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| Stephen Barclay made Brexit secretary as Amber Rudd gets DWP - Politics live | Stephen Barclay made Brexit secretary as Amber Rudd gets DWP - Politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| And here are three more appointments from Number 10. | |
| Stephen Hammond will be minister of state at the health department. Hammond is a pro-European former transport minister who rebelled against the government over the Brexit “meaningful vote” amendment last year. | |
| John Penrose will be a minister of state atthe Northern Ireland Office. Penrose held various ministerial posts under David Cameron and voted remain. | |
| Kwasi Kwarteng has been made a parliamentary under secretary (ie, junior minister) in the Brexit department. Kwarteng, who voted leave, was parliamentary private secretary to Philip Hammond, the chancellor. This is is first ministerial job. | |
| That’s all from me. My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over. | |
| Here is one Brexiter who is happy about Stephen Barclay’s appointment as Brexit secretary: Stewart Jackson, the former MP and chief of staff to David Davis when Davis was Brexit secretary | |
| Congratulations to my friend and former neighbour @SteveBarclay on his appointment at @DExEUgov Secretary. The Department will be in good hands. https://t.co/GOrlK3hPtL | |
| And here is one Brexiter who seems less pleased: the former Ukip leader Nigel Farage. | |
| The new Brexit Secretary is completely unknown to the British public, the Civil Service is really in charge of these negotiations. | |
| This is from Sky’s Beth Rigby. | |
| Very interesting: Am told that chief whip tapped up Geoffrey Cox for the Brexit job, but he didn’t want it either. | |
| Here is some Twitter comment on the new Brexit secretary from journalists and commentators. | |
| From the FT’s Jim Pickard | |
| some of you haven’t heard of Stephen Barclay but he’s a more credible figure than some who have sat at the cabinet table in the last decade | |
| From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg | |
| Mmmm... 'Steve may be a lovely man but this appointment just epitomises the utter farce of this govt and how toxic the Brexit post has become. Across the party there is total despair' - Barclay is well liked and seen as on his way up for sure, but it's certainly a big jump | |
| But No 10 obvs made calculation to have a Brexiteer in the position - and the negotiations now down only to the PM - he'll lead on no deal planning and preparedness | |
| From Sky’s Lewis Goodall | |
| Barclay's appointment reflects 1) May is taking no more chances- Barclay is an ultra loyalist who (unlike Davis and Raab) has no political power base of his own 2) it's No 10/Cab office who do the Brexit negotiations. Barclay won't be able to even try and resist that. https://t.co/h7jVBem3jr | |
| From the Politico Europe’s Tom McTague | |
| A minister texts to say Steve Barclay is a very close friend of May’s chief of staff Gavin Barwell, so “unlikely to resign in a huff like the previous incumbents.” | |
| From Guido Fawkes’ Tom Harwood | |
| Who is Stephen Barclay? • Ex-Barclays director • His father was a trade union official • Went to Sandhurst and Peterhouse, Cambridge • MP since 2010 • Voted leave • Has mentioned Brexit just 10 times in parliamenthttps://t.co/tMOrttafzd | |
| From the Telegraph’s James Rothwell | |
| Steve Barclay is new Brexit secretary. He attacked Labour in a blog post on March 6 saying that their plans, which include a customs union, would mean we won't be able to do free trade deals around the globe.https://t.co/37NAFfvZKv | |
| Barclay is a Brexiteer, supports using Brexit to enhance animal welfare protection, again in a blog post. Beyond that, he seems to be, ideologically speaking, a fairly clean slate | |
| This will no doubt fuel the argument that Brexit secretaries don't actually negotiate Brexit and are merely placeholders, with the entire show being run by Olly Robbins | |
| From the Jewish Chronicle’s Stephen Pollard | |
| Barclay is a really shrewd appointment. He is very well respected and v well liked. Impressed civil servants in his ministerial jobs. | |
| From British Future’s Sunder Katwala | |
| My colleague @jillyrutter had the right prediction re Steve Barclay being the Brexit Secretary, where I thought it might be Robin Walker. She met him in Wisbech, during her migation research, thinks he is impressivehttps://t.co/mbKg0TKhz5 | |
| This is from a July 2017 Financial Times article, headed: “Stephen Barclay impresses with his Brexit nous.” | This is from a July 2017 Financial Times article, headed: “Stephen Barclay impresses with his Brexit nous.” |
| Barclay, a former banker and regulator and a key interlocutor in crucial Brexit planning, was a magnet for the top bankers, asset managers and insurers represented on the panel. Discussion was highly technical, focusing on euro clearing, regulatory equivalence, mutual recognition and the Brexit transition timetable. “He was onside with us on everything, but cautious about whether it could be delivered,” one participant reported. | Barclay, a former banker and regulator and a key interlocutor in crucial Brexit planning, was a magnet for the top bankers, asset managers and insurers represented on the panel. Discussion was highly technical, focusing on euro clearing, regulatory equivalence, mutual recognition and the Brexit transition timetable. “He was onside with us on everything, but cautious about whether it could be delivered,” one participant reported. |
| John McFarlane, CityUK’s chairman, described Barclay as “impressive”. Another bigwig attendee, was rather more direct about the contrast between Barclay and his predecessor Simon Kirby, the now ex-MP who was stripped of responsibility for the City and Brexit after complaints about his competence. “It was night and day,” the bigwig told City Insider. “Barclay made a good impression, but relative to his predecessor, it was a brilliant impression.” | John McFarlane, CityUK’s chairman, described Barclay as “impressive”. Another bigwig attendee, was rather more direct about the contrast between Barclay and his predecessor Simon Kirby, the now ex-MP who was stripped of responsibility for the City and Brexit after complaints about his competence. “It was night and day,” the bigwig told City Insider. “Barclay made a good impression, but relative to his predecessor, it was a brilliant impression.” |
