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Brexit deal: May in crunch cabinet meeting to decide fate of agreement – Politics live Brexit deal: Theresa May to make statement after five-hour cabinet meeting – Politics live
(35 minutes later)
From the Times’ Sam Coates.
Gavin Barwell apparently seeing junior ministers in 10 minutes
Gavin Barwell is Theresa May’s chief of staff.
Theresa May is about to speak outside Number 10.
Statement from the PM 2 mins out pic.twitter.com/IjxcXAU7CM
Cabinet is over, the BBC’s Katy Searle reports.
Cabinet is over. PM statement shortly.
From the Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable
If Theresa May is still struggling to get this deal past her own cabinet in No. 10, how will it win support in Parliament or the country? There’s a sensible way out of this mess: go back to the country for a People’s Vote
From my colleague Heather Stewart
Jacob Rees-Mogg tells me rumours of letters of no confidence in May, "don't surprise me" - but "the ERG does not have a collective view".
Here is the Spectator’s James Forsyth on the ERG push for a no confidence vote in Theresa May.
Am told argument gaining traction within the ERG is that 48 letters wouldn’t necessarily bring down May but would show that this Brexit deal couldn’t pass the Commons without wholesale Labour support
UPDATE: This is from the Mail on Sunday’s Dan Hodges.
Incredible tweet from @JGForsyth. At this moment in the nation’s history the ERG are seriously considering mounting a leadership challenge to the Prime Minister just to make a point.
The cabinet meeting is winding up, it is being reported.
Am hearing that Cabinet has finally broken up. No details yet on what they have / haven't agreed.
Sounds like statement imminent
Cabinet now winding up - hopefully there are coming out in 20-30 mins (via @RealCoote)
Here is more from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on the news that Tory Brexiters in the European Research Group (ERG) are starting to push for a no confidence vote in Theresa May.
Understand there has not yet been an official ERG decision to get group to push button on letters going in, but levels of anger so high that some are doing it anyway - this might be the start of crashing into a leadership contest by accident - impossible to tell yet
Reminder: under Conservative party rules, a no confidence vote in the leader is held if 15% of MPs (48 of them) write a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the backbench 1922 committee, demanding one. Letters are submitted anonymously, and they can be withdrawn. Brady is the only person who knows how many letters he has in his draw, and although there have been reports claiming that 40-plus letters are already in, Brady has said that some people who claim to have submitted letters don’t tell the truth. If 48 letters do go in, Brady has to notify the party, a confidence vote gets held, and the leader gets to stay if he or she wins a majority. John Major won a vote of this kind in 1995, but Iain Duncan Smith lost one in 2003.
Paul Goodman, editor of the ConservativeHome website, says Kuenssberg’s report is accurate.
Yes. https://t.co/j6jyyDLpX9
UDPATE: In an interview published two days ago Jacob Rees-Mogg, the ERG chair, actually said a leadership contest could happen by accident.
Here are the latest developments.Here are the latest developments.
This afternoon’s cabinet meeting has dragged on into its fifth hour. Starting at 2pm, it was expected to last about three hours but it has now passed the four hour mark and there is no sign of it wrapping up any time soon. Ministers are apparently being allowed to speak at length about the Brexit deal. The delay suggests that ministers have substantial concerns (if they were all happy, they would have been out long ago) and perhaps the Brexiters are trying to insist on fresh red lines as the negotiations conclude. But no one has walked out, and Theresa May’s willingness to let the meeting run this long could be seen as a sign of how she is making an effort to accommodate all views in a bid to hold the cabinet together.This afternoon’s cabinet meeting has dragged on into its fifth hour. Starting at 2pm, it was expected to last about three hours but it has now passed the four hour mark and there is no sign of it wrapping up any time soon. Ministers are apparently being allowed to speak at length about the Brexit deal. The delay suggests that ministers have substantial concerns (if they were all happy, they would have been out long ago) and perhaps the Brexiters are trying to insist on fresh red lines as the negotiations conclude. But no one has walked out, and Theresa May’s willingness to let the meeting run this long could be seen as a sign of how she is making an effort to accommodate all views in a bid to hold the cabinet together.
