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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 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| By the standards of Conservative in-fighting, this is rather minor, but it still tells you something about the state of the party that MPs are talking about each other in public like this. Here is the Tory Brexiter Andrea Jenkyns in a Twitter spate with two pro-European colleagues, Sir Nicholas Soames and Antoinette Sandbach. | |
| Leadership contender Victoria Atkins! I wont vote for her; sneered when I took Clifford to an event after GE, & thinks its acceptable for her staff to bad mouth me & Brexiteers in parliament email. She also said myself/ ERG to blame for no Brexit!https://t.co/15GLgd6Pi8 | |
| #absoluteBallsgetalife | |
| How can you quantify it as 'Balls' Mr Soames? You were not party to the incidents or conversations, other colleagues have told me of more incidents about this lady. And I am happy with my life thank you very much. | |
| Andrea you tweeted the article saying you wouldn’t vote for Victoria having not bothered to read the article in which she made it clear she was not standing. #getyourfactsright | |
| And here comes Ms Sandbach wading in as usual. I see the Stop Brexit MPs like to stick together! | |
| Chuka Umunna, the spokesperson for Change UK, had a phone-in with LBC this morning. During the phone-in, he argued that Brexit was to blame for the problems facing British Steel. He explained: | |
| Over 20,000 jobs in the supply chain and what are the two reasons which are being cited as creating difficulties for what was a company in profit? First of all the fall of the value of the pound after the referendum vote has made the products that British Steel sells more expensive and this is what the company has said. And, secondly, because of Brexit uncertainty they are not facing the same orders. | |
| Umunna also said, if Boris Johnson were to become prime minister, his reaction would be: “God help us.” He explained: | |
| [Johnson is] an incredibly divisive figure. I don’t think a lot of people will forgive him for some of the things that the vote leave campaign did and I think he has shown himself to be a complete opportunist who’s all about Boris Johnson and not about the national interest ... | |
| If his record as foreign secretary is anything to go by, that guy should not be allowed anywhere near 10 Downing Street. | |
| Today the Guardian has published a long read about how Nigel Farage has modelled his Brexit party on the Italian populist party, the Five Star Movement (M5S). | Today the Guardian has published a long read about how Nigel Farage has modelled his Brexit party on the Italian populist party, the Five Star Movement (M5S). |
| Coincidentally, Farage has told the Press Association that he is tempted not to stand as a candidate in the general election because Beppe Grillo, the M5S leader, did not stand for parliament either. Asked if he would seek a parliamentary seat, Farage said: | Coincidentally, Farage has told the Press Association that he is tempted not to stand as a candidate in the general election because Beppe Grillo, the M5S leader, did not stand for parliament either. Asked if he would seek a parliamentary seat, Farage said: |
| I guess so. I’ll have to, won’t I? It will be my duty as leader. | I guess so. I’ll have to, won’t I? It will be my duty as leader. |
| Although I’m very tempted not to because Beppe Grillo didn’t stand in the Italian elections. | Although I’m very tempted not to because Beppe Grillo didn’t stand in the Italian elections. |
| What he did was tour Italy supporting the Five Star candidates and, guess what, they won. | What he did was tour Italy supporting the Five Star candidates and, guess what, they won. |
| There are many different ways to approach this. I would see it as my duty to stand but there is an argument that I could do more good for the party by not. | There are many different ways to approach this. I would see it as my duty to stand but there is an argument that I could do more good for the party by not. |
| This is from Sky’s Kate McCann. | 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. | 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. |