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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)
The rumour mill had suggested Penny Mordaunt, the international development secretary, was considering resigning. So, her arrival at Number 10 shortly after the prime minister’s press conference caused some eyebrows to be raised in expectation.
No need, according to the Daily Telegraph’s chief political correspondent, Christopher Hope:
Penny Mordaunt has just left 10 Downing Street in a Government car, suggesting she has not resigned. #BrexitChaos
The Lib Dems, perhaps unsurprisingly, are giving short shrift to Theresa May’s defence of her Brexit plan this evening. The party’s leader, Vince Cable, says:The Lib Dems, perhaps unsurprisingly, are giving short shrift to Theresa May’s defence of her Brexit plan this evening. The party’s leader, Vince Cable, says:
The prime minister took a long time to say nothing this afternoon. She appears to be in denial.The prime minister took a long time to say nothing this afternoon. She appears to be in denial.
The facts haven’t changed. There is no majority in Parliament for her deal, and she has rightly conceded that ‘No Brexit’ is the real alternative to it. There must now be a people’s vote to break the deadlock and get the country out of this mess.The facts haven’t changed. There is no majority in Parliament for her deal, and she has rightly conceded that ‘No Brexit’ is the real alternative to it. There must now be a people’s vote to break the deadlock and get the country out of this mess.
Little known fact about Theresa May; she has an exceptionally good memory. She can “read a full statement and repeat it almost verbatim”, Philip Cowley and Dennis Kavanagh write in their definitive account of the 2017 general election. “As one of her team noted: ‘She reads it through once, it’s an almost photographic memory. And I mean word-for-word, not paraphrasing.’”Little known fact about Theresa May; she has an exceptionally good memory. She can “read a full statement and repeat it almost verbatim”, Philip Cowley and Dennis Kavanagh write in their definitive account of the 2017 general election. “As one of her team noted: ‘She reads it through once, it’s an almost photographic memory. And I mean word-for-word, not paraphrasing.’”
You saw that in action today. There were at least two lines that May used in her answers that sounded pre-scripted, and that she used twice. First, there was: “Am I going to see this through? Yes.” And then there was the spiel how she would be doing her job (negotiating a Brexit deal) and that after that it would be up to MPs to do their job (pass the wretched thing).You saw that in action today. There were at least two lines that May used in her answers that sounded pre-scripted, and that she used twice. First, there was: “Am I going to see this through? Yes.” And then there was the spiel how she would be doing her job (negotiating a Brexit deal) and that after that it would be up to MPs to do their job (pass the wretched thing).
As news lines, these don’t really take us us very far. The first is little more than a slogan, although at least it quashes, for the moment, any speculation that May is going to stand down. The second sheds a bit more light on the strategy she might use to get her deal through parliament; MPs will be told it is their national duty to approve the deal, with the implication that if they vote it down, they will be held responsible for the catastrophe that will follow.As news lines, these don’t really take us us very far. The first is little more than a slogan, although at least it quashes, for the moment, any speculation that May is going to stand down. The second sheds a bit more light on the strategy she might use to get her deal through parliament; MPs will be told it is their national duty to approve the deal, with the implication that if they vote it down, they will be held responsible for the catastrophe that will follow.
What is curious about May, and probably a huge weakness, is her reluctance to take on the arguments of her opponents. She made a modest attempt to explain the need in the Brexit process to accept difficult compromises. But on a day when her Brexiter opponents have been dominating the airwaves, she made no attempt to berate them for the multiple fake promises they made during the EU referendum campaign, despite being given an open invitation to do so. (See 5.35pm.) You can’t win an argument unless you’re willing to tell your opponents they’re wrong. But she won’t. It is as if somehow she has internalised the Brexiter mindset.What is curious about May, and probably a huge weakness, is her reluctance to take on the arguments of her opponents. She made a modest attempt to explain the need in the Brexit process to accept difficult compromises. But on a day when her Brexiter opponents have been dominating the airwaves, she made no attempt to berate them for the multiple fake promises they made during the EU referendum campaign, despite being given an open invitation to do so. (See 5.35pm.) You can’t win an argument unless you’re willing to tell your opponents they’re wrong. But she won’t. It is as if somehow she has internalised the Brexiter mindset.
What rescued the press conference was her Geoffrey Boycott answer to the final question, which she delivered so well that it could have been staged (although I don’t think it was.) (See 5.52pm.) It made for polished TV, and was about as good a clip as May has ever delivered. But it is still just a slogan. To get Brexit through the Commons, she will need a lot more than that.What rescued the press conference was her Geoffrey Boycott answer to the final question, which she delivered so well that it could have been staged (although I don’t think it was.) (See 5.52pm.) It made for polished TV, and was about as good a clip as May has ever delivered. But it is still just a slogan. To get Brexit through the Commons, she will need a lot more than that.
That’s all from me for today.That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.
This is from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.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 offI 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?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.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.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?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.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.For the second time May has called a balding reporter “George” by mistake.
(The FT’s George Parker is shiny up top.)(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?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.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?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.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?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.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?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.May says leadership is about taking difficult decisions.
As I said earlier, am I going to see this through? Yes.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.