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/2019/apr/10/brexit-eu-to-decide-on-uk-extension-live-news
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: May arrives at EU summit refusing to say if she will resign if UK has to stay in beyond 30 June - live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, normally addresses the German parliament before an EU summit. This morning she told German parliamentarians that the UK should be given “a reasonable amount of time” to leave the EU. She said: | |
| I am, and the government is, of the view that we should give the two parties a reasonable amount of time. | |
| We will deliberate over what kind of extension we want to grant Britain. It could well be that it is a longer extension than has been requested by the British prime minister. | |
| But we will organise this extension such that when Britain has passed the withdrawal agreement, Britain can very quickly thereafter execute the exit in an orderly fashion. | |
| So, in summary, the government is still very interested in an orderly exit of Britain from the European Union. | |
| This is what Theresa May said as she arrived at the summit. She said: | |
| The purpose of this summit is to agree an extension, which gives us more time to agree a deal to enable us to leave the EU in that smooth and orderly way. | |
| What matters, I think, is I have asked for an extension to June 30 but what is important is that any extension enables us to leave at the point at which we ratify a withdrawal agreement. | |
| So we could leave on May 22 and start to build our brighter future. | |
| She was twice asked by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg what she would do if the EU insisted on a longer extension, given what she has said about not being willing to delay Brexit beyond 30 June as PM. (See 4.02pm.) Both times May refused to answer the question directly, instead insisting that she was requesting an extension until 30 June and that she was working to ensure that the UK could leave as soon as possible in a smooth and orderly way. | |
| Theresa May was asked if she would remain as prime minister if the UK stayed in the EU beyond 30 June because three weeks ago she said that would be unacceptable. This is what she said at PMQs on 20 March, talking about her first request for an article 50 extension. She said: | |
| The government intend to bring forward proposals for a third meaningful vote. If that vote is passed, the extension will give the house time to consider the withdrawal agreement bill. If not, the house will have to decide how to proceed. But as prime minister— as prime minister, I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than 30 June. | |
| And here is the video. | |
| Here's the longer clip where she says "as prime minister" pic.twitter.com/hUtme5Mat1 | |
| Theresa May is speaking to reporters now. | |
| Q: Are you embarrassed to be asking for another delay? | |
| May says she knows many peope will be “frustrated” that this summit is taking place. | |
| She says parliament has not approved a deal. But she is talking to the opposition to try to find a solution. | |
| She says she has asked for an extension until 30 June. But the key point is that the UK must be able to leave when it has passed that deal. | |
| Q: You said you would not stay as PM beyond 30 June if the UK were still in. | |
| May says she hopes to get the deal through parliament, so that the UK can leave before 22 May (which would mean the UK would not have to go ahead with the European elections). | |
| Q: But what will you do if the UK has to stay in? | |
| May says she is working to ensure the UK can leave as soon as possible. | |
| May refuses to say whether she will resign as PM if the UK stays in the EU beyond 30 June. | |
| Theresa May is arriving at the summit now. | Theresa May is arriving at the summit now. |
| EU leaders are starting to arrive at the summit. | EU leaders are starting to arrive at the summit. |
| You can watch a live feed of the arrivals on the EU website here. | You can watch a live feed of the arrivals on the EU website here. |
| Good afternoon. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Peter Walker. I’ll be here to cover the EU summit - however late it goes. | Good afternoon. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Peter Walker. I’ll be here to cover the EU summit - however late it goes. |
| In Brussels Theresa May will be arriving shortly, according to the BBC. | In Brussels Theresa May will be arriving shortly, according to the BBC. |
| PM due on red carpet in Brussels just after half past - she has meeting with Donald Tusk before all the leaders get together later tonight a as familiar routine now, she ll be able to make her case, then leave the room and the others decide | PM due on red carpet in Brussels just after half past - she has meeting with Donald Tusk before all the leaders get together later tonight a as familiar routine now, she ll be able to make her case, then leave the room and the others decide |
| Update: it’s now being reported that Roger Scruton has been sacked. | Update: it’s now being reported that Roger Scruton has been sacked. |
