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Brexit: Junior minister resigns over May's 'grave error' in seeking deal with Corbyn – live news PMQs: May faces Corbyn after agreeing to Brexit talks – live news
(32 minutes later)
Sir David Amess, a Tory Brexiter, says party loyalty is being stretched. He says Brexit should mean Brexit. And then, with a reference to Southend-at-Sea wanting city status, he calls for a meaningful vote (on Brexit, presumably, not the stauts of Southend).
May says when Brexit gets delivered, places like Southend will have a better future.
Southend will be a leading part of that better future, she says.
Theresa May starts by saying April marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the UK’s longest-running military operation - Operation Relentlessness, the nuclear submarine deployment at sea.
But “relentless” could apply to Brexit too ...
PMQs is about to start.
I will post my snap summary when it is over.
Mark Drakeford, the Welsh first minister, is also meeting Theresa May today. He has been tweeting about what he will say to her.
Heading to London to discuss next steps for #Brexit with the PM.I’ve long said a cross-party majority is needed to get a deal that works for whole of UK.
I’ll be making the case again today for a closer long-term economic relationship with the EU that I believe is the best way to protect our economy & jobs.
Presumably Drakeford has been invited because Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, is seeing May too. But they are not equivalent. Although they both run devolved administrations, Sturgeon is leader of the SNP, a party with 35 MPs in the Commons. Drakeford is a Labour politician, but May has already arranged to see the leader who decides how Labour MPs vote, Jeremy Corbyn.
This is from the Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole.
Never known usually loyal ministers so angry. Here is a non Brexiteer: “We say parliament made us do this, not Corbyn. They’re idiots. We kept her there and now she stabs us in the back and fucks off. Thanks a lot. All that crap about serving the party. Bollocks.”
My colleague Jonathan Freedland has written a column on Theresa May’s decision to hold Brexit talks with Jeremy Corbyn. Here’s an extract.My colleague Jonathan Freedland has written a column on Theresa May’s decision to hold Brexit talks with Jeremy Corbyn. Here’s an extract.
The question now is: will this move work? Will May and Corbyn strike a grand bargain, agreeing a national unity Brexit? To which the answer is: don’t hold your breath. For some in Labour, that’s because they assume the worst of May and suspect this is no more than a cynical ruse to land the blame for Brexit’s failure on them. And yet one senior shadow cabinet minister told me this morning that May is acting in “good faith” and that the prime minister is “genuinely looking for a concessionary strategy”, albeit one born of necessity.The question now is: will this move work? Will May and Corbyn strike a grand bargain, agreeing a national unity Brexit? To which the answer is: don’t hold your breath. For some in Labour, that’s because they assume the worst of May and suspect this is no more than a cynical ruse to land the blame for Brexit’s failure on them. And yet one senior shadow cabinet minister told me this morning that May is acting in “good faith” and that the prime minister is “genuinely looking for a concessionary strategy”, albeit one born of necessity.
Still, even that shadow minister doesn’t think this will lead to a May-Corbyn deal, not least because, in their view: “Jeremy is not capable of it.” Even without taking a position on the Labour leader’s skill set, there are good reasons to be sceptical. For one thing, just because May has opted for a change in strategy, it doesn’t mean Corbyn has done the same. His goal has always been for Brexit to happen, but not to be blamed for it. May has just invited him to become co-author of Brexit, with his fingerprints all over it. There is no reason why that should appeal to him. He is, after all, the leader of an overwhelmingly pro-remain party: its members will not look kindly on him acting as the midwife of Brexit.Still, even that shadow minister doesn’t think this will lead to a May-Corbyn deal, not least because, in their view: “Jeremy is not capable of it.” Even without taking a position on the Labour leader’s skill set, there are good reasons to be sceptical. For one thing, just because May has opted for a change in strategy, it doesn’t mean Corbyn has done the same. His goal has always been for Brexit to happen, but not to be blamed for it. May has just invited him to become co-author of Brexit, with his fingerprints all over it. There is no reason why that should appeal to him. He is, after all, the leader of an overwhelmingly pro-remain party: its members will not look kindly on him acting as the midwife of Brexit.
