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Brexit deal: Tusk confirms November summit on 'lose-lose situation' - Politics live Brexit deal: Tusk confirms November summit on 'lose-lose situation' - Politics live
(35 minutes later)
Shailesh Vara’s resignation is being backed by fellow Brexiters in the Tory party. This from Steve Baker.
.@ShaileshVara is right. Many of us will not accept this dreadful deal https://t.co/lRzo3FRXcZ
And Zac Goldsmith said his resignation was “dignified and right”.
Dignified and right. https://t.co/i76oEzC0FC
Similarly Priti Patel has this:
Principled & dignified. https://t.co/DOJdlep9cn
Barnier warned that there was “long road ahead”.
Speaking before Tusk he said: “This is a very important moment. What we have agreed at negotiators’ level is fair and balanced, takes into account the UK’s positions, organises the withdrawal in an orderly fashion, ensures no hard border on the island of Ireland and lays the ground for an ambitious new partnership.”
Barnier said that his team had “always followed the EU mandate scrupulously” and had achieved “decisive progress” together with the UK negotiators.
He added: “Our work is not finished. We still have a long road ahead of us on both sides. “On my side, in the next few days we will all work on the text of the political declaration on the future relationship with the member states as well as with the European Parliament.
“This work will be intense. Our goal is to finalise this political declaration with the UK so that the European Council can endorse it.”
Tusk and Barnier took no questions from reporters after their brief statements. Barnier said he would now travel to Strasbourg to discuss the agreement with the European Parliament, adding: “We have no time to lose.”
And here’s the full text of Tusk’s statement setting out the timetable for what happens next.
I took good note of Prime Minister May’s statement yesterday. Of course, I don’t share the Prime Minister’s enthusiasm about Brexit as such. Since the very beginning, we have had no doubt that Brexit is a lose-lose situation, and that our negotiations are only about damage control.
Given these extremely difficult circumstances, I would like to thank Michel Barnier and his team, especially Sabine Weyand and Stéphanie Riso, for doing this exceptionally hard work. Michel, we all put a lot of trust in you, and rightly so. You have achieved our two most important objectives. First, you ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and, second, you secured the vital interests and principles of the 27 member states, and of the European Union as a whole. If I weren’t confident that you did your best to protect the interests of the twenty‑seven, and I am familiar with the essence of the document, I would not propose to formalise this deal.
In the next days, we will proceed as follows. The agreement is now being analysed by all the member states. By the end of this week, the EU27 ambassadors will meet in order to share their assessment of the agreement. I hope that there will not be too many comments. They will also discuss the mandate for the Commission to finalise the Joint Political Declaration about the future relations between the EU and the UK. The European ministers will be involved in this process. The Commission intends to agree the declaration about the future with the UK by Tuesday. Over the following 48 hours, the member states will have time to evaluate it, which means that the EU27 Sherpas should conclude this work on Thursday. Then, if nothing extraordinary happens, we will hold a European Council meeting, in order to finalise and formalise the Brexit agreement. It will take place on Sunday 25th November at 9:30.
Finally, let me say this to our British friends. As much as I am sad to see you leave, I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible, both for you and for us.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has been sent out to defend the deal in the broadcast studios.
He said all MPs should back the agreement because the alternatives to it are “ugly”.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said: “All MPs should vote for it because this deal is in the national interest.”
He added: “The two alternatives are deeply unattractive and as people read the detail of it and look at the deal in the round, rather than the bits and pieces that have come out in the newspapers during the latter stages of the negotiations, anybody in any compromise negotiated document can pick out individual parts that they would prefer were written differently.”
He also dismissed the prospect of a second referendum as “hugely divisive”.
Hancock said: “Why would people support the result of a second referendum when those who are proposing it are those who want to overturn the result of the first.”
Asked why the government was suddenly talking about no Brexit at all, Hancock said: “We have been clear all along that there is either no deal, or no Brexit, because of a second referendum, are alternatives to this approach. We don’t want that to be an option at all.”
He added: “A second referendum would just be so divisive for the country. I think people want us to get on with it. What people watching can know from this deal is that we deliver on the result of the referendum. We make sure that we take back control of our money and our laws and make sure that we end free movement of people. Yet we maintain a high quality trading relationship, which is why so many businesses have backed it.”