| NEW EXC: Government source confirms James Brokenshire has sacked Roger Scruton | NEW EXC: Government source confirms James Brokenshire has sacked Roger Scruton |
| A series of Conservative MPs and others have joined Labour’s call for Roger Scruton to be sacked as chair of a housing commission over comments about George Soros, Muslims and Chinese people. | A series of Conservative MPs and others have joined Labour’s call for Roger Scruton to be sacked as chair of a housing commission over comments about George Soros, Muslims and Chinese people. |
| No brainer. Let’s not take our time on this. @TomTugendhat absolutely right. https://t.co/C0m5tSSLp3 | No brainer. Let’s not take our time on this. @TomTugendhat absolutely right. https://t.co/C0m5tSSLp3 |
| Yesterday, leading Conservatives rightly ask what they can do to reconnect to modern Britain. Today, these bigoted remarks from the man they bizarrely appointed to advise them on housing. How can Downing Street possibly keep Roger Scruton as a government adviser? https://t.co/MCSrUSW456 | Yesterday, leading Conservatives rightly ask what they can do to reconnect to modern Britain. Today, these bigoted remarks from the man they bizarrely appointed to advise them on housing. How can Downing Street possibly keep Roger Scruton as a government adviser? https://t.co/MCSrUSW456 |
| After Theresa May failed to give him a clear answer at PMQs on whether she had offered a second referendum at any point during Brexit talks with Labour, the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called on Jeremy Corbyn to “come clean” about what is being discussed: | After Theresa May failed to give him a clear answer at PMQs on whether she had offered a second referendum at any point during Brexit talks with Labour, the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called on Jeremy Corbyn to “come clean” about what is being discussed: |
| If it is the case that the UK government has not discussed a second EU referendum in their talks with the Labour party – then it begs the question, what is Jeremy Corbyn up to? The leader of the opposition has been flaky at least on the question of a second EU referendum – he needs to come clean with the public on what exactly he is bargaining with the Tories, behind closed doors. People deserve to know the truth. | If it is the case that the UK government has not discussed a second EU referendum in their talks with the Labour party – then it begs the question, what is Jeremy Corbyn up to? The leader of the opposition has been flaky at least on the question of a second EU referendum – he needs to come clean with the public on what exactly he is bargaining with the Tories, behind closed doors. People deserve to know the truth. |
| Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier repeated the SNP charge that Scotland has been sidelined by the Brexit process, tweeting: | Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier repeated the SNP charge that Scotland has been sidelined by the Brexit process, tweeting: |
| Tonight, 12 of the 27 EU member states that will decide the UK’s future have populations smaller than or similar in size to Scotland’s. If we become independent we get to sit at that table - enjoying the same solidarity shown to Ireland - instead of being sidelined by Westminster. | Tonight, 12 of the 27 EU member states that will decide the UK’s future have populations smaller than or similar in size to Scotland’s. If we become independent we get to sit at that table - enjoying the same solidarity shown to Ireland - instead of being sidelined by Westminster. |
| At PMQs, May’s riposte to Blackford was quite the opposite – that Scottish independence would have meant taking Scotland out of the EU. But this is at odds with the EU’s Guy Verhofstadt, who has previously stated before a Commons committee that it was a “simple fact” that Scotland could join the EU without the UK. | At PMQs, May’s riposte to Blackford was quite the opposite – that Scottish independence would have meant taking Scotland out of the EU. But this is at odds with the EU’s Guy Verhofstadt, who has previously stated before a Commons committee that it was a “simple fact” that Scotland could join the EU without the UK. |
| Reuters has some new Brexit-related quotes from the Belgian prime minister, Charles Michel, and it’s probably fair to say they’re on the more gnomic side of things. Asked about a Brexit extension for the UK he said: | Reuters has some new Brexit-related quotes from the Belgian prime minister, Charles Michel, and it’s probably fair to say they’re on the more gnomic side of things. Asked about a Brexit extension for the UK he said: |
| It is not certain there will be a delay. And it is not certain what that would mean. | It is not certain there will be a delay. And it is not certain what that would mean. |
| In the Commons now the government is answering an urgent question from Labour on the second phase of the controversial trials of compulsory ID for voters, which will take place at the local elections on 2 May. At last year’s local polls five councils tested such schemes – this year it will be ten. | In the Commons now the government is answering an urgent question from Labour on the second phase of the controversial trials of compulsory ID for voters, which will take place at the local elections on 2 May. At last year’s local polls five councils tested such schemes – this year it will be ten. |
