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| Brexit: DUP takes part in 'significant discussions' - Politics live | Brexit: DUP takes part in 'significant discussions' - Politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The DUP’s deputy leader, Nigel Dodds, has emerged from discussions with the government and said that the party is still seeking to have its concerns “assuaged” about the Northern Ireland backstop before it can support Theresa May’s deal. | |
| The party, which in 2017 squeezed £1bn extra for Northern Ireland over the next two years as part of its confidence and supply deal to support the government, is not seeking more money as part of the talks, Dodds. | |
| Dodds said that the chancellor, Phillip Hammond, was in the talks but “nothing more” should be read into the fact that he was present along with the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. Michael Gove, a key Brexiteer member of the cabinet and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was also present for the talks. | |
| “No, we are not discussing more cash,” said Dodds, in answer to questions from the press. | |
| “It’s about Brexit and how we can protect Northern Ireland’s economic and political future.” | |
| The Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Jo Swinson, has been tipped as the frontrunner to replace the party’s outgoing leader Vince Cable, who announced plans to step down from the party in May. | The Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Jo Swinson, has been tipped as the frontrunner to replace the party’s outgoing leader Vince Cable, who announced plans to step down from the party in May. |
| Cable, the former business secretary in the coalition government, announced that he would set a timetable for his departure at the party’s spring conference this weekend. | Cable, the former business secretary in the coalition government, announced that he would set a timetable for his departure at the party’s spring conference this weekend. |
| Three MPs were expected to be in the running – Swinson, the former cabinet minister Ed Davey and the party’s education spokeswoman, Layla Moran. | Three MPs were expected to be in the running – Swinson, the former cabinet minister Ed Davey and the party’s education spokeswoman, Layla Moran. |
| Swinson, a coalition business minister, was highly likely to announce her candidacy, according to multiple sources. | Swinson, a coalition business minister, was highly likely to announce her candidacy, according to multiple sources. |
| One, who is close to Swinson, said: “Jo loves the party and is passionate about wanting it to succeed. She hears the calls for her to stand very clearly, and I would put money on her going for it.” | One, who is close to Swinson, said: “Jo loves the party and is passionate about wanting it to succeed. She hears the calls for her to stand very clearly, and I would put money on her going for it.” |
| We’re hearing suggestions that Nigel Dodds, the DUP’s deputy leader, is going to be saying something in a while about his party’s talks with the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, | We’re hearing suggestions that Nigel Dodds, the DUP’s deputy leader, is going to be saying something in a while about his party’s talks with the Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, |
| Dodds and colleagues are locked in intensive talks with Cox and the chancellor, Philip Hammond, try to reach an agreement to allow them to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal. | Dodds and colleagues are locked in intensive talks with Cox and the chancellor, Philip Hammond, try to reach an agreement to allow them to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal. |
| When he’s going to appear, or what he’ll say.. ‘Ulster says Yes?’ .. ‘we’ll keep talking?’ .. we don’t know yet. | When he’s going to appear, or what he’ll say.. ‘Ulster says Yes?’ .. ‘we’ll keep talking?’ .. we don’t know yet. |
| The Brexit Secretary, Steve Barclay, has been explaining that extraordinary decision he took last night to vote last night AGAINST the government’s motion extending article 50, after he wound up the debate by making the case FOR it. | The Brexit Secretary, Steve Barclay, has been explaining that extraordinary decision he took last night to vote last night AGAINST the government’s motion extending article 50, after he wound up the debate by making the case FOR it. |
| Doorstepped by the BBC’s Tom Barton, Barclay said that it had to do with the motion having two parts: | Doorstepped by the BBC’s Tom Barton, Barclay said that it had to do with the motion having two parts: |
| EXCLUSIVE: Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay tells me why he voted against a motion he'd spoken in favour of."There were two parts of the motion ... a short technical extension .. that's separate from whether you just have a long extension rather than no deal." pic.twitter.com/vuVvXGvN33 | EXCLUSIVE: Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay tells me why he voted against a motion he'd spoken in favour of."There were two parts of the motion ... a short technical extension .. that's separate from whether you just have a long extension rather than no deal." pic.twitter.com/vuVvXGvN33 |
| Barclay wound up last night’s debate by telling MPs: “It is time for this house to act in the national interest, it’s time to put forward an extension that is realistic” | Barclay wound up last night’s debate by telling MPs: “It is time for this house to act in the national interest, it’s time to put forward an extension that is realistic” |
| The Guardian’s Chief Political Correspondent suggests that a fourth Brexit Secretary may be on the cards. | The Guardian’s Chief Political Correspondent suggests that a fourth Brexit Secretary may be on the cards. |
