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No 10 slaps down Boris Johnson over Chequers plan criticism No 10 slaps down Boris Johnson over Chequers plan criticism
(about 3 hours later)
Downing Street has slapped down Boris Johnson saying he offered “no new ideas” on Brexit after he launched a fierce attack on Theresa May’s Chequers plan for leaving the European Union. Boris Johnson faced a concerted backlash over his attack on Theresa May’s Brexit plans on Monday, with a string of senior Conservatives lining up to denounce him, as the prime minister sought to save her Chequers deal from fierce internal criticism.
In a thinly-veiled rebuke to Johnson, who claimed that the prime minister was entering negotiations with Brussels with a “white flag fluttering”, her spokesman said the country needed “serious leadership with a serious plan”. Downing Street delivered a rare public rebuke of the former foreign secretary, in response to Johnson’s article.
No 10’s intervention marks an escalation of the feud between the prime minister and her former foreign secretary, which has intensified since his attack on the government’s Brexit plans, widely viewed as a renewed push for the top job. But with Westminster in a febrile mood as MPs began to arrive after the summer recess, May’s proposals looked on shaky ground with pro-Brexit Tory groups preparing to step up their campaigns to “chuck Chequers”.
Johnson used his newspaper column on Monday to accuse some members of the government of deliberately using the Irish border situation to “stop a proper Brexit”, a claim rejected by Whitehall sources. The leading Brexit supporter Jacob Rees-Mogg added to the prime minister’s woes by claiming after a Brexit committee meeting with Michel Barnier that the EU’s chief negotiator agreed that the Chequers proposal was “complete rubbish”.
Before a meeting of the right-wing European Research Group on Tuesday, Brexiters claimed May now had a “very limited window” of time to row back if she wanted to avoid a humiliating Commons defeat over the final deal. The ERG is expected to publish its own alternative plans in coming weeks.
Whitehall sources insisted that May was prepared to “go into battle” to deliver on her Chequers plan, which would keep the UK in a form of single market for goods with a bespoke customs arrangement with Brussels, despite intense opposition from across her party.
The prime minister’s spokesman said: “The Chequers proposals are the only credible and negotiable plan which has been put forward and which will deliver on the will of the British people.”The prime minister’s spokesman said: “The Chequers proposals are the only credible and negotiable plan which has been put forward and which will deliver on the will of the British people.”
He added: “There’s no new ideas in this article to respond to. What we need at this time is serious leadership with a serious plan. That’s exactly what the country has with this prime minister and this Brexit plan.” Brexit secretary Dominic Raab will attempt to put the government on the front foot as he defends the government’s plans in the Commons after a summer of intense talks. No 10 is also preparing for a crunch “no deal” cabinet meeting next week.
It came after Damian Green, the prime minister’s former deputy, condemned hard-Brexit supporters, such as Johnson, for having no workable plan of their own, while the former Brexit secretary David Davis said it was not the time for “personality politics”. In what was regarded at Westminster as a concerted push-back against Johnson’s attack, No 10 poured scorn on his claim that May was negotiating with Brussels with a “white flag fluttering”.
Noisiest in their opposition are Tory Brexiters, not least David Davis and Boris Johnson, both of whom quit the cabinet in protest. They argue that the promise to maintain a common rulebook for goods and other continued alignment will mean a post-Brexit UK is tied to the EU without having a say on future rules, rather than being a free-trading independent nation. The PM’s spokesman said: “There’s no new ideas in this article to respond to. What we need at this time is serious leadership with a serious plan. That’s exactly what the country has with this prime minister and this Brexit plan.”
Labour has also disparaged the proposal, expressing deep scepticism about the so-called facilitated customs arrangement system. No 10’s intervention marks an escalation of the feud between the prime minister and her former foreign secretary, which has intensified since his attack on the government’s Brexit plans, widely viewed as a renewed push for the top job.
Brussels has sought to stay positive, but has deep concerns about elements of the plan viewed as overly pick-and-mix, and thus potentially incompatible with EU principles. A string of senior Tories weighed in, with the home secretary, Sajid Javid, calling on the Tory party to unite behind May’s blueprint, pointedly adding: “For those who think there is a different way then they need to properly set out what alternatives there might be.”
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, says he opposes both the customs plan and the idea of alignment for goods. He also makes plain his contention that the Chequers plan contains no workable idea for the Ireland-Northern Ireland border. Damian Green, May’s former deputy, condemned hard-Brexit supporters for having no workable plan of their own, although he conceded that May faced “a narrow path” to get her own agreed by MPs. “But it is absolutely certain that there is no parliamentary majority in the House of Commons for a hard Brexit,” he said.