And here is his full article.And here is his full article.
Look past the May-Corbyn Brexit talks. There’s another solution | Jonathan FreedlandLook past the May-Corbyn Brexit talks. There’s another solution | Jonathan Freedland
Hilary Benn, the committee chair, goes next.Hilary Benn, the committee chair, goes next.
Q: If the PM agrees a new approach with Jeremy Corbyn, will the government try to amend the political declaration to include that?Q: If the PM agrees a new approach with Jeremy Corbyn, will the government try to amend the political declaration to include that?
Barclay says that will be part of the discussion between May and Corbyn today. The EU would need to agree any change to the political declaration, he says, although he would expect them to do that.Barclay says that will be part of the discussion between May and Corbyn today. The EU would need to agree any change to the political declaration, he says, although he would expect them to do that.
But he says the government can also decide unilaterally to put extra material into the EU withdrawal agreement bill.But he says the government can also decide unilaterally to put extra material into the EU withdrawal agreement bill.
Q: Why would the government not want a new political declaration?Q: Why would the government not want a new political declaration?
Barclay says the two options are not mutually exclusive.Barclay says the two options are not mutually exclusive.
And that’s it. The hearing is over.And that’s it. The hearing is over.
In the committee the Tory MP Richard Graham is asking the question nowIn the committee the Tory MP Richard Graham is asking the question now
Q: What do you think the UK will be able to take to the European council next Wednesday? An agreement, and legislation already passed? Or just an agreement?Q: What do you think the UK will be able to take to the European council next Wednesday? An agreement, and legislation already passed? Or just an agreement?
Stephen Barclay says the UK will need to be able to show “clear purpose”. He does not expect the withdrawal legislation, the EU withdrawal agreement bill, to be passed by then. But the government would want to be able to say what it is doing.Stephen Barclay says the UK will need to be able to show “clear purpose”. He does not expect the withdrawal legislation, the EU withdrawal agreement bill, to be passed by then. But the government would want to be able to say what it is doing.
This is what Simon Coveney, the Irish deputy prime minister and foreign minister, is saying about Ireland backing a UK request for a further, short article 50 extension. (See 10.20am.) Coveney said:This is what Simon Coveney, the Irish deputy prime minister and foreign minister, is saying about Ireland backing a UK request for a further, short article 50 extension. (See 10.20am.) Coveney said:
They will look for a short extension next week, and I think Ireland will support that. It is very unlikely that there will be any crash out at the end of next week with the prime minister looking for an extension with a plan to go with that.They will look for a short extension next week, and I think Ireland will support that. It is very unlikely that there will be any crash out at the end of next week with the prime minister looking for an extension with a plan to go with that.
Sir Christopher Chope, the Tory Brexiter, goes next.Sir Christopher Chope, the Tory Brexiter, goes next.
Q: Were you one of the 14 cabinet ministers yesterday who voted for a no-deal?Q: Were you one of the 14 cabinet ministers yesterday who voted for a no-deal?
Chope is referring to the Telegraph splash.Chope is referring to the Telegraph splash.
TELEGRAPH: Cabinet Backs no deal Brexit - but May turns to Corbyn instead #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/spTsqlGyOgTELEGRAPH: Cabinet Backs no deal Brexit - but May turns to Corbyn instead #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/spTsqlGyOg
Barclay says he will not discuss what happened at cabinet.Barclay says he will not discuss what happened at cabinet.
The Telegraph has been accused of misrepresenting the cabinet discussion by implying that all 14 wanted a no-deal. Here is the Guardian’s account, which of course is more reliable.The Telegraph has been accused of misrepresenting the cabinet discussion by implying that all 14 wanted a no-deal. Here is the Guardian’s account, which of course is more reliable.
