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| May's fresh Brexit bill effort faltering as David Davis now set to vote against - live news | May's fresh Brexit bill effort faltering as David Davis now set to vote against - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jonathan Bartley, the Green party’s co-leader, told Sky’s All Out Politics this morning that all European Green parties were jointly calling for EU legislation to establish a universal basic income across the EU. | |
| The party’s manifesto (pdf) sets this ambition for the European parliament for the next five years: | |
| Work with member states and stakeholders to establish citizen basic income experiments to understand the viability and practical implementation of establishing a universal basic income for all EU citizens. | |
| Asked why that was necessary, Bartley said the UK was “lagging so far behind when it comes to poverty”. He explained: | |
| If you look at 1.6m emergency food bank parcels being issued last year by the Trussell Trust, if you look at the report from Human Rights Watch today about the state of poverty, and the UN rapporteur who is going to come out on Wednesday, I believe, with a very damning report on the state of poverty - something has to be done. | |
| Bartley said, under the Green plan, the EU would legislate for a minimum income, but it would be up to member states to decide how they implemented it. He said it should be set at 60% of average income - around £17,000 a year in the UK. | |
| And he rejected claims that there was economic evidence showing minimum income laws did not work. He said the Tories said 1m jobs would be lost if the government introduced a minimum wage, but those claims turned out to be untrue. | |
| I’m off to the Number 10 lobby briefing now. I will post again after 11.30am. | |
| Responding to the extracts from Gordon Brown’s speech released in advance (see 9.52am), the SNP said Brown should apologise to Scotland for campaigning against independence in 2014. Christian Allard, one of the party’s European elections candidates, said: | Responding to the extracts from Gordon Brown’s speech released in advance (see 9.52am), the SNP said Brown should apologise to Scotland for campaigning against independence in 2014. Christian Allard, one of the party’s European elections candidates, said: |
| People in Scotland remember Gordon Brown as playing a key role in the campaign to ensure that we would continue having to live under Tory governments we didn’t vote for - and now that Tory Government is trying to drag Scotland out of the EU against our will. | People in Scotland remember Gordon Brown as playing a key role in the campaign to ensure that we would continue having to live under Tory governments we didn’t vote for - and now that Tory Government is trying to drag Scotland out of the EU against our will. |
| So if he wants people to even consider listening to Labour on anything, Mr Brown should start by apologising to Scotland for the mess he has helped create. | So if he wants people to even consider listening to Labour on anything, Mr Brown should start by apologising to Scotland for the mess he has helped create. |
| While Labour are all over the place on Brexit, a vote for the SNP is a vote to stop Brexit. | While Labour are all over the place on Brexit, a vote for the SNP is a vote to stop Brexit. |
| Change UK has been criticised for not being very clear about its name. When eight Labour MPs and three Tories defected in the Commons, they originally set up as the Independent Group, because they were not a party at that stage. They were also known as TIG (The Independent Group), or the Tiggers. Then they established themselves as a proper party, Change UK, although early in the European elections campaign sometimes they described themselves as the remain alliance. | Change UK has been criticised for not being very clear about its name. When eight Labour MPs and three Tories defected in the Commons, they originally set up as the Independent Group, because they were not a party at that stage. They were also known as TIG (The Independent Group), or the Tiggers. Then they established themselves as a proper party, Change UK, although early in the European elections campaign sometimes they described themselves as the remain alliance. |
| In an interview on the Today programme this morning Heidi Allen, the party’s interim leader, hinted that further change could be coming. Asked about claims that she could defect to the Liberal Democrats, she ruled that out. But then she said: | In an interview on the Today programme this morning Heidi Allen, the party’s interim leader, hinted that further change could be coming. Asked about claims that she could defect to the Liberal Democrats, she ruled that out. But then she said: |
| Will I stand again in South Cambridgeshire, my constituency, as Change UK? Whatever format, let’s hope we know, depends when the new general election comes, later rather than sooner. If we’ve managed to bring together other MPs from the House of Commons, the format might be slightly different. But, whatever the brand new world party looks like, at that point at the general election in South Cambridgeshire, absolutely, I’m not going back to the Conservatives. | Will I stand again in South Cambridgeshire, my constituency, as Change UK? Whatever format, let’s hope we know, depends when the new general election comes, later rather than sooner. If we’ve managed to bring together other MPs from the House of Commons, the format might be slightly different. But, whatever the brand new world party looks like, at that point at the general election in South Cambridgeshire, absolutely, I’m not going back to the Conservatives. |