| These comments from the Brexit secretary suggest VERY heavily he will not be prepared to negotiate a longer extension if deal does not pass."If we can get the deal through...we will now need a short technical extension, but if not we shouldn't be afraid to leave with no deal." https://t.co/bs6Y96SToL | These comments from the Brexit secretary suggest VERY heavily he will not be prepared to negotiate a longer extension if deal does not pass."If we can get the deal through...we will now need a short technical extension, but if not we shouldn't be afraid to leave with no deal." https://t.co/bs6Y96SToL |
| He might be taking it easy on the hard stuff in preparation for the beginning of his big March to Leave tomorrow but Nigel Farage will surely find some use for some politically-charged beer mats that have been left on his desk at the European Parliament. | He might be taking it easy on the hard stuff in preparation for the beginning of his big March to Leave tomorrow but Nigel Farage will surely find some use for some politically-charged beer mats that have been left on his desk at the European Parliament. |
| Richard Corbett, the leader of their Labour group in the European Parliament, tweeted a picture of the mats produced by the pro-remain guerrilla marketing activists, ByDonkeys. | Richard Corbett, the leader of their Labour group in the European Parliament, tweeted a picture of the mats produced by the pro-remain guerrilla marketing activists, ByDonkeys. |
| The excellent beer mats made by Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) being placed on #NigelFarage’s seat in the European Parliament... pic.twitter.com/MV3QMDQtp9 | The excellent beer mats made by Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) being placed on #NigelFarage’s seat in the European Parliament... pic.twitter.com/MV3QMDQtp9 |
| The Democratic Unionist party is locked in intensive talks to try to reach an agreement to allow it to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal, including with the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, and the chancellor, Philip Hammond. | The Democratic Unionist party is locked in intensive talks to try to reach an agreement to allow it to back Theresa May’s Brexit deal, including with the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, and the chancellor, Philip Hammond. |
| Downing Street is convinced the support of the DUP is key to unlocking the backing of many Conservative Brexiters when May brings her deal to the House of Commons on Tuesday for the third time. | Downing Street is convinced the support of the DUP is key to unlocking the backing of many Conservative Brexiters when May brings her deal to the House of Commons on Tuesday for the third time. |
| The discussions, which are taking place on Friday and expected to continue into the weekend, are likely to cover the role of any future Northern Irelandassembly if the Irish backstop were used – one of the issues senior DUP leaders have asked for further clarification about. | The discussions, which are taking place on Friday and expected to continue into the weekend, are likely to cover the role of any future Northern Irelandassembly if the Irish backstop were used – one of the issues senior DUP leaders have asked for further clarification about. |
| Hammond is also attending a meeting in Downing Street on Friday with the DUP, first reported by the Sun, and the government is said to also be looking at what domestic legal guarantees could be offered to the party. | Hammond is also attending a meeting in Downing Street on Friday with the DUP, first reported by the Sun, and the government is said to also be looking at what domestic legal guarantees could be offered to the party. |
| While MPs bicker over the terms of the UK’s divorce from the EU, British citizens in Brussels who have been worrying about the impact on their lives there have been taking out Belgian citizenship. | While MPs bicker over the terms of the UK’s divorce from the EU, British citizens in Brussels who have been worrying about the impact on their lives there have been taking out Belgian citizenship. |
| The Belgian government’s statistics service, StatBel, this week released figures this week showing a spike in Brits becoming Belgians after the 2016 Brexit referendum. | The Belgian government’s statistics service, StatBel, this week released figures this week showing a spike in Brits becoming Belgians after the 2016 Brexit referendum. |
| The Associated Press has been speaking to a few of them, including lobbyist Brian O’Riordan, who described how he has been feeling: “It’s a kind of bizarre feeling, this sense of disempowerment, helplessness watching it all happen, not really understanding why.” | The Associated Press has been speaking to a few of them, including lobbyist Brian O’Riordan, who described how he has been feeling: “It’s a kind of bizarre feeling, this sense of disempowerment, helplessness watching it all happen, not really understanding why.” |
| That uncertainty finally pushed him over the edge, according to the AP. He has lived in Belgium for two decades and speaks French to his two border collie dogs all the while being happy to be British. But with Brexit looming, he shifted his pension savings out of Britain and took Belgian citizenship. | That uncertainty finally pushed him over the edge, according to the AP. He has lived in Belgium for two decades and speaks French to his two border collie dogs all the while being happy to be British. But with Brexit looming, he shifted his pension savings out of Britain and took Belgian citizenship. |
