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| Michael Heseltine says Brexit is 'man-size' task for Theresa May | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Michael Heseltine has said after being sacked from the government that he will continue to fight against Britain leaving the EU – and has been been chastised on television for saying Theresa May has a “man-size” job to do. | Michael Heseltine has said after being sacked from the government that he will continue to fight against Britain leaving the EU – and has been been chastised on television for saying Theresa May has a “man-size” job to do. |
| The Conservative former deputy prime minister lost his five government jobs for leading a Lords rebellion over Brexit. He said he had to keep opposing a policy he thought was wrong, just as the Brexiters would never have stopped fighting to leave the EU if the referendum result had gone the other way. | The Conservative former deputy prime minister lost his five government jobs for leading a Lords rebellion over Brexit. He said he had to keep opposing a policy he thought was wrong, just as the Brexiters would never have stopped fighting to leave the EU if the referendum result had gone the other way. |
| Lord Heseltine, 83, was sacked from his advisory roles on Tuesday night after he gave a prominent speech in favour of giving parliament a veto over the outcome of May’s Brexit talks with Brussels. | Lord Heseltine, 83, was sacked from his advisory roles on Tuesday night after he gave a prominent speech in favour of giving parliament a veto over the outcome of May’s Brexit talks with Brussels. |
| Explaining that he had never met May as prime minister, he told Sky News’ Sarah-Jane Mee: “I don’t in any way criticise her for this. She has got a man-size job to do and she’s very busy.” | Explaining that he had never met May as prime minister, he told Sky News’ Sarah-Jane Mee: “I don’t in any way criticise her for this. She has got a man-size job to do and she’s very busy.” |
| “She’s got a man-size job? It’s a woman-size job now,” Mee said, pointing out it was International Women’s Day. Heseltine replied: “I find myself chastised by you, and you are quite right.” | “She’s got a man-size job? It’s a woman-size job now,” Mee said, pointing out it was International Women’s Day. Heseltine replied: “I find myself chastised by you, and you are quite right.” |
| Speaking earlier on the Today programme, Heseltine said he was disappointed that the government would lose his expertise. Explaining his decision to keep opposing Brexit, he said: “My preoccupation has been from the very beginning I believe the referendum result is the most disastrous peacetime result we have seen in this country.” | Speaking earlier on the Today programme, Heseltine said he was disappointed that the government would lose his expertise. Explaining his decision to keep opposing Brexit, he said: “My preoccupation has been from the very beginning I believe the referendum result is the most disastrous peacetime result we have seen in this country.” |
| Heseltine said he had been “meticulous” in not speaking to the press since the referendum result but added: “The point comes in life that you have to do what I believe to be right. | Heseltine said he had been “meticulous” in not speaking to the press since the referendum result but added: “The point comes in life that you have to do what I believe to be right. |
| “I know these Brexiteers backwards. I have lived with them in government and opposition. They never give up. Why shouldn’t people like me argue in the other camp?” | “I know these Brexiteers backwards. I have lived with them in government and opposition. They never give up. Why shouldn’t people like me argue in the other camp?” |
| Former Conservative chief whip Mark Harper said that it was “quite reasonable” to sack Lord Heseltine for opposing government policy. | Former Conservative chief whip Mark Harper said that it was “quite reasonable” to sack Lord Heseltine for opposing government policy. |
| Late on Tuesday, the House of Lords passed the Brexit bill, giving May the right to trigger article 50, after insisting on two changes: a guarantee of the rights of EU citizens to reside in the UK and a more meaningful parliamentary vote at the end of Brexit talks. | Late on Tuesday, the House of Lords passed the Brexit bill, giving May the right to trigger article 50, after insisting on two changes: a guarantee of the rights of EU citizens to reside in the UK and a more meaningful parliamentary vote at the end of Brexit talks. |
| Attention now switches to the Commons, where MPs will consider whether to keep or throw out the amendments. | Attention now switches to the Commons, where MPs will consider whether to keep or throw out the amendments. |
| A band of Tory MPs is pushing May to make concessions on giving parliament a more meaningful say at the end of the two-year negotiations. But the government has insisted it wants to overturn the Lords amendments, saying it would be against the national interest to tell EU countries that parliament would have a right of veto over any deal. | A band of Tory MPs is pushing May to make concessions on giving parliament a more meaningful say at the end of the two-year negotiations. But the government has insisted it wants to overturn the Lords amendments, saying it would be against the national interest to tell EU countries that parliament would have a right of veto over any deal. |