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| Brexit: May to give speech at 4pm with details of 'new' deal for MPs - live news | Brexit: May to give speech at 4pm with details of 'new' deal for MPs - live news |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| This is from Sky’s Kate McCann. | |
| Told that by the end of Cabinet today chief whip warned the PM her bill still very unlikely to pass in the Commons despite tweaks. Source says PM appeared to ignore his warning. | |
| PM’s speech is called ‘A new Brexit deal - seeking common ground in Parliament’ | PM’s speech is called ‘A new Brexit deal - seeking common ground in Parliament’ |
| In the urgent question in the Commons earlier on British Steel, which is on the brink of collapse putting 5,000 jobs at risk, Andrew Stephenson, the business minister, said the government “leave no stone unturned” in supporting the UK steel industry. He said: | In the urgent question in the Commons earlier on British Steel, which is on the brink of collapse putting 5,000 jobs at risk, Andrew Stephenson, the business minister, said the government “leave no stone unturned” in supporting the UK steel industry. He said: |
| I can reassure the house that, subject to strict legal bounds, the government will leave no stone unturned in its support for the steel industry ... | I can reassure the house that, subject to strict legal bounds, the government will leave no stone unturned in its support for the steel industry ... |
| We can only act within the strict bounds of what is legally possible under domestic and European law. | We can only act within the strict bounds of what is legally possible under domestic and European law. |
| I can assure the house we will continue to do whatever is in our power to support the UK steel industry and those who work in the sector. | I can assure the house we will continue to do whatever is in our power to support the UK steel industry and those who work in the sector. |
| Stephenson said £291m has been paid in “compensation” to the steel sector since 2013 to help make energy costs “more competitive”. He added: “We have also published a timeline of upcoming projects every year to enable steel businesses to plan for future demand.” | Stephenson said £291m has been paid in “compensation” to the steel sector since 2013 to help make energy costs “more competitive”. He added: “We have also published a timeline of upcoming projects every year to enable steel businesses to plan for future demand.” |
| These are from the Spectator’s James Forsyth. | These are from the Spectator’s James Forsyth. |
| On customs, I was told that the WAB will essentially include within it indicative votes on 4 different customs options | On customs, I was told that the WAB will essentially include within it indicative votes on 4 different customs options |
| Presumbably those four options were the four customs union options set out in this leaked document. | Presumbably those four options were the four customs union options set out in this leaked document. |
| Word from Cabinet is that the four customs options I mentioned in my earlier tweet were whittled down to two--FCA and a temporary customs union until the next GE--in the Cabinet discussion this morning. | Word from Cabinet is that the four customs options I mentioned in my earlier tweet were whittled down to two--FCA and a temporary customs union until the next GE--in the Cabinet discussion this morning. |
| The Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole has posted these on what he says are the concessions in the EU withdrawal agreement bill. | The Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole has posted these on what he says are the concessions in the EU withdrawal agreement bill. |
| Technical details.. but Swire, Snell Nandy, Brady amendments + 9 Jan NI commitments and CRAG all written into WAB, cabinet told. | Technical details.. but Swire, Snell Nandy, Brady amendments + 9 Jan NI commitments and CRAG all written into WAB, cabinet told. |
| cabinet also told parliamentary approval of future trade will outlaw next phase of talks with EU starting without approval of “objectives” from MPs. May essentially trying to let parliament tie her successors hands | cabinet also told parliamentary approval of future trade will outlaw next phase of talks with EU starting without approval of “objectives” from MPs. May essentially trying to let parliament tie her successors hands |
| New PM will also have to seek a commons vote EVERYTIME they wish to tweak negotiating objectives. New devolved lock too being mooted | New PM will also have to seek a commons vote EVERYTIME they wish to tweak negotiating objectives. New devolved lock too being mooted |
| WAB will also include clause that would outlaw a future PM trying to make then backstop protocol NI only. A “binding commitment” of no regulatory divergence between GB/NI | WAB will also include clause that would outlaw a future PM trying to make then backstop protocol NI only. A “binding commitment” of no regulatory divergence between GB/NI |
