'Two Tory party vice-chairs quit over Chequers Brexit plan – as it happened' diff viewer (23/24)

This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on July 10, 2018 05:12 (UTC). It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

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~~Two Tory party vice-chairs quit over Chequers Brexit plan – politics live~~	Two Tory party vice-chairs quit over Chequers Brexit plan – as it happened
2018-07-10 18:40:10 UTC	2018-07-10 19:15:06 UTC (35 minutes later)
	My colleagues, Dan Sabbagh and Patrick Wintour, have produced a comprehensive write-up of the day’s main political story that’s worth a read as we close down this live blog for the evening. They report:
	Theresa May has insisted she can achieve a “smooth and orderly Brexit”, at a press conference with Angela Merkel on a day when two Conservative party vice-chairs resigned in protest at her soft Brexit negotiating plan.
	The prime minister sought to reassert her authority over her party as she appeared with the German chancellor, but she also had to fend off questions about whether Donald Trump was right to suggest the UK was in “turmoil”.
	May looked uncomfortable as she addressed journalists at the press conference but she said the Brexit white paper expected on Thursday would keep “faith with the vote of the British people” and the UK would depart the EU in a “smooth and orderly” manner.
	You can read that here:
	And you can read a summary of the day’s politics live blog coverage here. Thanks for reading.
A little more on that issue:	A little more on that issue:
Remarkable - Theresa May blocks Angela Merkel from answering @JasonGroves1 question asking for her views on her Chequers proposals	Remarkable - Theresa May blocks Angela Merkel from answering @JasonGroves1 question asking for her views on her Chequers proposals
Incredible: Theresa May blocks Angela Merkel from answering @JasonGroves1 question asking for her views on the #ChequersPlan pic.twitter.com/iPZtKWwlil	Incredible: Theresa May blocks Angela Merkel from answering @JasonGroves1 question asking for her views on the #ChequersPlan pic.twitter.com/iPZtKWwlil
There is some discussion of May’s handling of the media at the Western Balkans summit, which focused partly on press freedom. This from the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour:	There is some discussion of May’s handling of the media at the Western Balkans summit, which focused partly on press freedom. This from the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, Patrick Wintour:
At Balkans summit Angela Merkel raised her eyebrows and gave out a thin smile when told by Theresa May she was not to answer questions from the British press, and only take a solitary question from a German reporter. One summit issue was media freedom in the Balkans.	At Balkans summit Angela Merkel raised her eyebrows and gave out a thin smile when told by Theresa May she was not to answer questions from the British press, and only take a solitary question from a German reporter. One summit issue was media freedom in the Balkans.
Continuing on the theme of media freedom in the Balkans, Downing Street prearranged the media that could ask Theresa May questions. It was the Daily Mail and Sky News that in one of the freak chances came out ahead in the tombola.	Continuing on the theme of media freedom in the Balkans, Downing Street prearranged the media that could ask Theresa May questions. It was the Daily Mail and Sky News that in one of the freak chances came out ahead in the tombola.
Two Conservative party vice-chairs have resigned over Theresa May’s Brexit plan agreed at Chequers. Maria Caulfield and Ben Bradley’s departure added to the pressure on the PM following the resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis yesterday.	Two Conservative party vice-chairs have resigned over Theresa May’s Brexit plan agreed at Chequers. Maria Caulfield and Ben Bradley’s departure added to the pressure on the PM following the resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis yesterday.
May herself has insisted her Brexit plan “absolutely keeps faith with the vote of the British people”, while seeking to avoid discussing the resignations.	May herself has insisted her Brexit plan “absolutely keeps faith with the vote of the British people”, while seeking to avoid discussing the resignations.
Michel Barnier has said during a visit to the US that 80% of a deal with the UK has been agreed, suggesting a deal can be made before October’s deadline.	Michel Barnier has said during a visit to the US that 80% of a deal with the UK has been agreed, suggesting a deal can be made before October’s deadline.
Donald Trump has said the UK, where he will arrive on Thursday, is a country in “turmoil”, which will make his subsequent summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki seem “easy”.	Donald Trump has said the UK, where he will arrive on Thursday, is a country in “turmoil”, which will make his subsequent summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki seem “easy”.
Amber Rudd has called for a report to be published detailing the civil service advice she received over immigration removal targets before she resigned for getting her facts wrong on the issue. Earlier, Sajid Javid and the Home Office’s head civil servant were put under pressure by the home affairs committee about this.	Amber Rudd has called for a report to be published detailing the civil service advice she received over immigration removal targets before she resigned for getting her facts wrong on the issue. Earlier, Sajid Javid and the Home Office’s head civil servant were put under pressure by the home affairs committee about this.
Lord Carrington, who resigned as Margaret Thatcher’s foreign secretary over Argentina’s invasion of the Falklands in 1982, has died aged 99.	Lord Carrington, who resigned as Margaret Thatcher’s foreign secretary over Argentina’s invasion of the Falklands in 1982, has died aged 99.
This is what May had to say in full about the Chequers plan during the Q&A. As you can see, she kept almost entirely to platitudes:	This is what May had to say in full about the Chequers plan during the Q&A. As you can see, she kept almost entirely to platitudes:
On the issue of where we are in terms of the Chequers agreement and the proposal that will be coming out in more detail later this week with the white paper, that absolutely keeps faith with the vote of the British people.	On the issue of where we are in terms of the Chequers agreement and the proposal that will be coming out in more detail later this week with the white paper, that absolutely keeps faith with the vote of the British people.