Vara, the Tory MP for North West Cambridgeshire, was promoted to his government post in July, having previously been a parliamentary private secretary in the Northern Ireland Office.
In a statement posted on Twitter, he said: “We are a proud nation and it is a say day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart.
“We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better.”
With much sadness and regret I have submitted my letter of resignation as a Northern Ireland Minister to the Prime Minister. A copy of my letter is attached.It has been a joy and privilege to serve in the Northern Ireland Office and I will always cherish the fondest memories. pic.twitter.com/SN8j4OwhYD
Shailesh Vara has resigned as Northern Ireland Minister, saying he cannot support Theresa May’s Brexit agreement.
He said it “leaves the UK in a halfway house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation”.
Tusk praised the EU’s cheief negotiator Michel Barnier for achieving the EU’s two most import objectives. “First you ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and second you secured the vital interest and principles of the 27 member states and of the European Union as a whole,” Tusk said with Barnier standing beside him.Tusk praised the EU’s cheief negotiator Michel Barnier for achieving the EU’s two most import objectives. “First you ensured the limitation of the damage caused by Brexit and second you secured the vital interest and principles of the 27 member states and of the European Union as a whole,” Tusk said with Barnier standing beside him.
Tusk also endorsed the deal. He said: “If I weren’t confident that you did your best to protect the interest of the 27, and I familiar of the essence of the document, I would not propose to formalise this deal.”Tusk also endorsed the deal. He said: “If I weren’t confident that you did your best to protect the interest of the 27, and I familiar of the essence of the document, I would not propose to formalise this deal.”
And he expressed hope that the EU’s 27 member states would not make “too many comments” about the draft text.And he expressed hope that the EU’s 27 member states would not make “too many comments” about the draft text.
He finished with a final message to the UK. “As much as I am sad to see you leave I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible for both for you and for us,” Tusk said.He finished with a final message to the UK. “As much as I am sad to see you leave I will do everything to make this farewell the least painful possible for both for you and for us,” Tusk said.
European Commission president Donald Tusk confirmed that EU summit will be held on 25 November to discuss the deal. European Council president Donald Tusk confirmed that EU summit will be held on 25 November to discuss the deal.
Speaking in Brussels he said: “We have always said Brexit is a lose-lose situation and these negotiations were always about damage control.”Speaking in Brussels he said: “We have always said Brexit is a lose-lose situation and these negotiations were always about damage control.”
Not just one, but two vital meetings for the future of Britain’s relationship with the European Union took place on Wednesday afternoon in Westminster,” writes Martin Kettle.Not just one, but two vital meetings for the future of Britain’s relationship with the European Union took place on Wednesday afternoon in Westminster,” writes Martin Kettle.
“Wednesday’s cabinet meeting was a long-planned effort by No 10. Its aim was to bounce other ministers into agreement with the prime minister’s deal. The ministers didn’t get the chance to read the agreement fully. They were given individual briefings that flattered their self-importance. If the strategy succeeded – and most ministers bought in – it meant the Brexit deal would reach first base in the long process of ratification. It would also have momentum, making it harder to defeat. No 10 has shown some emotional intelligence this week alongside the political ruthlessness...“Wednesday’s cabinet meeting was a long-planned effort by No 10. Its aim was to bounce other ministers into agreement with the prime minister’s deal. The ministers didn’t get the chance to read the agreement fully. They were given individual briefings that flattered their self-importance. If the strategy succeeded – and most ministers bought in – it meant the Brexit deal would reach first base in the long process of ratification. It would also have momentum, making it harder to defeat. No 10 has shown some emotional intelligence this week alongside the political ruthlessness...
Meanwhile, Westminster’s second important meeting was going ahead under the radar. MPs have long been promised a “meaningful vote” on the package that May secured this week. Wednesday’s meeting of the Commons procedure committee will have done much to shape how that will work. At issue is whether parliament will have the tools and the will to take control of the Brexit decision and reshape it in the way the parliamentary numbers suggest is possible and that so many in and beyond Westminster want and expect it to do...Meanwhile, Westminster’s second important meeting was going ahead under the radar. MPs have long been promised a “meaningful vote” on the package that May secured this week. Wednesday’s meeting of the Commons procedure committee will have done much to shape how that will work. At issue is whether parliament will have the tools and the will to take control of the Brexit decision and reshape it in the way the parliamentary numbers suggest is possible and that so many in and beyond Westminster want and expect it to do...