Several of those present said that 14 ministers, including Leadsom, Liz Truss and Gavin Williamson, opposed a long extension to leaving the EU and 10 were in favour, including the chancellor, Philip Hammond, who made the case for keeping a second referendum on the table. But others claimed only four cabinet ministers were actually arguing for no deal and the rest of the 14 simply made a case against a long delay while accepting the probable need for another shorter one.Several of those present said that 14 ministers, including Leadsom, Liz Truss and Gavin Williamson, opposed a long extension to leaving the EU and 10 were in favour, including the chancellor, Philip Hammond, who made the case for keeping a second referendum on the table. But others claimed only four cabinet ministers were actually arguing for no deal and the rest of the 14 simply made a case against a long delay while accepting the probable need for another shorter one.
Q: Do you agree with what Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, said in a letter to ministers about the disastrous effects of a no-deal Brexit?Q: Do you agree with what Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, said in a letter to ministers about the disastrous effects of a no-deal Brexit?
Barclay says he will not comment on leaked documents. But he has always accepted that a no deal poses risks, he says.Barclay says he will not comment on leaked documents. But he has always accepted that a no deal poses risks, he says.
Back in the committee Labour’s Stephen Kinnock is asking the questions now.
Q: The EU Withdrawal Act says MPs must vote on the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration at the same time. So why did the government separate the issues?
Barclay says it was not the government that decided that. It was the EU, he says, because its article 50 extension offer (see 10.44am) just talked about the MPs passing the withdrawal agreement by the end of last week.
This is probably worth clarifying.
What has the EU said about offering the UK another article 50 extension?
I was under the impression that the EU had granted the current extension on the proviso that we could only extend again past May 12 if we took part in the EU elections?
Was that just me?
The conclusions of the EU summit on 21 March are here. And this is what Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said explaining what they meant.
In the first scenario, that is, if the withdrawal agreement is passed by the House of Commons next week, the European Council agrees to an extension until the 22nd of May.
In the second scenario, that is, if the withdrawal agreement is not approved by the House of Commons next week, the European Council agrees to an extension until the 12th of April, while expecting the United Kingdom to indicate a way forward. What this means in practice is that, until that date, all options will remain open, and the cliff-edge date will be delayed.
The UK Government will still have a choice of a deal, no-deal, a long extension or revoking article 50. The 12th of April is a key date in terms of the UK deciding whether to hold European parliament elections. If it has not decided to do so by then, the option of a long extension will automatically become impossible.
The first scenario has gone. The automatic extension until 22 May has gone, and at the moment the extension deadline is 12 April.
If the UK wants an extension going beyond 22 May, it will have to take part in the European elections. At the moment the government is saying it does not want this.
Instead Theresa May is hoping that the EU will agree an extension going beyond next Friday, but ending at some point before 22 May. This would not require a commitment to take part in the European elections. But whether the EU would agree to this remains to be seen.
The SNP has described Theresa May’s offer of Brexit talks with Jeremy Corbyn as “Better Together 2.0”, as the BBC reports that Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon is seeking urgent talks herself with the prime minister.
SNP MP Douglas Chapman told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland that it would be “foolish of the prime minister not to include the third party in parliament” in her compromise discussions, likening her planned talks to the alliance between Labour and Tories during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign.
The BBC is reporting that Sturgeon is willing to travel to London today to put her case directly to May, after accusing her of “kicking the can and, yet again, delaying making any decision that could break her cabinet”.
Yesterday the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford announced that the party’s 35 MPs would support Yvette Cooper’s bill which calls on the UK government to bring forward proposals to extend Article 50 in order to avoid crashing out of the EU without a deal. Blackford said:
The SNP has consistently sought to reach a cross-party position to end the Brexit impasse, including options for a second EU referendum, as well as the common market 2.0 proposal, which came closest to the compromise position proposed by the Scottish government back in December 2016, and we will continue to do so.