We will bring an end to free movement, and end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom, and end to sending vast sums of money every year to the European Union. We’ll come out of the common fisheries policy, we’ll come out of the common agricultural policy.	We will bring an end to free movement, and end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom, and end to sending vast sums of money every year to the European Union. We’ll come out of the common fisheries policy, we’ll come out of the common agricultural policy.
But we will do this in a way which is a smooth and orderly Brexit, a Brexit that protects jobs, protects livelihoods and also meets our commitment for no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.	But we will do this in a way which is a smooth and orderly Brexit, a Brexit that protects jobs, protects livelihoods and also meets our commitment for no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Next up for a question is Merkel, who is asked if Germany might be willing to be flexible to help May out over Brexit talks. The German chancellor gives a distinctly blank answer, saying she is looking forwards to more discussions in a spirit of cooperation and friendship.	Next up for a question is Merkel, who is asked if Germany might be willing to be flexible to help May out over Brexit talks. The German chancellor gives a distinctly blank answer, saying she is looking forwards to more discussions in a spirit of cooperation and friendship.
Morawiecki is then asked about Poland’s views on Brexit. He says it is important to secure the rights of Polish nationals in the UK, and that overall more work is needed. Poland wants to keep a “very friendly” relationship with the UK, he says.	Morawiecki is then asked about Poland’s views on Brexit. He says it is important to secure the rights of Polish nationals in the UK, and that overall more work is needed. Poland wants to keep a “very friendly” relationship with the UK, he says.
And that’s it - the press conference is over. It’s probably fair to say we didn’t really learn much from it.	And that’s it - the press conference is over. It’s probably fair to say we didn’t really learn much from it.
Next up is Sky News, who ask again about Trump, and about Johnson’s comments in his resignation letter that May has raised a “white flag” over Brexit.	Next up is Sky News, who ask again about Trump, and about Johnson’s comments in his resignation letter that May has raised a “white flag” over Brexit.
May insists the UK can still sign trade deals with nations such as the US. On the Chequers plan, she ignores the question about Johnson and says the proposal “absolutely keeps faith with the vote of the British people”.	May insists the UK can still sign trade deals with nations such as the US. On the Chequers plan, she ignores the question about Johnson and says the proposal “absolutely keeps faith with the vote of the British people”.
In brief: she’d rather talk about anything else than Trump and her former foreign secretary.	In brief: she’d rather talk about anything else than Trump and her former foreign secretary.
Q&A time - firstly Jason Groves from the Daily Mail asks about Donald Trump’s claim that the UK is “in turmoil”, and his praise for Boris Johnson.	Q&A time - firstly Jason Groves from the Daily Mail asks about Donald Trump’s claim that the UK is “in turmoil”, and his praise for Boris Johnson.
May - who gives something of a grimace during the question - dead bats the issue, saying she is looking forwards to seeing the US president and talking about trade and other issues.	May - who gives something of a grimace during the question - dead bats the issue, saying she is looking forwards to seeing the US president and talking about trade and other issues.
Angela Merkel is now speaking at the summit, and is praising the work of the event. We then hear from the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki. He talks about the importance of battling corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans.	Angela Merkel is now speaking at the summit, and is praising the work of the event. We then hear from the Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki. He talks about the importance of battling corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans.
Theresa May is speaking at a press conference at the end of the Western Balkans summit in London – where Boris Johnson had been due to appear yesterday if he had not resigned. She assures guests the UK will not withdraw from the region after Brexit.	Theresa May is speaking at a press conference at the end of the Western Balkans summit in London – where Boris Johnson had been due to appear yesterday if he had not resigned. She assures guests the UK will not withdraw from the region after Brexit.
Many people will not have heard of Maria Caulfield or Ben Bradley, or the roles they filled. Both were made (unpaid) party vice chairs only in January, and both immediately saw some controversy.	Many people will not have heard of Maria Caulfield or Ben Bradley, or the roles they filled. Both were made (unpaid) party vice chairs only in January, and both immediately saw some controversy.
Caulfield, the MP for Lewes since 2017, saw criticism over her role as s vice chair for women because of her views on abortion.	Caulfield, the MP for Lewes since 2017, saw criticism over her role as s vice chair for women because of her views on abortion.
Bradley, elected in Mansfield last year – and is a remainer –faced criticism after comments emerged showing he had once suggested that unemployed people should opt for free vasectomies rather than continuing to have children they could not afford to support.	Bradley, elected in Mansfield last year – and is a remainer –faced criticism after comments emerged showing he had once suggested that unemployed people should opt for free vasectomies rather than continuing to have children they could not afford to support.
In a blogpost, Bradley claimed that the country would be soon “drowning in a vast sea of unemployed wasters” if workless families had four or five children while others limited themselves to one or two.	In a blogpost, Bradley claimed that the country would be soon “drowning in a vast sea of unemployed wasters” if workless families had four or five children while others limited themselves to one or two.
A month later, Bradley was forced to apologise to Jeremy Corbyn and make a donation to charity over a tweet making claiming the Labour leader “sold British secrets to communist spies”.	A month later, Bradley was forced to apologise to Jeremy Corbyn and make a donation to charity over a tweet making claiming the Labour leader “sold British secrets to communist spies”.
Here are the resignation letters from the two (now ex) Tory party vice chairs, via Henry Zeffman of the Times.	Here are the resignation letters from the two (now ex) Tory party vice chairs, via Henry Zeffman of the Times.