That question is whether, in its meaningful vote, parliament has the muscle to do anything more than approve or reject May’s deal. If May had a working majority, the answer would be pretty obvious – approval. But she doesn’t have a majority, so the outcome isn’t obvious, and the scope of the procedure to be followed is therefore crucial for the many who oppose May’s deal and no-deal alike.That question is whether, in its meaningful vote, parliament has the muscle to do anything more than approve or reject May’s deal. If May had a working majority, the answer would be pretty obvious – approval. But she doesn’t have a majority, so the outcome isn’t obvious, and the scope of the procedure to be followed is therefore crucial for the many who oppose May’s deal and no-deal alike.
His full analysis is here.His full analysis is here.
Labour MPs have launched a petition calling on Jeremy Corbyn to back a people’s vote on whether Brexit should continue.Labour MPs have launched a petition calling on Jeremy Corbyn to back a people’s vote on whether Brexit should continue.
The petition was launched by Angela Smith, Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbrige, and has been shared by Chuka Umunna, Labour MP for Streatham.The petition was launched by Angela Smith, Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbrige, and has been shared by Chuka Umunna, Labour MP for Streatham.
The petition says:The petition says:
Brexit in any form poses real harm to our country’s future. And with new dangers coming to light every day, we believe that MPs should give the public the final say, which must include an option to remain in the European Union.Brexit in any form poses real harm to our country’s future. And with new dangers coming to light every day, we believe that MPs should give the public the final say, which must include an option to remain in the European Union.
We call on Labour’s Leader Jeremy Corbyn to back a People’s Vote on Brexit at the earliest opportunity -- and if he is successful in forcing a General Election then Labour’s manifesto must commit clearly to an immediate People’s Vote, in which Labour will campaign to remain.We call on Labour’s Leader Jeremy Corbyn to back a People’s Vote on Brexit at the earliest opportunity -- and if he is successful in forcing a General Election then Labour’s manifesto must commit clearly to an immediate People’s Vote, in which Labour will campaign to remain.
Very febrile in UK politics this morning - if there’s a snap election out of the chaos it’s vital @UKLabour has a commitment to a #PeoplesVote with Remain on the ballot in the manifesto. Sign @angelasmithmp’s petition calling for that pledge here: https://t.co/npoz2JLvt7. Pls RTVery febrile in UK politics this morning - if there’s a snap election out of the chaos it’s vital @UKLabour has a commitment to a #PeoplesVote with Remain on the ballot in the manifesto. Sign @angelasmithmp’s petition calling for that pledge here: https://t.co/npoz2JLvt7. Pls RT
Starmer is being pushed on whether Labour will refuse to back the deal. He says Labour always said it would read and assess the deal against its “six tests”.Starmer is being pushed on whether Labour will refuse to back the deal. He says Labour always said it would read and assess the deal against its “six tests”.
“It’s failing all six of them,” he says. “We’ve always said we’re not prepared to back a bad deal, and why would you, it doesn’t meet our tests, it doesn’t tell you where you’re going.”“It’s failing all six of them,” he says. “We’ve always said we’re not prepared to back a bad deal, and why would you, it doesn’t meet our tests, it doesn’t tell you where you’re going.”
Starmer says May’s line that the choice is between this deal or no deal is a “threat” from the prime minister and he says that Labour does not accept this ultimatum. Many MPs, not just Labour MPs, will refuse to accept that they must agree to a deal they think is bad, out of fear of preventing something worse (a no-deal Brexit), says Starmer.Starmer says May’s line that the choice is between this deal or no deal is a “threat” from the prime minister and he says that Labour does not accept this ultimatum. Many MPs, not just Labour MPs, will refuse to accept that they must agree to a deal they think is bad, out of fear of preventing something worse (a no-deal Brexit), says Starmer.
“There is an alternative,” he says, which is a deal that involves a comprehensive customs union and the UK staying in the single market.“There is an alternative,” he says, which is a deal that involves a comprehensive customs union and the UK staying in the single market.