May has cancelled plans to hold a press conference later tonight after the cabinet meeting. Instead, she will just give a statement to broadcasters. This was in response to complaints from MPs about May taking questions from journalists before she takes questions in the chamber tomorrow. But she is not expected to give a press conference tomorrow either. There are now also doubts about whether or not Number 10 will publish the text of the withdrawal agreement tonight, as originally planned. Theoretically, under parliamentary rules, it should not be published before May speaks to MPs tomorrow.May has cancelled plans to hold a press conference later tonight after the cabinet meeting. Instead, she will just give a statement to broadcasters. This was in response to complaints from MPs about May taking questions from journalists before she takes questions in the chamber tomorrow. But she is not expected to give a press conference tomorrow either. There are now also doubts about whether or not Number 10 will publish the text of the withdrawal agreement tonight, as originally planned. Theoretically, under parliamentary rules, it should not be published before May speaks to MPs tomorrow.
Scottish Conservative MPs have written to May saying they will not support a deal that involves offering guarantees to EU fishermen now about their access to UK waters after the transition period is over. (See 3.15pm.)Scottish Conservative MPs have written to May saying they will not support a deal that involves offering guarantees to EU fishermen now about their access to UK waters after the transition period is over. (See 3.15pm.)
Tory Brexiters in the European Research Group have decided to actively push for the removal of May as prime minister, according to reports.Tory Brexiters in the European Research Group have decided to actively push for the removal of May as prime minister, according to reports.
Sounds - from Conor Burns to Sky and ERG sources to me - like the ERG has today switched position and now support letters of No Confidence to Graham BradyPreviously Jacob Rees Mogg was telling colleagues not to try and force change of leaderSounds - from Conor Burns to Sky and ERG sources to me - like the ERG has today switched position and now support letters of No Confidence to Graham BradyPreviously Jacob Rees Mogg was telling colleagues not to try and force change of leader
Senior tory tells me Brexiteer anger so high that seems likely there will be a call for no confidence vote tomorrow - letters going in -Senior tory tells me Brexiteer anger so high that seems likely there will be a call for no confidence vote tomorrow - letters going in -
No way of knowing exactly how and if this will happen - but hearing same as @SamCoatesTimes - seems some Brexiteers are switching position from wait and see to moving nowNo way of knowing exactly how and if this will happen - but hearing same as @SamCoatesTimes - seems some Brexiteers are switching position from wait and see to moving now
And here are the quotes from the Tory MP Conor Burns.And here are the quotes from the Tory MP Conor Burns.
ERG member Conor Burns tells sky news PM has in moment of “errant genius” managed to unite the country in agreement that this is “the worst of all worlds”ERG member Conor Burns tells sky news PM has in moment of “errant genius” managed to unite the country in agreement that this is “the worst of all worlds”
Conor Burns: “I have consistently said we don’t want to change the PM, we want to change the policy of the PM. However there comes a point where if the PM is insistent that she will not change the policy, then the only way to change the policy is to change the personnel”Conor Burns: “I have consistently said we don’t want to change the PM, we want to change the policy of the PM. However there comes a point where if the PM is insistent that she will not change the policy, then the only way to change the policy is to change the personnel”
Of ERG mood: “we are frustrated, we are angry, but we still hope that the PM can be prevailed upon to think again. The arithmetic in the commons is such that the deal as she is proposing it is unlikely to pass in legislation”Of ERG mood: “we are frustrated, we are angry, but we still hope that the PM can be prevailed upon to think again. The arithmetic in the commons is such that the deal as she is proposing it is unlikely to pass in legislation”
Tony Blair, the Labour former prime minister, has described the proposed Brexit deal as a “capitulation” and the worst of both worlds. (See 4.04pm.)Tony Blair, the Labour former prime minister, has described the proposed Brexit deal as a “capitulation” and the worst of both worlds. (See 4.04pm.)