But at the same time the EU has been careful to not entirely dismiss the proposals, raising the possibility it could accept some adapted version. Former Brexit secretary David Davis issued a thinly veiled swipe against Johnson when, asked if it would be better if May stood down, he said: “No, we don’t need any more turbulence right now. What matters in all of this is not the personality politics, it’s the outcome at the end.”
Officially, May and her cabinet, though even here the backing can seem lukewarm at times. Asked about Chequers, the home secretary, Sajid Javid, said it was the government’s plan “right now”, indicating alternative ideas could be considered. However, Johnson was backed by Tory Brexiters Steve Baker, who described his article as “superb”, and Owen Patterson, who said it offered a clear articulation of the “myths” surrounding the Irish border.
Even May’s allies concede it will be a hugely difficult task to get the plan through parliament. Damian Green, the PM’s close friend and former de fact deputy, described the process as “walking a narrow path with people chucking rocks at us from both sides”. Some high-profile remainers are also unhappy with the Chequers proposal, with former cabinet minister Justine Greening describing it as “more unpopular than the poll tax”. She said: “Chequers is now dead.”
On the remain side of the Conservatives, the former education secretary Justine Greening called the Chequers plan “more unpopular than the poll tax”, saying May should start again from scratch. Several Brexit-supporting sources confirmed that political strategist Sir Lynton Crosby was working with the ERG on a wider campaign against Chequers. “Lynton has offered some assistance to the ERG because the key battle is in parliament,” one said.
If anything can save the plan – and it’s an outside shot – it will be a combination of the hugely tight timetable and the fact that, as yet, no one else has yet produced a plan with a better chance of being accepted by parliament.
On 20 September, an informal gathering in Salzburg, Austria, will provide a snapshot of current EU thinking. Then, 10 days later, the Conservative conference could show the Chequers plan is holed below the waterline.
If it survives these tests, the proposals will then reach the crucial EU summit Brussels on 18 October, with something final needed, at the very latest, in the next two months. PETER WALKER
In his article, Johnson said that the main problem with Brexitwas “not that we have failed, but that we have not even tried”.
Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, however, Davis seemed to attack Johnson’s agenda.
Asked if it would be better if May stood down, the former Brexit secretary said: “No, we don’t need any more turbulence right now. What matters in all of this is not the personality politics, it’s the outcome at the end.”
Speaking earlier on Monday, Green told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “High-stakes rhetoric, use of words like ‘surrender’ and ‘white flag’ and ‘treachery’ and so on, that some newspapers have used, are absolutely what we don’t need in the current circumstance.
“What’s interesting now is that the only plan on the table is the British government’s plan. [The EU’s chief negotiator] Michel Barnier hasn’t got a plan, those in my own party who object to Chequers don’t have a plan. So let’s hear what other people have.”
The long-established coalition of Brexit-minded Conservative MPs – though it publishes no list of members – led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, and one of Theresa May’s main obstacles in parliament.The long-established coalition of Brexit-minded Conservative MPs – though it publishes no list of members – led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, and one of Theresa May’s main obstacles in parliament.
Headed by the businessman Richard Tice, and newly joined by Nigel Farage, this group seeks a Brexit completely outside any single market, customs union or EU oversight.Headed by the businessman Richard Tice, and newly joined by Nigel Farage, this group seeks a Brexit completely outside any single market, customs union or EU oversight.
The successor group to the official leave campaign, it is headed by Labour MP Gisela Stuart, and says it wants to see the referendum result “respected and delivered in full”.The successor group to the official leave campaign, it is headed by Labour MP Gisela Stuart, and says it wants to see the referendum result “respected and delivered in full”.
A new group campaigning to sink May’s Chequers proposals, which claims the support of 20 Tory MPs, among them Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith.A new group campaigning to sink May’s Chequers proposals, which claims the support of 20 Tory MPs, among them Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith.
The unofficial leave campaign, financed by Arron Banks, which faces scrutiny about its tactics and funding. These days mainly a Twitter feed that mixes Brexit news with far-right-friendly messages about immigrants and Islam.The unofficial leave campaign, financed by Arron Banks, which faces scrutiny about its tactics and funding. These days mainly a Twitter feed that mixes Brexit news with far-right-friendly messages about immigrants and Islam.
Springing up in the wake of the referendum, this grouped MPs from various parties in pushing for a soft Brexit. It was supported by some Tories, such as Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve, but they cut ties over a plan to oust hard Brexit-backing MPs.Springing up in the wake of the referendum, this grouped MPs from various parties in pushing for a soft Brexit. It was supported by some Tories, such as Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve, but they cut ties over a plan to oust hard Brexit-backing MPs.