| Stephen Barclay, a health minister, has been appointed Brexit secretary, replacing Dominic Raab. | Stephen Barclay, a health minister, has been appointed Brexit secretary, replacing Dominic Raab. |
| Barclay, who is not exactly one of better known members of the government, is a former Barclays Bank director who was elected MP for North East Cambridgeshire in 2010. He voted leave. | Barclay, who is not exactly one of better known members of the government, is a former Barclays Bank director who was elected MP for North East Cambridgeshire in 2010. He voted leave. |
| Here are some more lines from the interviews given this afternoon by Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the European Research Group, which represents hardcore Tory Brexiters. | Here are some more lines from the interviews given this afternoon by Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the European Research Group, which represents hardcore Tory Brexiters. |
| Baker said Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee, would probably not get the 48 letters required to trigger a no confidence vote in Theresa May until next week. Asked if he thought the letters would go in by the end of today, Baker replied: | Baker said Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee, would probably not get the 48 letters required to trigger a no confidence vote in Theresa May until next week. Asked if he thought the letters would go in by the end of today, Baker replied: |
| I think it’s much more likely next week, because many of my colleagues, on a decision this big, will want to see their association chairmen, presidents, deputy chairmen (political), key members in their associations, and ask their opinion. This is a democracy. It is our choice, but they will want to test opinion. | I think it’s much more likely next week, because many of my colleagues, on a decision this big, will want to see their association chairmen, presidents, deputy chairmen (political), key members in their associations, and ask their opinion. This is a democracy. It is our choice, but they will want to test opinion. |
| He said, in a future leadership contest, only one Brexiter candidate should stand. | He said, in a future leadership contest, only one Brexiter candidate should stand. |
| What I want is for one Eurosceptic who has been in the cabinet to be our candidate that we back. I was closely involved in the last leadership election. We cannot afford to tumble forwards with multiple candidates. So I will be strongly encouraging, if it comes to it, the plausible candidates to get in a room and decide amongst themselves who the candidate is going to be. | What I want is for one Eurosceptic who has been in the cabinet to be our candidate that we back. I was closely involved in the last leadership election. We cannot afford to tumble forwards with multiple candidates. So I will be strongly encouraging, if it comes to it, the plausible candidates to get in a room and decide amongst themselves who the candidate is going to be. |
| He said Jacob Rees-Mogg, the ERG chair, could not be the Brexiter candidate for party leader because he does not have government experience. | He said Jacob Rees-Mogg, the ERG chair, could not be the Brexiter candidate for party leader because he does not have government experience. |
| It’s not going to be Jacob. I admire Jacob enormously. We’ve worked very closely together. But however popular Jacob is, there’s no getting away from it; he’s got no experience in government. | It’s not going to be Jacob. I admire Jacob enormously. We’ve worked very closely together. But however popular Jacob is, there’s no getting away from it; he’s got no experience in government. |
| He said that the Brexiters in cabinet who have not resigned over Theresa May’s deal would not be able to stand for the leadership with the support of the ERG. | He said that the Brexiters in cabinet who have not resigned over Theresa May’s deal would not be able to stand for the leadership with the support of the ERG. |
| I certainly can’t live with this deal and will vote against it. There are others, clearly, who feel the same. What I would say is, for those people who are in cabinet today, it’s perfectly reasonable for them to prioritise the stability of the government, to prioritise, particularly for Michael [Gove] no deal prep, because Defra is one of the more affected departments. That’s perfectly reasonable and noble. But it does, I think, mean that they will not be one of the plausible candidates should a vacancy arise. | I certainly can’t live with this deal and will vote against it. There are others, clearly, who feel the same. What I would say is, for those people who are in cabinet today, it’s perfectly reasonable for them to prioritise the stability of the government, to prioritise, particularly for Michael [Gove] no deal prep, because Defra is one of the more affected departments. That’s perfectly reasonable and noble. But it does, I think, mean that they will not be one of the plausible candidates should a vacancy arise. |
| That suggests Baker, and others in the ERG who share his view (they don’t all agree on everything, so Baker on his own probably can’t deliver the 50-odd ERG votes) would be voting for Boris Johnson or David Davis. There are other Brexiters with cabinet experience, like Iain Duncan Smith, but Johnson and Davis are the most prominent. | That suggests Baker, and others in the ERG who share his view (they don’t all agree on everything, so Baker on his own probably can’t deliver the 50-odd ERG votes) would be voting for Boris Johnson or David Davis. There are other Brexiters with cabinet experience, like Iain Duncan Smith, but Johnson and Davis are the most prominent. |