| When why she was suggesting Change UK could change its name again, Allen replied: | When why she was suggesting Change UK could change its name again, Allen replied: |
| Because I want us to get bigger. I want us to get more successful, I want us to have more MPs, more opportunities, to change politics in this country ... | Because I want us to get bigger. I want us to get more successful, I want us to have more MPs, more opportunities, to change politics in this country ... |
| I see a modern world of coalition, where it isn’t just about two big parties. I think the whole way that parliament operates at Westminster needs a damn good shake-up, and I want to be part of that. | I see a modern world of coalition, where it isn’t just about two big parties. I think the whole way that parliament operates at Westminster needs a damn good shake-up, and I want to be part of that. |
| Gordon Brown, the Labour former prime minister, is speaking at an election campaign event in Glasgow this morning. As the Guardian reports, he will call for an investigation into the Brexit party’s finances. | Gordon Brown, the Labour former prime minister, is speaking at an election campaign event in Glasgow this morning. As the Guardian reports, he will call for an investigation into the Brexit party’s finances. |
| But he will also claim that Scotland is being let down by the growing intransigence of the SNP and the Conservatives over independence and devolution. In particular, he will accuse the SNP of pushing for “hard independence”. According to extracts from his speech released in advance, he will say: | But he will also claim that Scotland is being let down by the growing intransigence of the SNP and the Conservatives over independence and devolution. In particular, he will accuse the SNP of pushing for “hard independence”. According to extracts from his speech released in advance, he will say: |
| I fear for the future of Scotland unless it can break free from this non-stop, never-ending, constitution-obsessed SNP/Conservative Punch and Judy show. | I fear for the future of Scotland unless it can break free from this non-stop, never-ending, constitution-obsessed SNP/Conservative Punch and Judy show. |
| Both parties bang on day after day about independence, continuously ratcheting up the decibel levels with their ever-more hard-line policy stances - the SNP for all-out independence, nothing less, that now has become even more extreme with their plans to abandon the British pound and exit the UK customs union and single market - which would not now count as a soft independence, but a hard independence. | Both parties bang on day after day about independence, continuously ratcheting up the decibel levels with their ever-more hard-line policy stances - the SNP for all-out independence, nothing less, that now has become even more extreme with their plans to abandon the British pound and exit the UK customs union and single market - which would not now count as a soft independence, but a hard independence. |
| Meanwhile, the Conservatives increasingly reveal their hand as hostile to devolution - and because in Scotland they can’t talk about Europe or about their policy for austerity they talk about nothing else than the constitutional issues. | Meanwhile, the Conservatives increasingly reveal their hand as hostile to devolution - and because in Scotland they can’t talk about Europe or about their policy for austerity they talk about nothing else than the constitutional issues. |
| Essentially, we have two parties dug-in for a trench warfare that suits both of them because they have nothing positive to offer on any other issues. | Essentially, we have two parties dug-in for a trench warfare that suits both of them because they have nothing positive to offer on any other issues. |
| In fact the two parties’ total neglect of the issues that really do affect people - our NHS, our schools, our law and order and our economy - can only have disastrous long-term consequences for the Scottish economy and for Scotland’s public services. | In fact the two parties’ total neglect of the issues that really do affect people - our NHS, our schools, our law and order and our economy - can only have disastrous long-term consequences for the Scottish economy and for Scotland’s public services. |
| Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is understood to be planning to stand for the Conservative party leadership. But in an interview on the Today programme this morning, he refused to confirm that he would be a candidate. He told the programme: | Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is understood to be planning to stand for the Conservative party leadership. But in an interview on the Today programme this morning, he refused to confirm that he would be a candidate. He told the programme: |
| It’s flattering that lots of people have asked me to put my name forward and proposed to support me if I do but that isn’t the point, which is we still have to get this legislation to deliver Brexit through. | It’s flattering that lots of people have asked me to put my name forward and proposed to support me if I do but that isn’t the point, which is we still have to get this legislation to deliver Brexit through. |