| And Parliament will be given a say - through SI - in whether to trigger the back stop. Unclear what would happen if it said no.... lots of sweeties in WAB clearly designed to build a coalition. But felt like tide was going out on tory support all weekend. | And Parliament will be given a say - through SI - in whether to trigger the back stop. Unclear what would happen if it said no.... lots of sweeties in WAB clearly designed to build a coalition. But felt like tide was going out on tory support all weekend. |
| And here is more from the Number 10 lobby briefing. I posted a snap summary at 1.12pm. | And here is more from the Number 10 lobby briefing. I posted a snap summary at 1.12pm. |
| The prime minister’s spokesman said that the EU withdrawal agreement bill, which will be the latest format in which MPs are asked to vote on what has been described as Theresa May’s Brexit deal, would contain some “significant new aspects”. | The prime minister’s spokesman said that the EU withdrawal agreement bill, which will be the latest format in which MPs are asked to vote on what has been described as Theresa May’s Brexit deal, would contain some “significant new aspects”. |
| He implied that the bill would include compromises from the government. Asked if there would be compromises in it, he said: | He implied that the bill would include compromises from the government. Asked if there would be compromises in it, he said: |
| The prime minister has said that, if we are going to find a way through this, there will have to be compromise on both sides. | The prime minister has said that, if we are going to find a way through this, there will have to be compromise on both sides. |
| The spokesman confirmed that today’s cabinet meeting was not just about rubber-stamping a draft text of the bill. The text of the bill is now being finalised on the basis of what was agreed at today’s meeting. | The spokesman confirmed that today’s cabinet meeting was not just about rubber-stamping a draft text of the bill. The text of the bill is now being finalised on the basis of what was agreed at today’s meeting. |
| The spokesman said the cabinet meeting was characterised by “a clear determination to find a way of passing the withdrawal agreement bill”. This is what he said in response to a question about the tone of today’s meeting. | The spokesman said the cabinet meeting was characterised by “a clear determination to find a way of passing the withdrawal agreement bill”. This is what he said in response to a question about the tone of today’s meeting. |
| The spokesman sidestepped a question about whether the text of the bill had been agreed unanimously. “You know how this works,” he said. “The prime minister sums up at the end of the meeting. Then she will set out the government position.” | The spokesman sidestepped a question about whether the text of the bill had been agreed unanimously. “You know how this works,” he said. “The prime minister sums up at the end of the meeting. Then she will set out the government position.” |
| The spokesman would not say when the text of the bill would be published. But he indicated that that would not happen before Thursday at the earliest. | The spokesman would not say when the text of the bill would be published. But he indicated that that would not happen before Thursday at the earliest. |
| The spokesman said May was making her speech outside the Commons this afternoon because Commons business for the day had already been scheduled. (MPs and the Speaker object when policy announcements of this kind are made outside the chamber, and May will probably come under pressure to make a statement in the Commons tomorrow, where MPs will be able to question her on the details.) | The spokesman said May was making her speech outside the Commons this afternoon because Commons business for the day had already been scheduled. (MPs and the Speaker object when policy announcements of this kind are made outside the chamber, and May will probably come under pressure to make a statement in the Commons tomorrow, where MPs will be able to question her on the details.) |
| The spokesman said the government’s view was that leaving the EU without a deal remained a “plausible outcome” and that planning for no-deal was continuing. When it was put to the spokesman that Philip Hammond, the chancellor, in his CBI speech argues that no-deal would be a betrayal of the 2016 vote to leave (because the leave campaign said there would be a deal - see 9.23am), the spokesman said it was a “simple fact” that the question on the ballot paper was about leaving the EU. | The spokesman said the government’s view was that leaving the EU without a deal remained a “plausible outcome” and that planning for no-deal was continuing. When it was put to the spokesman that Philip Hammond, the chancellor, in his CBI speech argues that no-deal would be a betrayal of the 2016 vote to leave (because the leave campaign said there would be a deal - see 9.23am), the spokesman said it was a “simple fact” that the question on the ballot paper was about leaving the EU. |
| The spokesman said that cabinet also discussed President Trump’s state visit. Ministers were told what the programme would be. | The spokesman said that cabinet also discussed President Trump’s state visit. Ministers were told what the programme would be. |
| I’m just back from the Downing Street lobby briefing. And we have news ... | I’m just back from the Downing Street lobby briefing. And we have news ... |