Jeremy Corbyn used prime minister’s questions to lambast the government’s planned Brexit agreement, saying Theresa May’s strategy would give parliament a false choice “between a half-baked deal or no deal”.Jeremy Corbyn used prime minister’s questions to lambast the government’s planned Brexit agreement, saying Theresa May’s strategy would give parliament a false choice “between a half-baked deal or no deal”.
And here is the summary of developments during the morning.And here is the summary of developments during the morning.
Four hours in, the cabinet meeting is still going on, but in Brussels the meeting of EU ambassadors has at last wrapped up. These are from BuzzFeed’s Alberto Nardelli.Four hours in, the cabinet meeting is still going on, but in Brussels the meeting of EU ambassadors has at last wrapped up. These are from BuzzFeed’s Alberto Nardelli.
EU27 meeting of ambassadors has ended. Diplomats told no word yet from London whether UK ministers have given greenlight to the deal. Diplomats also told that substance of the Northern Ireland backstop is the previously reported three options to pick by July 2020EU27 meeting of ambassadors has ended. Diplomats told no word yet from London whether UK ministers have given greenlight to the deal. Diplomats also told that substance of the Northern Ireland backstop is the previously reported three options to pick by July 2020
If there is a deal in the UK this evening the following will happen:- joint Barnier-Raab presser- Barnier will recommend Tusk call a special EUCO- work continues on docs- EU27 ambos meet Fri/Sat- TBD: EU ministers meeting on Monday- Tue: full text on future relationshipIf there is a deal in the UK this evening the following will happen:- joint Barnier-Raab presser- Barnier will recommend Tusk call a special EUCO- work continues on docs- EU27 ambos meet Fri/Sat- TBD: EU ministers meeting on Monday- Tue: full text on future relationship
Nick Hurd, the policing minister, has just told MPs that Theresa May will not be making a press statement about the Brexit deal tonight. He was speaking in an adjournment debate about police pensions, and addressing the concerns of parliamentarians who have complained about May addressing the press before the House of Commons. (See 12.49pm, 4.13pm and 5.24pm.) Hurd told MPs:Nick Hurd, the policing minister, has just told MPs that Theresa May will not be making a press statement about the Brexit deal tonight. He was speaking in an adjournment debate about police pensions, and addressing the concerns of parliamentarians who have complained about May addressing the press before the House of Commons. (See 12.49pm, 4.13pm and 5.24pm.) Hurd told MPs:
What I am authorised to inform the House is there will be no press statement this evening. There was considerable concern in the house about that happening before the prime minister came to parliament.What I am authorised to inform the House is there will be no press statement this evening. There was considerable concern in the house about that happening before the prime minister came to parliament.
I can also confirm to the house that the cabinet meeting is still ongoing, and therefore I’m sure the House will appreciate the prime minister is not in a position to come to the house. I hope that gives some reassurance to members who were concerned about due courtesy and respect being shown to this parliament.I can also confirm to the house that the cabinet meeting is still ongoing, and therefore I’m sure the House will appreciate the prime minister is not in a position to come to the house. I hope that gives some reassurance to members who were concerned about due courtesy and respect being shown to this parliament.
Hurd talked about a press statement, but it turned out he meant press conference. May had been planning to do both. Now we’re told we will get a statement, but not a press conference. This is from the BBC’s Katy Searle.Hurd talked about a press statement, but it turned out he meant press conference. May had been planning to do both. Now we’re told we will get a statement, but not a press conference. This is from the BBC’s Katy Searle.
There will be no press conference tonight but there WILL be a statement after cabinet.There will be no press conference tonight but there WILL be a statement after cabinet.
