Letwin and fellow Remainers demand a chance to delay Brexit in return for time to renegotiate ‘The PM will try to convince the Commons on Tuesday to give her another fortnight’s grace for talks with Brussels for changes to the Irish backstop. She faces a fresh vote on Thursday for Parliament to authorise her plan […]
May’s talks with Labour ‘risk splitting the Cabinet’… “Theresa May opened the door last night to a soft Brexit by engaging with Jeremy Corbyn on a customs union in a move that puts her at risk of losing the support of members of her cabinet. In a letter to the Labour leader, the prime minister suggested that their […]
May’s Chicken Game 1) February 27 emerges as the new deadline for a meaningful vote… “Theresa May is to urge MPs to give her another fortnight to seek changes to her Brexit agreement, as pro-Remain rebels prepare a second attempt to remove the option of leaving without a deal….Downing Street sources suggested that Mrs May […]
Cross-party alliance to mount another bid to take control of Brexit… “A cross-party group of MPs determined to prevent a no-deal Brexit will make another attempt to wrest control from Theresa May next week, sympathetic ministers have been told. The alliance, led by Yvette Cooper, the Labour chairwoman of the home affairs select committee, and […]
May faces ticking clock as EU leaders reject her calls for compromise… “The European Union will push negotiations to the brink of no-deal, having rejected Theresa May’s pleas for change to the withdrawal agreement yesterday. The prime minister’s requests for “legally binding changes to the terms” of the Irish backstop were rebuffed repeatedly after she […]
Prime Minister braces for fresh confrontation with Brussels… “Theresa May is braced for a bruising encounter with European leaders today after Donald Tusk declared that there will be “a special place in hell” for the leaders of the Brexit campaign. Downing Street believes that the prime minister will receive little sympathy from Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the […]
May says she is seeking to alter, not scrap, the backstop ‘The Prime Minister risked infuriating hardline Brexiteers on Tuesday after ruling out removing the controversial Irish border protocol from her deal as she said she would focus on making changes to it instead. Mrs May will travel to Brussels on Thursday for showdown talks […]
Malthouse MPs meet with ministers and officials to thrash out a way ahead ‘An “alternative arrangements working group”, made up of Conservative backbenchers, ministers and civil servants will meet in Westminster. A spokesman for the Department for Exiting the EU said the first meeting of the group, chaired by the Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, had […]
Javid and Truss talk down early election… “Two cabinet ministers have dismissed the prospect of an early election after reports that preparations were being made for a June poll. Sajid Javid, the home secretary, said that voters would “never forgive” the Conservative Party if it called an early general election before or after Brexit. Liz […]
Rebel remainers mull ‘Valentine’s Day exodus plot’… “Election talk has grown louder since the prime minister won a key victory on Tuesday. After a last-minute pact between Brexiteer hardliners and Tory moderates, MPs voted to demand a new deal from Brussels that would seek to ditch the controversial “backstop” plan for Northern Ireland. That has […]
Gibb calls for a ban on mobile phones in schools “Mobile phones should be banned in schools to help pupils concentrate on learning, the schools minister has said. Nick Gibb is concerned that too many children are using mobile phones at night and arriving at school the next day tired. He said that the government […]
Brexit 1) Labour MPs warn May they can’t be ‘bought’ on Brexit “Theresa May has been warned by Labour MPs she cannot buy them off to back her Brexit deal with the promise of extra funding for their constituencies. Downing Street is reportedly preparing to offer Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas a cash injection to […]