| Theresa May will give a speech this afternoon setting out details of what Number 10 is describing as the “new” Brexit deal that will be put to a vote in the Commons in the first week of June. Cabinet spent two hours discussing the plans, which will be set out in the EU withdrawal agreement bill, and finalising what they will entail. May will say more in her speech at 4pm. Commenting on the cabinet discussion, the prime minister’s spokesman said: | Theresa May will give a speech this afternoon setting out details of what Number 10 is describing as the “new” Brexit deal that will be put to a vote in the Commons in the first week of June. Cabinet spent two hours discussing the plans, which will be set out in the EU withdrawal agreement bill, and finalising what they will entail. May will say more in her speech at 4pm. Commenting on the cabinet discussion, the prime minister’s spokesman said: |
| Cabinet discussed the new deal which the government will put before parliament in order to seek to secure the UK’s exit from the European Union. | Cabinet discussed the new deal which the government will put before parliament in order to seek to secure the UK’s exit from the European Union. |
| The discussions included alternative arrangements, workers’ rights, environmental protections and further assurances on protecting the integrity of the UK in the unlikely event that the backstop is required. | The discussions included alternative arrangements, workers’ rights, environmental protections and further assurances on protecting the integrity of the UK in the unlikely event that the backstop is required. |
| The prime minister said that “the withdrawal agreement bill is the vehicle that gets the UK out of the European Union and it is vital to find a way to get it over the line.” | The prime minister said that “the withdrawal agreement bill is the vehicle that gets the UK out of the European Union and it is vital to find a way to get it over the line.” |
| And the prime minister will be setting out further details on the way forward in a speech this afternoon. | And the prime minister will be setting out further details on the way forward in a speech this afternoon. |
| I will post more details from the lobby briefing in a moment. | I will post more details from the lobby briefing in a moment. |
| Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has been using Treasury questions to restate his opposition to a no-deal Brexit, HuffPost’s Paul Waugh reports. | Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has been using Treasury questions to restate his opposition to a no-deal Brexit, HuffPost’s Paul Waugh reports. |
| Hammond sticks it to Brexiteers again. Tells MPs no-deal Brexit will lead to short term impact but also "longer term effect" that will make economy smaller."And I didn't come into politics in order to make our economy smaller." | Hammond sticks it to Brexiteers again. Tells MPs no-deal Brexit will lead to short term impact but also "longer term effect" that will make economy smaller."And I didn't come into politics in order to make our economy smaller." |
| I’m off to the Downing Street lobby briefing now. | I’m off to the Downing Street lobby briefing now. |
| I will post again after 1pm. | I will post again after 1pm. |
| From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg | From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg |
| Leadsom says ‘it’s always fascinating’ leaving Cabinet - PM has just left by back gates | Leadsom says ‘it’s always fascinating’ leaving Cabinet - PM has just left by back gates |
| International Development Secretary leaves telling me cabinet is in agreement and PM will be outlining deal shortly | International Development Secretary leaves telling me cabinet is in agreement and PM will be outlining deal shortly |
| This is from ITV’s Paul Brand. | This is from ITV’s Paul Brand. |
| BREAKING: PM to make statement on new Brexit offer to MPs. | BREAKING: PM to make statement on new Brexit offer to MPs. |
| Cabinet has wrapped up after almost three hours. | Cabinet has wrapped up after almost three hours. |
| Cabinet over | Cabinet over |
| Here are three columns in today’s papers that are worth reading. | Here are three columns in today’s papers that are worth reading. |
| Rachel Sylvester at the Times (paywall) suggests that if Boris Johnson becomes PM, he could end up agreeing to a second referendum. | Rachel Sylvester at the Times (paywall) suggests that if Boris Johnson becomes PM, he could end up agreeing to a second referendum. |
| The interesting question is, if Mr Johnson does get to No 10 will he double down on the right-wing populism that has made him so appealing to the Tory right, or will he betray the Brexiteers who got him elected in an attempt to reconnect with the voters? Will the Tories’ Lord of Misrule do a deal with Nigel Farage or try to win over the One Nation Conservatives who yesterday launched a new grouping in parliament? | The interesting question is, if Mr Johnson does get to No 10 will he double down on the right-wing populism that has made him so appealing to the Tory right, or will he betray the Brexiteers who got him elected in an attempt to reconnect with the voters? Will the Tories’ Lord of Misrule do a deal with Nigel Farage or try to win over the One Nation Conservatives who yesterday launched a new grouping in parliament? |