| The idea is criticised by Labour and others for two main reasons. Firstly, the point to the concerns of charities and campaign groups representing people who are older, have disabilities, or from other vulnerable groups, noting that these people are less likely to have the ID and are so more likely to be disenfranchised. | The idea is criticised by Labour and others for two main reasons. Firstly, the point to the concerns of charities and campaign groups representing people who are older, have disabilities, or from other vulnerable groups, noting that these people are less likely to have the ID and are so more likely to be disenfranchised. |
| Critics also note that while compulsory ID is meant to combat what is legally called “voter personation” – pretending to be someone else to claim their vote – this is in fact a tiny issue. | Critics also note that while compulsory ID is meant to combat what is legally called “voter personation” – pretending to be someone else to claim their vote – this is in fact a tiny issue. |
| Cat Smith, Labour’s shadow minister for voter engagement, told MPs that of 266 cases of electoral fraud reported to police last year, the majority concerned campaign officials, and just eight were of alleged voter personation. “There is actually no evidence of widespread voter personation in the UK,” she said. | Cat Smith, Labour’s shadow minister for voter engagement, told MPs that of 266 cases of electoral fraud reported to police last year, the majority concerned campaign officials, and just eight were of alleged voter personation. “There is actually no evidence of widespread voter personation in the UK,” she said. |
| For the government, the not-to-be-confused-with-Cat-Smith Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith said simply giving one’s name at a polling station was “an identity check from the 19th century”, and that last year’s trial showed no reduction in turnout. | For the government, the not-to-be-confused-with-Cat-Smith Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith said simply giving one’s name at a polling station was “an identity check from the 19th century”, and that last year’s trial showed no reduction in turnout. |
| Last last year Labour urged the government to sack the philosopher Roger Scruton as chair of a housing commission over comments about the Hungarian philanthropist George Soros which the party said veered into antisemitism. | Last last year Labour urged the government to sack the philosopher Roger Scruton as chair of a housing commission over comments about the Hungarian philanthropist George Soros which the party said veered into antisemitism. |
| Those calls have been repeated after, in an interview with the New Statesman, Scruton spoke again about a supposed “Soros empire” in Hungary, and defended the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, over allegations of antisemitism. Scruton said: | Those calls have been repeated after, in an interview with the New Statesman, Scruton spoke again about a supposed “Soros empire” in Hungary, and defended the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, over allegations of antisemitism. Scruton said: |
| The Hungarians were extremely alarmed by the sudden invasion of huge tribes of Muslims from the Middle East. | The Hungarians were extremely alarmed by the sudden invasion of huge tribes of Muslims from the Middle East. |
| Scruton also argued that Islamophobia is a propaganda word “invented by the Muslim Brotherhood in order to stop discussion of a major issue”. | Scruton also argued that Islamophobia is a propaganda word “invented by the Muslim Brotherhood in order to stop discussion of a major issue”. |
| He also had this to say about China: | He also had this to say about China: |
| They’re creating robots out of their own people… each Chinese person is a kind of replica of the next one and that is a very frightening thing. | They’re creating robots out of their own people… each Chinese person is a kind of replica of the next one and that is a very frightening thing. |
| Dawn Butler, Labour’s shadow women and equalities secretary, said Scruton’s comments “invoke the language of white supremacists”, and May should sack him. Butler said: | Dawn Butler, Labour’s shadow women and equalities secretary, said Scruton’s comments “invoke the language of white supremacists”, and May should sack him. Butler said: |
| If she doesn’t, it will be further evidence that she is turning a blind eye to the deep-rooted prejudices and racist views in the Conservative Party, and will again signal that her government endorses these disgusting views. | If she doesn’t, it will be further evidence that she is turning a blind eye to the deep-rooted prejudices and racist views in the Conservative Party, and will again signal that her government endorses these disgusting views. |
| PMQs - Snap verdict: | PMQs - Snap verdict: |
