tweet. May did not respond directly, and just said she was getting on with her job.In the Commons Labour’s Kevin Brennan asked May about the Kuenssberg 48 letters tweet. May did not respond directly, and just said she was getting on with her job.
There are rumours that 48 Tory MPs have now signed letters asking for a no-confidence vote on Theresa May, the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg reports.There are rumours that 48 Tory MPs have now signed letters asking for a no-confidence vote on Theresa May, the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg reports.
Whispers Tory MP s have reached the magic number of the 48 letters required to force a confidence vote - no way of knowing yet if true - meeting at 5.30Whispers Tory MP s have reached the magic number of the 48 letters required to force a confidence vote - no way of knowing yet if true - meeting at 5.30
The only person who knows for sure will be Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee.The only person who knows for sure will be Sir Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee.
This procedure was last used when Tory MPs triggered a no-confidence vote against Iain Duncan Smith in 2003. Duncan Smith lost.This procedure was last used when Tory MPs triggered a no-confidence vote against Iain Duncan Smith in 2003. Duncan Smith lost.
If Brady has got the 48 letters, you would expect him to announce a contest quite quickly, but not necessarily immediately. He never discusses exactly how the process works, but one issue might be the need to check that people who submitted letters some time ago still want a contest.If Brady has got the 48 letters, you would expect him to announce a contest quite quickly, but not necessarily immediately. He never discusses exactly how the process works, but one issue might be the need to check that people who submitted letters some time ago still want a contest.
The Yorkshire Post’s Arj Singh says he has been told the 1922 Committee is not yet organising a confidence vote.The Yorkshire Post’s Arj Singh says he has been told the 1922 Committee is not yet organising a confidence vote.
1922 Committee not yet organising a confidence vote, which they have to do once the 48 letters threshold is reached. It can take "one or two days" to put in place.1922 Committee not yet organising a confidence vote, which they have to do once the 48 letters threshold is reached. It can take "one or two days" to put in place.
But it is possible that there could be a link between Boris Johnson resigning and some letters going in – either because some Tories did not want to trigger a vote until they knew Johnson was available, or because Johnson was holding off resigning until he knew sufficient letters had been submitted.But it is possible that there could be a link between Boris Johnson resigning and some letters going in – either because some Tories did not want to trigger a vote until they knew Johnson was available, or because Johnson was holding off resigning until he knew sufficient letters had been submitted.
In the Commons Labour’s Stephen Kinnock says May’s customs plan would be a bureaucratic nightmare. He says remaining in the EEA (European Economic Area) would be much simpler. Why doesn’t May just choose that option?In the Commons Labour’s Stephen Kinnock says May’s customs plan would be a bureaucratic nightmare. He says remaining in the EEA (European Economic Area) would be much simpler. Why doesn’t May just choose that option?
May says Kinnock has forgotten that the Commons voted overwhelmingly against staying in the EEA.May says Kinnock has forgotten that the Commons voted overwhelmingly against staying in the EEA.