| After the EU elections, the momentum in the Tory leadership contest will be with the hard Brexiteers, but many of those who know Mr Johnson best think he will ultimately back away from taking the UK out of the EU without a deal. One ally describes it as the “Nixon to China” strategy for ending the Brexit mess, arguing that only a politician with an unassailable reputation among their supporters can reach an agreement that involves compromise. | After the EU elections, the momentum in the Tory leadership contest will be with the hard Brexiteers, but many of those who know Mr Johnson best think he will ultimately back away from taking the UK out of the EU without a deal. One ally describes it as the “Nixon to China” strategy for ending the Brexit mess, arguing that only a politician with an unassailable reputation among their supporters can reach an agreement that involves compromise. |
| Some believe he could even back a second referendum to get a mandate without risking his entire premiership on a general election. It is an idea that he has toyed with in the past. When I interviewed him in 2015 he told me he was “very interested” in a second referendum if people initially voted to Leave as a way of negotiating a better relationship with the EU. “I love our friends and partners in Brussels, I understand quite deeply the way they do things, they are not remotely interested in you unless you tell them no,” he explained. | Some believe he could even back a second referendum to get a mandate without risking his entire premiership on a general election. It is an idea that he has toyed with in the past. When I interviewed him in 2015 he told me he was “very interested” in a second referendum if people initially voted to Leave as a way of negotiating a better relationship with the EU. “I love our friends and partners in Brussels, I understand quite deeply the way they do things, they are not remotely interested in you unless you tell them no,” he explained. |
| But Polly Toynbee at the Guardian thinks that, if Johnson becomes PM, he will call an early election. | But Polly Toynbee at the Guardian thinks that, if Johnson becomes PM, he will call an early election. |
| What happens when [Johnson] wins? He can’t get no deal through this parliament, but at Halloween the UK is due to crash out willy-nilly, without some deal agreed. The Calais border would clang shut and so would the Irish border, firing up demands for a united Ireland referendum, with the Scots likely to follow suit with Indyref2. As everything seizes up, Britain would have only the feckless Johnson to cope with a pile-up of calamities in fuel, food, medicines, visas, lorry queues and a plunging pound. | What happens when [Johnson] wins? He can’t get no deal through this parliament, but at Halloween the UK is due to crash out willy-nilly, without some deal agreed. The Calais border would clang shut and so would the Irish border, firing up demands for a united Ireland referendum, with the Scots likely to follow suit with Indyref2. As everything seizes up, Britain would have only the feckless Johnson to cope with a pile-up of calamities in fuel, food, medicines, visas, lorry queues and a plunging pound. |
| Johnson has no plan: his foresight goes no further than winning the prize of Downing Street. If he had the impulse control to visualise consequences, would he want to win on a no-deal pledge? Before 31 October, Labour would table a vote of no confidence and Tory One Nation MPs would back it to bring down their own government, and call an election. Seeing that inevitability, Johnson will surely call an election himself, shortly after reaching No 10. At risk of becoming the shortest serving prime minister of all time, he will be tanked up with vaunting hubris. Farage will bid to strip off Tory votes and seats (and some Labour ones too), while the Liberal Democrats syphon away remain and moderate voters. In the best scenario, the Armageddon that awaits may turn out to be the fate of Johnson and the Tory party for years to come, but not of the country as a whole. | Johnson has no plan: his foresight goes no further than winning the prize of Downing Street. If he had the impulse control to visualise consequences, would he want to win on a no-deal pledge? Before 31 October, Labour would table a vote of no confidence and Tory One Nation MPs would back it to bring down their own government, and call an election. Seeing that inevitability, Johnson will surely call an election himself, shortly after reaching No 10. At risk of becoming the shortest serving prime minister of all time, he will be tanked up with vaunting hubris. Farage will bid to strip off Tory votes and seats (and some Labour ones too), while the Liberal Democrats syphon away remain and moderate voters. In the best scenario, the Armageddon that awaits may turn out to be the fate of Johnson and the Tory party for years to come, but not of the country as a whole. |
| Robert Shrimsley at the Financial Times (paywall) says the Euro elections campaign shows the remain parties are not ready for a second referendum. | Robert Shrimsley at the Financial Times (paywall) says the Euro elections campaign shows the remain parties are not ready for a second referendum. |
