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| Pro-Brexit ministers will have access to papers, says cabinet secretary | Pro-Brexit ministers will have access to papers, says cabinet secretary |
| (6 months later) | |
| Sir Jeremy Heywood has said government ministers campaigning for Brexit will be given access to documents relating to the EU referendum, in a move that MPs have described as a climbdown. | Sir Jeremy Heywood has said government ministers campaigning for Brexit will be given access to documents relating to the EU referendum, in a move that MPs have described as a climbdown. |
| The cabinet secretary insisted to MPs that his guidance to civil servants was not meant to deny their ministers “factual material” but only “briefing and speech material” supporting the leave campaign. | The cabinet secretary insisted to MPs that his guidance to civil servants was not meant to deny their ministers “factual material” but only “briefing and speech material” supporting the leave campaign. |
| “The civil service is not going to be supporting ministers who are against the government’s position to make that case,” he told the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs select committee. | “The civil service is not going to be supporting ministers who are against the government’s position to make that case,” he told the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs select committee. |
| But he added: “If there is factual material that is generally available in the department – I would have discuss that with the prime minister – but I am pretty sure he would be comfortable about that being shared. | But he added: “If there is factual material that is generally available in the department – I would have discuss that with the prime minister – but I am pretty sure he would be comfortable about that being shared. |
| “We are not going to deny ministers information they need to run their departments,” he said. | “We are not going to deny ministers information they need to run their departments,” he said. |
| Heywood’s guidance to civil servants triggered fury on Conservative backbenches, with MPs seeing it as an attempt by the government to gag ministers who disagree with them on the issue of the EU. The document said it would not be “appropriate or permissible” to provide briefing or speech material to ministers opposing the government’s position, adding that “official departmental papers” were included in that. | Heywood’s guidance to civil servants triggered fury on Conservative backbenches, with MPs seeing it as an attempt by the government to gag ministers who disagree with them on the issue of the EU. The document said it would not be “appropriate or permissible” to provide briefing or speech material to ministers opposing the government’s position, adding that “official departmental papers” were included in that. |
| Bernard Jenkin, chair of the public administration committee and one of the MPs who protested at the move, said he felt “reassured” by Heywood’s explanation. | Bernard Jenkin, chair of the public administration committee and one of the MPs who protested at the move, said he felt “reassured” by Heywood’s explanation. |
| “It was made clear to us that whatever understandings existed before our meeting, it is now not the intention that any facts, information or papers relating to the referendum should be withheld from dissenting ministers,” he said. | “It was made clear to us that whatever understandings existed before our meeting, it is now not the intention that any facts, information or papers relating to the referendum should be withheld from dissenting ministers,” he said. |
| “We do think that this contradicts the cabinet secretary’s letter ... and we suggested it should be withdrawn and re-issued, but nevertheless we welcome this clarification.” | “We do think that this contradicts the cabinet secretary’s letter ... and we suggested it should be withdrawn and re-issued, but nevertheless we welcome this clarification.” |
| The session also turned to the royal family – with accusations that Heywood had tried to “politicise” the Queen and Prince William by urging interventions in the Scottish and European referendums. | The session also turned to the royal family – with accusations that Heywood had tried to “politicise” the Queen and Prince William by urging interventions in the Scottish and European referendums. |
| The Labour MP Paul Flynn asked about suggestions that the government had turned to the monarch for help in the run-up to the Scottish vote. He suggested that Heywood was involved when the Queen remarked to well-wishers outside a church in Balmoral: “I hope people will think very carefully about the future.” | The Labour MP Paul Flynn asked about suggestions that the government had turned to the monarch for help in the run-up to the Scottish vote. He suggested that Heywood was involved when the Queen remarked to well-wishers outside a church in Balmoral: “I hope people will think very carefully about the future.” |
| “I am accusing you of ... politicising the royal family,” said Flynn. The cabinet secretary said he would “never dream” of trying to politicise the Queen. | “I am accusing you of ... politicising the royal family,” said Flynn. The cabinet secretary said he would “never dream” of trying to politicise the Queen. |
| The MP then cited comments by the prince this month, which appeared to signal support for Britain remaining in the EU, as further evidence of the government “collaborating” with the royal family. | The MP then cited comments by the prince this month, which appeared to signal support for Britain remaining in the EU, as further evidence of the government “collaborating” with the royal family. |
| In campaigners seized on a speech by the prince in which he said Britain’s ability to work with other nations was the “bedrock of our security and prosperity”. | In campaigners seized on a speech by the prince in which he said Britain’s ability to work with other nations was the “bedrock of our security and prosperity”. |
| Heywood insisted that there had not been any attempt to involve the royal family in the referendum campaign. | Heywood insisted that there had not been any attempt to involve the royal family in the referendum campaign. |
| It came as the government published another report on the risks of Brexit, which was quickly branded a “third dodgy dossier” by leave campaigners. | It came as the government published another report on the risks of Brexit, which was quickly branded a “third dodgy dossier” by leave campaigners. |
| The report – which will be the basis of a speech by the oreign secretary, Philip Hammond – claimed that all the alternative models were too risky to consider. It highlighted the fact that Norway and Switzerland still had free movement of people though they were outside the EU. | The report – which will be the basis of a speech by the oreign secretary, Philip Hammond – claimed that all the alternative models were too risky to consider. It highlighted the fact that Norway and Switzerland still had free movement of people though they were outside the EU. |
| It added that the Canadian model – often cited by out campaigners – took a long time to agree and provided “only partial access to the EU single market”. Hammond said it was “hard-headed analysis”, which concluded that all the alternatives would leave Britain “weaker”. | It added that the Canadian model – often cited by out campaigners – took a long time to agree and provided “only partial access to the EU single market”. Hammond said it was “hard-headed analysis”, which concluded that all the alternatives would leave Britain “weaker”. |
| Pro-Brexit Iain Duncan Smith, the secretary of state for work and pensions, said: “It’s increasingly clear that the real uncertainty is the future of the EU project. As each day passes we see yet another example – from the utter failure to cope with the migrant crisis to the increasing disaster of the euro. | Pro-Brexit Iain Duncan Smith, the secretary of state for work and pensions, said: “It’s increasingly clear that the real uncertainty is the future of the EU project. As each day passes we see yet another example – from the utter failure to cope with the migrant crisis to the increasing disaster of the euro. |
| “That’s why we need to take back control and vote [to] leave. This dodgy dossier won’t fool anyone, and is proof that [the] remain [camp] are in denial about the risks of remaining in a crisis-ridden EU.” | “That’s why we need to take back control and vote [to] leave. This dodgy dossier won’t fool anyone, and is proof that [the] remain [camp] are in denial about the risks of remaining in a crisis-ridden EU.” |