| In 2015, 127 Britons took Belgian citizenship. The following year the number soared to 506. In 2017, 1,375 of the 23,000 Brits living in Belgium a whopping 6 percent adopted Belgian nationality. | In 2015, 127 Britons took Belgian citizenship. The following year the number soared to 506. In 2017, 1,375 of the 23,000 Brits living in Belgium a whopping 6 percent adopted Belgian nationality. |
| Much of the talks between the DUP and the government are revolving around the role of the Northern Ireland Assembly - which is currently suspended - in the event of the backstop being used. | Much of the talks between the DUP and the government are revolving around the role of the Northern Ireland Assembly - which is currently suspended - in the event of the backstop being used. |
| That’s according to UTV’s Political Editor, Ken Reid. | That’s according to UTV’s Political Editor, Ken Reid. |
| If the role of the assembly is being discussed, that’s quite new and potentially separate from the question of whether or not the backstop will need to be used, and whether it is time limited. Are they ready to jump? | If the role of the assembly is being discussed, that’s quite new and potentially separate from the question of whether or not the backstop will need to be used, and whether it is time limited. Are they ready to jump? |
| Much of the discussion between the DUP and the Government is on the role of any future NI Assembly if the backstop was used. | Much of the discussion between the DUP and the Government is on the role of any future NI Assembly if the backstop was used. |
| The DUP insists Northern Ireland must be treated like the rest of the UK. The party insists it wants a deal which is good for the whole of the UK and Ireland. Talks likely to continue through the coming days. | The DUP insists Northern Ireland must be treated like the rest of the UK. The party insists it wants a deal which is good for the whole of the UK and Ireland. Talks likely to continue through the coming days. |
| Northern Ireland has had no functioning elected government since power sharing DUP and Sinn Féin collapsed in January 2017. Civil servants are left to run things but cannot make key decisions. | Northern Ireland has had no functioning elected government since power sharing DUP and Sinn Féin collapsed in January 2017. Civil servants are left to run things but cannot make key decisions. |
| How that can change is an altogether different can of worms from the current Brexit impasse. Either way, if you want to know more you could do worse than read this piece from Rory Carroll, the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent, about the simmering resentment in Northern Ireland as Stormont sits empty: | How that can change is an altogether different can of worms from the current Brexit impasse. Either way, if you want to know more you could do worse than read this piece from Rory Carroll, the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent, about the simmering resentment in Northern Ireland as Stormont sits empty: |
| In need of a wizard, Northern Ireland gets blundering Bradley | In need of a wizard, Northern Ireland gets blundering Bradley |
| A DUP MP, Jim Shannon, has said that the party will not be changing its minds on May’s deal unless there are legally binding changes to ensure that the backstop is limited. | A DUP MP, Jim Shannon, has said that the party will not be changing its minds on May’s deal unless there are legally binding changes to ensure that the backstop is limited. |
| “That is what we have been asking for over the past two years to be honest with you and we can’t understand why the government has not been able to understand that,” he told the BBC’s World at One. | “That is what we have been asking for over the past two years to be honest with you and we can’t understand why the government has not been able to understand that,” he told the BBC’s World at One. |
| He warned however: “If nothing has chaned then our opinoin has not changed.” | He warned however: “If nothing has chaned then our opinoin has not changed.” |
| It looks like the government is putting its back into convincing the Democratic Unionists to come on board. This from Sky’s Beth Rigby: | It looks like the government is putting its back into convincing the Democratic Unionists to come on board. This from Sky’s Beth Rigby: |
| NEW: Understand DUP and Cox remaining in London all weekend to work on possible agreement. Looking at what additional provisions they could add to domestic law to underline interpretations on backstop (in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?) https://t.co/K85vauHKex | NEW: Understand DUP and Cox remaining in London all weekend to work on possible agreement. Looking at what additional provisions they could add to domestic law to underline interpretations on backstop (in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?) https://t.co/K85vauHKex |
| The DUP may or may not be on the move, but Theresa May has also received a boost after Esther McVey, who quit the cabinet over Brexit policy last year, indicated she could vote for the deal next week. | The DUP may or may not be on the move, but Theresa May has also received a boost after Esther McVey, who quit the cabinet over Brexit policy last year, indicated she could vote for the deal next week. |
| McVey was speaking to the BBC’s Nick Robinson for his politics blog. | McVey was speaking to the BBC’s Nick Robinson for his politics blog. |
| Asked if MPs would “hold their noses and vote” for Mrs May’s deal - which is expected to return to the Commons next week - the former minister said: “Yes. They will. I don’t know what the number is, but they will have to do that if they... want Brexit.” | Asked if MPs would “hold their noses and vote” for Mrs May’s deal - which is expected to return to the Commons next week - the former minister said: “Yes. They will. I don’t know what the number is, but they will have to do that if they... want Brexit.” |