That’s a victory for MPs like Liz Kendall, Ken Clarke and Valerie Vaz, who all complained about this, but I can report that none of them are the toast of the press gallery where journalists think it would have been better if May had been required to answer questions at a press conference. She doesn’t do many press conferences anyway and, if she is giving a statement to MPs tomorrow, she won’t be hosting a Number 10 press conference too.That’s a victory for MPs like Liz Kendall, Ken Clarke and Valerie Vaz, who all complained about this, but I can report that none of them are the toast of the press gallery where journalists think it would have been better if May had been required to answer questions at a press conference. She doesn’t do many press conferences anyway and, if she is giving a statement to MPs tomorrow, she won’t be hosting a Number 10 press conference too.
Here is my colleague Daniel Boffey on how the deal was negotiated.Here is my colleague Daniel Boffey on how the deal was negotiated.
From the Daily Mirror’s Jason BeattieFrom the Daily Mirror’s Jason Beattie
Is Chris Grayling in charge of the Cabinet timetable as well? https://t.co/ZOAJJzzGf2Is Chris Grayling in charge of the Cabinet timetable as well? https://t.co/ZOAJJzzGf2
The Westminster leaders of the five opposition parties in the Commons - Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), Ian Blackford (SNP), Vince Cable (Lib Dems), Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru) and Caroline Lucas (the Greens) - have written a joint letter to Theresa May saying that she should come to the Commons tonight to give a statement about her Brexit deal instead of giving a press conference. They say:The Westminster leaders of the five opposition parties in the Commons - Jeremy Corbyn (Labour), Ian Blackford (SNP), Vince Cable (Lib Dems), Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru) and Caroline Lucas (the Greens) - have written a joint letter to Theresa May saying that she should come to the Commons tonight to give a statement about her Brexit deal instead of giving a press conference. They say:
We are writing to you as a matter of urgency to demand that you make a statement to the House of Commons on the withdrawal agreement and future framework between the EU and the UK.We are writing to you as a matter of urgency to demand that you make a statement to the House of Commons on the withdrawal agreement and future framework between the EU and the UK.
Your ministerial code is clear that important statements of policy should be made to the House of Commons first and not to the press.Your ministerial code is clear that important statements of policy should be made to the House of Commons first and not to the press.
It is entirely inappropriate for you to brief the press, through a press conference as we understand you plan to do this evening before coming to the House to make a statement and to be questioned by elected members of parliament.It is entirely inappropriate for you to brief the press, through a press conference as we understand you plan to do this evening before coming to the House to make a statement and to be questioned by elected members of parliament.
Mr Speaker made clear earlier that he would be willing to facilitate a statement from you at any time today.Mr Speaker made clear earlier that he would be willing to facilitate a statement from you at any time today.
In the past, particularly in the Betty Boothroyd era, the speaker used to object strongly when ministers ignored the convention that important government announcements should be made in the Commons chamber first. But in recent years it has become a rule more honoured in the breach than in the observance.In the past, particularly in the Betty Boothroyd era, the speaker used to object strongly when ministers ignored the convention that important government announcements should be made in the Commons chamber first. But in recent years it has become a rule more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
Some of us think that that is quite sensible, and that if MPs get to question ministers about announcements after the details have been reported in the media, they tend to ask better questions, but that is not a fashionable view amongst parliamentarians like the SNP’s Tommy Sheppard.Some of us think that that is quite sensible, and that if MPs get to question ministers about announcements after the details have been reported in the media, they tend to ask better questions, but that is not a fashionable view amongst parliamentarians like the SNP’s Tommy Sheppard.
Shocking shenanigans in Parliament this afternoon - chair resisting multiple attempts to demand prime minister makes a statement - now looking like she will make a statement to the press whilst parliament is actually sitting. So much for caring about the sovereignty of parliamentShocking shenanigans in Parliament this afternoon - chair resisting multiple attempts to demand prime minister makes a statement - now looking like she will make a statement to the press whilst parliament is actually sitting. So much for caring about the sovereignty of parliament
The DUP have yet to see the text or getting any briefing from the government on the Brexit agreement, the party’s leader Arlene Foster has confirmed.
She says she intends to see Theresa May this evening but warned the party would vote against a deal that involved any difference between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
There would be “consequences” for the prime minister she said. She told BBC Northern Ireland:
Obviously we are very concerned about the sort of narrative building up around the prime minister’s proposal ...