| For if one thing has emerged from the European parliamentary election in which his party looks set to win the most seats, it is that the forces of remain have some major lessons to learn if they are to have any chance of winning the second referendum for which they are so actively agitating. The stakes may also be higher. Until recently, advocates of a second vote did not expect a no-deal Brexit to be one of the options. It is now hard to imagine how it cannot be. | For if one thing has emerged from the European parliamentary election in which his party looks set to win the most seats, it is that the forces of remain have some major lessons to learn if they are to have any chance of winning the second referendum for which they are so actively agitating. The stakes may also be higher. Until recently, advocates of a second vote did not expect a no-deal Brexit to be one of the options. It is now hard to imagine how it cannot be. |
| Not only is Mr Farage likely to win this weekend, he has also won the fight to define Brexit as a clean break. He turned the battle into an issue of keeping faith with a democratic vote and positioned himself as the true force for change in the UK. With speed, social media and clarity of purpose, his start-up party has dominated the campaign. Britain’s version of Emmanuel Macron turns out not to be Chuka Umunna and Change UK but Mr Farage and the Brexit party. | Not only is Mr Farage likely to win this weekend, he has also won the fight to define Brexit as a clean break. He turned the battle into an issue of keeping faith with a democratic vote and positioned himself as the true force for change in the UK. With speed, social media and clarity of purpose, his start-up party has dominated the campaign. Britain’s version of Emmanuel Macron turns out not to be Chuka Umunna and Change UK but Mr Farage and the Brexit party. |
| From ITV’s Paul Brand | From ITV’s Paul Brand |
| Cabinet cars lined up ready to go. Anyone willing to forgo one and walk over PM’s Brexit offer? We wait and watch in Downing Street. pic.twitter.com/vgEDvKqDox | Cabinet cars lined up ready to go. Anyone willing to forgo one and walk over PM’s Brexit offer? We wait and watch in Downing Street. pic.twitter.com/vgEDvKqDox |
| Normally on a Tuesday, when the cabinet is meeting, the regular Downing Street lobby briefing takes place at 12pm. | Normally on a Tuesday, when the cabinet is meeting, the regular Downing Street lobby briefing takes place at 12pm. |
| But today’s has been delayed, because cabinet has over-run. | But today’s has been delayed, because cabinet has over-run. |
| This is from the Telegraph’s Steven Swinford. | This is from the Telegraph’s Steven Swinford. |
| No news from Cabinet yetBUT at 2pm this afternoon all ministers outside Cabinet along with PPSs and vice-chairs are being briefed by Gavin Barwell in the Commons on the PM's 'bold' new offerWill Eurosceptic ministers be able to live with it? | No news from Cabinet yetBUT at 2pm this afternoon all ministers outside Cabinet along with PPSs and vice-chairs are being briefed by Gavin Barwell in the Commons on the PM's 'bold' new offerWill Eurosceptic ministers be able to live with it? |
| A disorderly Brexit would threaten the loss of skilled manufacturing jobs and millions of pounds of investment, a new study suggests. As the Press Association reports, research by the GMB union indicated that manufacturing employs 2.5m workers and contributes £118bn a year to the economy. The industry also supports another five million jobs in areas including the supply chain, said the GMB. | A disorderly Brexit would threaten the loss of skilled manufacturing jobs and millions of pounds of investment, a new study suggests. As the Press Association reports, research by the GMB union indicated that manufacturing employs 2.5m workers and contributes £118bn a year to the economy. The industry also supports another five million jobs in areas including the supply chain, said the GMB. |
| GMB national officer Jude Brimble said: | GMB national officer Jude Brimble said: |
| These figures show what is at stake in the European elections. The prospect of a chaotic Brexit is sending a chill throughout manufacturing. | These figures show what is at stake in the European elections. The prospect of a chaotic Brexit is sending a chill throughout manufacturing. |
| We have already seen job losses and paused investment in foundational industries such as food manufacturing, car production and ceramics. | We have already seen job losses and paused investment in foundational industries such as food manufacturing, car production and ceramics. |
| The situation will only get worse if we end up with a rushed and disorderly Brexit. | The situation will only get worse if we end up with a rushed and disorderly Brexit. |
| That’s why it is vital that politicians from all parties rule out a no-deal Brexit that would be devastating for our manufacturing and export industries. | That’s why it is vital that politicians from all parties rule out a no-deal Brexit that would be devastating for our manufacturing and export industries. |