Starmer says there isn’t much firm detail about the future relationship between the UK and the EU.Starmer says there isn’t much firm detail about the future relationship between the UK and the EU.
“What it means is we haven’t negotiated anything about the future relationship that is serious enough to be committed to paper... Give us enough detail to know where we’re heading“What it means is we haven’t negotiated anything about the future relationship that is serious enough to be committed to paper... Give us enough detail to know where we’re heading
Putting detail aside, even the ambition isn’t clear, says Starmer.Putting detail aside, even the ambition isn’t clear, says Starmer.
“It doesn’t even have the ambition anymore of frictionless trade... This must be the first proposed trade deal that makes trade more difficult, rather than easier.”“It doesn’t even have the ambition anymore of frictionless trade... This must be the first proposed trade deal that makes trade more difficult, rather than easier.”
Keir Starmer, shadow Brexit story is speaking to BBC 5Live now and he’s coming out all guns blazing.
“We’ve read and analysed all 585 pages, it’s a miserable failure of negotiation.”
He says there are pages and pages of detail about the backstop “which the government says it doesn’t intend to use.”
“But for the future relationship, what it does intend, it’s seven pages, it’s vague in the extreme. And only three pages on the economic agreement.”
“We talk about blind Brexit. This about the blindest of blind agreements. This is much vaguer than a lot of the speeches the prime minister has given.”
Kevin Connelly, the BBC’s European correspondent has just been on BBC 5Live, and has been talking about the 585-page draft agreement, which ministers voted on yesterday in that long cabinet meeting.
“It’s like being given a Victorian novel and being given two hours to read it and then being asked what you think of individual characters and how you think the plot works.
“Or when you take an update from iTunes and you’re given 35 pages of very dense language, and it’s 20 times that and written in similar language.”
Some of the online headlines from Dutch news outlets feature Brexit today. (Do get in touch if your Dutch translation is better than Google Translate’s – as it inevitably will be if you actually speak Dutch.)
Algemeen Dagblad or AD, says: “Brexiteers critical: we pay billions get nothing back”, Daily newspaper NRC Handelsblad says “British cabinet does not unanimously agree with Brexitdeal”.
Four main Dutch newspaper’s (online) front pages this morning. Any surprise they’re not all leading with #Brexit? pic.twitter.com/qZ7lWcxQOH
Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, is doing the rounds this morning to set out the Labour reaction to the Brexit deal. I’ll be listening and will bring you a summary of what he’s saying.
Morning! @Keir_Starmer will be touring the studios giving Labour’s reaction to May’s Brexit deal. 📺 GMB: 0635📻 5Live: 0645📻 LBC: 0705📺 Sky: 0715📻 Today: 0730📺 BBC Breakfast: 0740
Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, is on the Today show at the moment and was on the phone call with the chancellor last night.
She says business leaders were relieved that the wording of the draft avoids a “cliff edge” for the UK.
She said the deal “was not perfect” and if there was any disappointment for the business community, it was that there was not as much certainty around achieving frictionless trade as they would have liked.
“This gives a potential route forward. We can’t underestimate the benefits of coming back from the cliff edge for communities and businesses, but there’s a hard slog ahead.”
A commenter has pointed out an omission in my previous post that analysed the numbers May might need to get the deal through parliament. As they noted, there was no mention of SNP. I apologise for that.
It seems unlikely that SNP MPs will support the deal, given Nicola Sturgeon’s comments yesterday. Last night she labelled the deal “bad for Scotland” and said it was like being “blackmailed into a choice between the frying pan or the fire”.
Sturgeon said that in a phone call with May, she rejected the prime minister’s assertion that Scotland’s interests had been protected in the deal.
I pointed out that there isn’t a single mention of Scotland in the agreement, that it disregards our interests and puts Scotland at a serious competitive disadvantage,” she said.
It is obvious that the Prime Minister can barely unite her Cabinet on this deal and it is also increasingly clear that she will struggle to get a majority for it in Parliament.
In these circumstances it is more important than ever that we are not faced with a false choice between a bad deal and no deal.
No-one should be effectively blackmailed into a choice between the frying pan or the fire.
