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Brexit: Rees-Mogg calls for vote of no confidence in May as ministers resign – Politics live Brexit: Rees-Mogg calls for vote of no confidence in May as ministers resign – Politics live
(35 minutes later)
Sheryll Murrray, a Conservative Brexiter, says she has written to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, calling for a confidence vote.
I have lost confidence in the Brexit policy of the Prime Minister and have therefore written to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee asking for a vote to take place over her Leadership. pic.twitter.com/dvrJiIAMAC
The conventional wisdom at Westminster is that Brexiter Tory MPs have nowhere near the numbers they need (158) to defeat Theresa May in a confidence vote. But ITV’s Robert Peston thinks the anti-May vote would be higher than expected.
For what it's worth, I can't find a Tory MP who thinks the 48 no-confidence letters aren't already with the 1922's Brady. And surprising people are telling me they will vote against her, if (when?) it comes to it
So what does the ongoing crisis about Theresa May’s Brexit deal mean for the prospects of a second independence referendum in Scotland? Nicola Sturgeon had been due to update her party on her plans for a second referendum this autumn – but autumn is turning into winter and the most recent form of words, used at SNP conference last month, was that she must wait until after “the fog of Brexit” had cleared.
At FMQs this lunchtime, Sturgeon insisted that Brexit makes the case for independence grow stronger every day, and she certainly appeared to suggest she’d offer an update to Holyrood after the meaningful vote in the Commons
At the post-FMQs briefing, her spokesperson reiterated that the first minister would only be able to offer an update when there was more clarity around the Brexit deal, the indications being that this would happen within weeks rather than months, “at some point when the smoke clears”. Whether this was foggy smoke, or smokey fog ... well, that wasn’t clear at all.
Beyond Holyrood, and despite concerns raised for the future of the union by Dominic Raab, Esther McVey, David Mundell et al, SNP strategists must surely be assessing whether the unfairness of the Northern Ireland deal can be used to bring more voters across to independence. Remember that polling consistently shows that appetite amongst the Scottish public for another referendum remains low.
Here is the anti-Brexit supporter Steve Bray, who regularly stands outside the House of Parliament. He was the person heckling during Jacob Rees-Mogg’s al fresco press conference.
Here is Sky’s Tom Boadle on what Westminster broadcasters make of Bray.
Steve Bray is so often the bane of Westminster tv producers. Always on hand to ruin a live shot or ptc. On the plus side he has provided a steady stream of "EU flags in front of Parliament" picture for packages.
UPDATE: Here is an example of the point Boadle is making.
The Lib Dem MP Stephen Lloyd has said he will vote for Theresa May’s Brexit deal, the BBC’’s Ben Weisz reports.
Eastbourne Lib Dem @StephenLloydEBN tells BBC Sussex he’ll honour his #ge2017 pledge and vote FOR whatever Brexit deal is put before Parliament
Here is the state of play as things stand now.
Theresa May has lost two of her Brexiter cabinet ministers after Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, and Esther McVey, the work and pensions secretary, resigned because they cannot support the government’s Brexit deal. In similar letters, they said that keeping the UK in a customs union with the EU would be a breach of trust, because it would break the promises made in the 2017 Conservative election manifesto. It is possible there could be more resignations, because some of the Brexiter cabinet ministers who spoke out at yesterday’s five-hour cabinet have yet to confirm whether or not they will stay. Two junior ministers and two parliamentary private secretaries have also resigned. (See 12.55am.)
May has spent three hours in the Commons listening to MPs from all sides rubbish her deal and predict that it will be voted down. A small number of Conservative MPs did support her, but there were more who were critical, and the opposition was overwhelmingly hostile too. Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said the deal did not meet his party’s six tests. (See 10.46am.) Some MPs paid tribute to May’s good intentions, and May appeared relatively resilient at the despatch box, but she refused to say what would happen if the Commons does reject her plan. She defended the need to accept a backstop plan, and she said she shared MP’s “concerns” about the proposal. But she refused point-blank to contemplate the case for a second referendum, or extending article 50, saying repeatedly that the UK would leave the EU on 29 March. The Commons exchanges, combined with the resignations, have made it increasingly hard to see how May’s plan can survive. (See 9.42am.)
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the outspoken chair of the backbench European Research Group of Brexiters, has called for a vote of no confidence in May. He has submitted a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, calling for a vote. Other Brexiters have also called for her to go, and there is intense speculation at Westminster that Brady will soon get the 48 letters required to trigger a vote. If that were to happen, a no confidence vote would take place soon, possibly next week. But Brexiters are far less confident of defeating May, and May could win - all she needs is a majority in a yes/no confidence vote - but with reduced authority.
EU officials have warned those calling for May to go back to Brussels that the negotiators have “exhausted the margin of manoeuvre” in the talks and the draft deal is “the best we can do”.
This is from the BBC’s Norman Smith.This is from the BBC’s Norman Smith.
Tory minister tells me if Brexiteers vote down Deal -he and others will openly campaign for a second referendum and to stay in EU.Tory minister tells me if Brexiteers vote down Deal -he and others will openly campaign for a second referendum and to stay in EU.
The Conservative MP Henry Smith has submitted his letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, requesting a vote of no confidence in Theresa May. And he has tweeted a picture of his letter, which is a lot shorter than Jacob Rees-Mogg’s. (See 1.32pm.)The Conservative MP Henry Smith has submitted his letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee, requesting a vote of no confidence in Theresa May. And he has tweeted a picture of his letter, which is a lot shorter than Jacob Rees-Mogg’s. (See 1.32pm.)
My letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/Bind9T7ogOMy letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/Bind9T7ogO
Speaking to Sky News, Dominic Raab said it was a “terrible deal” and urged May to change course. He said:Speaking to Sky News, Dominic Raab said it was a “terrible deal” and urged May to change course. He said:
I felt the proposed deal with the EU suffered two fatal flaws. The first one is the rather predatory terms being proposed by the EU, which I feel would threaten the integrity of the United Kingdom.I felt the proposed deal with the EU suffered two fatal flaws. The first one is the rather predatory terms being proposed by the EU, which I feel would threaten the integrity of the United Kingdom.
Secondly, in relation to the so-called backstop, basically what that would do is indefinitely if not permanently lock us in to a regime which I believe would be damaging to the economy but devastating to public trust in our democracy.Secondly, in relation to the so-called backstop, basically what that would do is indefinitely if not permanently lock us in to a regime which I believe would be damaging to the economy but devastating to public trust in our democracy.
Raab said he did not blame May for taking over the process, describing it as ”always a team effort”.Raab said he did not blame May for taking over the process, describing it as ”always a team effort”.
Andrea Leadsom, the Brexiter leader of the Commons, has just told MPs she will not be resigning over Theresa May’s deal.Andrea Leadsom, the Brexiter leader of the Commons, has just told MPs she will not be resigning over Theresa May’s deal.
On Sky News Rory Stewart, the justice minister, is now defending Theresa May’s Brexit plan. Hopefully he will make a better job of if than he did when he was on Radio 5 Live earlier, and went full Donald Trump, making up a statistic in a bid to prove that the deal is popular. On Sky News Rory Stewart, the justice minister, is now defending Theresa May’s Brexit plan. Hopefully he will make a better job of it than he did when he was on Radio 5 Live earlier, and went full Donald Trump, making up a statistic to try to prove the deal is popular.
“80% of the British public support this deal….“I’m producing a number to try to illustrate what I believe…“I totally apologise for that and I take that back”Bizarre moment as Govt minister @RoryStewartUK invents #Brexit stat in interview with @EmmaBarnett. pic.twitter.com/QtZvts7mdM“80% of the British public support this deal….“I’m producing a number to try to illustrate what I believe…“I totally apologise for that and I take that back”Bizarre moment as Govt minister @RoryStewartUK invents #Brexit stat in interview with @EmmaBarnett. pic.twitter.com/QtZvts7mdM
Labour claims this is a breach of the ministerial code.Labour claims this is a breach of the ministerial code.
This is extraordinary. This is a clear breach of the ministerial code including his responsibility to uphold the Nolan principle of Honesty. Specifically he’s broken the code on the use of statistics. https://t.co/53sx9lTgDEThis is extraordinary. This is a clear breach of the ministerial code including his responsibility to uphold the Nolan principle of Honesty. Specifically he’s broken the code on the use of statistics. https://t.co/53sx9lTgDE
The Rees-Mogg press conference is over.The Rees-Mogg press conference is over.
This press conference is a bit awkward because the hundreds of journalists and passers-by can only hear shouty Stop Brexit man and his loudhailer. pic.twitter.com/OX7L4LoktDThis press conference is a bit awkward because the hundreds of journalists and passers-by can only hear shouty Stop Brexit man and his loudhailer. pic.twitter.com/OX7L4LoktD
Rees-Mogg says a leadership contest could happen quickly, in weeks rather than months. He says CCHQ now has a central list of members, which should speed things up.Rees-Mogg says a leadership contest could happen quickly, in weeks rather than months. He says CCHQ now has a central list of members, which should speed things up.
Rees-Mogg says we are a democracy. “That’s why these splendid people can shout away,” he says.Rees-Mogg says we are a democracy. “That’s why these splendid people can shout away,” he says.
Rees-Mogg says, if 48 letters do not go in, that will not be good for him. It is not much good if you lead and no one follows, he says.Rees-Mogg says, if 48 letters do not go in, that will not be good for him. It is not much good if you lead and no one follows, he says.
He predicts that 48 letters will go in – but not necessarily today.He predicts that 48 letters will go in – but not necessarily today.
Rees-Mogg says the government should go back to Brussels and tell them that the UK will leave without a deal, and trade on WTO terms.Rees-Mogg says the government should go back to Brussels and tell them that the UK will leave without a deal, and trade on WTO terms.
It would be sensible to make “a generous offer” to the EU, including on the rights of EU nationals and money in return for a transition deal.It would be sensible to make “a generous offer” to the EU, including on the rights of EU nationals and money in return for a transition deal.
Rees-Mogg says the Brexit negotiations were being run by Downing Street, not by Dominic Raab.Rees-Mogg says the Brexit negotiations were being run by Downing Street, not by Dominic Raab.
The UK did not ask the right things, he says.The UK did not ask the right things, he says.
Rees-Mogg says all the negative predictions about Brexit have not come to pass.Rees-Mogg says all the negative predictions about Brexit have not come to pass.
It is hard to hear Rees-Mogg because a protester is shouting in the background.It is hard to hear Rees-Mogg because a protester is shouting in the background.
He says there are “streams of talent” in the Conservative party, and plenty of people who could be leader. He names a series of Brexiters, including Boris Johnson and David Davis.He says there are “streams of talent” in the Conservative party, and plenty of people who could be leader. He names a series of Brexiters, including Boris Johnson and David Davis.