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| Grayling calls for 'calm, level heads' as Tory Brexit tensions mount | Grayling calls for 'calm, level heads' as Tory Brexit tensions mount |
| (17 days later) | |
| One of Theresa May’s key allies has called on Conservative MPs to show “calm, level heads” on Brexit during a potentially treacherous political week for the prime minister, insisting that a deal acceptable to a majority of the party is still possible. | One of Theresa May’s key allies has called on Conservative MPs to show “calm, level heads” on Brexit during a potentially treacherous political week for the prime minister, insisting that a deal acceptable to a majority of the party is still possible. |
| With May due to tell the Commons on Monday that 95% of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and its protocols are settled as she seeks to calm anxious MPs, Chris Grayling said the last parts of the process were always going to be tricky. | With May due to tell the Commons on Monday that 95% of the Brexit withdrawal agreement and its protocols are settled as she seeks to calm anxious MPs, Chris Grayling said the last parts of the process were always going to be tricky. |
| But the transport secretary, a Brexiter who led May’s leadership bid, said backbenchers and his fellow cabinet ministers had to keep faith, amid increased mutterings about a plot to replace the PM. | But the transport secretary, a Brexiter who led May’s leadership bid, said backbenchers and his fellow cabinet ministers had to keep faith, amid increased mutterings about a plot to replace the PM. |
| “This is really a moment for calm, level heads,” Grayling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday. “We’ve got to get through the last bit of negotiations. | “This is really a moment for calm, level heads,” Grayling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday. “We’ve got to get through the last bit of negotiations. |
| “There will be a vote in parliament that follows. The reality is, if the deal on offer is something that can’t get through parliament, we’ll end up in a no-deal situation. So it’s in everyone’s interests, European Union and us, to make sure that what we agree is something that both sides can accept.” | “There will be a vote in parliament that follows. The reality is, if the deal on offer is something that can’t get through parliament, we’ll end up in a no-deal situation. So it’s in everyone’s interests, European Union and us, to make sure that what we agree is something that both sides can accept.” |
| Speaking to MPs on Monday afternoon, May is expected to confirm she has resolved with the EU the future status of Gibraltar, developed a protocol around the UK’s military base in Cyprus and agreed a mechanism for resolving any future disputes with the EU. | Speaking to MPs on Monday afternoon, May is expected to confirm she has resolved with the EU the future status of Gibraltar, developed a protocol around the UK’s military base in Cyprus and agreed a mechanism for resolving any future disputes with the EU. |
| Taking the unusual step of briefing planned remarks to the Commons in advance, May will conclude that “taking all of this together, 95% of the withdrawal agreement and its protocols are now settled” in talks that she has until now largely insisted on keeping secret. | Taking the unusual step of briefing planned remarks to the Commons in advance, May will conclude that “taking all of this together, 95% of the withdrawal agreement and its protocols are now settled” in talks that she has until now largely insisted on keeping secret. |
| The final section “was always going to be the most difficult part of the negotiation”, Grayling said, urging patience. | The final section “was always going to be the most difficult part of the negotiation”, Grayling said, urging patience. |
| He confirmed there had been some debate between cabinet ministers about the best route forward during conference calls with May at the weekend, but declined to go into any details: “All through this, we’ve had discussions about what the best way forward is. We’re not a set of clones, we don’t always agree on absolutely everything.” | He confirmed there had been some debate between cabinet ministers about the best route forward during conference calls with May at the weekend, but declined to go into any details: “All through this, we’ve had discussions about what the best way forward is. We’re not a set of clones, we don’t always agree on absolutely everything.” |
| Pressed on the idea of extending the transition period, a deeply unpopular idea among some Tory MPs, Grayling said ministers were still “discussing different alternatives”, but that it was possible there could be the need for some arrangement. | Pressed on the idea of extending the transition period, a deeply unpopular idea among some Tory MPs, Grayling said ministers were still “discussing different alternatives”, but that it was possible there could be the need for some arrangement. |
| He said: “I’m perfectly happy to contemplate a short bridge between the end of the implementation period and the start of the future economic partnership if it’s necessary. I don’t think it needs to be necessary, I don’t want it to be necessary. | He said: “I’m perfectly happy to contemplate a short bridge between the end of the implementation period and the start of the future economic partnership if it’s necessary. I don’t think it needs to be necessary, I don’t want it to be necessary. |
| “But of course what it can’t do is trap us in limbo indefinitely. The cabinet’s completely united about that.” | “But of course what it can’t do is trap us in limbo indefinitely. The cabinet’s completely united about that.” |
| Restive Conservative backbenchers will meet on Wednesday night at a meeting of the 1922 Committee, which will be addressed by the party chair, Brandon Lewis. A total of 48 of them have to write to the committee’s chair, Graham Brady, to demand a confidence vote in May if they are to trigger a leadership challenge that No 10 is desperate to avoid as the Brexit talks come towards their final critical stage. | Restive Conservative backbenchers will meet on Wednesday night at a meeting of the 1922 Committee, which will be addressed by the party chair, Brandon Lewis. A total of 48 of them have to write to the committee’s chair, Graham Brady, to demand a confidence vote in May if they are to trigger a leadership challenge that No 10 is desperate to avoid as the Brexit talks come towards their final critical stage. |
| Two key issues remain unresolved in the Brexit talks: how to ensure that the so-called backstop designed to avoid a hard border in Ireland has an end point and that it does not allow for Northern Ireland to be separated from Great Britain via a customs border. | Two key issues remain unresolved in the Brexit talks: how to ensure that the so-called backstop designed to avoid a hard border in Ireland has an end point and that it does not allow for Northern Ireland to be separated from Great Britain via a customs border. |
| Grayling confirmed that transport planning for customs delays in the event of a no-deal departure included using the M26 motorway and Manston airfield in Kent as places to queue lorries for transit to Dover. | Grayling confirmed that transport planning for customs delays in the event of a no-deal departure included using the M26 motorway and Manston airfield in Kent as places to queue lorries for transit to Dover. |
| However, Grayling added, he hoped French authorities would not require too much border friction even without a deal, saying: “I expect them to reinstate some controls. I think they are more likely to take a pragmatic approach, because if they don’t it will do real damage to the economy of Calais.” | However, Grayling added, he hoped French authorities would not require too much border friction even without a deal, saying: “I expect them to reinstate some controls. I think they are more likely to take a pragmatic approach, because if they don’t it will do real damage to the economy of Calais.” |
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