This proposed deal would be a bad one for Scotland, taking us out of a single market eight times the size of the UK market alone and posing a huge threat to jobs, investment and living standards.
If this deal is indeed rejected by Parliament, then the UK Government must return to the negotiating table to secure a better one.
Our bottom line - short of continued EU membership - is continued, permanent membership of the single market and customs union.
If you’re tempted to read the draft withdrawal agreement in full – all 585 pages of it – you can do so here.
Let’s talk numbers.
One of the chief obstacles ahead for May if she is going to get her Brexit agreement through could be the House of Commons, where a simple majority of MPs will need to vote for the blueprint for the deal to be given the green light.
The magic number is 320, a majority of the 639 voting MPs in the Commons which excludes suspensions, the Speaker, three Deputy Speakers and seven Sinn Fein MPs who abstain from attending the UK Parliament.
The Parliament website lists 93 MPs who are ministers and would therefore be bound to support Theresa May’s Brexit plans owing to collective responsibility. There are others, such as loyalists to May and the government, who are expected to vote in favour of the deal, along with Brexiteer MPs who may have been spooked by the PM’s message that it was this deal, no deal or no Brexit.
On the other side of the debate, the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Plaid Cymru have said they are opposed to a deal so this adds 17 to the noes.
The Democratic Unionist Party’s stance on the Brexit deal is uncertain. Arlene Foster has said the Prime Minister is “fully aware of our position and concerns” over Northern Ireland being treated differently to the rest of the UK.
There is division within the Conservative party too, with the European Research Group, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, claiming it has 80 MPs ready to vote against what it sees as May’s capitulation to Brussels. Opponents suggest the number would be whittled down under a concerted offensive of arm-bending by the Tory whips, so it may finally be considerably less.
This means May could need to find up to 100 votes – but perhaps more realistically somewhat less – from elsewhere.
So the prime minister may well need to extend an olive branch to Labour, which also has its own divisions. The question is how many of Jeremy Corbyn’s MPs are prepared to defy him and support the Prime Minister, reasoning that a no-deal Brexit, which they fear could bring about an economic disaster, would be a worse outcome.
The front pages of the newspapers today are fairly varied, but the overwhelming majority are united in casting doubt on the prospects of the deal and the prime minister herself.
We’ve got a full wrap of how the papers (including some from Ireland, France and Germany) covered the day’s Brexit news.
But I’ve included a few for you below, including The Guardian:
GUARDIAN: May Brexit plan: a split cabinet, a split party and a split nation #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/Ee7WFIBP4U
Here’s the Sun, which wins for most punny (playing to their strengths) and is up there for most cranky.
Tomorrow’s @TheSun splash: We’re in the Brexs*it pic.twitter.com/dgsVN06CRo
The Daily Mail wins the prize for the newspaper that seems to feel most chipper about the day’s events.
Thursday’s @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/eE3PZsXG80
The Telegraph also takes a stoic line, though don’t be fooled by the headline, they raise the prospect of a leadership challenge in the intro, and also give plenty of space to criticisms of the deal by Nick Timothy, the prime minister’s former chief of staff.
TELEGRAPH: ‘There will be difficult days ahead’ #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/vosrBWixE1
And, while they’re not a daily paper, and are obviously not going to be in favour of Brexit, The New European wins my award for most visually-striking front page, which carries the headline “May’s last gasp deal”.
NEW EUROPEAN: May’s last gasp deal #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/sCqetIQsCa
Good morning and welcome to Politics live for today – the morning after the night before.
Yesterday, Theresa May held a five-hour cabinet meeting to discuss the draft of the withdrawal agreement that has been negotiated with the EU. She emerged somewhat victorious, announcing they had reached a “collective” decision to press ahead with finalising the deal in Brussels; but it was clear there had been significant dissent.
There are some key questions today, including whether any cabinet ministers will resign – reports say Esther McVey is on “resignation watch” – and whether the agreement will get the required support in parliament. May is due to speak to the House of Commons later today, and we’ll obviously be bringing you news of that as it happens.
I’m here to kick things off, before my esteemed colleagues take things over later in the morning. As usual, get in touch via the comments or on Twitter, I’m on @mskatelyons.
Thanks for reading.