A later arrival, chaired by the former Labour minister Mark Malloch-Brown, this is more directly opposed to Brexit itself, and has received funding from the billionaire George Soros.A later arrival, chaired by the former Labour minister Mark Malloch-Brown, this is more directly opposed to Brexit itself, and has received funding from the billionaire George Soros.
Part of Open Britain, this group calls for a referendum on the final Brexit deal.Part of Open Britain, this group calls for a referendum on the final Brexit deal.
A long-established pro-EU group with sections across Europe, this has had a lower-profile role in the Brexit aftermath. Chaired by ex-Conservative cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell.A long-established pro-EU group with sections across Europe, this has had a lower-profile role in the Brexit aftermath. Chaired by ex-Conservative cabinet minister Stephen Dorrell.
Set up by and seeking to represent young people, the group organises protests, and is probably best known for its eloquent spokesman Femi Oluwole.Set up by and seeking to represent young people, the group organises protests, and is probably best known for its eloquent spokesman Femi Oluwole.
Going by the handy acronym of FFS, this is a student-based group seeking to block Brexit.Going by the handy acronym of FFS, this is a student-based group seeking to block Brexit.
A self-explanatorily named niche pressure group with a heavyweight set of scientific backers.A self-explanatorily named niche pressure group with a heavyweight set of scientific backers.
Green conceded that May faced “a narrow path” to get her plan agreed by MPs. “But it is absolutely certain that there is no parliamentary majority in the House of Commons for a hard Brexit. So I’ll be interested to see what those who are saying: ‘Chequers isn’t good enough, we need a much harder Brexit’, what do they propose to get through the House of Commons?” They claimed the prime minister would struggle to get her proposal through the Commons, with as many as 50 Tory MPs prepared to vote against it, and another 20 following former minister Nick Boles who this week abandoned his support for Chequers in favour of a Norway-style deal.
MPs return to the Commons from their summer recess on Tuesday, amid growing party disquiet over the direction of the divorce talks. One leading Brexiter said: “The PM basically needs a landing zone for pulling back from the situation she’s currently in. There is a very limited window if she wants to avoid the abject humiliation of being defeated in the Commons on Chequers.”
Johnson wrote: “The reality is that in this negotiation the EU has so far taken every important trick. The UK has agreed to hand over £40bn of taxpayers’ money for two-thirds of diddly squat.” Allies of Johnson denied he was instrumental in any campaign, despite his opposition to May’s plan, although he and Crosby, who ran his two successful London mayoral campaigns, are known to be in regular contact. “Boris does speak regularly to Lynton and they believe that Chequers is the wrong way forward for the country, but any suggestion that he’s involved in some form of coordinated plan is wide of the mark,” one said.
He said that by adopting the Chequers plan, in which the UK would adopt a common rule book for the trade of food and goods, “we have gone into battle with the white flag fluttering over our leading tank”. It came as at least 20 Eurosceptic Tory MPs, backed by former Tory ministers Iain Duncan Smith, Priti Patel and Steve Baker, backed the #standup4brexit grassroots campaign group, with more expected to sign up.
It would be “impossible for the UK to be more competitive, to innovate, to deviate, to initiate, and we are ruling out major free trade deals”. Ministers do not now expect a deal to be agreed until November. Senior No 10 insiders have described the Salzburg summit later this month as a key moment that would allow May to appeal directly to other EU leaders, although Downing Street has since attempted to lower expectations.
This week will be the first chance for Conservative MPs to compare notes about the state of grassroots feeling over Brexit since before the recess. Many ordinary party members are unhappy with the Chequers plan, fearing it amounts to a loss of sovereignty.
Johnson called on May to return to the argument of her Lancaster House speech of January 2017. He said that under the current plan, “we will remain in the EU taxi; but this time locked in the boot, with absolutely no say on the destination. We won’t have taken back control – we will have lost control.”
A group of Tory MPs is set on halting the Chequers plan. The 20 backbench rebels, including former ministers Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith, have joined the StandUp4Brexit group, a grassroots campaign that has vowed to tear up the EU negotiations to date.
On Sunday, Davis had criticised May for admitting she would have to make compromises to the EU beyond the Chequers agreement in order to reach a deal. The former Brexit secretary told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show that he could not vote for what had been proposed because it was worse than staying in.
Davis, who also resigned because he said he could not endorse the Chequers deal, was speaking after the prime minister had said in a Sunday newspaper column that she would “not be pushed into accepting compromises” on the Chequers plan that are “not in our national interest”.
BrexitBrexit
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
David DavisDavid Davis
Damian GreenDamian Green
Theresa MayTheresa May
Michel BarnierMichel Barnier
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