| Asked if he was not announcing his bid because a recent poll of Conservative members put his support at just 1%, he said: | Asked if he was not announcing his bid because a recent poll of Conservative members put his support at just 1%, he said: |
| No, because the contest hasn’t started yet. | No, because the contest hasn’t started yet. |
| But, as he continued his answer, Hancock did go on to sum up his pitch for the top job in a sentence. He said: | But, as he continued his answer, Hancock did go on to sum up his pitch for the top job in a sentence. He said: |
| I have a strong view about the sort of leader that we need - we need a leader not just for now but also for the future, we need to be absolutely four-square in the centre-ground of British politics. | I have a strong view about the sort of leader that we need - we need a leader not just for now but also for the future, we need to be absolutely four-square in the centre-ground of British politics. |
| A “leader ... for the future” means “someone young”. Hancock is just 40, meaning that he is the youngest of the cabinet-level contenders for the job. | A “leader ... for the future” means “someone young”. Hancock is just 40, meaning that he is the youngest of the cabinet-level contenders for the job. |
| And someone “in the centre-ground of British politics” means “not a rightwinger”. Most of the leading candidates in the contest are on the right of the party. Hancock himself is more aligned to the centre right, and he will be looking for support from this wing. | And someone “in the centre-ground of British politics” means “not a rightwinger”. Most of the leading candidates in the contest are on the right of the party. Hancock himself is more aligned to the centre right, and he will be looking for support from this wing. |
| Yesterday, in an article for the Sunday Times (paywall), Theresa May said that when MPs vote on the EU withdrawal agreement bill in the first week of June, it would involve a “new, bold offer” with “an improved package of measures” that she hoped would win over some of those MPs who voted against her Brexit deal on the previous three occasions. In interviews this morning, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said that if MPs wanted Brexit to happen, they should vote for the bill at second reading; if they wanted to change the terms of Brexit, they could amend it later, he argued. | Yesterday, in an article for the Sunday Times (paywall), Theresa May said that when MPs vote on the EU withdrawal agreement bill in the first week of June, it would involve a “new, bold offer” with “an improved package of measures” that she hoped would win over some of those MPs who voted against her Brexit deal on the previous three occasions. In interviews this morning, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said that if MPs wanted Brexit to happen, they should vote for the bill at second reading; if they wanted to change the terms of Brexit, they could amend it later, he argued. |
| MPs 'have duty' to pass Theresa May's Brexit deal, says Hancock | MPs 'have duty' to pass Theresa May's Brexit deal, says Hancock |
| But this morning the Daily Telegraph reports (paywall) that it has seen a summary of the bill sent to cabinet ministers last week and that it confirms that all the supposedly new concessions are ones that have been offered already. | But this morning the Daily Telegraph reports (paywall) that it has seen a summary of the bill sent to cabinet ministers last week and that it confirms that all the supposedly new concessions are ones that have been offered already. |
| A five-page summary of the bill sent to cabinet ministers last week contained no ideas on how to bridge the gap between the Tories and Labour on a possible customs union with the EU, and no fresh thinking on the Northern Irish backstop, which is designed to prevent a hard border in Ireland if no trade deal is agreed. | A five-page summary of the bill sent to cabinet ministers last week contained no ideas on how to bridge the gap between the Tories and Labour on a possible customs union with the EU, and no fresh thinking on the Northern Irish backstop, which is designed to prevent a hard border in Ireland if no trade deal is agreed. |
| Instead, it promises to incorporate an idea first proposed by the Tory MP Sir Hugo Swire in January that would give parliament the final say on implementing the backstop, as well as an obligation for the government to “seek” alternative arrangements to the backstop by the end of 2020. | Instead, it promises to incorporate an idea first proposed by the Tory MP Sir Hugo Swire in January that would give parliament the final say on implementing the backstop, as well as an obligation for the government to “seek” alternative arrangements to the backstop by the end of 2020. |
| It would also incorporate an amendment first proposed to the third “meaningful vote” in March by the Labour MPs Lisa Nandy and Gareth Snell, which would give parliament a say in what the objectives of future trade negotiations should be. | It would also incorporate an amendment first proposed to the third “meaningful vote” in March by the Labour MPs Lisa Nandy and Gareth Snell, which would give parliament a say in what the objectives of future trade negotiations should be. |
| In an attempt to appease the DUP, on whose votes Mrs May relies for her working majority, the document also says the Northern Ireland assembly - which has been suspended for the past two years - will be given a “role” in any decision over the backstop. | In an attempt to appease the DUP, on whose votes Mrs May relies for her working majority, the document also says the Northern Ireland assembly - which has been suspended for the past two years - will be given a “role” in any decision over the backstop. |