She has stood in this very place and said she would not break up the United Kingdom.
If she decides to go against all of that then there will be consequences, of course there will be consequences. We did not as unionists support a deal that broke up the United Kingdom.
This is from Sky’s Beth Rigby.
No 10 source on cabinet over-running. ‘Everyone wants their say and they are talking for longer than normal’ AND in typical cabinet people say their bit PM sums up at end. This time, she’s answering points as they go along. “Hugely imp moment, everyone wants their say”
The British Ports Association said it would still be unable to plan for Brexit even if the cabinet gave Theresa May their support. “We may be heading into negotiations 2.0 after today,” said Richard Ballantyne, the BPA chief executive. “There is some way to go before freight operators will know exactly what the trading environment will be,” he said.
MPs debated the second reading of the healthcare (international arrangements) bill this afternoon. During it Sarah Wollaston, the Conservative MP who chairs the Commons health committee, said there was no version of Brexit that would benefit people who relied on the NHS, social care, scientific research or public health, “only varying degrees of harm”. She said:
The Brexit reality we’re about to be presented with is very different from the fantasy version of Brexit that was presented during the referendum campaign.
People will remember the easiest deal in history, the financial bonanza for the NHS. Whereas in fact the Brexit reality is that there’ll be a very significant Brexit penalty for the most damaging form of Brexit in particular.
We’re looking at effects across the entire health and care and research system.
She also said Brexit was like surgery.
We are all being wheeled into the operating theatre for major constitutional, economic and social surgery without informed consent. I’d ask the minister please to consider how that will be, 136 days from now after we crash out with no deal, when the serious consequences of that start to unfold and unravel and hit into real people’s lives.
That lonely microphone has a long time to wait - Cabinet running maybe as much as two hours over pic.twitter.com/PSHyRK7QcC
And this is from the Times’ Matt Chorley.
I don’t like to worry anyone, but one government source says there are still up to 20 people yet to speak in cabinet. Could go on for another 2.5hours. Cannot confirm obviously but thought worth passing on...
At this rate we may have fallen out of the EU anyway by the time it wraps up ...
The cabinet meeting is overrunning, we’ve been told. Theresa May had been expected to make a statement when it finished at around 5pm, but apparently it is now due to run at least until 6pm (ie, for four hours) and perhaps until 7pm (ie, for five hours).
Amid all the criticism of Theresa May’s deal, here are two tweets, chosen relatively randomly, from two commentators who have got positive things to say about it.
From the Financial Time’s Gideon Rachman
Counter intuitive but I think convincing case by @MESandbu that May has extracted important concessions from EU and got a deal that is roughly in the centre ground of British politics. Not sure centre ground is large enough to save her though https://t.co/Mz71BmataO
And this is from the Social Market Foundation’s James Kirkup.
Theresa May’s Brexit deal is the least bad option now open to the UK. There was never a better deal to be negotiated. Time for MPs to grow up and accept the facts. https://t.co/FewTopSRI0 pic.twitter.com/l2sOYJz8RD
The food industry is still planning for no deal, the chairman of the Food and Drink Federation has said. “This is a chink of light there is no doubt about that,” Ian Wright told the BBC. “But we still don’t know what the relationship is with our biggest partners, 40% of food comes from the EU and that is a really big worry for us,” he added.
He said his members will still be preparing for no deal until January “because that is the prudent thing to do” amid continuing uncertainty over Brexit.
These are from Sky’s Beth Rigby.
Hearing @PennyMordaunt will push again for free vote in parly on final deal (h/t @MrHarryCole) in cabinet (more relevant now given @DavidMundellDCT letter). Also her she's asked the PM for more detail on certain areas. But didn't get sense she about to walk. Let's see 1/2
May expected to make a statement after cabinet (Reuters reporting 5pm). Some sceptics might think she’s trying to get her version of cabinet out before her Brexiteer cabinet ministers.... again, let’s see 2/2