| The ongoing (if stalled) Brexit talks between the government and Labour have left UK politics in something of a limbo, as shown by PMQs. For a second week in a row, Jeremy Corbyn decided to avoid the subject more or less entirely, instead focusing all his questions on council funding and associated areas of poverty and inequality. You can view this in two ways. Brexit-worriers can point, with perfectly good reason, to Theresa May’s trip to Brussels this afternoon where she will politely ask the EU for a short extension to Brexit and wait in a separate room for them to (in all likelihood) refuse this and impose a longer delay under terms of their choosing. It is both something of a national humiliation and by some measure the most immediate political issue of the day. But on the other hand, the Labour leader could argue that poverty is a pressing crisis, and with local elections across much of England and in Northern Ireland just three weeks away, the point must be made. More pragmatically, if you’re still officially in talks with the government on seeking a Brexit consensus, hammering endlessly at May’s failures over this could be seen as uncooperative. | The ongoing (if stalled) Brexit talks between the government and Labour have left UK politics in something of a limbo, as shown by PMQs. For a second week in a row, Jeremy Corbyn decided to avoid the subject more or less entirely, instead focusing all his questions on council funding and associated areas of poverty and inequality. You can view this in two ways. Brexit-worriers can point, with perfectly good reason, to Theresa May’s trip to Brussels this afternoon where she will politely ask the EU for a short extension to Brexit and wait in a separate room for them to (in all likelihood) refuse this and impose a longer delay under terms of their choosing. It is both something of a national humiliation and by some measure the most immediate political issue of the day. But on the other hand, the Labour leader could argue that poverty is a pressing crisis, and with local elections across much of England and in Northern Ireland just three weeks away, the point must be made. More pragmatically, if you’re still officially in talks with the government on seeking a Brexit consensus, hammering endlessly at May’s failures over this could be seen as uncooperative. |
| What was perhaps more surprising was the relative lack of Brexit questions from disgruntled Conservative MPs, of which there are plenty. A series of backbench Brexiters, including Bob Blackman, Theresa Villiers and Daniel Kawczynski asked instead about local issues. It was largely left to the SNP’s Ian Blackford to press May on a possible second referendum. Of course, MPs don’t often get their moment in the spotlight at PMQs, and it’s a good chance to raise a constituency matter. But given the predictions of outright Tory mutiny if a long Brexit delay came to pass, overall this felt unexpected. | What was perhaps more surprising was the relative lack of Brexit questions from disgruntled Conservative MPs, of which there are plenty. A series of backbench Brexiters, including Bob Blackman, Theresa Villiers and Daniel Kawczynski asked instead about local issues. It was largely left to the SNP’s Ian Blackford to press May on a possible second referendum. Of course, MPs don’t often get their moment in the spotlight at PMQs, and it’s a good chance to raise a constituency matter. But given the predictions of outright Tory mutiny if a long Brexit delay came to pass, overall this felt unexpected. |
| Corbyn’s line of attack was comfortable ground for a Labour leader, but his questions were consistent and coherent, and his final peroration rousing: | Corbyn’s line of attack was comfortable ground for a Labour leader, but his questions were consistent and coherent, and his final peroration rousing: |
| The evidence is clear; the Tories have abandoned communities across the country, they’ve left towns and cities to fend for themselves after nine years of vindictive, damaging austerity... This government stands for tax cuts for the richest and swingeing cuts for the rest.Will the prime minister now admit that far from tackling the burning injustices she talked about, her government’s cruel and unfair policies have pushed councils to the brink and left those just about managing not being able to manage at all? That is her legacy. | The evidence is clear; the Tories have abandoned communities across the country, they’ve left towns and cities to fend for themselves after nine years of vindictive, damaging austerity... This government stands for tax cuts for the richest and swingeing cuts for the rest.Will the prime minister now admit that far from tackling the burning injustices she talked about, her government’s cruel and unfair policies have pushed councils to the brink and left those just about managing not being able to manage at all? That is her legacy. |
| May shot back with a series of (often half-relevant) statistics, but it can be safely chalked up as a Labour win. | May shot back with a series of (often half-relevant) statistics, but it can be safely chalked up as a Labour win. |