| Amber Rudd’s appointment as work and pensions secretary has been confirmed by the Press Association, although not officially announced yet by Number 10. | Amber Rudd’s appointment as work and pensions secretary has been confirmed by the Press Association, although not officially announced yet by Number 10. |
| Amber Rudd, who resigned as home secretary after wrongly telling the home affairs committee that the government did not have targets for migration removals (after being wrongly briefed), is to return to cabinet as the work and pensions secretary, according to the Sunday Times’s Tim Shipman. She will replace Esther McVey. | Amber Rudd, who resigned as home secretary after wrongly telling the home affairs committee that the government did not have targets for migration removals (after being wrongly briefed), is to return to cabinet as the work and pensions secretary, according to the Sunday Times’s Tim Shipman. She will replace Esther McVey. |
| NEW Amber Rudd returning to cabinet as work and pensions secretary | NEW Amber Rudd returning to cabinet as work and pensions secretary |
| A bit more background from friends of Michael Gove about his reasons for turning down the job of Brexit secretary, and the change of course he would have demanded in exchange for accepting it. | A bit more background from friends of Michael Gove about his reasons for turning down the job of Brexit secretary, and the change of course he would have demanded in exchange for accepting it. |
| Gove gave the withdrawal agreement his guarded backing in that five-hour cabinet meeting, we’re told; but the hostile reaction of the DUP and many Conservative MPs subsequently convinced him the deal could not get through parliament unaltered. | Gove gave the withdrawal agreement his guarded backing in that five-hour cabinet meeting, we’re told; but the hostile reaction of the DUP and many Conservative MPs subsequently convinced him the deal could not get through parliament unaltered. |
| He has three reservations, all specifically with the backstop: | He has three reservations, all specifically with the backstop: |
| The fact Northern Ireland would remain under the influence of the European court of justice and the European commission for key policies without any representation. | The fact Northern Ireland would remain under the influence of the European court of justice and the European commission for key policies without any representation. |
| The promise of “dynamic alignment”, which would oblige the UK to follow EU rules. | The promise of “dynamic alignment”, which would oblige the UK to follow EU rules. |
| The lack of an exit mechanism. | The lack of an exit mechanism. |
| When May refused to budge, he turned down the job, feeling he couldn’t try to put the deal through parliament as Brexit secretary when he believed it was doomed to fail. He told May he would have to consider his position. | When May refused to budge, he turned down the job, feeling he couldn’t try to put the deal through parliament as Brexit secretary when he believed it was doomed to fail. He told May he would have to consider his position. |
| But after a dark night of the soul, he decided he would have more influence inside her cabinet, than out. All of which suggests Gove’s decision to stay is something of a double-edged sword for Downing Street. | But after a dark night of the soul, he decided he would have more influence inside her cabinet, than out. All of which suggests Gove’s decision to stay is something of a double-edged sword for Downing Street. |
| This is from the BBC’s Iain Watson. | This is from the BBC’s Iain Watson. |
| Theresa May will be pleased that a special meeting of the #cbi policy committee has said her draft deal represents 'hard won progress' And has urged politicians not to 'go backwards' | Theresa May will be pleased that a special meeting of the #cbi policy committee has said her draft deal represents 'hard won progress' And has urged politicians not to 'go backwards' |
| Margot James, a culture minister, won’t be incurring the wrath of Nicholas Soames. (See 2.44pm.) | Margot James, a culture minister, won’t be incurring the wrath of Nicholas Soames. (See 2.44pm.) |
| The only letter I'll be signing today - my objection to the development on Saltwells Nature Reserve. pic.twitter.com/n78FQ23Lzb | The only letter I'll be signing today - my objection to the development on Saltwells Nature Reserve. pic.twitter.com/n78FQ23Lzb |
| According to a story (paywall) by the Financial Times’s Mehreen Khan, at his meeting with EU ambassadors today Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said the EU was going to take a tough line with the UK on security in the next stage of the talks (ie, the ones firming up the future relationship, after the UK leaves in March 2019). Khan said: | According to a story (paywall) by the Financial Times’s Mehreen Khan, at his meeting with EU ambassadors today Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said the EU was going to take a tough line with the UK on security in the next stage of the talks (ie, the ones firming up the future relationship, after the UK leaves in March 2019). Khan said: |
| Mr Barnier dismissed the UK’s demand to maintain access to the EU’s internal security system, including its passenger name recognition database, Europol and Eurojust. He said no other country outside the Schengen free travel area enjoyed such a level of access. ‘The UK does not accept all the consequences of its status as a third country,’ Mr Barnier said, according to the note. | Mr Barnier dismissed the UK’s demand to maintain access to the EU’s internal security system, including its passenger name recognition database, Europol and Eurojust. He said no other country outside the Schengen free travel area enjoyed such a level of access. ‘The UK does not accept all the consequences of its status as a third country,’ Mr Barnier said, according to the note. |