After yesterday’s cabinet, for a brief moment people thought Penny Mordaunt, the Brexiter international development secretary, might have resigned. But she hadn’t, and this morning, speaking to reporters outside her home, she said she still hoped the PM’s deal would be passed with Tory and DUP voters. She said:
The only way to leave is with the withdrawal agreement. The prime minister is trying to get it through on Conservative votes and has not been able to, she’s now trying to do it with Labour votes.
I would say to colleagues who want a truer Brexit, I still hope we can do this with Conservative and DUP votes.
But above all else, the public are fed-up of the limbo and business needs certainty.
That implies she thinks the prospect of a softer Brexit might persuade Tory Brexiters and DUP MPs who have opposed to deal until now to change their minds.
One problem with this strategy is that the DUP are more opposed to the backstop than they are to the idea of a soft Brexit.
Here is the full text of Nigel Adams’s resignation letter. (See 9.46am.)
Dear Prime Minister,
It has been an honour to serve in your government as a minister since 2017 and I remain a firm admirer of your courage and stoicism during one of the most difficult crises this country has faced for a generation.
I believe we have two great challenges. We must deliver the Brexit the people voted for. And we must prevent the calamity of a Corbyn government.
Sadly, I fear that we are now at risk of simultaneously failing in both.
I have been loyally supportive of your negotiated deal with the EU at every stage as I believe an orderly exit is preferable to leaving without a deal. However, I believe the UK would have coped with leaving with a managed no deal.
At cabinet yesterday, there was an opportunity to get onto the front foot for once. However, by legitimising and turning to Jeremy Corbyn to assist you at this crucial stage, rather than being bold, is a grave error. It is clear that we will now end up in the customs union. That is not the Brexit my constituents were promised, and it is contrary to the pledge we made in our manifesto.
It makes no sense to leave the EU and to have a situation where our trade policy and much of our law is made in Brussels - with no say for the UK.
I and many others agreed with your previous position that no deal is better than a bad deal.
It now seems that you and your cabinet have decided that a deal - cooked up with a Marxist who has never once in his political life, put British interests first - is better than no deal.
I profoundly disagree with this approach and I have therefore decided that I must reluctantly tender my resignation.
It has been a privilege to serve as a minister in the government whips Office, at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and latterly at the Wales Office and I will always be grateful to you for giving me the opportunity to serve the people of the UK in your government.
I am passionate about my constituency and have always strived to do my best for the people of Selby and Ainsty since 2010. 1 will continue to serve them diligently from the back benches.
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Adams
Theresa May will also be meeting Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister and SNP leader, Sky is reporting.
Downing Street has confirmed Prime Minister Theresa May will meet Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today
In the Brexit committee Labour’s Stephen Timms is asking the questions now.
Q: Would the EU have to agree any changes to the political declaration before MPs could vote for it?
Barclays says the EU has said it could respond quickly to any proposed changes.
Q: If the UK wanted an extension lasting beyond 22 May, which would involve the UK taking part in the European elections, when would it have to decide?
Barclay says that is not what the UK wants.
But if it were to decide on that, it would have to put in a request to the EU before the summit on 10 April.
This is from Sky’s Sophia McBride.
NEW: Irish Deputy PM @simoncoveney says Ireland WILL support UK request for a short extension #Brexit
Here is another item for the agenda today.
@AndrewSparrow .@pierremoscovici will give a press conference at around 12.30 Brussels time on preparedness for a no-deal #Brexit in the area of #customs. Follow live on EbS https://t.co/FdKWuVEe7O @EU_Taxud
Pierre Moscovici is the European commissioner covering economic and financial affairs.
And 12.30pm Brussels time is 11.30am UK time.
Jonathan Djanogly, a Conservative remainer, asks about reports that the EU has been war-gaming what might happen in the event of no-deal. He says it has been reported that the EU would expect the UK to go back to Brussels quickly seeking to mitigate the consequences.
Barclay says it would be in the interests of both sides to minimise the negative consequences.