| Sir Bill Cash, the Brexiteer Tory MP who has consistently voted against Mrs May’s deal, said: “This is pretty cosmetic stuff. It will not have any effect on leave-supporting MPs and in fact there are votes coming back to our side from people who backed the deal last time.” | Sir Bill Cash, the Brexiteer Tory MP who has consistently voted against Mrs May’s deal, said: “This is pretty cosmetic stuff. It will not have any effect on leave-supporting MPs and in fact there are votes coming back to our side from people who backed the deal last time.” |
| Ominously for May, there are signs that the majority against her deal in June could be even bigger than the 58-vote majority against it in the last vote, in March. David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, supported her last time, and in an interview for the BBC’s Week in Westminster on Saturday he said he had not decided what he would do next time. But now he has, and he is voting against. Asked if he would vote for the bill, he told the Today programme this morning: | Ominously for May, there are signs that the majority against her deal in June could be even bigger than the 58-vote majority against it in the last vote, in March. David Davis, the former Brexit secretary, supported her last time, and in an interview for the BBC’s Week in Westminster on Saturday he said he had not decided what he would do next time. But now he has, and he is voting against. Asked if he would vote for the bill, he told the Today programme this morning: |
| No. The reason I voted for the last two variants of it is that it had been modified a bit, but what was clear was if we didn’t get that through, there would be a chaotic consequential outcome. And that is what we are seeing now, this chaos. | No. The reason I voted for the last two variants of it is that it had been modified a bit, but what was clear was if we didn’t get that through, there would be a chaotic consequential outcome. And that is what we are seeing now, this chaos. |
| And the trouble is - Matt [Hancock] was doing a good job of defending the line this morning. But this is not a great new offer; it’s a great new concession. What it will do, and this is the critical thing, is, if we pass that act, it opens things up so that the successor to the prime minister, the next prime minister, will have their hands tied. And I think the next prime minister must have the right to reset the negotiations on their terms. | And the trouble is - Matt [Hancock] was doing a good job of defending the line this morning. But this is not a great new offer; it’s a great new concession. What it will do, and this is the critical thing, is, if we pass that act, it opens things up so that the successor to the prime minister, the next prime minister, will have their hands tied. And I think the next prime minister must have the right to reset the negotiations on their terms. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| 9.30am: Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, holds a walkabout in Exeter. Later he is holding campaign events in Newcastle, Halifax and Horwich. | 9.30am: Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, holds a walkabout in Exeter. Later he is holding campaign events in Newcastle, Halifax and Horwich. |
| 11am: Downing Street lobby briefing. | 11am: Downing Street lobby briefing. |
| 11am: Gordon Brown, the former Labour prime minister, speaks at a Labour rally for the European elections in Glasgow. | 11am: Gordon Brown, the former Labour prime minister, speaks at a Labour rally for the European elections in Glasgow. |
| 1pm: Esther McVey, a candidate for the Conservative leadership, launches a Blue Collar Conservatism campaign. | 1pm: Esther McVey, a candidate for the Conservative leadership, launches a Blue Collar Conservatism campaign. |
| 1.45pm: Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, and Molly Scott Cato, the Green MEP candidate, hold a rally in Bristol. | 1.45pm: Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, and Molly Scott Cato, the Green MEP candidate, hold a rally in Bristol. |
| 2.30pm: Penny Mordaunt, the defence secretary, takes questions in the Commons for the fist time. | 2.30pm: Penny Mordaunt, the defence secretary, takes questions in the Commons for the fist time. |
| 4pm: David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister, gives evidence to the public administration and constitutional affairs committee about the role of parliament in authorising the use of military force. | 4pm: David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister, gives evidence to the public administration and constitutional affairs committee about the role of parliament in authorising the use of military force. |
| As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I plan to post a summary at lunchtime and another when I wrap up. | As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I plan to post a summary at lunchtime and another when I wrap up. |
| You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe round-up of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. | You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe round-up of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. |
| If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. |