This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2018/nov/15/brexit-deal-theresa-may-takes-agreement-to-parliament-politics-live

The article has changed 31 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 17 Version 18
Brexit: May determined to 'see this through' amid growing criticism of deal – Politics live Brexit: May determined to 'see this through' amid growing criticism of deal – Politics live
(35 minutes later)
This is from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
I m told Gove has had a meeting with the PM - if he had accepted the job as Brexit sec I think we would know by now - if he hasn’t ... can’t help thinking that means he might v well be off
Q: You are a cricket fan. How many wickets need to fall in your cabinet before your walk?
May says one of her cricket heroes was Geoffrey Boycott.
And what do you know about Geoffrey Boycott? Geoffrey Boycott stuck to it. And he got the runs in the end.
Q: Do you regret calling the general election?
May says she does not regret calling the election. She will do her job, she says. MPs will then be held to account on what they do.
For the second time May has called a balding reporter “George” by mistake.
(The FT’s George Parker is shiny up top.)
Q: Is this crisis a failure of your own making? Shouldn’t you have done more to bring the DUP on board?
May says she has been working on the deal for some time. She says she wants to ensure the deal delivers on the vote of the British people.
Q: You have always been adamant the country will leave the EU. You have talked about the risk of no Brexit recently. Do you think that is a definite threat?
May says that is what some MPs argued for today. She disagrees. She thinks MPs must deliver on the referendum result.
Q: You have talked about how you have had to take tough decisions. Can you talk us through that?
May says agreeing the backstop was not easy. But, overall, looking at the national interest, this deal is the right one to proceed with.
Q: What will you do if there is a vote of no confidence in the coming days?
May says leadership is about taking difficult decisions.
As I said earlier, am I going to see this through? Yes.
Q: There are reports that Michael Gove has been asked to become the new Brexit secretary, but that he will only take the job if he can renegotiate the deal. Will you allow that? And why have you not filled ministerial vacancies yet?Q: There are reports that Michael Gove has been asked to become the new Brexit secretary, but that he will only take the job if he can renegotiate the deal. Will you allow that? And why have you not filled ministerial vacancies yet?
May says she has been busy today. She was in the Commons for three hours.May says she has been busy today. She was in the Commons for three hours.
Gove is doing an excellent job, especially on fishing.Gove is doing an excellent job, especially on fishing.
She will make appointments in due course.She will make appointments in due course.
Q: Your party is deeply divided. Are you prepared to risk a split?Q: Your party is deeply divided. Are you prepared to risk a split?
May says MPs have been debating Brexit since the referendum. She thinks, when it comes to the vote, MPs will focus on what is best for the UK.May says MPs have been debating Brexit since the referendum. She thinks, when it comes to the vote, MPs will focus on what is best for the UK.
Q: What do you say to Britain’s friends abroad who look at this and see a government in denial?Q: What do you say to Britain’s friends abroad who look at this and see a government in denial?
May says this is a government working with the EU to deliver a good deal for both sides.May says this is a government working with the EU to deliver a good deal for both sides.
Q: Why don’t you say what you think - that the Brexit campaign offered something not possible? Why won’t you say that?Q: Why don’t you say what you think - that the Brexit campaign offered something not possible? Why won’t you say that?
May says most people recognise this is not an easy negotiation.May says most people recognise this is not an easy negotiation.
The public want the government to get on with it, she says.The public want the government to get on with it, she says.
Q: Are you not in denial about your chances of getting this through? And is it time for your critics to put up or shut up?
May says she will do her job of getting the best deal. Then MPs will do their jobs. They must consider the interests of their contituents.
This is not an easy thing to do. This is a complex negotiation.
But they want people to know the deal will be in their interests.
May says no one else has come up with a plan that delivers on the EU referendum and involves no hard border in Ireland.
May is now taking questions.
Q: [From Laura Kuenssberg] You want to stick to your plan. But others wants to take that out of your hands. Aren’t you in office but not in power?
May says she will negotiate a deal, and put it to the Commons.
She will do her job - getting a deal. Then MPs must do their job. They will be held to account for the decisions they take.
Q: Is it in the national interest for you to fight a confidence vote? And if you win by one vote, will you stay?
May says leadership is not about taking easy decision.
She summarises the benefits of her deal again.
Am I going to see this through? Yes.
May says she is determined to “see this through”.
May says difficult decisions have had to be made.
But the deal delivers what people have voted for.
We can only secure it if we unite behind what the cabinet backed.
The British people “just want us to get on with it”. They want the Conservative party to deliver, she says.
May says she is sorry colleagues have left the government.
But she believes what she is doing is right.
She knows what she wants to do; give the UK control of its laws, money and borders.
She wants to get the UK out of the CAP and the CFP for good.
This agreement will achieve these things, she says.
This is a Brexit that delivers on the priorities of the British people.
But she also wants to protect what matters, like jobs. The deal will protect supply chains, and security, and the integrity of the UK.
Theresa May is here.
She starts by saying serving in high office is an honour and a privilege, but also a heavy responsibility.
She says negotiating Brexit has been a matter of the highest consequence.
It touches every area of our national life.
Her approach has been to put the national interest first, she says.
May is running late. Perhaps she’s playing the Guardian’s “Can you get May’s Brexit deal through parliament?” game. (See 5.19pm.)
Fancy your skills as a government chief whip? Try the Guardian’s “Can you get May’s Brexit deal through parliament?” game.
Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson says the 48 letters needed for a no confidence vote have not gone in.
EXC: As @theresa_may starts to speak @10DowningStreet I understand Graham Brady HASN'T received enough letters yet. He needs to receive 48 to spark a leadership challenge.
And the Spectator’s James Forsyth says Theresa May’s critics may fail to reach the threshold. In a blog he writes:
There is now an open effort to get the 48 letters required to force a vote of no confidence in Theresa May. Personally, I don’t think it is a racing certainty that this succeeds. The ERG WhatsApp group has had some influential people urging caution, and telling people not to put their letters in.
Why I don’t think the 48 letters are a racing certainty https://t.co/TZSjYYH2Kb
Theresa May will be starting her press conference shortly.
The BBC’s Nick Robinson suggests some possible scripts for the PM.
What PM could say (in order of likelihood)A. I fight on. My deal is in national interest B. Parliament must decide but I’ll give MPs a free vote (& hope that saves my deal)C. Michael Gove, my new Brexit Sec, will re-negotiate my deal as it can’t command a majority D. I quit https://t.co/H4Ti1QAgTX
And his colleague Iain Watson says it will be A.
I am told PM isnt calling the 5pm press conference because of a confidence vote has been triggered - she will be arguing for her deal